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affect tidal and wind action, such as monsoons and typhoons), to calculate and categorise the nature and effects of the elements on our universe.
The 'Five Elements' are interactive and symbolic of positive energy. They play an important role in fung shui. For instance:
Fire; a building should be well lighted. A lamp should be kept switched on, for example beside the entrance door, at all hours,
Water; jars of salt water should be placed in strategic positions in a building, for example, behind the gas cooker to counteract harmful fumes
Wood; kwun yam chuk or foo kwa chuk (dwarf bamboo) (AT)
富貴竹 (dracaena sanderiana virescens), sometimes called 'fortune plants' which symbolise nature and growth, should be placed in strategic positions around the home.
Metal; coins, one silver and six copper (pebbles are sometimes substituted), are placed on a small plate or in some other container.
Earth; in the business premises that the author visited, in the company of the fung shui master, crystal glass containers are positioned. Seven coins are placed in them as detailed under 'metal' above
A large proportion of the earth is made up of crystals. Natural crystal is more effective for fung shui purposes, although 'dead' (artificial) crystal can have some effect. 'Crystal Power' has become popular in the West in what has been called the 'age of crystal' (David, 15; 1994). It has been described as 'symbolic of', and providing 'positive, invisible energy' (Smith, 1993: 20). Some claim it has the power to adjust imbalances in the atmosphere. Some Westerners believe the moment they lay a piece of crystal in their hand energy surges through their bodies and negative forces are released. It helps them meditate. It brings life into focus, it has healing power; it induces dreams and divine revelations. Not just Westerners but some Chinese fung shui masters too, believe that crystal correctly positioned in a room absorbs negative vibrations.
Representatives of the 'Five Elements', like those listed above, are placed in strategic positions: such as near entrance doors, on shelves, on tables and on the tops of cupboards and similar places, in the business premises visited.