Feng Shui and the 24 Mountains

What are the 24 Mountains and how do they relate to Feng Shui?

When undertaking a Classical Feng Shui audit use of the Luo Pan compass is an important part of the process.  The 24 Mountains appear as one of many rings on a Luo Pan and it represents 24 directions employed by consultants when analysing a property and the fortunes of its residents using formulas like Flying Stars and Eight Mansions Feng Shui as well as studying the BaZi charts of the occupants.

How are the 24 Mountains calculated?

A standard compass is separated into 360⁰ with the primary directions of North, East, South and West and the four secondary directions of Northeast, Southeast, Southwest and Northwest each covering 45⁰.  The 24 Mountains of the Luo Pan is no different, however the 45⁰ are then further sub-divided and it is this sub-division that sets the 24 Mountains ring apart.

Each of the 8 sectors are sub-divided into three; eg N1, N2 and N3; totalling 24 (each 15⁰.) 

What do they represent?

The sub-sectors are all either Yin or Yang; they represent one of the four elements* of water, wood, fire and metal or one of the 12 Chinese Astrology animals.  Finally, each of the four corners is denoted by four of the eight trigrams (four members of the family unit.)  Northwest (NW2) is the position of Qian (male), Northeast (NE2) houses Gen (youngest son), Southeast (SE2) is the home of Xun (eldest daughter) and Southwest (SW2) is the location of Kun (female.)

The primary directions are the location of the four celestial guardians in Feng Shui, the Green Dragon (East), the Red Phoenix (South), the White Tiger (West) and the Black Turtle (North.)  They also represent the Rat (N2), Rabbit (E2), Horse (S2) and Rooster (W2.)  As well as being one of the cardinal directions these animals are also known as the Peach Blossom Stars.  Peach Blossom represents relationships in all its many forms and each year there is a 'reigning' Peach Blossom Star.  As an example, during the year of the Horse the Peach Blossom animal is the Rabbit (E2.)

* You may have noticed there are only four elements around the 24 Mountains and that Yin and Yang Earth are 'missing.'  Yin and Yang Earth, being the transitional element between seasons, sits at the centre of the 24 Mountains.

The four elements represent Heavenly Stems; the animals represent Earthly Branches, both used in the BaZi chart.  They each have many meanings from the existing energy; years, months, days and hours; Yin and Yang to name a few.

You can begin to see that each sector has multiple meanings. Understanding and analysing this deeper knowledge makes the 24 Mountains such an important ring in the Luo Pan compass.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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Feng Shui and Chinese New Year

After the excitement of the Christmas and New Year holidays January brings with it a time of quiet, stillness and dark in the Northern Hemisphere.  This is the time of 'Lesser Cold' January 6-January 20 and the time of 'Greater Cold'  from January 21-February 3.  These are the final two seasons of the Solar Calendar Year before the Earth starts to awaken from its winter sleep.

Rather than bemoan the weather, whatever it may be, enjoy each moment and remember that as well as celebration at the start of January there is another celebration at the end of the month; Chinese New Year.  Worldwide more and more major cities are embracing the Chinese culture of welcoming in a new year.  While most do not carry the celebrations through the 15 days of Chinese cultural tradition, which this year runs from January 30 to February 14, they certainly enjoy and participate in parades, Dragon dances, fireworks and firecracker displays arranged in and around the vicinity of Chinatowns in cities across the world.

Chinese New Year begins on January 31 four days before the 'Start of Spring' in the Solar Calendar and most of the celebrations are due to take place on February 2.  The date of Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival as it is also sometimes known, varies each year and is based around the Lunar Calendar.  The Lunar New Year in 2014 begins on January 30, which is New Year's Eve, with a new moon and the start of the first lunar cycle of the year.  The New Year is decided by the start date of the second lunar cycle after the Winter Solstice (December 22-January 5.)

Feng Shui is all about Qi; the energy that is our very existence.   A new year in Feng Shui is identified by one of the 12 Chinese Astrological Animals and one of the Five Elements with either Yin or Yang aspect.  In 2014 this will be the Year of the Yang Wood Horse.  Once the Year of the Horse begins so does a change in the Qi in our environment; both external and internal.  A location that has good and auspicious Qi in the current year of the Yin Water Snake can become bad and inauspicious depending on the quality of the Qi moving in. 

Using the numerology of Flying Stars and an interpretation of their movement it is possible to determine what is good and what is not.  Knowing your personal Kua number and your good and bad locations  as well as your Chinese animal sign at birth will help you determine how your fortunes will fair in a year that will be heavily dominated by Yang Fire.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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Feng Shui and the Winter Season

Winter is a time of maximum Yin energy.  Yin dominates and Yang is greatly lacking in the natural world.  Plants and animals in nature adapt to this change in their living environment by going into a state of suspended animation.  Their movement and growth slows to give them the best chance of surviving in what has become a hostile setting for them.

In the west of the Northern hemisphere the Winter Equinox on December 21 represents the first day of winter; the shortest period of daylight in the year.  In the 24 seasons of the Chinese Solar Calendar the time of 'Frost' begins as early as October 24* with the 'Coming of Winter' period starting on November 7* and Winter Solstice beginning on December 22*.

*These dates may change by a + or -variation of one day.  To be accurate it is advised to check the 10,000 Year Calendar.

As well as representing hours, days, months and years, combinations of the 12 Chinese Astrological Animals also signify one of the four seasons of the Solar year.  The Winter season begins in November, the month of the Boar (Pig), continues in December, the month of the Rat and concludes in January, the month of the Ox.  The Boar represents early winter, the Rat represents midwinter and the Ox represents late winter.

The period from November to the end of January represents a time of Yin energy; the Earth is at rest with little or no growth in the natural world. 

Snow and frost on a sunny winter day brings a sparkle and a hint of Yang to the landscape but the chill in the atmosphere still has an overriding air of Yin energy.   Yang energy in the natural world is depleted.

How fortunate that this coincides with a season of celebration; with colour, light, noise and excitement created by manmade Yang energy.  From the latter part of November; Thanksgiving Day in USA and Canada; followed by the Christmas and New Year period in December and the beginning of January, there is an air of anticipation and excitement.  Sparkling lights, decorations, music, parties and family gatherings all combine to make up for lack of Yang energy in the natural world.

The growth colour of green, the colour of the Wood element, feeds and enhances the Yang colour of red.  The colour of the Fire element is one of the most popular at this time of the year.  It brings warmth, brightness and a sense of excitement, in contrast to the darkness of the short days.

These traditional celebratory colours give a helping hand during the season of celebration to help Yin and Yang balance.

Rather than viewing the Winter season as a depressing and dismal period, look on it as a time of transition and a necessary stage in the annual cycle.  Appreciate its unique beauty and embrace it rather than wish for it to be over.   Just as we will not thrive and survive without rest, the natural world also benefits from a period of rest to ensure it is replenished and ready to begin a new cycle of growth.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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