When it comes to using Feng Shui choosing to live in a good area is more valuable than direction and home factors alone. The external environment determines 70% of your Feng Shui. Direction accounts for another 10% and 20% is the factors relating to the home itself.  So choose wisely!

Singapore and Feng Shui: an ancient Chinese system of summoning good luck, balance and harmony – literally ‘wind and water’ – are intertwined.  Feng Shui is part of the fabric of Singapore life.

Shopping malls, office towers and homes draw on its principles in their location and design in an attempt to create prosperity. Individuals often consult Feng Shui Masters to decide on the best date to get married, give birth, move house or take any important action.

I have been living in Singapore for a few months now. Did I choose it or did it choose me? According to my birth chart the place is favourable for me (bringing Fire, missing from my chart, into my life). That’s why my life has changed in a very positive way.  If you are aware, the place you live plays a major role in your life.  It can make your life flow in a smooth and easy way or it can make your life a living hell. That’s the power of the environment in which you live.

When it comes to discussing Singapore most people will consider Money, Power and a Good Life. Okay, there is much more to it than this but when it comes to Singapore these are some of the most used words attributed to a small City in the heart of Asia. After travelling the world and seeing all the hot spots, I can say that after Monaco, Singapore ‘smells’ real money (with no corruption) and a good life.

In the first seconds of stepping out into Singapore, I was fascinated like no other place I had been (and I think I have visited more than 60 countries up to this point). No other country had the impact for me as Singapore did.  Its power is amazing for many foreigners who live here, especially westerners.

“This place has something. Don’t know what exactly, but its vibe is very positive.  I asked to be transferred here, although I never took such a dramatic decision in my life.”  Those words belong to a friend who works for a corporation bank and made the decision to transfer to Singapore.

For all those specific details, the credits are going to Master Tan Koon Yong and his business WayFengShui. More information you can find here.

Nation of Four Nationalities Built Up On a Chinese Principle – the Power of Feng Shui

Yes, to be successful means to work hard, but for those who are really in the game they know that to be truly successful means to work strategically, to build-up smart.  Not all who are working hard are successful in the world.  This is not my theory it is proven by facts if you look around.  So what does Singapore have compared to other places who drain in poverty?

Lets’ begin at the beginning.  Singapore this year celebrates its 50 years of independence.  50 years from zero to hero.

“Over 100 years ago this was a mud-flat, swamp.  Today, this is a modern city.  Ten years from now this will be a metropolis.  Never fear.”  – Lee Kuan Yew

Besides the brilliant mind of Lee Kuan Yew and his government, Singapore has some hidden principles that many do not speak of.  This Power of Invisible which is used dramatically almost everywhere.

Singapore is built on Feng Shui principles and even with minimal knowledge of Classical Chinese Metaphysics you can notice this at every strategic or important building. Nothing is built haphazardly.

Follow The Money

In downtown Singapore, you can notice the influence of Feng Shui. If you take a walk downtown and have even minimal knowledge of Feng Shui you can understand that every building and corner is using its principles.

Singapore is good for business, any kind…and has huge support from its Government. Does the Government apply Chinese Metaphysics? Officially ‘no’ however unofficially it is noticeable that even its own building has Feng Shui principles.

Singapore and its energy is directed in such a way to attract the intellectual and smart forces from around the world. I’ve been to an event hosted by Apple and for the first time I heard the fact “you cannot be stupid in Singapore”.  (okay, these are specifically referring to startup businesses) however I would like to extend it further and say that yes, Singapore does not produce stupid people and lazy people and most important in the end, Singapore does not produce corruption…

…and the question is “What has this to do with Feng Shui?” A lot I would like to say…if not everything!

Because Singapore is a huge place to consider Feng Shui and there are many spots using Feng Shui principles this article will be split into two parts. In this first part we will focus more on Singapore River, Merlion, UOB Bank, DUO Residences, Marina Bay Sands, The Parliament and The Gardens by the Bay.

Singapore River

Singapore River where it_ all begins
Singapore River where it_ all begins

Water plays a major role in Feng Shui…and besides the fact that Singapore is surrounded by water its river plays a major role in what Singapore has become today.  If you walk along the river you may notice that in its financial and business district the shape of the river looks like a ‘carp’ – and the fisherman who catches the carp will benefit and prosper, just as Singapore has done.  So the carp I am referring to is none other than the Singapore river at the heart of Singapore’s civic and business district and geographically, the river is shaped like a swimming carp, full of life and vitality.

