Hi Cecil,
Can you give me some insight about the lucky bamboo. Is there a direction to follow, for example where to place it or how many bamboo stem should it be, something to that sense.
Can you give me also some advice on how to acquire/improve luck with regards to my work and career. I'm living in a house with front door facing east/northeast and my bedroom is located on the northwest portion with door facing south. My bed is directed towards the north direction.
I hope you can give advice on this matter. I'm born july 2, 1969. Please help.
warm regards and thank you.

Dear Anon,
1. In my opinion, `lucky bamboo' is a marketing ploy. And the usual marketing ploy here is perhaps to ask a person to place it at the `East' side. Or the Wood area.
2. These my following reasons why using `lucky bamboo' may not be effective:-
2.1 Although East or South East is in my opinion, belonging to the Wood element, there is fundamentally no reason to use it there unless it can enhance the element at that sector.
Under the Five elements concept, Wood (lucky bamboo) enhancing Wood has less of an effect. Assuming that Wood direction East is favourable, then water would be a better element. As water -> wood leads to a harmonious Five element concept.
However, I would take it that if the rationale that since East is wood element, and the recommendation to enhance it with wood... is in my opinion, `kindergarten type of feng shui'.
2.2 In fact, wood if used wrongly may lead to legal entanglements or romance problems depending on the location placed. Since wood is associated with #4.
2.3 In ancient China, bamboo is a very popular plant and it is used to make chop-sticks and various other items.
In fact, bamboo fire-crackers were popular in the past. And fire-crackers made by inserting power into bamboo was used to `scare of evil'. Thus the result is a " peace of mind ".
Thus, bamboo plants are grown in a vase. A vase in Mandarin is called a " Hua Ping " (flower vase) and when we use simply use "Ping" or the vase, this symbolises " Ping An ".
These two words `Ping An' means safe. Thus bamboo in a vase would imply peace and safety.
Please see below:-

Quote

On 4/28/2002 1:44:00 AM, Anonymous wrote:
Hi Cecil,
Can you give me some insight
about the lucky bamboo. Is
there a direction to follow,
for example where to place it
or how many bamboo stem should
it be, something to that
sense.

Please refer to above.

Quote

Can you give me also some
advice on how to
acquire/improve luck with
regards to my work and career.
I'm living in a house with
front door facing
east/northeast and my bedroom
is located on the northwest
portion with door facing
south. My bed is directed
towards the north direction.
I hope you can give advice on
this matter. I'm born july 2,
1969. Please help.

Each Feng Shui concept or theory has a specific purpose (aim) and strengths / weakness.
It is good that you try to understand the various concepts. The key concepts are:-
1. Shapes and Form Feng Shui
2. Compass School Theory Part I: 8 house
More advanced topics of understanding are:-
3. Compass School Theory Part II: Flying Star - Analyse Birth Chart of House
4. Ba Zi (Pillars of Destiny) - understanding element strength and luck periods.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil