When my wife and I were searching for a new Las Vegas home in 2002, we wanted it to have a solid foundation based on Feng Shui principles. My wife researched the essentials and we decided to build a home that met our needs and supported good Chi. The internal layout of the furniture was a slow process because we want to ensure that everything "was energy (Chi) efficient". We even went so far as to pick a plot of land that had a curvy street in front and located on a hill with a view of a "city of money". With all of the work we did in building the structure and embellishing the interior, the house feels fantastic and the energy feeds us and moves us forward!

This positive experience tickled my curiosity and I decided to assemble some of our observations, based on our initial house hunting and, later, my interest and research. In the Las Vegas area, I focused on Feng Shui "compatibility" based on empty new-builds. All of the homes were built within the last five years and were unoccupied. I acquired a few pictures and compared the structures and placement of built-in components (i.e., doors, windows, and potential placement of furniture as necessitated by the structure) to several books and resources I have available on Feng Shui. In the end, I noticed some consistencies with regard to the class of individual for which the homes were built.

Since we are newbies to Feng Shui, I submitted the research to a few Feng Shui experts to see if we were "in the ballpark". Some of the conclusions I came up with and discussed with these experts were:

• For homes within the Upper class of society, the structures were built to support power and money.

• For homes within the Upper-Middle class of society, the structures were built to support employment and consumption.

• For homes within the Lower to Middle class of society, the structures were built to support production.

• For homes within the Retirement class of society, the structures were built to support endings and isolation from society (e.g., foot of bed facing an external door).

This all seemed interesting in that the type of home built seemed to fit within a particular need or desire for a given societal class. It also seems to be that people purchase a home that supports the issues and lessons on which they are embarking. This approach is a hidden, and ingenious, psychological "marketing gimmick" for builders. Indeed, most people will always go toward that which is the most comfortable.

Of course, one cannot specifically reference outcome by class regarding the selection of the home structure. However, it seems that the architecture of today reflects the mind set of the country as a whole. While, in the long run, many choose the best house they can afford for their family, comfort, and lifestyle; however, most are unconscious of the effects of the space while focusing on the structural illusion.

About The Author

Edward B. Toupin is an author, life-strategy coach, counselor, Reiki Master, technical writer, and PhD Candidate living in Las Vegas, NV. Among other things, he authors books, articles, and screenplays on topics ranging from career success through life organization and fulfillment. Check out some of his recent print and electronic books as well as his articles covering various life-changing topics!

For more information, e-mail Edward at etoupin@toupin.com or visit his site at http://www.make-life-great.com or http://www.toupin.com!

Copyright (c) 2004 Edward B. Toupin