Hidden Outside Sha

After knowing the topographical conditions of an area, we can determine whether the area has positive and 'protective' chi. Having considered the terrain based on the Four Basic Conditions of good Feng Shui we have more or less selected a place with favorable Feng Shui features. The next aspect to consider is the sha coming from outside factors of the immediate surroundings; these are structures, buildings, trees or objects within sight that can affect the energy field of the property.

These harmful chi are known as hidden arrows and can exert a psychological influence over the minds of the occupants of the site which in turn can affect their outlook in life. Here are some frequently encountered 'sha':

• A property that is located near an electrical sub-station will adversely affect the health of the occupants of the house because the electro-magnetic frequencies generated by the sub-station are known to cause cancer-related illness to people living nearby. The effect will be exacerbated should the main door be situated directly opposite it.

• A house located near a high voltage electrical tower is not as bad as the preceding case but the high frequency emitted can cause misalignment of one's magnetic field that can cause emotional upset or illness.

• The transmission tower of a communication station can affect the nervous system of the people living nearby, this will reduce their efficiency and can affect their family fortune.

• A house that is located in an industrial zone will have an adverse effect on the occupants' health especially their respiratory system this is due to the pollutants emitted by the factories. The best way to get out of this situation is to transfer to a regulated residential area.

• The worst sha to be encountered is when your house is directly opposite two narrowly-spaced high rise buildings. This is known as the 'wind tunnel' sha as the wind funnels through the narrow clearance between the two buildings can create a 'cutting' chi that will hit the house with an impact similar to that of a sword. This cuts the house energy field in half; which can cause accidents, fire hazards and mishaps to occur. It is wise to avoid living in a house that has this type of sha but, if it is not possible, the remedy is to hang a big convex mirror on top of the main door facing the 'wind tunnel' to disperse its harmful effect.

• An old, dilapidated house between two newly constructed houses has bad Feng Shui. This will adversely affect the self-esteem of the tenants of the old house, psychologically creating an impression of being a pauper among the rich. This can create disharmony in the home by want- ing to keep up with the neighbors. Feng Shui also deals with a lot of psychological interpretations that deeply affect the human mind and consequently one's actions.

• Living in a house located between two high rise buildings is considered bad Feng Shui. The pressure created by the reverberating wind on the house is oppressive and over powering, this has a tendency to suppress the growth and progress of the tenants of the house. It will also make the occupants of the house feel 'small' and can lead to the development of inferiority complex. The remedy is to install brass sheets on the roof slanted to reflect the buildings; should the roof of the house be a flat one then having a pond of water atop the roof will 'absorb' the oppressive chi. Modern zoning is the best safeguard against high rise buildings being built in a residential zone as the maximum height for structures to be built in the area is fixed.

• The tallest building (Fig. 45) in the vicinity when the building juts out excessively from the skyline of the area possesses bad Feng Shui features for the following reasons:

• The building has no 'backing'.

• The levels of the building above the rest of the neighboring structures are being exposed to the wind all day and will not be able to accumulate chi.

• Despite being 'outstanding' the building 'pierces' through the chi or energy field of the surrounding area and is out of sync with the area's energy pattern. This does not augur well for the fortune of the occupants of this building, because the chi that flows into the building will not be consistent and tends to be aberrant.

• The tenants occupying the top floors will develop a tendency not to be 'grounded' and at times could be 'out-of-touch' with the rest of the world.

• It is definitely not enviable, try to imagine how the occupants will react if a fire breaks out on a lower floor.