Feng Shui for Dummies

by David Kennedy, Lin Yun (Foreword)

Benefit from the ancient Chinese art of Feng ShuiTake a look around you. What do you see? Whether or not you're aware of it, your environment profoundly affects your health, wealth, family life, relationship, and yes, even your destiny.Feng Shui (pronounced fung shway), which means wind water, is the ancient Chinese study of harmony and energy flow between you and your physical surroundings. Now, "Feng Shui For Dummies, " 2nd Edition shows you how you can apply Feng Shui principles to your home (inside and out) and workplace (from window office to cubicle) in order to achieve a better life.Principles are explained in an easy-to-understand languagePractical tips show you how to incorporate the traditions of Feng Shui to your everyday lifeBefore-and-after illustrations and full-color photos of real-life Feng Shui makeovers in an all-new 8-page color insertFree of technical jargon and brimming with practical tips and advice, "Feng Shui For Dummies" shows you how to feel and access the energy of your environment and create harmony and happiness in your life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Self Help, Unfinished, Architecture, New Age

432 pages, ebook

First published November 22, 2000

About the author

Dave is a guidebook writer/publisher turned novelist. He began rock climbing around 1984, which was a “logical” extension of hiking, camping and backpacking since boyhood. After his first article on climbing in San Diego’s back-country was published in Rock & Ice magazine, he created the San Diego County Climbing Guide, which proved extremely popular. Next came San Diego Adventures: Classic hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing. In 2007 he completed and published a second edition of the climbing guide, which vividly detailed over 2,000 routes.

Subsequently, he embarked on a fiction-writing odyssey, producing sci-fi novels and short stories “rather unsuccessfully” in terms of publication. He finally found his proper voice in 2017 when he wrote Ricochet, an intense modern-day thriller about a young female vigilante. Upon its completion, he learned about Acorn Publishing while attending the 2018 Southern California Writers’ Conference and was signed by them shortly thereafter.

David is also an accomplished horticulturist. He became interested in tropical plants called Bromeliads in 2010, which quickly turned into a passion. He is an active member of the San Diego Bromeliad Society, and has won “Best of Show” awards in their annual show multiple times. His Tillandsia collection is considered one of the best in the region. For many years he and his wife Debbie have been chief volunteer caretakers of the San Diego Zoo’s Kent Bromeliad Garden.

Becoming a novelist is the realization of a lifelong dream. David loves the process of storytelling, of waking up each day well before dawn and diving into the art of making words come together in a way that appeals.

Reviews

[J. Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this book since the year it came out--it was my first introduction to feng shui and my favorite go-to book since then. Not a year goes by that I don't pull it out to review or fine tune some aspect of my feng shui practice, especially when we're moving to a new place or doing a makeover.

While the application of feng shui is a lifetime pursuit, the premise is simple--the state of one's living (or office) space can influence their general well-being. The premise of this book is equally simple.

Unlike formal schools of thought, this book requires no special tools or compasses to determine where each of the nine feng shui life areas are located in your house. Here, the zones are located relative to the front door--easy peasy, and yet the results are no less powerful.

There is a wealth of information here on how and where to use colors, shapes, materials, and your own intention to bring positive energy to your life, how to identify and "cure" trouble spots with your layout, and special sections on using the five elements (feng shui includes metal as an element) and improving finances. There's even a chapter with special blessings you can do to freshen energy or to christen a new home. While these are tailored to a buddhist approach, the author encourages readers to adapt these to one's own beliefs and practice.

Before you discount feng shui as nothing more than eccentric, mystical hokey-pokey, consider giving it a try! It's made a world of difference in my home. Many of the suggestions in the book are a matter of common sense, but often things we overlook. Most are incredibly easy to implement, in any case.

[~☆~Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of this is not interesting but other parts of it are fascinating. There were too many charts for me and I do like my old book Feng Shui Step by Step. This book says that Feng Shui Step by Step is superstition.