Oh, many sceptical people may say this is just a coincidence.  I come and say ‘you bet?’  There is no such thing as coincidence.  People who live in this environment can thrive.  It’s no wonder that Singapore’s main Banks and even Parliament House are located here.  Among all the financial institutions, UOB is a local Bank situated closest to the river, at the juicy and meaty bell of the ‘carp’.  Viewed from a distance the two UOB towers resemble a pair of chopsticks, gripping the carp – that’s why UOB continues to stand out in such a competitive industry.

In Feng Shui one of the rules talks about cleanness, especially when it comes to water.  A dirty river means nothing more than a bad life and corruption.  50 years ago, Singapore’s river was rubbish, a mess, a gang’s area.  After it was cleaned in the 70s everything changed.

For a second look at Singapore River position, you’ll understand that Cavenagh Bridge (according to Feng Shui) represents a ‘Dragon Gate’ formation which may help prosperity in the area and which helped Singapore to settle on the World map.  Setting up an office here should help generate wealth for you.

The Merlion

Merlion Singapore
Merlion Singapore

Another hot spot in Singapore is the Merlion – the mascot of Singapore and a magnificent icon for tourists from all over the world.  It has fronted Singapore’s tourism industry for decades.

The story of Merlion is related also to the Singapore River story according to the Feng Shui. Everyone knows that the Merlion spouts water from its mouth, and some even claim that being splashed by its spray will bring good fortune. Sounds like superstition? Well, according to Feng Shui this is true – the Singapore River is one of the main water streams, and the Merlion water spout generates a constant flow of good fortune for the country.

Apart from being Singapore’s mascot, the Merlion is also Singapore’s protector constantly watching over the island and its nation.  From certain angles, the gaze of the Merlion resembles that of our founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Feng Shui places great emphasis on ‘facing’ or orientation, hence the orientation of the Merlion cannot be neglected.  The stories about Merlion are much wider, but this will be material for a new article in the future.

DUO Residences

DUO residences Singapore
DUO residences Singapore

From a Feng Shui perspective another spot in Singapore is next to Bugis.  DUO Residences is located between The Gateway which is strong negative Qi and Parkview Square, which is sturdy and unmoving.  How can harmony be maintained when one is caught in the middle of these two extreme Feng Shui environments?  Here’s where the unusual shape of  DUO Residences begins to make perfect sense.

The outward orientation of the Gateway represents ‘hard’ strength in terms of Singapore’s economy and technology which Parkview Square has a ‘soft’ cultured air.  This coupling of Yin and Yang forces results in a fertile ground for DUO Residences.  The two towers multiple concave walls help deflect and soften the strong and direct Qi from both The Gateway and Parkview Square allowing residents to benefit from this high-energy environment.

According to Grand Master Tan, Beach Road reflects the ‘Twin Dragons Holding Up a Pearl’ formation and thus he tried to introduce a ‘pearl setting’  into the design of DUO Residences.  If you look carefully at the two towers, they not only look like pushing hands in Tai Chi but also like a framed setting for a pearl.

Yes, all this sounds rather incredulous and we have no concrete evidence to support these theories, since everyone has different perspectives.  The design could resemble many other things.  However the facts are that DUO Residences was fully sold out within the first two weeks of its release – perhaps that is a testament to the Feng Shui of this place?  Think and decide for yourself!

Overseas Union Bank aka OUB

UOB Singapore
UOB Singapore

In this case, being an ‘Asian financial hub’ like Hong Kong does Singapore also see such intense business battles?  We cannot say for sure but there was a big shift in Singapore’s banking industry when Overseas Union Bank (OUB) was acquired by United Overseas Bank (UOB) in 2001.  As always, we will be looking at this event from a Feng Shui angle.

UOB and OCBC are all located on one of the landed ‘pearls’ with superior Feng Shui as well as along Chulia Street.  No wonder this place developed so quickly.  Why did OUB end up being taken over?  Let’s look at the Feng Shui behind all this.

