Feng Shui Mythical Creatures

Dragon Horse

Numerology is one of the fundamental forces in Feng Shui.  The numbers 1 to 9 play an important role in analysing personal Feng Shui; the Feng Shui of your environment; as well as your living and working spaces.  That being said, where did the numbers, and more importantly, their position in the He Tu* and Lo-Shu Grid come from?

*He Tu (River Map) is also sometimes written as Ho Tu or Hetu.

Chinese legend recalls that at a time when much of the country was under the influence of a great flood around the area of the Yellow River (or Ho River) a creature with the body of a horse, the head of a dragon and fish-like scales emerged from the flooded river.  On its back it had curly hair that created a sequence of dots laid out in a square pattern radiating outwards from five dots in a central square.  The middle square showed dots from 1 to 4 and the outer square displayed dots 6 to 9. 

The odd numbers were white and they are yang in nature, the even numbers were black and yin in nature.  Each one of the four primary sectors of the compass have two each of these numbers - a pairing of one yang and one yin number and an association with the Five Elements.  The He Tu looks like a cross with South at the top and North at the bottom with the centre housing the number 5.

1 (Water) and 6 (Metal) are located in the North creating the element of Water

2 (Earth) and 7 (Metal) are located in the South and represent the element of Fire

3 (Wood) and 8 (Earth) are located in the East with Wood as the element

4 (Wood) and 9 (Fire) are located in the West having Metal as the element

5 (Earth) is located in the Centre

Each compass location is in harmony with the element created by the combination.

The information together with the eight trigrams was used to help create the eight sided Yin Pa Kua (Pa Kua of the Early Heaven arrangement.)  This placed the trigram Chien (Qian)-the male at the top in the South signifying Heaven and Kun-the female at the bottom in the North representing Earth.

The Dragon Horse is said to be the guardian of the Gates of Heaven.

In modern symbolic Feng Shui the Dragon Horse is also known as the Chinese Unicorn, Qi Lin, Kei Loon or Chi Lin.  It is said to be particularly loyal to its owners.  Offering protection and inviting good luck as well as good health are more of the benefits this symbolic creature will afford its owners when displayed in the home; and good fortune when displayed in the workplace.  It is associated with strength, ambition, abundance and perseverance.

It can be displayed in the home or the workplace in the location relevant to the aspiration important to you.  Displayed as a pair on either side of the main door will afford protection and avoid loss.  It should be displayed facing outward and not inward towards you.

This mythical creature has the speed and endurance of the horse and the power and protection of the dragon; two of the 12 Chinese Astrological animals.  They are located at SE1 (dragon) and S2 (horse) around the compass.  Its fish-like scales were said to represent the carp, a fish associated with wealth and abundance.

To the fulfillment of your dreams                             

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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Feng Shui and the Three Killings

The ‘Three Killings’ or Sarm Saat (Cantonese)/San Sha (Mandarin) occupies a huge 90^o of the compass.  In any given year it only ever resides in one of the four primary compass locations of North, East, South or West. 

So what exactly are the ‘Three Killings?’ 

It translates as three types of negative energy affecting wealth, health and general well-being.  It has been described as bringing losses through robbery, injury, money loss (Jie or Robbery Sha), accident, mishaps and illness (Zai or Calamity Sha), obstacles and setbacks (Sui or Annual Sha.) 

Something to bear in mind:  There are also MONTHLY Three Killings as well as annual and they make an appearance more than once within a month.  These are three consecutive days when first the Robbery Star, then the Calamity Star and finally the Annual Star make an appearance.  While troublesome, their effects only tend to last for the month unlike the annual Three Killings whose effects will last the entire year. 

During 2013, the year of the Water Snake, the Three Killings is in the East (45 ^o -135^o.) This coincides with the location of the Trinity of Spring; the Wood animals of Tiger, Rabbit and Dragon.  It is in conflict with the Metal Trinity of Allies; the Snake, Rooster and Ox.   If your animal signs are either the Tiger, Rabbit or Dragon the Three Killings will have a negative influence on them.

The eldest son of the family may also experience some of the misfortune associated with the Three Killings during the year if he spends time in the East.  The East is the location associated with the eldest son so it is beneficial to have him stay out of the area during this afflicted year.

Because all the numbers in the Lo-Shu Grid have returned to their original homes during 2013 this has the effect of strengthening the intrinsic energy of each location, something which only occurs every nine years.  The Three Killings can therefore said to be even stronger than usual.   

It is a Wood element affliction in the area of Big Wood so your large plants are best removed from the East for the year.  Even more important is to ensure there are no Water features in the East.  Water feeds Wood in the Productive Cycle of the Five Elements; not something to be recommended when Wood is sending out such inauspicious energy.  

