FENG SHUI NORTH and SOUTH

Which Way is South?

Most books and information on Feng Shui will always show the direction of South at the top, the traditional place of the North on a compass.  Does this alter directions 180⁰ when applying Feng Shui?  The quick answer is of course, 'No!'  North is North and South is South wherever in the world you live and North is always based on magnetic North. 

Feng Shui practice works according to the Five Elements, Yin and Yang and the Eight Trigrams (each one representing a member of the household as well as points around the compass.)  

In the Early Heaven Arrangement of the Ba Gua the sequence is based on a state of perfection with each opposing trigram creating balance. Qian (male, power, authority and pure Yang) is placed at the top while still representing South and is directly opposite Kun (female, yielding and pure Yin) placed at the bottom and signifying North. 

So why have South at the top?

Qian represents Heaven, space, light, the sun and above while Kun represents Earth, dark, night, stillness and below, together they are in complete harmony. 

The Ba Gua of the Later Heaven Arrangement was created to reflect the constantly changing conditions on earth formed by the movement of earth around the sun.   

In the cycle of the Later Heaven Arrangement the South represents Li Trigram which in turn represents fire; mid-summer and midday; the hottest and the most Yang times.  The Fire element rises, it moves upward and outward.  In contrast Kan Trigram is water; it is mid-winter and midnight; it is cold and darkness; the time of maximum Yin.  The Water element flows downward.

Whether it is the Ba Gua of the Early Heaven or the Later Heaven Arrangement they naturally gravitate towards showing South at the top and North at the bottom.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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FENG SHUI and MING TANG (INDOORS)

The 'Ming Tang' is also known as the 'Bright Hall' in Feng Shui but what exactly is it and what is it for?......Once the Qi has slowed and gathered at a suitable point the Sheng Qi (Growth Qi) can enter a property through the front door...if the conditions are right. 

Having established the quality of Qi outside your building, or prospective building, the next step is to ensure it is welcomed into the property.  The main door is known as the Qi Mouth and it is through this the external Qi enters. 

Instead of standing inside looking out, its time to stand outside looking in.  What can you see directly in front of you?  Is there a spacious lobby?  Is there a wide or narrow hall?  Is it straight or curved?  Is there a door directly opposite the main door?  Where does it lead?  Can you see the back door from the front door?  Is there a staircase upright or pillar directly in front of the door?  How far from the door is it?  Is there a beam located directly inside the main door?  What is on the next floor directly above the main door?

And then there is the inevitable question - is the hallway or porch cluttered with shoes, coats, umbrellas, shopping bags?

Looking at these one by one:  Having a clear spacious lobby immediately inside the door allows Qi to accumulate inside the property before beginning its flow.  This will be negated if there is clutter here, it will become Sha Qi rather than Sheng Qi.

A narrow hall is excessively Yin especially if it is long and straight, and if it is also naturally dark it will constrict the Qi and turn it to a negative form.  A wide and bright hall will help positive Qi flow.

It is better not to have a door directly opposite the main door to prevent Qi from heading that way and missing other parts of the property.  Depending on where the door leads all your Qi may reside in the cloakroom, in the kitchen (a Yin area) or it may head straight out of the back door.

Having the upright of a staircase, or a pillar, directly in front of the main door will block the free-flow of Qi however if it is sufficiently distant to allow the Qi to gather inside the main door this is no longer an issue.  The stair treads directly in front of the main door can create conflict from fast moving Qi descending the stairs and colliding with slow moving Qi entering. 

A beam, outside or inside the main door will press down on the Qi turning it to Sha Qi.  Outside it will press down on the Qi entering, inside it will squeeze the Qi back out of the door.

Having a toilet directly above the main door will turn any positive Qi negative as it enters the property.

Clutter will block the flow of Qi wherever it is located and the hallway is often a magnet for clutter.  It may be convenient but it will negatively affect the flow of Qi.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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FENG SHUI and the MING TANG

The 'Ming Tang' is also known as the 'Bright Hall' in Feng Shui but what exactly is it and what is it for?

One of the fundamental objectives of a Feng Shui consultation is to establish the quality of Qi in the external environment.  By observing and analysing mountains and water; buildings and roads; positive and negative structures in and around a property a consultant can determine the quality of Qi in the area.  By understanding whether the neighbourhood is too windy and exposed to the elements or subject to a gentle flow of energy the next step is to find out how best to take full advantage of any auspicious Qi flow.

If the environment is too windy it will prevent Qi from gathering.  When writing the 'Book of Burial' Guo Po (AD276-324) described Qi as 'being scattered by the wind and gathering at the boundaries of water.'  Qi cannot be created or destroyed but it can be aggressive or harmonious.   Knowing which is an important part of external Feng Shui analysis.

Assuming for now the Qi is good how can you as a property owner or business occupier benefit from its positive effects? 

The next step is to know what to do with it and how to harness its qualities.

This is where the Ming Tang comes in.  Ming Tang is an open space, directly in front of your main door and it allows Qi to accumulate before entering your property. 

The open space can be part of your property, a large front garden for example, or it can be an open area directly outside your property such as a village green, a sports field, or a communal garden without any tall trees or other obstructions directly facing your main door.  In a working environment it can be a clear open space to the front of an office building or shop, without any negative structures in the immediate vicinity.  These structures can be things such as the edge of a neighbouring building or a manmade statue directly blocking the front entrance.

Open spaces unsuitable to be called a Ming Tang would be places like derelict areas of land or large car parks with vehicles coming and going all day, every day.   These are not conducive to accumulating auspicious Qi. 

Once the Qi has slowed and gathered at a suitable point the Sheng Qi (Growth Qi) can enter a property through the front door...if the conditions are right.  More on that next time.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

We love your questions and feedback.  Help yourself and others at the same time.

Enjoying our posts?  Register with Google+ Google Friend Connect to follow.

Visit http://www.abundance-chi.com to discover more about the joy of Feng Shui.