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Feng shui instructor needs ideas on how to use controversy for publicity

7 Responses

1. Molly Says:
   July 12th, 2006 at 2:36 am

   My first tip would be to move to a better neighborhood! But seriously, the first thing you might do is assess just how much damage you think the remarks will do - were hundreds of listeners about to sign up and now won’t? Or is more a personal slight? Does the host really understand what Feng Shui is about or do the “foreign” words cause a knee-jerk reaction? The host is clearly off the mark, but do you want to pick this as your battle? If so, you might try to find people who have used Feng Shui and are Christians, like yourself. There may even be churches that have used the principles in either siting or arranging space inside. Send this information to the host, and if you feel comfortable and confident, you could offer to appear on the show though you could be setting yourself up for ridicule with a host like this one seems to be. Be prepared.

2. Andrew J. Abel Says:
   July 12th, 2006 at 3:10 am

   Debra,
   This could be an excellent opportunity for you to publicize your event. To me feng shui seems like more of an art or a discipline than a religion. However, ignorance could fuel a potential disaster. I would start by inviting local community leaders and religious leaders to a class. Present your dilemma to them as a way to educate people about cultural differences. I would also invite the radio station to attend that same class. They already seem interested in the topic. Assuming that this class was community approved, you shouldn’t have a problem getting the support of the local politicians. With the community leaders in your corner, the radio station will lose interest in the story. Don’t be afraid of the spotlight. Be prepared to answer questions surrounding the whole ‘religious’ controversy. Either way remain positive and take the offensive. As a fellow Christian, I see nothing wrong with learning about other cultures.

3. Candy Tutt Says:
   July 12th, 2006 at 4:26 am

   Maybe the radio dude is thinking of Falun Gong? In any case he is out of line. If a local synagogue had a pool and offered swim classes, would he urge a boycott because they weren’t Christian either??

   I would recruit some outside support from Feng Shui practitioners. Here in Northern California they are numerous both in the Sacramento area as well as San Francisco. Why not contact some of them and invite them to visit your class for a session? If they agree, contact the radio station as well as newspapers and TV - this would be an excellent opportunity for the entire community to learn about Feng Shui, as well as for positive publicity for you.

4. BG Stine Says:
   July 12th, 2006 at 6:26 am

   Good enough for the White House!

   Former President Lyndon Johnson (certainly not the President I would have predicted to use Feng Shui) may have turned to an ancient Chinese tradition to end the Vietnam War, said UCLA Professor Hung-Hsiang Chou, who teaches in the East Asian Studies and Culture department.

   “LBJ invited a Feng Shui expert to look at the surroundings of the White House,” Chou said. “There were two cannons by the main gates of the White House. It was suggested LBJ remove them because cannons mean war.”

   Feng Shui involves using geomancy, where the topography of local landscape determines where buildings and houses are built.

   The cannons were removed from the front of the White House. Shortly thereafter the Viet Nam War was over.

5. Carol Says:
   July 12th, 2006 at 6:42 am

   Traditional Feng Shui is not a religion. Much of what is popularized in the U.S. does not reflect the teachings of traditional Feng Shui. Traditional Feng Shui, in its original, untainted form is a science. I am a Christian and have studied Feng Shui since 2000. My first experience with Feng Shui was the popularized version in the US, which included teachings I was not comfortable with as a Christian. The more research I did, the more I discovered that this brand of Feng Shui was not traditional Feng Shui. Unfortunately, traditional Feng Shui has been severely damaged by people who were popularizing and spreading their own versions that included religion, supersition, new age views, and cultural beliefs, and were getting rich with books and trinkets to top it off.

   I am now a traditional practitioner and a Christian. I learned the traditional form without the mythology. And guess what….there is no worshipping involved, no chanting, no idols, occult practices, etc. Unless, mathmatical calculations, astronomy, geology and environmental concerns are against your belief, then you should not be concerned.

   Various Christians sects can extremely differ in their belief system. There are some Christian religions who believe that dancing should be outlawed, and not every Christian would agree with that rule. Therefore, before taking anyones word regarding anything deemed as a “wrong” or “right’ belief, search for the answers yourself. You may have to dig deep sometimes and separate fact from fiction and be willing to accept the truth.

   Religious leaders sometimes put themselves above everything else as if they are all knowing. They keep their control on the flock by trying to speak and think for the masses through guilt and burn in hell tactics should you try to seek any knowledge on your own.

   For me, the words of “seek and you shall find” is about learning to understand this world I am in and making as best sense of it as humanly possible through my own research. For me, being a Christian is finding out why I am here and making good use of my skills while I am here, so that I live up to the core Christian belief of loving thy neighbor as thyself. So, I prefer to seek my own answers and come to conclusions I am comfortable with, as opposed to having someone tell me how to think and what to believe.

   Too many cults exist because people are not willing to think for themselves. Too much hate exists because people are not willing to think for themselves. Any religious leader can judge the beliefs of those who do not fall within their system of rules, but how many tell their flock to search for anwers themselves?

   So, in short. Don’t believe anything you read as fact….even the Pope is not all-knowing.

6. Carol R Says:
   July 12th, 2006 at 6:55 pm

   I, too, am a Feng Shui consultant and have given a number of talks and workshops to the local community. I live in the South - the Bible belt - and I, too, was accused of practicing voodoo. However, my approach to Feng Shui is based on the understanding of energy, which is pure science. While there is much symbology in the Chinese culture that is used in remedies of Feng Shui, the basic principles are about energy. When I explained the philosophy in this way, even the hard-core “good old boys of the South” were impressed. Good luck.

7. Debra Blackmon Says:
   July 19th, 2006 at 12:45 am

   Thank You, Publicity Hounds! Your valuable insight has been inspiring and priceless!

   Warmly,
   Debra Blackmon

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