Chapter 17 - The Staircase Can Be Destructive

Huge luxurious residence houses of the western style often have the staircase in the centre of the hall close to the entrance. The pillars of the staircase look sumptuous, with dragons and phoenixes carved on them.

Probably, the westerners make the staircase an ornament to the sitting-room. Some staircases in posh houses have a spiral style, beautiful and unaffected. When visitors are announced, the host walks down the stairs elegantly, as if there is going to be a happy reunion.

In western-style residences, more often than not, the staircase faces the main gate of the house.

Some geomancers tend to overlook the staircase. Some say that a staircase close to the gate symbolizes upward moving each step being higher than the last. If the staircase leads to the basement, it symbolizes downward movement, each step being lower than the last. Upward movement is good while downward movement is bad.

In fact, these are erroneous ideas. The reason is that when the vitality forces come in through the main gate, they are stopped by the staircase, which, by its steps with cutting edges, intercepts them and throws them into confusion.

According to books on geomancy, the staircase close to the main gate symbolizes a bumpy road, full of unexpected destruction. This is something very serious. I would think that a staircase near the main gate is like a pillar close to the gate, it has strong destructive power.

In short, the staircase in the sitting-room of those sumptuous buildings is a "sign of decline." For ordinary families, a staircase next to the gate is a "sign of unexpected calamities."

I once studied a residence building in which there had been one accident one after another. The family had had more than ten car accidents, big or small, within one year. Either their car ran into other people's car, or other cars bumped against theirs. Once their car was parked, but it glided all by itself to dash into other people's car.

There was once a lucky month during which they had had no accidents. So they decided to go out to celebrate it. As they were backing the car, however, it hit upon the door of their garage. The garage door was damaged and the car got a concave patch. Once again, "the loss of some wealth is more preferable than a disaster."

The owner told me that they had been driving for more than ten years and always drove with great care, but there were always some car accidents every month. They were indeed puzzled. If things should carry on like that, their nerves were to break down. They were terrified at the sight of cars, as if they had been imprecated.

I discovered in the building a staircase right near the main gate and it was in the northeastern position which is the "ghost door."

The northwest is always avoided. It is not suitable either for a door or for lifts as it is considered as "the door for ghosts."

At my suggestion, the staircase close to the gate was removed and ever since the family had enjoyed peace without any mishap.

In Taiwan, I studied a staircase made up of iron; as there were little space, the staircase spiraled upward. It was like an iron pillar and not very convenient because there was only enough space for one person at a time. Such staircases in the wrong position could be very destructive.

There are three ways to change the staircase:

First, turn round the staircase next to the main gate to make it no longer directly face the main gate. Any staircase that can be seen from the main gate should be removed or covered up. As long as the forces coming in from the gate are not intercepted, things will be all right. This is a good trick.

Second, in building a new house, it is better to "hide" the staircase because it has everything destructive and nothing constructive. The best design is to put the staircase between two walls - it cannot be seen from outside but there is a door leading to it. A little store room or a toilet can be built under the staircase.

Third, in a house already completed, if the staircase faces the main gate directly and it cannot be removed, then it has to be covered up. A huge screen can be set up in front of the staircase - between the staircase and the main gate. A huge mirror can be hung on the screen so that one can see a lot further upon entering the gate without feeling pressed. In this way, three things are done at the same time: the staircase can no longer be seen; it is easy to go upstairs - just by turning round the screen; it is convenient to check if one is neatly dressed before going out.

What about hanging bells, a vertical bamboo flute or putting in some bronze nails? They belong to efforts to comfort oneself psychologically, without much practical use. The reason is that the vitality forces coming in are still confused by the staircase.

What about staircases outside the main gate?

Nothing matters if one goes upstairs first before entering one's house.

If one goes downstairs first, one has to be careful about feeling pressed or not.

These are important tips concerning staircases.

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