|
Doreen
Pendgracs |
Lifestyle Samples: Feng
Shui for Your Car If you are aware of feng shui -- the ancient Chinese art of placement, balance and harmony, in which the exact location of everything is of paramount importance – you may have used it in your home or office. But have you ever considered the use of feng shui (pronounced fung shway) in your car? The Chinese believe that where and how structures, furnishings and even very small items are positioned will greatly affect the flow of positive and negative energy. To channel this energy effectively, believers have been using feng shui to improve their health, wealth and happiness for more than 5,000 years. It’s only within the last decade or so that an increasingly large percentage of North Americans have accepted the validity of the philosophy, in part thanks to moguls such as Donald Trump, who has incorporated Feng Shui into the development of his multi?]billion dollar projects. And many Manitobans have taken an interest in feng shui, including real estate broker, Jeff Stern of the Winnipeg-based company, Maximum Realty Ltd. “I had done some reading about feng shui and took an interest in it,” says Stern. “As a result, my wife, Cheryl and I had our home in Lindenwoods designed with feng shui principles in mind.” Little did he know that his feng shui insights would lead him straight to the vehicle with the best rating for being feng-shui friendly. Stern drives an RX330, a 2004 model of the Lexus SUV, rated tops in a study done this spring for AON Corporation, an international provider of insurance and risk management services -- locally represented by AON Reed Stenhouse who have an office at Portage and Main. Insurance companies make it their business to find ways to lower risks and reduce claims. AON Corporation contracted the services of a feng shui expert in the U.K. to study the characteristics of several vehicles and determine which of them offered the most feng-shui friendly environment. The Lexus RX Series won hands down. The report calls the Lexus “an extremely purposeful vehicle suited for family or business, whose chi (positive energy) gives it a wow factor.” The design of the vehicle determines that it is powered by the fire element, promising to deliver its driver safely and unruffled. Stern says that he was immediately drawn to the Lexus, without realizing that feng shui may have played a role in his decision to purchase the vehicle. “I had no idea that the Lexus had good feng shui. I just knew it felt absolutely amazing,” says Stern. “The minute I took the vehicle out, I loved the solid feel of it. It feels secure and comfortable – just like the solid cars of the old days.” The comfort of a vehicle is of key concern to Stern who spends between nine and 12 hours a day driving around town in his role as one of Winnipeg’s top realtors. “When you spend this much time in your vehicle, you have to feel comfortable in it. The Lexus has an open feeling with lots of glass. And it never feels cluttered, even with a full load or when I have clients in the back seat.” Other vehicles receiving favourable results in the test were the Volkswagen Passat, a “quiet and restrained vehicle said to have the perfect balance of yin and yang and best suited for non-sales related activities and those who place great importance on family and friends.” The Nissan Micra rated highly, and was said to be best suited for a first-time female driver who wants an incident-free journey and an arrival that raises a few smiles.” If you are a happy and single architect, the study says the Porsche Boxster is your ideal vehicle, citing the car as “feminine, non-aggressive and unemotional, using the water element to help the chi energy flow.” Tips for making your own car more feng-shui friendly:
A crash course in feng shui:
-30-
|
||
|
