FENG SHUI - QIAN and KUN

Let us take a look at each trigram individually to find out more about them.

QIAN (☰)

Qian represents the ultimate Yang.  This Gua consists of three solid lines signifying strength.

In the Early Heaven Arrangement this Gua was placed in the South, the location of fire and midsummer, the hottest and most Yang time of the year.

Under the Later Heaven Arrangement this was moved to the Northwest to take account of the cyclical nature of the Universe.  Qian is Heaven, the sky.  Its Gua number is 6.  It signifies the male in a position of authority, exerting power and dominance over others, whether it is the leader of a country, company chairmen, business owners, the father or oldest male in a family.  In the animal kingdom Qian is the lion, elephant, the horse; strong and powerful creatures.

The element of Qian is strong Metal, hard and unyielding and its associated season is late Autumn.  This is the time of year when the ground hardens and there is little growth.  Metal is a sharp, piercing element yet its shape is round, signifying no beginning and no end.  The colours of this Gua are white (the colour that encompasses all others), silver and gold. 

The head and brain are part of Qian Gua.  If there is a missing Northwest corner in a property, or a negative feature, such as a lamppost, pointing towards the Northwest corner they will have a negative impact on the male particularly related to the head.

KUN (☷)

Kun is the Yin as Qian is the Yang.  They represent male and female; mother and father.  Kun Gua consists of three broken lines which identifies the yielding nature of this feminine trigram.

In the Early Heaven Arrangement this Gua sat directly opposite Qian in the North, the location of water and midwinter; the coldest and most Yin time of the year.   

The Later Heaven Arrangement sees Kun in the Southwest, the Earth element location; the area that signifies nurturing and caring by the mother or the eldest female in a family.  Its Gua number is 2. 

Qian is the creative; Kun is the receptive.   The location of Kun is the area of late Summer.  It is the transition point of the seasons when the earth begins to cool.  Earth is represented by the square, a solid and stable shape that is favoured as the best for homes.  The colours of Earth are yellow, ochre and brown.

The stomach and the flesh are part of Kun Gua.  If there is a missing Southwest corner in a property, or a negative feature, such as a single tree, pointing towards the Southwest corner these will have a negative impact on the female head of the family.  Stomach and flesh related issues can result from negative features in the immediate environment.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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FENG SHUI and GUA

What is a Gua?

It is three lines one on top of the other (a trigram) with Yin and/or Yang characteristics.  The Yin is a broken line representing the female and the Yang is a solid line representing the male (example: ☲ Li Gua.)

In total there are eight Gua (also called Trigrams or Kua) used in Feng Shui analysis.   They are known as Qian, Kan, Gen, Zhen, Xun, Li, Kun and Dui. 

The Ba Gua consists of one of the 8 trigrams situated at the centre of each sector (Northwest, North, Northeast, East, Southeast, South, Southwest and West) and each has a multitude of meanings.  These range from a family member, body part, season, number, colour and one of the five elements.  This is by no means an exhaustive list. 

There are two Ba Gua; one is known as the Early Heaven arrangement and it is mainly associated with Yin House Feng Shui (Feng Shui for burial sites.)  Its layout represents a perfect state where everything is in balance.  There is no time or movement and no growth.

From this state of perfection the second Ba Gua was created and it is known as the Later Heaven arrangement.  The San Yuan School of Classical Feng Shui is also called the Three Cycles.  It signifies the dynamic and cyclical nature of Qi; it is Yang. The layout of this Ba Gua represents the cyclical nature of the Universe; the seasonal changes where everything is in constant motion.  It shows the movement of time.  Nothing remains static. 

The saying 'what goes around comes around' accurately depicts the influence of time and in Feng Shui a full cycle is 9 x 20 years=180 years. 

Within these 180 years there are three periods of 60 years each, further split into three 20-year periods and these are known as the Upper, Middle and Lower periods.  We are currently in the middle of the Lower period, in the 20-year period 8, when the element of Earth dominates and which represents current prosperity. 

The next period is 9, a Fire element which will commence in 2024 until 2043.  Currently this signifies future prosperity and it will complete the final period of this 60 year cycle as well as one complete cycle of 180 years.

Period 1 a Water element currently represents distant prosperity and will be the first of a new Upper Cycle, the start of the next 180-year period.

The number 8 and the number 1 are both known as White Stars and are usually auspicious.  The number 9, on its own is generally auspicious, it is a Purple Star; a magnifying star.  This means that when it is joined by other stars it will magnify their effect, whether good or bad.  The remaining stars from 2-7 are currently distant so their influence is weaker.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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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-Yin and Yang-Wood and Earth

Wood is the only living element in the Five Elements of Feng Shui.  Its energy (Qi) radiates growth and expansion and brings new life.  What is it that nurtures that life?  Earth.  It is the sustaining element of life.  Its Qi expands outward to embrace all living things. 

Earth is one of the trinity of Heaven, Earth and Mankind each of which influences one-third of our life on this planet we call home.  Within Earth is the practice of Feng Shui; it is where we live in the world; how we use what is available in the natural environment to allow us to live in harmony.  Earth is a storehouse of riches; it hides crystals, minerals and metals until man finds a way to harvest and use them to improve life in a multitude of ways.

In the Controlling Cycle of the Five Elements Wood is said to control Earth.  How does the Wood element 'control' the Earth element?  How do the Yin and Yang characteristics determine the effectiveness of this control?

Yang Wood are the trees that grow straight and tall; they seek the warmth and light of the sun.  This would not be possible without a base that allows it to send roots deep down and outward.   Do these trees grow on Yang Earth?  Yang Wood sends its roots deep to give it the strength and stability to grow strong and true.  Can it do this in Yang Earth? 

Yang Earth represents mountains and large rocks; it is unyielding, unmoving and protective.  It is not without reason that the Earth is also known as Mother Earth, Gaia, who nurtures and sustains us.  In the Eight Mansions formula of Feng Shui the Southwest is an Earth element location and it is also the location of Kun, the ultimate Yin, the nurturing mother figure of the family.

Like Kun, Yin Earth is the soft and yielding soil and the sand beneath our feet.  It is the Yin Earth that gives life to our trees.  Yang Wood relies on Yin Earth to give it life.  By providing this life Yin Earth becomes weakened when the roots of the trees push their way down and out; it makes the Earth prone to sinking and movement.  Even in an urban setting the roots of trees will find a way to expand and grow.

Yin Wood is flowers, vines and plants grown to feed us.  They are flexible and will bend with the wind; they 'go with the flow.'  Like Yang Wood, does Yin Wood rely on Yin Earth?  Mostly it does, but seeds carried by the wind and by birds and animals are often dropped into the crevices between Yang Earth rocks and boulders and somehow they find the means to root and grow, bringing life and colour to a harsh environment.  This also feeds birds and animals who choose to live in such inaccessible places.  Succulents, both large and small, find a way to thrive in the heat and dryness of the Yin Earth of a desert.  Plants will always find a way of living in apparently harsh and inaccessible situations, whether it is Yang or Yin Earth.

Earth is both a support and a provider.  Without it life as we know it would not exist.  Its Qi spreads sideways  allowing the growing and expanding Qi of the Wood element to thrive, whatever the circumstances.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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