Feng Shui/MIL/SIL Problem

[Anonymous]

So, my husband is Chinese and my MIL is a huge follower of feng shui. We've been married almost 10 years and every year I will re-feng shui the house according to her instructions. I look at it like decorating for Xmas--something cultural to experience with our kids and not something religious. Anyway, we are relocating this summer and went househunting this past weekend. My SIL happens to live in the new city and joined us. While were looking at houses, she would text MIL updates on the feng shui of the property--I wasn't aware she was doing this until later in the afternoon. The house I love has terrible feng shui because it faces south (oh the horror). The house is completely perfect for our family of 5 in every way. It's basically my dream house. We wrote an offer, which was accepted. We are just negotiating the inspection items now.

My MIL/SIL know the offer was written but not that status. Most likely, my husband will take the brunt of this from his Mom but I will get some. How can I be tactfully truthful with her when she calls? I don't want to be rude to her ideology and say something that will hurt our relationship. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

There are fixes in feng shui to address things like this. Hopefully it will be an easy one. Google feng shui fixes house and south and see what the fix is. Old school Chinese can be very superstitious. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My MIL is old school--there are no fixes (at least in her eyes). She practices a very conservative, strict method. Googling won't help--trust me, she's out there.

[Anonymous]

http://articles.latimes.com/1993-07-18/realestate/re-14361_1_bad-feng-shui

I feel for you, OP. This article says a south-facing house is ideal. Would a 2nd feng shui opinion help?

My family is Chinese, but not feng shui practitioners. Our friends couldn't find a feng shui suitable house, so they had to build one. Surely MIL will realize a new build is not possible?

[Anonymous]

"We had to weigh this one factor against many others and this was overall the best house for our family. We are happy to have your input on how to off-set the cons."

[Anonymous]

If the family doesn't have problems, you will now. Because this will cause friction to the family, thus bad feng shui.
When there are problems, they will blame it back on the south facing house.

I hear you. There are always fixes to the bad energy. You married a Chinese, everything is communal. They are always in your business. I know so because I'm Chinese. Parents/siblings in your business ALL the time. Just provide info as needed to keep the peace. Just say you love this house, please give me some ideas on how to feng shuize it and don't tell me to give it up. You don't actually have to follow the recommendations, just listen and nod your head, oh really? Then mention everything you like about it.

[Anonymous]

Well, will MIL now only stay with SIL when she (MIL) visits?

If so, bonus!

Seriously, though, at some point you and DH were going to something at odds with his cultural background and have to defend it. It was just a matter of when.

[Anonymous]

OP here. So, DH somewhat believes it so I have to tread lightly. Our current house has terrible feng shui too (though MIL thought it was good at the time so we got a pass). SIL was telling DH recently that after we bought our current house 3 years ago, MIL said he would "have difficulty" because of the bad feng shui. Of course, my response to that "having three small kids under 5 and working full time is what made life difficult" didn't go over so well with DH.

I really hate the negativity aspect of feng shui--I can live with the wishing for good fortune and luck part. It's too much doom and gloom and seems like an unfortunate way to live.

[Anonymous]

Get your own fung shui master to give you an opinion and solution. Get a spirit house.

[Anonymous]

There are some feng shui things that I believe. I would look into the feng shui fixes for the south facing but I would fix them for you and your husband. Your MIL is not going to change, just be polite and don't let it bother you.

[Anonymous]

FYI I am not Chinese but I do think there are things in feng shui that make sense. I had someone come in and feng shui my apartment for love and met my husband literally a week later.

[Anonymous]

At least you're not on the earth dragon's eyeball!

[Anonymous]

OP, I really thought East, West, South then North. Feng shui is suppose to help balance life, not add more stress, therefore, there are fixes and not the end of the world.

[Anonymous]

Not to be offensive here, but that's "white people" feng shui. It's practically a religion for some.

[Anonymous]

If you live where it snows a south facing driveway should trump any bad feng shui.