[Karen Floyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good advice, especially in the beginning, about how your house and its condition affect you. It makes perfect sense. But by the end I was a little tired of the cures and blessing ceremonies, most of which required the purchase of something or other. I don't want mirrors, Japanese flutes or little crystal balls hanging all over my house. And I don't want multiple flagpoles and lights around my yard. But, on the other hand, I do realize the need for a hedge across my front yard to buffer us from the street.

[Carolyn Tragasz]

About what one would expect from a For Dummies book- a good overview and general introduction to the topic. I didn't find the writing especially engaging, but it was informative. Focused less on theory and history and more on practical suggestions for how to get down to the art of practicing Feng Shui.

I don't know that I'm a believer in everything proposed, but I was inspired to try some of the suggested modifications in my home.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years have passed and I reached much higher level of the practice, but this remains one of my favorite entry level, beginners' book on Feng Shui.
I always recommend it as a good intro & a first step to anyone who is interested learning about real, classical Feng Shui. It could be well accompanied and combined, or immediately followed by a higher level book that deals with "real feng shui" in a bit more serious way. I have recently reviewed "A Course in Real Feng Shui", by Althea S.T. and recommend it, or you can find a similar, high-profile content on real, classical FS.
P.S: Honestly, I don't remember the part with those wind-chimes, mirrors, etc., some users posted about..? Maybe I have just 'surpressed it' :))))))))))))))))

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little manual for looking at your home in a way that helps cultivate positive chi. What's more you can dip in and out of it as your circumstances change as well as reading it to learn about feng shui.
Very detailed so I'm sure it can help those with intermediate knowledge as well as newbies to the subject

[Jannette Tacka · Rating 3 out of 5]

More than mirrors, plants and crystal spheres. Intention. Chi. Dad joke, every few pages but I didn't mind. I'll keep, as a reference, many diagrams. Nice kick in the butt to reevaluate your environment. Always good to switch-up perspectives. Have applied several cures. 3 stars- repetitive and last chapter bogs down when more complex cures are presented.

[Tera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of information, instructions and diagrams/pictures. Good reference book.

[Glennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, my favorite book on feng shui.

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sent me down such a rabbit hole that changed my entire life over a decade ago and I am always grateful to it for that reason. It's a fantastic introduction to the philosophies of Taoism and covers so many ideas that are worth its own study on the understanding of the archetypes of the elements of nature and how they manifest from the higher to the lower, from the base literal form to the meaningful spiritual or emotional form.

There's a brief note in here on the art of BaZi and Zi Wei Dou Shu for destiny readings and I'm so grateful it introduced me to each of those amazing wonders.

It's a great book, easy to read but doesn't lack any depth from that. The sources are well-found. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone.

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not my first introduction to Feng Shui but it is the one that covers most topics. It describes exactly what it should be doing; feng shui for dummies - people who know nothing about it. It gives you a heads up on what areas in life you could adress and some easy cures to apply, so you could start out on your own, however it is very much simplified and doesn't go to deep in to exceptions.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite interesting at first. Got boring very quickly. Lots of repetition. Could serve as a reference.

[Yeomen Seen 1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obedience is a virtue...the greatest test lies on how we practice this virtue [since]
mind tend to corrupt..

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have found all the "dummies" guides that I've read to be excellent and I'm glad they exist! I learned a lot about feng shui from this book.

[Khoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Putting bagua mirrors on the fence, facing your neighbor.

[Erik Akre · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are attracted to the magic of Feng Shui in any way, this is a great book to propel you forward into practice. It is comprehensive, and for a Dummies book, it goes very deep into the historical, aesthetic, and practical aspects of the practice. You will find everything you need to begin, and you will enjoy the read as you go. I don't always put faith in these books, but this one is very good, very well written, and relaxed enough to welcome you.

