Feng Shui, Yin/Yang and the Five Elements

Two of the fundamental principles of Feng Shui are the Five Elements and Yin and Yang.

The Five Elements are Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal.  These elements are said to encompass all our world has to offer; the ‘ten thousand things.’   Yin and Yang are opposite, yet complementary.  They are inter-dependent and constantly in motion.

Combining these two principles you find that each of the Five Elements has either a Yin or a Yang aspect.

 

Knowing the differences and applying them to the Feng Shui in your home and office will enhance your practice and help create harmony.  Becoming attuned to the differences and where and when to use them, will help you make auspicious choices when designing, renovating or decorating your space. 

    

Yang Water is the sea, it is a powerful river constantly in motion.  An excellent example of Yang Water is Niagara Falls, the collective name given to three separate waterfalls located between Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States of America.  The largest of the three, Horseshoe Falls, is a major source of hydropower generation; a major source of powerful Yang Water energy.

Yin Water in contrast is a gentle fall of rain, it is mist and morning dew and the promise of rain held in the clouds.

Yang Wood are trees.  Tall and sturdy as they grow towards the sunlight; they are unbending, solid and inflexible.  An example is the Redwood which grows fast, straight and tall dwarfing everything around it.

Yin Wood is leaves on the trees; grass; ivy and flowers.  Unlike its Yang counterpart Yin Wood is pliable, it goes with the flow.  In the wind it will bend, it is yielding and yet strong, returning to its original state with no effort.

Yang Fire is what keeps us alive.  The ultimate Yang Fire is the sun.  It warms and nurtures our planet and all living things.  At an individual level, Yang Fire is also a roaring log fire providing warmth and light during the dark days of Winter.

Yin Fire is like the dying embers of a log fire; it is the light of a candle and a torch bringing illumination to the darkness.

Yang Earth is the solid earth of large rocks and boulders.  It is the rising earth of mountains providing support and security.  Yang Earth can control the spread of fire and restrain water.

Yin Earth is sand; it is the pliable fertile soil in which crops are planted and grown.  It absorbs water rather than restrains it and fire will travel over it with ease.

Yang Metal is the solid raw metal, the ore from which large machinery is made.  It is weapons, knives and axes.  Unyielding, strong, sharp and powerful are attributes of Yang Metal.

Yin Metal is fine and delicate.  It is polished metal from which jewellery, treasured adornments, accessories and the finer things in life are made.

Next time we will look at how to use Yin and Yang and the Five Elements.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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Feng Shui and Yin/Yang

Lao Tse (Laozi) said to be the founder of Taoism, lived during the Zhou Dynasty.  In his works, Tao Te Ching he wrote “knowing the ancient beginning is the essence of the Way.”

The ancient beginnings of the ‘ten thousand things’, the primordial force that makes up all that is, and said to incorporate everything in Heaven and Earth was known as Wu Ji.  It was first expressed as a circle, having no beginning and no end; incorporating the limitless nature of the universe and emptiness at the same time.

 

Through an ongoing study of the heavens and earth this circle (this Wu Ji) transformed into the Tai Chi; the Yin/Yang symbol so familiar today.

 

The Tai Chi represents a delicate balance of Yin (dark) and Yang (light) each of which has the seed of its opposite within.  They are inter-dependent; one cannot exist without the other and they are constantly in motion.

When Yin is at its height, Yang is at its lowest and vice versa.  Our world is made up of this constant flow through the seasons of the year; day and night; sun and moon; heaven and earth.

Heaven is Yang energy, it is the height of summer, it is the sun and daylight. 

Yang Chi can be either young or old.  Young Yang is fresh vibrant energy, a strong and powerful attracting energy bringing with it good fortune and a positive outlook.   It is the energy you attract when you open windows and doors to invite the positive energy of the natural world into your home and workplace.

Old Yang is stale, it is exhausted and tired Chi.  Old Yang is caused by a build up of clutter, it manifests in rooms rarely used that has little new energy brought in from outdoors.  This is the Yang that can easily become Yin if it is not refreshed.

Earth is Yin energy, it is the height of the winter season, it is the moon and night.

When a home is constantly quiet and left empty for long periods of time, it becomes still and attracts what is known as ‘Yin spirit formation.’  It has a dull and lethargic feel with little power to invite anything positive.  It is lacking in the light, sound and movement necessary to attract good fortune.  To create anything positive, Chi has to be kept moving.

To attract good fortune invite an abundant supply of Yang energy into your space.  Every home will reflect the moods, attitudes and health of the occupants and if they are constantly moody, despondent and lethargic because of a lack of positive Chi, they will be prone to illness and unhappiness at every turn.

