Product Detail

One of the perks of being a reviewer is that you get to receive free releases from various publishers. Unfortunately this reviewer does not get to keep the books and such that she had reviewed. (Ed's note - For the last time, no you Do Not get to keep them).

Mark Shackelford's Feng Shui For You and Your Home is a new release from Focus Multimedia (UK). For this software, Focus Multimedia has collaborated with Mark Shackelford of the Andrew Ballantine Technology. Mr. Shackelford's knowledge of Feng Shui combined with Focus Multimedia's vast experience and reputation of producing high quality CD-ROMs is indeed a good partnership. You can learn more about Focus Multimedia at their official website.

Currently there are many books on simplified Feng Shui, thanks to the growing awareness of Feng Shui in the West. This CD-ROM is somewhat Feng Shui made easy - for example, I have tried calculating my Four Pillars of Destiny from a book and it was a very confusing process. Now with this new software, I can easily find out my Four Pillars and Life Cycle with the click of a button.

After installing the software and opening the programme, you have to fill out your details (date, month, year and time of birth) in order to personalize your reading. You can enter several names and then compare your reading and compatibility according to Chinese astrology.

The Chinese Horoscope window and tips on balancing your Yin and Yang.

Here's a list of features you can find in the software :

• The Four Pillars, Chinese Horoscope, Personal Element and Chinese Life Cycle
• Compatibility - Enter your partner's details to find out if he/she is suitable for you according to traditional Chinese views
• Your personal lucky and unlucky directions based on the Compass School of Feng Shui
• How to use the Black Hat Sect Pa Kua formulas to arrange your house
• The Feng Shui Ruler - enter the measurements of an object or garden and find out if they are auspicious for you
• Your personality and nature based on the 9 Star Ki Horoscope
• The I-Ching Divination - wise answers generated randomly that may well change your life
• Almanac - Your fortune for the year, your age and daily and hourly fortune
• A Chinese calendar of your lucky and unlucky days
• A 'Feng Shui Browser' to introduce Feng Shui, Chinese Astrology and Divination.

The 'Chinese Life Cycle' is not as detailed as I would have liked it to be. However, once you find out the core of your Four Pillars, you can read other books to learn more about your destiny.

There are Feng Shui tips provided at the bottom of the screen which changes photos every minute (I counted). The soothing background scenes are landscape photos related to the I-Ching hexagrams. There are 2 of the hexagrams at the bottom right corner showing the elements of the featured landscape.

Finding out your compatibility with your partner.

The relationship compatibility predictions in the 9 Star Ki section is a little bit limited, however. Nevertheless the fun part is that you can compare your astrological reading with over 350 famous names. Ranging from Audrey Hepburn, Janet Jackson, Naomi Cambell and Queen Elizabeth to Brad Pitt, Dennis Rodman, Pete Sampras and Sean Connery

You can also find out each element's details by double clicking on the element boxes. In fact you should spend some time to slowly explore every button and feature. You can change the appearance and colors of the software, and even the type of calendar to be used (either Western or Chinese lunar calendar).

Finding out your personality has never been easier.

There are also 6 PC based games with names like 'Yin Yang Shift' and 'Trigram Puzzle'. The games can get very addictive - this reviewer and her colleagues are now thoroughly hooked on the 'Pa Kua Solitaire'.

One of the plus points of this software is that you can print out your horoscope, Pa Kua and readings, either to keep them as a reference or to show off to your friends and relatives. If you are confused about something, do not fret - instructions are shown on the side of each column.

Various explanations on selected topics are available.

This is something new in the Feng Shui industry. Focus Multimedia has definitely done their research and in their Marketing Manager's own words, "… there are no other competing products out there on CD-ROM…. To have this luxury (of having a personal reading and private consultations) readily available in your home on a daily basis will surely appeal to anyone who has an interest in Feng Shui, interior design or the Far East…". She couldn't have said it better, as I find this quite an interesting concept and Mark Shackelford, an experienced author on Feng Shui has covered a lot on this subject.

This CD-ROM comes in a strikingly bright red box, which also contains a registration card and some pretty useful discount vouchers. Users can fill in and send out the registration card to receive free technical support from the Focus Multimedia Customer Services Department. The discount vouchers for some Feng Shui related items can also be redeemed from The Feng Shui Store (UK) through fax, post or the Internet.

Conclusion : Great for beginners and intermediates. When one learns more about Feng Shui, one is bound to look further for other more in-depth material, such as courses and seminars by respected Feng Shui experts, but this is something excellent to fall back on.

* Currently there is a contest being held by Focus Multimedia (UK) at their website. Answer an easy question to win a copy of this CD-ROM. The contest ends on 31st May 2001 and is open to UK residents only.