Every October, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Singapore draws thousands of thrill seekers. But unlike the many who delight in such fictitious experiences, there are homeowners who grapple with spooky encounters in their abodes. Prospective buyers may wish to take certain precautions before signing on the dotted line. This Halloween, two feng shui masters share pointers on how to spot haunted properties and cleanse them before moving in.
How can a prospective buyer tell if a house is haunted?
Adrian Lo, Ju Xuan Geomancy: One of the common signs is that you might feel a chill creeping down your back when you step inside the house. A normal compass or luopan (geomancy compass) could also cue visitors to spiritual activities. The needle on the luopan may vibrate or spin if ghostly energy is present.
A luopan could cue visitors to spiritual activities in a house
Anthony Lee, Lee Metaphysics: Prospective buyers may wish to bring a dog for the house viewing. Dogs’ vision is extremely sensitive to spirits. When a dog barks non-stop, as if another dog is challenging it to a fight, it could indicate that the place is haunted.
I also recommend bringing an active child for the house viewing. If the child roams uninhibitedly around the house, chances are the place is free of spirits. In contrast, if he behaves differently from his normal self or stands quietly somewhere in the building, it could indicate the presence of supernatural energy.
What causes a house to be haunted?
Lo: A house in which the previous occupant had died violently, or houses built on land where violent deaths have occurred, are possibly haunted. Houses with dark or poorly-lit interiors may also draw spiritual activities. There are many cycles in feng shui and every house undergoes its own cycle of qi or life energy. Houses that are in their Decline or Death cycles are prone to supernatural activities. The presence of a flying star No 5 in the haunted area of a house can help support ghostly energy. The number five in feng shui brings problems wherever it appears —obstacles, illness and misfortune.
Lee: There are two possible causes of a haunted house. One, the occupant might unintentionally bring back supernatural beings through items such as antiques. Two, the house might have been inhabited by the spirits long before the occupant moved in. Possible reasons include death in the house and construction on a former cemetery site that has not be entirely cleansed.
How do you cleanse or counter a haunted house?
Lo: You should engage priests who have been trained to help stuck entities disengage from the earthly plane and move on and away from your place. It is also recommended that you make sure the house is bright and neat, to improve on its good qi. To dispel negative spirits and prevent them from reentering the house, you should consider adding some guardians, such as a pair of Chinese fu lion statues, at the entrance. Another option is to display a picture or sculpture of Chung Kwei, a deity that the Taoists believe can protect them against evil spirits.
To dispel negative spirits and prevent them from reentering a house,
place a pair of Chinese fu lion statues at the entrance
Lee: Various religions deal differently with this issue. The Taoists would engage “ghostbusters” to cleanse the premise, whereas Christians, Buddhists or Muslims would invite their religious leaders to help them pray and bless the house with holy water to ward off the spirits.
Adrian Lo is principal feng shui consultant at Ju Xuan Geomancy Consultancy with more than 10 years of experience. He can be reached at adrian@juxuanfengshui.com.
Anthony Lee is a feng shui consultant at Lee Metaphysics Consulting withmore than 10 years of experience. He can be reached at leemetaphysics@gmail.com.
This article appeared in The Edge Property Pullout, Issue 701 (November 2, 2015) of The Edge Singapore.