In 2017 we were fortunate to interview IFSA Senior Master Jacek Kryg – Poland’s leading Feng Shui practitioner, long-time Member of the IFSA Executive Committee, President of the IFSA Poland Chapter and life-time devotee of Chinese Metaphysics. Senior Master Jacek passed away unexpectedly in November 2023 and his wisdom, good humor and friendship will be sadly missed.
As a graduate of one of the most elite schools of feng shui (Grand Master Yap Cheng Hai Center of Excellence), most of his time is spent on consultations and lectures of feng shui in its most original form, with full regard to Chinese Astrology, the Four Pillars of Destiny and Yijing (Book of Changes). Jacek is also the founder and main tutor of School without Borders, which is devoted to the wide spectrum of Chinese culture, in which training at different levels has already benefited over 1,000 students. His feng Shui practice leads him to consult at both home and abroad in countries such as Austria, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and the Ukraine. As a feng shui advisor he works for many large reputable companies, small businesses and home owners. Many organizations, state-owned companies, private, social and informal structures, as well as various interest groups, including unions, recommend his lectures to enhance knowledge borrowed from the East. Since 2007 Jacek has been a member of the Executive Committee of the International Feng Shui Association (IFSA) and in 2013 he was re-elected for a further 2 year term.
1. How did you first become interested in Feng Shui? Please share some of your path of learning with us.
I have always been interested in Chinese culture. At University I wrote my MA thesis on the Book of Changes. Feng shui came later in the most natural way. As a translator of the first book of feng shui in the Polish market I started to study this knowledge with Grand Master Yap Cheng Hai from Kuala Lumpur in his elite school. This is my answer for European clients. For Chinese people I usually answer that in previous lives I also was fengshuihsiensheng (master of feng shui). I think so, because one of my mystic persons in India told me about all my previous lives and in two of them I had something to do with Chinese metaphysics.
2. Many Feng Shui consultants feel that the further they study Feng Shui the more confused they become. Did you experience this during your own journey, and if so how did you overcome it?
I would advise the aspiring feng shui practitioners to learn with a selective and prudent mind. Obstacles are definite along the learning path of feng shui. For me, I’d press on and try to overcome them with deeper research. With this, I’d progress further and gain more knowledge instead of confusion.I would advise the aspiring feng shui practitioners to learn with a selective and prudent mind. Obstacles are definite along the learning path of feng shui. For me, I’d press on and try to overcome them with deeper research. With this, I’d progress further and gain more knowledge instead of confusion.I would advise the aspiring feng shui practitioners to learn with a selective and prudent mind. Obstacles are definite along the learning path of feng shui. For me, I’d press on and try to overcome them with deeper research. With this, I’d progress further and gain more knowledge instead of confusion. Man is learning all the time, this is something natural. If you do it systematically, you should not worry much about this. You cannot think about how much knowledge is still in front of you; rather you should just focus on how to use the knowledge you have at the very moment. I guess I can say that my consultations and lectures were always true, but only recently they are complete. Every year they are becoming more complex and deeper. Where is the end of development? No one knows. But we should not worry about this.
3. What made you turn Feng Shui into your profession?
For years I was a teacher of mysticism of the East, with particular emphasis on Chinese thought. Feng shui gave me a chance that I could focus only on what I like very much and on what I was very good at. Believe me it’s a great feeling to be able to earn your living from doing what you really like.
4. Is Feng Shui widely accepted and applied in your country and do you face any difficulties explaining Feng Shui to your clients?
Polish people are very open to any foreign ideas and beliefs so therefore I found no special difficulty with the spread of this knowledge in my country. The only problem is the attitude of the Catholic Church, which does not approve of simple people dealing with mysticism, astrology, tai chi, yoga, meditation and feng shui of course.
5. What is the most common reason that people engage you for a consultation?
Everyone wants to be happy, beautiful, young, healthy and rich. These are the main reasons for asking a master of feng shui for advice. For example one lady wanted me to do whatever I could for her hair to be thicker. It was her happiness and beauty. Of course I could do nothing.
6. Do you practice Yin House Feng Shui and if so do any of your clients engage you to select an auspicious burial site?, I do. Selecting an auspicious burial site is a primary requirement in Yin Geomancy.
Of course I practice yin feng shui, but it is not as popular as yang feng shui. In Poland most of the cemeteries belong to the Catholic Church so the yin feng shui is not an easy matter. You cannot always choose the right place for burial, but almost always can do something on the grave.
What analysis methods do you use during your consultation process?
San Yuan (Flying Stars) and San He (Eight Mansions).
This is a very common question posed by customers. Usually my answer is that I will apply such methods which are applicable. Every year I offer more and more techniques. Personally I prefer the external techniques, which rarely can be applied. Customers however usually ask for interior design which is in harmony with personal feng shui.
8. From your point of view, do you think the knowledge of destiny analysis is important when it comes to Feng Shui?
Yes, definitely. Destiny analysis and feng shui are closely related. When conducting feng shui audit, it is necessary to consider the Bazi of the parties involved to get an accurate evaluation.
Each consultation is different and in my opinion there is nothing worse in any consultation than a routine. Some consultations are obvious and some more complex. In these complex consultations analysis needs to be supplemented by something else. This can be a destiny analysis.
9. Please share with us a case study you have done which you found to be most interesting.
Not really, all cases are unique and interesting in their own way.Not really, all cases are unique and interesting in their own way.During a lecture for architects, the local mayor asked me for advice on the development of his city. He had no idea where to buy the land around, where to put factories or where to build blocks of flats. He did not even know whether to build a bridge across the river or not. So as you can see it was a challenge experienced by ancient masters of feng shui, when they were tasked with siting new cities. Somehow I dealt with it, but looking back I’m not sure if any other suggestions may have been even better for the urban development of this city. At this moment however the city is still doing quite well.
10. What is your Top Feng Shui Do and Top Feng Shui Don’ts?
A good Feng Shui master should respect Feng Shui. This is an art that requires deep knowledge, continual research and constant practice. My best advice is to build your house in harmony with the nearby environment. Do not skimp on the cost or effort and never put your trust in remedies that will not do whatever you want. These suggestions are very close to the Chinese saying that “where you see feng shui, there is no real feng shui.
