Asking all the right questions

From a very tender age, we have constantly been encouraged to develop the habit of asking questions because there is no such thing as a silly question. Studies have also revealed that the habit is a catalyst to cognitive ability growth in children. As adults, we realise that learning does not stop and asking questions is a good habit to possess at any age.

An area of metaphysics that never fails to attract showers of questions is Feng Shui. It has long been subject to misconception and disbelief due to the misleading interpretations that many have experienced.

However, if you ask your Feng Shui consultant the right questions and put it into practice the right way, there is a large chance that you could benefit from it.

The following are some of the questions you should be asking your prospective Feng Shui consultant.

How much does a consultation cost?

Most Feng Shui consultants these days accept payments in cheque or credit card and there are no actual market rates to serve as guides. Some practitioners would quote you a figure like for example RM8888.88 due to superstitious beliefs with the number 8 but this is merely an old wives’ tale. When enquiring about their services, do not be apprehensive about asking how much a consultation would cost. A professional Feng Shui consultant will always be upfront about their fees.

If you feel that the fee is either too high or too low, do not hesitate to ask about it. In general, you should expect fees to vary based on the size of the property in question and the type of consultation services you want the practitioner to perform.

What does the service include?

A good Feng Shui consultant would usually include a BaZi consultation to check your personal stars before starting on any recommendations for the property. Therefore, you should make sure that a BaZi consultation is part of the provided service and whether it is charged separately before agreeing to a consultation.

Other services would also consist of a property audit that includes a date selection that is specially tailored to your BaZi chart. This audit will help guide the consultant into recommending solutions — if there is a need to either improve or correct the Feng Shui of the property. The consultant can also help select a good date to undertake any renovations and for moving in.

Will there be follow-up sessions or a report?

Since you are engaging the services of a consultant, you have every right to ask if their services and prices include follow-up sessions to discuss the audit and recommendations or whether you will be given a written report with the recommendations.

Some consultants do not provide follow-up sessions or a written report. This does not mean that they are any less professional. Some consultants just have a casual approach to their consultancy services. However, make sure you ask them in detail to avoid paying for hidden or extra charges later on.

What kind of Feng Shui do you practise?

Familiarise yourself with the type of practice and methodology that the consultant uses so that you are comfortable with their approach. Some consultants use the New Age approach in their consultancy while others use the Classical Feng Shui approach. If you know your Feng Shui well enough, you can tell which approach they are using especially since a Classical Feng Shui consultant will probably be using a combination of techniques such as San Yuan, San He, Xuan Kong or Ba Zhai.

Will I be required to buy anything?

Be wary if you are told by the consultant to buy products to place in various sectors of your home or office in order to improve the Qi as more often than not, these items are not included in the services. When this happens, there will be a conflict of interest and you have every right to say no.

If the need to place an elemental object at a specific sector arises, the consultant should advise you to use things that are already lying around the home in order to cut back on costs — unless you do not have a certain item at your disposal.

Engaging the services of a Feng Shui consultant is an interpersonal project because this is someone whom you will most likely turn to in the future to evaluate your property or select dates for your business, if you have one. However, constantly asking questions about grey areas would certainly go a very long way in bringing about positivity in your life. If you would like to do preliminary research before hiring a consultant or get to know other types of questions to ask your consultant, simply drop by www.joeyyap.com and get started. Always remember, ask and you shall receive.

If you have any feng shui-related questions for Yap, please go to the Tips section of TheEdgeProperty.com.

Datuk Joey Yap is the world’s leading Chinese Metaphysics consultant and bestselling author of more than 160 books which have sold over four million copies worldwide. He is chief consultant of the Joey Yap Consulting Group and founder of Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphysics. His nearly two decades of professional consultancy includes working with Microsoft, Sime Darby, UEM, Prudential and Citibank. He has students in more than 30 countries.

This story first appeared in TheEdgeProperty.com pullout on Dec 9, 2016, which comes with The Edge Financial Daily every Friday. Download TheEdgeProperty.com pullout here for free.