Yang Chi should be encouraged to meander and move through your home like the flow of a river.  When its path is blocked the Chi will become Yin and when it moves too quickly it creates killing Chi; a harmful Chi that will make you feel  uncomfortable in your own space.  You and your family may end up spending more time away from the home than in it.

Yin and Yang is constantly changing in the natural world and your home will sense this change and respond accordingly.  So remembering the ‘wind’ and ‘water’ that is Feng Shui make changes in your home in response to the seasons and you will achieve a sense of harmony; a balance of Yin and Yang.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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Feng Shui, BaZi and the Luo Pan

As is well-known, Feng Shui translates as ‘Wind’ and ‘Water.’  The Wind means direction, and when a consultation is carried out this direction is of significant importance to determine the effects of Feng Shui on a property or location.  Water represents wealth.  Therefore the direction (Wind) and its effect on the wealth (Water) can be pinpointed exactly when accurate measurements are taken by a Feng Shui Practitioner using the Luo Pan.

In BaZi, or Four Pillars Destiny Analysis, the year Pillar comprises a Heavenly Stem (annual element) and an Earthly Branch (astrological animal.)  This astrological animal has a 15⁰ compass direction, one of the 12 sub-sectors, which is used to analyse a BaZi Destiny Chart.

The 24Mountains, each of which is 15⁰, refers to the 24 compass sub-sectors as well as the 24 ‘seasons’ of the year.  12 of the 24 sub-sectors are the compass locations for the Chinese astrological animals. 

The Chinese Luo Pan is a compass used by professional Feng Shui Practitioners when conducting consultations; (Luo means a net encompassing the ’10,000 things’* and Pan signifies a plate or base.)   The Luo Pan is said to incorporate all things in Heaven and Earth; the moveable plate is known as the Heaven dial and the base is the Earth plate.  The compass sits exactly in the centre.  There are three different types of Luo Pan based around the two authentic traditional Schools of Feng Shui, the first being San He, the second being San Yuan.

 

The third Luo Pan is known as the Zhong He Luo Pan which combines San He and San Yuan Schools into one instrument.

*’10,000 things’ was the term used by Lao Zi in the Tao Te Ching as signifying all things in Heaven and Earth.

Depending on the Feng Shui School followed each Luo Pan has up to 36 concentric rings each one of which tells a different story and which enables the Practitioner to present accurate recommendations to a client, even down to the effects of individual compass degrees.   Every direction, however small, can have a profound influence on the Feng Shui of a location.

There are such things as major and minor emptiness lines which signify misfortune and severe bad luck.  The major emptiness lines separate each of the four primary and four secondary compass sectors.  The minor emptiness lines separate each of the 24 sub-sectors.   There are also what is known as death lines, which fall in the exact centre of each of the primary and secondary sectors.  These lines indicate extreme forms of bad luck, rather like the effects of the inauspicious and malevolent 5 Yellow.

The San He School of Feng Shui places significant importance on natural environmental features like the lie of the land and natural bodies of water.  The direction, position in the landscape, flow and appearance of the features are all taken into consideration before any recommendations are made.  It is this School of Feng Shui that is used to analysis the destiny of an individual based on their BaZi Chart determined at the moment of birth.

San Yuan School Luo Pan has each of the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching as one of its rings and is concerned more with the effects of time and space and with Flying Star Feng Shui.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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Feng Shui, BaZi and the Lunar and Solar Calendars

There are two calendars used in Feng Shui and the Four Pillars of Destiny* (also known as BaZi, Eight Characters or Paht Chee.)   One is the Lunar (Yin) Calendar which is based on the phases of the moon and has an additional month every three years; the other is the Solar (Yang) Calendar (also known as the Hsia Calendar) and it follows the seasonal cycles of the sun.

The Lunar Calendar is said to have completed a full cycle every 60 years.

 

*The Four Pillars of Destiny is a Chart created from the details of your birth date; time, day, month and year.  It signifies the position of the stars and planets at your moment of birth.

The first day of a Lunar Calendar month coincides with a new moon and in general the fifteenth day of a lunar month coincides with the full moon.  When undertaking new projects; such as work-related projects or home decorating, anything new and important to you, it is suggested that doing so during the waxing period of the lunar month (up to the full moon) is a more auspicious time than during the waning or weakening period.

The Solar Calendar changes on February 4** each year and this date is also known as the Lap Chun; the first day of Spring.

**This may vary by the odd day in some years so for an accurate changeover date the 10,000 year Calendar should be consulted.

As an example of a difference between the two Calendars:  the Solar Calendar date of January 1 2013 equates to a Lunar Calendar date of November 20 2012.

In Feng Shui terms the system of timekeeping combines both the Lunar and the Solar Calendars.  This combination which manages the passage of time is known as the Lunisolar Calendar.  The combined Calendar records months that track the movement of the moon, and years that follow the seasons of the sun.