UOB Plaza is made up of two buildings: UOB Plaza Two actually sits on the old three-storey Bonham building.  When UOB built Plaza Two in 1973 their banking business was at its peak.  However the good times didn’t last.  When its competitor OUB Group built the 280-metre high (this was the maximum height permitted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore) OUB Centre, UOB’s revenue seemed to take a hit.  Why?

The answer is quite simple.  If you’ve seen the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, then you’ll understand the wonder of it all.  You see, like the Bank of China Tower, OUB Centre uses ‘masculine’ architectural features, with plenty of sharp corners that ‘slash’ away mercilessly at UOB Plaza Two!  Furthermore, OUB Centre’s main entrance faces East/West, which was highly auspicious during the seventh Feng Shui luck cycle (1984-2003).

However, while the ‘masculine’ design allowed OUB Centre business to thrive in the best of times, it also succumbed easily during less favourable times – so much so that it collapsed like a house of cards.

Strangely enough, after UOB built the equally high 280-metre UOB Plaza One in 1992, the situation seemed to change.  Not only was there a marked improvement in business, the Company even acquired its main competitor OUB.  How did this dramatic change come about?  From a Feng Shui perspective we have to credit the UOB architecture that ‘counters force with softness’.  What do we mean by this?

UOB Plaza is not only shaped like the Petronas Twin Towers with a ‘Yin’ Feng Shui formation its foundation is also shaped like a Bagua (an eight-sided structure) with a ‘stack of coins’ at the top.  These two towers had OUB Centre firmly stuck in between, changing UOB’s overall Feng Shui direction to a North/South one giving it a natural advantage.  In the end, the Yin negated the domineering Yang.

Parliament House

Parliament House Singapore
Parliament House Singapore

As I mentioned above, the Singapore River has a big impact in local economy and the thriving of the country as a whole.  Located along the Singapore River the Central Business District is key to Singapore’s economy. Were these business leaders really so discerning?  Or did they seek the benefits of Feng Shui? Probably a combination of both! Parliament House on the other hand has always remained at the same spot along the Singapore River, suggesting that the land might have outstanding Feng Shui. The Singapore River is clearly the spine of our business and civic districts!

Local and overseas banks, regional headquarters of multi-national companies and both the new and the old Parliament Houses are all situated here. In Feng Shui plenty is at stake when choosing an address for financial districts, capitals and key government institutions. The area around the Singapore River is undoubtedly a rare Feng Shui treasure!

A coincidence? Remember there are no coincidences! So think again!

While it is in a prime location, Parliament House appears to violate the traditional basics of Feng Shui which is to have a mountain behind (for support) and sea (or water) in front for wealth. No wonder it is commonly thought as lacking Feng Shui characteristics. As the saying goes however, ‘laymen see the commotion, experts watch the road’.  Does our Parliament House really have no Feng Shui to speak of?  If you look carefully you will find that Feng Shui has been integrated into the building’s surroundings. Despite having a ‘back facing the sea’ formation, this signifies that Singapore, small in size and lacking in resources, fights each battle as if it were her last; with resolution and conviction!

Parliament House in Singapore has a down-to-earth design, reflecting the steady manner of the Government. What’s more, if you stand with your back facing the building you will find that the Singapore River is on the left and the Supreme Court on the right.  The Singapore River is a Water Dragon while the Supreme Court symbolises authority – perfectly fitting the important ‘Green Dragon on the left and White Tiger on the right’ formation.

If you observe the surroundings, you will also notice that the three towers of Marina Bay Sands are right behind Parliament House, almost like a mountain. We guess only the authorities will know what is really going on here, or do they really know?

The current Parliament House is merely an extension of the old Parliament House switching its Feng Shui direction from sitting Northwest (Qian) and facing Southeast (Xun) to the opposite.  This switching of directions may allow Singapore another 50 years of prosperity, but in the next luck cycle (2024-2043-Period Nine) its luck may go downhill which may lead to more conflict in Parliament…

…Of course, the internal and external design features of Parliament House also have some inherent Feng Shui properties, but these are not easy to spot.

Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands in the evening
Marina Bay Sands in the evening

Does Marina Bay Sands have Feng Shui elements? Everyone who sees Marina Bay Sands and knows Feng Shui rules will understand that everything was created to produce money. The environment  fully supports the building and it will remain a ‘money factory’.

