This morning I visited an old friend that I have not seen in a long time. Upon arriving at his place I saw he had a large pair of pixiu (very similar to the one pictured above) at the doorway. So I queried him about them. I think he suddenly realised that I am also a feng shui practitioner (duh!) and an old friend (duh again!) that he appear embarrassed. Anyway, after assuring him that it’s ok that HE ENGAGED A STRANGER THAN AN OLD FRIEND TO DO HIS FENG SHUI AUDIT!? WHAT THE -?!?
But seriously, as I was saying, I asked him about the pair of pixiu at the doorway. According to him, they were bought upon the recommendations of a local feng shui practitioner (somehow the use of the word “master” is so common nowadays that I cringe when my clients or students address me that way but that’s a story for another day). Costed him $6000 for the pair (after discount some more). Originally at $3888 each but due to “affinity” to the feng shui practitioner that he got a discount as he (my friend) needed two or so he (the feng shui practitioner) says. And that’s not inclusive of the actual audit which he (my friend) claims that he forgot. Yeah rrriiiggght.
Anyhoo, the pair of stone okay, okay, jade chinese mythical creatures were supposed to pull triple duty of attracting wealth and fortune, ward of evils, as well as appease the Tai Sui or Grand Duke of Jupiter. Well, I don’t know about attracting wealth and fortune or warding off evils but I definitely wonder about the appeasing the Tai Sui part as
1) My friend’s door does not open into or located in the northeast (where the Tai Sui is located this year) nor
2) Even if it was, I seriously doubt they (the pixiu) would be of any help (maybe as very expensive door stoppers).
Which my friend somewhat agreed. I say somewhat because he might not want to admit that his $6000 feng shui “cure” is a total waste of money. Why? Because despite the economy picking up, he still lost some money in stock market earlier this year and his wife almost twisted her ankle coming down the stairs. So much for attracting wealth and fortune or warding off evil huh?
Like I’ve told him, if a place has negative feng shui, no matter how many pixiu, dragons or bagua mirrors you put, you will still have negative feng shui. Only Qi will beget Qi. And that’s what actual feng shui is. The management of good and bad Qi in a specific location.
Oh by the way, J, if you are reading this? The use of placing chinese astrological animal figures around the house for whatever feng shui reasons do not work either. 