The date for the annual Chinese New Year uses the Lunisolar Calendar as follows.  It is calculated by using the date of the second new moon following the Winter Equinox; the day closest to the Lap Chun and the first new moon day after the major solar season known as the ‘Greater Cold’ whose date varies between January 21 and February 3.

The Solar Calendar identifies your Chinese Astrological Animal based on your date of birth as well as your personal Kua number. 

When calculating your Personal Kua number if your date of birth is before February 4 (the beginning of a new Solar Calendar Year) your Chinese Astrological Animal will be that associated with the previous year.  For example, if you were born January 18 1968 your Astrological Animal will be the Fire Sheep rather than the Earth Monkey and your Kua number will be 6 (male) or 9 (female.)

One of the more advanced Formulas of Feng Shui is Flying Stars.  It is based on the flight of stars (numbers) around the Lo-Shu Grid. 

The Lo Shu numbers and their positions in the Lo-Shu Grid in each period; year; month; day and hour are calculated from the Solar Calendar.

The Solar Calendar is also used to determine each of 24 ‘seasons’ of the year.  These are seasonal changes signifying the optimum time for the planting and harvesting of crops.  It is still referred to as the Farmers Calendar. 

Each of the 24 seasons represent the position of the sun as it travels 15⁰ on an ecliptic longitude.  They each have names such as ‘Lesser Cold’ and ‘Grain Rain’ identifying their place in the year and signifying subtle changes in the annual cycle.

Using the points of the compass the Spring Equinox occurs on March 21 and is positioned at ‘0’; the Summer Equinox is June 21 and is positioned at ‘90⁰’; the Autumn Equinox is September 23 and its compass point is ‘180⁰’; the Winter Equinox is December 22 and its compass position is ‘270⁰.’

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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Feng Shui and Your Surroundings

Chi travels on the wind; is scattered by the wind; gains speed with the wind

Chi meets water and is slowed; it moves with the flow of the water; it brings harmony

Chi (Energy) is dependent on harnessing both wind and water to create an auspicious environment 

In the early days of this practical approach to living in harmony with the environment; with Heaven and Earth; with Yin and Yang; Feng Shui was concerned primarily with the external landscape and locating auspicious sites for homes.  This was to protect homes from extreme conditions and at the same time find a spot that would allow crops to grow well.

In our modern lives we haven’t got the luxury of large swathes of open land.  This makes it an interesting challenge when seeking a new home, or making the most of what we have while still benefitting from the power of Feng Shui.  Now that we have looked at what to do this Spring season in the garden, should the sun ever shine, let us take a couple of steps back and investigate the quality of Chi in your immediate environment, both at the front and back of your home.

Where do you live?  Not where in the world, but do you live in an urban, semi-rural or rural area?  Do you live at the top of a hill, or the bottom of a hill; in a cul-de-sac or somewhere in between?

Many new developments today have an unstructured layout, seeming to fit different sized properties into the available space rather than creating an harmonious plan; this causes Chi to zigzag around in an erratic pattern not knowing which way to go.  Some older properties stand side-by-side on either side of a main road or back-to-back in an estate; this creates fast-moving Chi between the houses especially when the road outside, or the gardens behind, are straight and flat.  There are also houses built in a cul-de-sac roughly resembling a horseshoe.  This will bring Chi in but once there it has nowhere to go, so it stagnates; it becomes stagnant unwelcoming energy. 

All of these layouts, as well as their locations, will have a different feel.  No two properties has the same Chi; no two properties will feel the same.

How is the quality of the Chi flowing around your home?  Sheng Chi, is auspicious gently flowing energy which will always create a positive feel.  You will know it is there because your entrance will look and feel welcoming.    

Sha Chi, fast-moving straight line energy will create a poison arrow, especially if it is heading directly for your home; or it will result in a lack of positive Chi around you if it is moving past your home in a straight line.  You can get a sense of how this feels when you stand at the side of the road and a car passes.  Even at 30mph/48kph you can feel the force of energy passing by.

Is there a solution to a less than auspicious situation?  Not always, especially if it is a major negative form in the environment however there may be something you can do to improve things.  Planting trees (where you have the space), bushes, flowers, displaying earth-element structures and water features will all help to harness auspicious Chi.  Lights are an excellent way of attracting positive energy.

So what can you do if you don’t have a garden?  Hanging baskets on either side of your front door, lights, wind chimes can all be used to capture passing Chi and slow it down enough to bring positive energy into your home.

Remember also that the ‘kerb appeal’ of your property for visitors, and for the all important Chi, is about keeping it clear, clean, bright and cared for to maximise the positive energy you capture from your external environment.  

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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