Feng Shui is indeed a practice of true magic, an elaborate magical system, make no mistake. It includes ritual, intent to change, and the use of actual material symbolism. Kennedy makes this clear, without actually using the word "magic." One raises energy and directs it, transfers it to the physical space, and it radiates this energy from then on. Kennedy wisely suggests not mixing Feng Shui systems, and describes more than one to deepen the reader's understanding and appreciation. The one he rests on for most of the book is an open and flexible system: perfect for the beginner.

If you're interested, and just beginning, this is a highly recommended book. From this, one can move on into the deeper and more philosophical treatises. One can start Big, or start small, and take it as far as one wants to go. Read it, and get started!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the type of book that can only be read read when either A) you REALLY need to/want to learn something or B) you have a month off and not much better to do. Amazingly, I somehow fit into both categories last month! While this book will not make you a subject matter expert, it will give you insight into some of the most important concepts of feng shui. For anyone mildly interested in energy and how it affects us all, there are convincingly strong correlations between the condition of your home and the energy or success you experience in corresponding areas of your life. Since I happened to move shortly after reading Feng Shui for Dummies, I used some the principles from the book to select my current home and where furniture is arranged and did my best to make use of color and shape applications and expect positive chi in areas of the home that I maintain.

[Lily Haven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good place to start if you are interested in Feng Shui, though I do wish it had more "advanced" cures. It really didn't take long for me to be sitting there going: "Let me guess, hang a crystal, put up a mirror or install a bright light..." These three things were repeated so often it could give someone the idea that that is all there really is to Feng Shui. Despite the predictability of the cures this book was loaded with good information that I haven't seen in other books I have read on the topic. So over all I would recommend reading this book, but don't treat it as the be all end all of Feng Shui guides, instead read it along with other books on Feng Shui to get a more rounded perspective.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of information crammed in here, and it didn't help that the kindle formatting was really really poor. That said, I feel like the majority of information boils down to "keep organized and clean, and when your chi is bad, put mirrors and crystal balls everywhere." Obviously, it's not like that at all, but most of my takeaway was that I need to hang a lot more mirrors and get a lot more lamps to light up this horrible dark little apartment.

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't wait to grab a few minutes to read a little more of this book each day... If you ever wonder why everything in your life is such a mess, take a look at this book. I have discovered that my home and surroundings are in serious violation of the principles of Feng Shui, which explains a lot! A more complete review will follow when I learn everything I am doing wrong!

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Enjoyed this read. Not my first Book for Dummies; Will certainly not be my last. Outlined much of the stuff, Got my red envelopes, wind chimes, and flutes. Will definitely be doing some of the blessings. Orange peel, Rice blessing. Working on the Mudras and mantras now. going to bless my cousin's new place. Just got to get that cinnabar

[Sally Kilpatrick]

This one was too precise. If you're serious about feng shui and want to make sure you house doesn't face the wrong way, then this book might be for you. If you're looking for the basics laid out in an entertaining style, this isn't the book for you.

[Lisadecorates · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very first book purchase about Feng Shui. Easy to understand and apply. Still cross check with it once in awhile. It explains and orange peel blessing which I have used , with excellant results, at least once every year since 2007.

[Ann Kucera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book that gives you the basics of feng shui in an easy to understand format with plenty of drawings, Feng Shui for Dummies includes several traditional feng shui blessing ceremonies and cures.

[Sheehan · Rating 2 out of 5]

New house, new arrangement...I wouldn't say it's good, but it's informative.

[Michelle Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say I learned quite a bit about Feng Shui. I was suprised considering it was a dummy book.

[John Towery · Rating 3 out of 5]

It give you the basic of Feng Shui. It's informative and gives me enough knowledge to apply it to our home. It's not that bad.

[Cory · Rating 2 out of 5]

No roses at your front door. Dont want to mess with your Qi.

[TC · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book provides a concise history of Feng Shui and easy to follow instruction on how to incorporate the pratice into your home. Results pending :)

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad