Because Feng Shui has existed for thousands of years, most people practice it without any formal Feng Shui training.

However, new Feng Shui enthusiasts — especially in the West — often ask for workshops, classes, and Feng Shui certification.  Certification can be very useful if you plan to practice Feng Shui professionally.

With no formal Feng Shui governing board, it’s difficult to know which schools and instructors are trustworthy.

If you’re taking a Feng Shui course for fun, such as through an Adult Ed program, credentials may not be important.

On the other hand, if you’re thinking of investing months of study and thousands of dollars, research is vital.

Here’s how to select a Feng Shui school or teacher.

1. EXPERIENCE COUNTS

The first thing to ask is, “How long have you been studying and practicing Feng Shui?” Then, ask for evidence of this.

For example, a Feng Shui school would have a business license on file with the town or county. At the licensing office, you can find out how long they’ve registered as a business.

Ask who their teachers are, and where they trained. Follow this line of training until you’re satisfied that the teachers have a solid foundation in Feng Shui.

2. IF THE TEACHER IS SELF-TAUGHT

There’s nothing wrong with being self-taught; if a teacher began his or her studies 15 or more years ago, there were few Feng Shui schools in the West.

If there is no chain of authority — that is, no one who taught the person — you’ll ask for references, and check them. You’ll also see if the local Better Business Bureau has a file, and what’s in it.

Find out if they’re respected by their peers. Feng Shui practitioners tend to work either with interior designers and decorators, or with the holistic community… or both. Find out where the Feng Shui teacher advertises, and get opinions from people who know him or her, professionally.

3. WHICH STYLE, AND WHY

Next, be sure that the teacher practices a style of Feng Shui that you like. There are two leading styles in the West: Compass School and Black Hat. In addition, there are many less well-known and quirky styles; many of them are simply called ‘intuitive’. Some have emerged from design trends. Others have been developed by individuals.

The latter approaches may only work for those who develop them. It may be more about their energy (or chi) than universal principles.

If you don’t have total confidence in the teacher’s style and how he or she explains it, that’s not the teacher for you.

If the style makes perfect sense to you and you’ve seen it work, repeatedly, you’re with the right teacher.

SUMMARY

Certification can be a useful credential for anyone who plans to practice Feng Shui professionally.  However, finding the right Feng Shui school or teacher is an important decision.

Whether you learn locally or through long-distance study, there are many excellent options.

The homework you do before choosing a Feng Shui school or teacher can be just as important than what you do as a student.

Visit lots of websites, talk with many teachers and Feng Shui consultants.  Compare what you learn from them.  Then, you’ll make the best possible choice.

In Feng Shui, dragons are among the most powerful good luck symbols. Like Persephone, the dragon hibernates beneath the earth during the winter months and re-emerges on the second day of the second month, according to the Chinese calendar. This is when we see the dragon represented in parades.

In a general, the dragon is the male, yang symbol of energy, and the opposite of the phoenix which is feminine, yin energy. Together, the dragon and the phoenix represent a balanced, married couple.

In Feng Shui, dragon represent power and wealth as well as energy. Its position is in the east where it symbolizes beginnings, growth, creativity, and it sometimes manifests as the sunrise.

When studying the landscape to place a house in an ideal location, Feng Shui masters look for a gently sloping hill on the left side–or to the east–to shelter the building. This hill is called the green dragon, and it should be opposite another hill towards the west of the house, called the white tiger.

Another geographic reference to dragons refers to the crest of a mountain, which many indicate a powerful dragon line. This line may provide positive Feng Shui energy for any building in its path.

Dragon lines also referred to lines of energy. A single line of energy can be very powerful, but–for maximum benefits–Feng Shui masters look for the intersection of two or more dragon lines. In the West, these lines are called ley lines. Often, cathedrals, temples, and other sacred sites are located on ley lines. Studies in Britain have shown a remarkable network of ley lines across the British Isles.

Because the dragon is such a powerful good luck symbol in China, you will see it in jewelry, clothing, architecture, flags, and other decorations that are used daily.

There are many ways that you can put dragon energy to work in your life.

First, check the position of your home, school, or where you go to work. See if the building benefits from a green dragon hill one side (usually the left), a smaller white tiger hill on the other, or both.

See how close the building is to the nearest intersection. If the building is near a “four corners” intersection, powerful positive energy can be available; this is dragon energy. Make sure that some windows have a clear view of the intersection, if possible.

In your home or office, as you look into the building through the front door, the left side is your powerful, dragon side. Everything on that side should be slightly larger, more colorful, and–in general–represent it as a place of power.

Although the dragon seat–also called the power seat–can be on either side of the room, it’s best when it is on the left side.

Decorate with dragons when you can, if that’s your personal style. Whether you use Asian-style dragons or fantasy dragons from Celtic lore, any dragon is a good dragon in Feng Shui. Make the best use of them in your Fame area and your Money corner where gold and fire can energize Feng Shui luck.

Dragon jewelry is always good for protection as well as luck. Dragons made of golden metal are good choice, but a green jade dragon is even more lucky. In fact, always look for dragons made from earth materials such as crystal glass, china, clay, or stone. If an Asian-style dragon is carved from wood, consider painting it green with gold accents.

Finally, if your astrology sign is the dragon, you are among the luckiest people in the world. The dragon is the sign of most people born in the years 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, and 2000. Wear symbols of the dragon proudly; use its energy to move you forward to fame, fortune, power, and the greatest happiness.

Every year, the Chinese New Year is on a different day. However, it falls no earlier than January 20th and no later than February 20th.

You can use the following chart to find your personal animal, based on the year of your birth:

Once you know your animal, you can also find your ruling element:

• Rat – Water
• Ox – Earth
• Tiger – Wood
• Rabbit – Wood
• Dragon – Earth
• Snake – Fire
• Horse – Fire
• Sheep (Goat) – Fire
• Monkey – Metal
• Rooster – Metal
• Dog – Earth
• Pig – Water

If you are using Four Pillars Feng Shui to determine how to get the most out of the coming year, your personal animal and element are an important starting point.

You can also consult your horoscope for the upcoming year to maximize your assets and minimize your risks.