It can get relatively costly in terms of time, money and effort to hire a Feng Shui Master. It is much more cost effective to find a good one from the get go, to save ourselves from the potential negative aftermath of mis-judgement.
Unfortunately, there is not a 100% fool prove method to find a good and genuine Feng Shui master. However, there are steps that we can take to minimise the changes of encountering with a fraud.
A good Feng Shui master will firstly be transparent with you. Ideally, expectations will be set at the beginning of the process. These include things like fees, outcome of the consultation and time needed to start seeing results.
Fees
Depending on virtual or face-to-face consultation, there will be a difference in fees and services included. These should be clearly laid out before starting, so that both parties are aware of the cost involved and the services that will be provided in exchange. A good Feng Shui master will not try to swindle you throughout this process through excessive purchases or hidden service fees.
Feng Shui School
Here is the tricky part. There are many forms of Feng Shui interpretation and it is important to find one that you resonate with the most.
- Classic Feng Shui (Form school, Compass School, Flying star school and Eight Mansions School).
These are one of the more traditional forms of practice where natural design, time, space and landforms are taken into consideration. It also looks at the energy distribution of a location and uses tools like the “Luo pan” which is a Feng Shui compass, that comprises of various formulas to determine the direction of a place or an object.
- Black Hat Sect
This is a newer type of practiced developed in the 70s that takes on a spiritual and holistic approach. This practice, unlike classic Feng Shui, does not heavily read into the landforms or use the compass. Instead, a “Bagua” also known as “Eight Aspiration Map” is used like a floorplan to identify areas in the house that are optimal for wealth, health etc.
- New Age Feng Shui
This is the youngest amongst the three where it adapts certain practices from previous schools and also uses symbolism with crystals, talisman and the placement of objects.
Some individuals may oppose strongly to the newer schools claiming they are “watered down” while others may suggest that it is a modern solution suitable for modern times. Hence, looking into the different schools and speaking to their respective Feng Shui practitioners might give you a better idea on what is best suited for you and your needs.
Credentials
A good Feng Shui master will ideally have an impressive track record, where they will gladly share with you. These might include the institute or master that they have gained their knowledge from, and their experience in this field. Again, someone with 30 years of experience may not automatically be better than someone with 10 years of experience. The factors mentioned in this piece should also be taken into consideration. Organizations like the International FengShui Guild or the International Feng Shui Association is good reference place to learn more about your Feng Shui master, or other consultants out there.
Testimonials
Nothing is more valuable than someone who has experienced first-hand. Use the network around you to ask for recommendations on Feng Shui masters. You can find a good Feng Shui master through word of mouth and potentially learn from the bad experiences of others. Alternatively, you can also ask the master for their portfolio or testimonials from previous clients. They will never hesitate to give you one if it is positive.
As long as you do your research and follow these pointers, you will have a higher change of finding a good Feng shui master. In the end, always trust your intuition and gut! There is no point of a “Good Feng Shui Master” if you do not trust them or feel safe and comfortable with the process.