Many feel that the Sky Park (the famous swimming pool at the top) resembles a large ship. From a Feng Shui perspective that description cannot stand.  After all the Sky Park holds an infinity pool – if it were a ship wouldn’t this ship be waterlogged?

As we all know, the gambling industry is a contentious one. Of course, the design of Marina Bay Sands was also subject to debate and ‘ship or moon’ what just one of many such arguments. Some say the three towers represent fortune, prosperity and longevity while others claim they resemble ancestral tablets, joss sticks or even pallbearers with a coffin!

Actually, one should look at the entire building when analysing the Feng Shui configuration of Marina Bay Sands. Using only parts of the building results in a generalised and incomplete analysis. Apart from the hotel towers, the entire complex includes four more buildings consisting of the convention centre and exhibition halls, casino, theatre, and the lotus-shaped Art/Science Museum.

On a larger scale, Marina Bay Sands faces Southeast (Xun bearing) and Northwest (Qian bearing) belonging to the ‘Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon’ formation. The Sky Park represents the moon, while the three towers represent the stars of fortune, prosperity and longevity. The four ancillary buildings are supplementary stars.

That said, have you even wondered why one would need to build a swimming pool ‘on the moon’? Apart from being a huge draw for tourists this pool could also be for the Feng Shui ‘dragons’ of Marina Bay to play in and drink from. You heard it right – Marina Bay, Marina South and Marina East are the meeting places for the Western, Southern and Central dragons; an auspicious place where ‘dragons soar’. Dragons can ride on the clouds and dive into deep waters therefore apart from the reservoir that is Marina Bay, the pool ‘on the moon’ is also a favourite place for the dragons to visit!

Although Marina Bay Sands is managed by a multinational casino group, its architecture and design stands out from that of other casinos. It is designed to provide entertainment for the whole family, hence it is termed an Integrated Resort. Perhaps while the husband has a little gamble, the wife shops and dines and the children attend performances and visit exhibitions.

Without careful observation you might even miss the entrance and exit of this place.  Aside from the well-hidden VIP entrances, the Marina Bay Sands has four entrances. Curious about which is the best one? From a Feng Shui perspective it is best to enter the casino from the ‘Green Dragon’ direction. And where is that? Share the answer if you know! Just bear in mind not to enter from the direction of the ‘White Tiger’ or you will be delivering yourself right into the Tiger’s mouth!

Gardens by the Bay

Gardens By The Bay -Singapore
Gardens By The Bay -Singapore

The gardens represent one of the most important places for the Singaporean to live, work and play.

Gardens by the Bay is one of the top 10 indoor gardens in the world, and it is also a horticultural masterpiece. From a Feng Shui angle having a garden situated at Marina Bay is highly favourable.  Geographically speaking, the Singapore River and Kallang River confluence into Marina Bay resembles the head of a Dragon and Gardens by the Bay happens to sit at the nose of the Dragon rather like a fragrant flower.

The main attraction in Gardens by the Bay are the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. Looking towards the two air-conditioned domes you will find they offer a different perspective when viewed from different angles. Some say they look like the wings of a butterfly, or two large seashells. It makes sense doesn’t it?  It is natural for a garden to attract butterflies and so is finding seashells by the sea.

Others suggest that the arcs of the two domes resemble a half-submerged Dragon resting and playing with the Western, Central and Southern Dragons of Singapore! Of course, you may also see these domes as giant eggs, pearls or eyes. That’s how interesting Feng Shui is…based on theory and terrain you build life!

Now try looking at another attraction of the gardens – the Supertrees – through Feng Shui lenses! These towering ‘trees’ also look like nails, don’t they?

One can’t help but wonder if the Supertrees were deliberately designed to ‘nail down’ something, such as revenue or fund, so that it can’t be ‘lost’ to something else such as Marina Bay Sands! Exercise your imagination to figure this out!

The Durian on Esplanade

The Esplanade Theatres and Durains on the Bay
The Esplanade Theatres and Durains on the Bay

Everyone loves durians in Singapore. However this is not a good reason for the Government to pay $600m for a giant construction, right?

