The answer is yes, if you are a beginner in the art of feng shui. However, an experienced feng shui practitioner’s answer will be a ‘no’.

Why? In order to make you understand, let me introduce you to a theoretical framework, namely, Focus, which is the basis of feng shui.

Focus is a spot, a point or a dot of a particular building as seen from a bigger area or territory. Every building or a site (termed Focus) has its special topographical features and configuration of hills and mountain formations. When we extrapolate the idea of Focus from the mega view of Google Earth (pix above), you will notice that the earth formation and topographical features of a certain area is different from another.

Bangsar (a popular night spot in KL)’s geographical and topographical characteristics are totally different from Puchong’s (an upcoming township in Selangor). Likewise, Puchong’s mountains and topography features are different from Damansara (a residential township in Selangor).

This explain why feng shui cannot be measured or determined by just direction or by using a compass alone. A skillful feng shui master would be able to comprehend the features of certain areas to help him pick an auspicious site or land for good feng shui. This approach of feng shui is called the Focus approach.

Focus approach helps us determine the grading of a particular area, whether it’s a class A site or a class D site. Traditionally, Focus approach helps us to explain why a certain piece of land or area is coincidentally linked to the higher end residential estates like Bangsar and Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI); and understand why other areas are always related to medium or lower working class.

An auspicious area with an ideal topographical feature will help to safeguard the Breath of the Earth at the site. Breath of the Earth is known as "qi", which is noble, righteous, respectable and reputable. And, this only attracts people with the same wave length to stay there.

The reverse is also true. If a site has poor or ugly topography, then it will attract those with similar magnetic field (i.e. unfortunate or underprivileged status) to stay there.

In short, the Focus approach explains why rich people stay in rich lands; and rich lands only belong to rich people.

To explain further, one can always find houses which are facing South whether in Semenyih or in TTDI. They have the same direction, yet, project different social strata status.

This indicates that feng shui cannot be based and determined by a direction and compass alone. Directional perspective constitutes only a small part of feng shui.

If you still believe in direction as the only ingredient of feng shui, then, how do you explain two similar direction houses in the two different areas which cannot provide the same feng shui outcome to the occupants?

Or, how do you explain the houses which share the same direction and located on the same row bringing different luck to their owners?

The truth will reveal itself when you narrow down to the two properties by applying the Focus approach.

This is a fortnightly column on feng shui. For enquiries, email to Master Soon at info@orientalwisdom.com.my . Please include your full name and address and a pseudonym if you wish. No private correspondence will be entertained.