Whatever the case, these forms of Chinese metaphysics are over 3,000 years old and are here to stay.

According to feng shui and bazi practitioner, Alan Chong, feng shui is an ancient science that has not been very well explained.

“Feng shui is linked to Earth’s geomagnetic field, and because humans have biomagnetic fields, the energy of a property, be it a house, office or factory can affect our luck,” he explained.

Bazi, on the other hand, is an astrological practice that predicts a person’s destiny based on their birth year, month, day and hour.

“It explains why some people are more suited for certain tasks; why some succeed and why some struggle although they’re capable,” the 49-year-old founder of the Art of Destiny school, explained.

Predictions for the Year of the Tiger

In general, Chong predicted that the country’s economy will fare better this year.

“Unfortunately, the country will remain unstable politically, thus industries that are expecting major changes in government policy might not see rapid progress,” he said, advising those involved to be patient.

With respect to the pandemic, Chong said that the number of Covid cases will continue to decline, although this won’t be the case in schools and in places of higher education.

“Parents should take precautions to protect their children,” he advised.

In addition, he said that those whose homes face south should avoid major renovation work, unless undertaken on auspicious dates. “Otherwise, it’s better to postpone things till the following year.”

Journey as a practitioner of Chinese metaphysics

Chong was interested in Chinese metaphysics from an early age, although he only had the opportunity to study it much later in life.

“I used to do it (study) over the weekends, and in 2014, I went into it full-time.

He also admitted that initially, he wondered if he could support himself doing feng shui and bazi.

“But after understanding my ‘destiny’, I knew this was the right path for me; things have turned out great ever since,” said the former sourcing manager.

Chong stressed that when it comes to Chinese metaphysics, it is important to seek the right knowledge as there are many different branches.

“You need a teacher to guide you as this is an art form that can’t be learnt through books; there can be serious consequences to your clients’ lives if done wrong,” he said, adding that 50% of his cases are from clients who have received erroneous advice from other feng shui practitioners in the past.

“It’s a huge responsibility; you don’t want them to go through the same bad experience.”

In addition, he emphasises that it is important to study from masters with a proven lineage. “If you ask 10 masters, you’ll get 10 different answers. Knowledge that has been passed down through many generations is more reliable.”

Besides consultation, Chong also teaches various courses on feng shui to students from all over the world.

Myths about feng shui

Chong acknowledged the many misconceptions about the practice of feng shui. “One of the more common myths is that one should not place the sink too close to the stove.

“It has become a cultural belief as it has been with the community for decades, even though it is unfounded,” he said, adding that another prevalent myth is that one should not live near a place of worship.

To address some of these misconceptions, he co-authored a book titled “Winds of Change”, which was published in 2016.

According to Chong, the key lies in achieving balance in all aspects of life, and that the disregard for this ancient wisdom in modern times has created unnecessary stress.

“At the core of it, feng shui is about energy; it’s not about having a painting of mountains or doing a ‘date selection’ for every little thing.”

Chong also adds that many have the wrong perception that feng shui can make one wealthy. “Feng shui can make your life better, but when it comes to being wealthy or famous – that’s the role of destiny.

“Wealth is not a measure of success, as everyone has their own purpose in life. We should focus on living a well-balanced life instead of concentrating on just one aspect, and the earlier we accept this, the happier we’ll be.”

For more information on Alan Chong’s feng shui and bazi practice, check out his website and Facebook page.