After every feng shui class, we begin with the activation of the prosperous star for wealth. In fact we activated all the prosperous stars just as we are taught. We put in water features of all sizes on all the locations just as we are told. We ensure our main doors; our beds and our work stations are tilted to face our sheng qi. We avoid the bad energy areas. Aren't we also taught to tilt our door at the angle of 45 degrees to face the castle gate for prosperity, achievements and status? For further assurance, we display our collections of feng shui ornaments to combat the competition of stars 6 and 7; the arguments of stars 2 and 3; weakening of the evil stars 2, 5 and 7 and the list goes on.

We have been there and done that. Yet we remain working class people, desperately seeking for the break to be another Richard Li or Brandon, not mentioning the Gates and the Murdoch.

Does this sound familiar? What went wrong?

I believe we studied the flying star technique in the course of our quest for feng shui greatness. It is not just about activation. It's about the interaction of the whole chart. There are only nine numbers and you cannot avoid having half the chart of bad combinations. Common usage is the remedial application of the 5 elements. Metal produces water. Why take water bottles to the desert when metal is all you need? Water produces wood. Only plants need water, human and animals do not? Likewise, we say water weakens metal. Soaking metal in water weakens it? How about wood produces fire? Got me there! Have you seen the wood of the forest produces the almighty Sun lately?

The fact is that the nine stars come in three forms: number, qi and image. It has to do with the interactions of the stars in three forms; the visiting of the annuals, monthly and the daily stars, the understanding of the palaces in which the stars reside; where the stars come in from and the interaction of the facing, sitting and the base stars. Not mentioning the human and time factors.

There is much talk about the Feng Shui of Hyatt Hotel, Singapore for her castle gate theory or city mnemonic gate theory, or whatever fanciful names it comes in. Simply tilting the door this way will achieve greatness will make all other theories redundant, doesn't it? To utilise castle gate theory, you will have to find the gate first. Now, where have the gate gone to?

I believe it is time to examine our foundations and the fundamentals that build on it. Are they based on sound principles? We must have a clear working idea of the balance of yin and yang, the harmony of heaven and earth qi, the cosmic trinity, the natural landforms and the luo-shu or he-tuo principles, to name a few. The greatest source of understanding lies in the classics.

Many masters have claimed success to their creation of millionaires. Should they not also claim responsibilities for the many unsuccessful ones?