The Esplanade is located close to Beach Road. In terms of its terrain, Beach Road reflects the ‘Twin Dragons Holding Up a Pearl’ Feng Shui formation. The ‘twin Dragons’ refer to the Singapore and Kallang Rivers, while the ‘pearl’ is Beach Road – which has excellent Feng Shui. However, because of land reclamation this ‘pearl’ has gradually moved towards Marina South while Beach Road has lost some of its former glory.

The Esplanade is near the head of one of the ‘Dragons’ – the Singapore River – and is also in close proximity to Marina Bay. In other words, it sits on excellent terrain. There were reportedly two concepts proposed for the building design 1) microphone and 2) two eggs.

Topographically speaking the ‘two eggs’ concept better fits the Feng Shui formation of ‘holding up a pearl’. Being a country with a tropical climate however the smooth enclosed glass design was deemed to be inappropriate. In order to let in plenty of natural light while providing sufficient shade and heat protection, numerous small angled aluminium sunshades were added. With that, the Esplanade became a unique architectural icon, nicknamed ‘the Durian’ for its resemblance to our favorite fruit.

The Esplanade officially opened on October 12, 2002. Because of its sharp and pointed exterior, it generates substantial negative Qi which has adversely affected its neighbors. For instance, the palm-shaped Suntec City sees unimpressive visitor traffic and the Merlion was moved around the same time, perhaps to avoid this negative Qi.

The Singapore Flyer

Singapore Flyer
Singapore Flyer

The Singapore Flyer observation wheel bears a striking resemblance to Nezha’s Wind Fire Wheel. This powerful weapon can be thrown at attackers as well as used for flying around the Heavens. Similarly, the Singapore Flyer was the world’s biggest observation wheel until March 2014. Not only is it a tourist attraction but it plays an important role in the Feng Shui of Singapore.

Singapore is a tiny nation and only through land reclamation are we able to increase our land area. However, because of land reclamation, our two ‘Water Dragons’ – the Singapore River and the Kallang River – were transformed into ‘Dragons Swimming in Shallow Water’ unable to swim out to the ocean.

The city reservoir formed by Marina Barrage effectively increases the water reserves of Singapore however it has its drawback in Feng Shui terms. Because Feng Shui places great emphasis on free-flowing water adding something to move the now-still waters of Marina Bay would have immense Feng Shui benefits.

Perhaps it had all been secretly planned, but a constantly spinning observation wheel just happens to fit the bill for stirring up the water at the confluence of the Singapore River and Kallang River. Word has it that the developers of the Singapore Flyer did take Feng Shui into consideration when designing and placing this ‘Wind Fire Wheel’!

For starters, the Singapore Flyer has 28 observation capsules and each capsule can hold 28 passengers – all using the numbers 2 and 8. In the Cantonese dialect, 28 sounds like ‘easy to prosper’, bringing good luck. Some even believe that this uses the Feng Shui theories of ‘inherent numbers’ and ‘forming ten’ – we won’t go into details here but suffice to say rumors fly aplenty!

One thing we do know for sure is that after listening to advice from a Feng Shui Master the Singapore Flyer reversed its direction of rotation on July 28, 2008 due to disappointing revenue. Unfortunately, even after this adjustment business did not improve.

We do believe that reversing the Singapore Flyer direction of rotation was necessary. However, the wheel still spins on land and does not actually move the water. Hence, it would be ideal if a fountain could be built to enliven the still water. This would not only improve business for the Singapore Flyer but also boost the economy of Singapore in the long term. Here’s wishing Singapore’s ‘Wind Fire Wheel’ a rapid ascension to take Singapore to greater heights!

 

The advice

If you educate yourself and if you do some simple research, you can begin to understand that this has nothing to do with magic, superstition or voodoo. Feng Shui is an ancient art used for millennia and it has proven its power for centuries.

What you should take into consideration is that some of us ‘Live by Choice’ not ‘By Chance’. And the choice belongs to YOU. Here I share some proof of how things are in Singapore. Next week will be more spots in Singapore.

Please do share your thoughts about it and if you think  it is worth it, share it with your friend too. We will build a better life together.  Sharing is caring!

This article is a part of the Business, Entrepreneurship & Feng Shui Series on The Asian Entrepreneur. Click on the image to read other articles in the series: 

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