Being a Wood location the Fire element can be deployed to weaken the effects of the Three Killings.  Bright lights or red décor in the East will exhaust the Wood.   If you prefer physical cures, the three images traditionally used to offset the negative effects of the Three Killings are the Pi Yao (a mythical hybrid animal resembling a winged lion) said to protect against loss of wealth; the Fu Dog (a popular protector outside the home) who protects against accidents and the Chi Lin (Kei Loon or Dragon Horse) displayed to protect against the harmful effects of the Three Killings.  Place these images in the East facing the affliction head on.

Knowing where the Three Killings are located in your home, your office or your workplace is important to ensure you are not inadvertently activating their malevolence.  This is especially so if the East coincides with your main door, your living room, your bedroom or your office.  Keeping the area as quiet and undisturbed as possible is essential.  Any decorative work; renovations; digging holes or noisy maintenance work are best left for another year to avoid upsetting and therefore activating these negative stars.  This applies whether it is in the East of your garden, your entire home, your living, sleeping or working areas.  Outside, downstairs or upstairs, the effects will be the same, you will be activating the destructive force of the Three Killings by disturbing them.

Another essential consideration is to ensure you do not sit, sleep or work with your back to the Three Killings.  This symbolises being ‘stabbed’ in the back.  Facing or ‘confronting’ the Three Killings is like standing up to them; not being intimidated by their power.  Knowing your good and bad directions is important here.  If the West is your most auspicious direction this is the year to think carefully and consider which of your other three auspicious directions is beneficial to face as an alternative.  Facing the West and having your back to the East will cause you more trouble than it is worth.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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FENG SHUI and MISSING CORNERS

In Feng Shui regular shapes such as rectangle (which signifies growth) or square (which indicates a solid stable base) are more auspicious than irregular shapes with lots of sharp edges and missing corners.

 

Whether your house is one level, two-storey, or a three-storey town house knowing its overall shape is an important step in establishing its good and bad points.

The big Tai Chi of your home is the entire square footage however each level is studied separately.

Your ground floor is most likely to have an irregular shape if you have had an extension built; if you have built a porch or a conservatory built.  Any additional structure that has a roof and is attached to your main home is considered a part of the home.

Missing corners* are often the result of extensions and knowing their compass location is important if you are to positively enhance your home.

*There is some disagreement as to what constitutes a ‘missing’ corner.  Generally when superimposing the Lo-Shu Grid over the entire floor plan of each level if there is an entire sector missing, or if a cut-out section covers more than one sector of the grid, it is said to be missing.

The Eight Aspirations Formula of Feng Shui divides the four primary and the four secondary sectors around the compass.  Whilst not part of classical Feng Shui such as Landscape Formula or Flying Stars, it has been incorporated into the mainstream practice as part of Neo (or new) Feng Shui for the Modern World.   It takes account of desires and ambitions identified as important for the living of a full and abundant life.

The Eight Aspirations are Career (north), Education and Study (northeast), Health and Longevity (east), Wealth (southeast), Fame and Recognition (south), Love and Relationships (southwest), Family (west) and Heaven and Mentor (northwest.)

Take accurate compass directions to identify the facing and sitting directions of your home.  This is part of the Kua (Eight Mansions or Eight Palaces) Formula.  The next step is to draw a separate floor plan for each level of your home and superimpose the Lo-Shu Grid over it to highlight any potential missing corners.

Missing corners in the Big Tai Chi means you will be unable to activate these areas for the aspiration associated with it.  However the alternative is to activate the Small Tai Chi of one of your major rooms such as the living room, dining room or bedroom depending on the aspiration you desire.

House hunting is a very good time to consider the shape of a house.  When you look at the written details and view a property for the first time, have a look at the external surroundings to establish whether there are any poison arrows pointing towards the front door.  Establish if there is a bright hall both outside and immediately inside the front door.  Then look around the outside of the property to see if it is fairly regular in shape. Prevention is better than cure so beginning from a positive viewpoint will benefit you in both the short and the long term.

Next time we will look at the various compass locations and the effect missing corners can have on each of the Eight Aspirations.

     

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

We hope enjoy our blogs and leave any comments below or email: crystal@abundance-chi.com visit: www.abundance-chi.com LynC

Feng Shui and the Lo-Shu Grid 7-9

Continuing on with numbers and elements around the compass from seven to nine.

Remember all odd numbers represent yang energies and all even numbers represent yin energies even when the area itself may be the opposite. 

When energising locations around the compass you can be imaginative when using symbolic Feng Shui.  Use the number of the area to decide the number of enhancers you place there.  For example; 1 water feature, 2 crystal hearts, 3 plants.  Whether you live in a traditional, modern or contemporary home; whether you like lots of trinkets on display or a minimalist design you can still incorporate symbolic enhancements for each area with careful thought and planning.  These do not have to be oriental, they can be western symbols associated with each aspiration.  

  

Number Seven (7) – The number of the west and the youngest daughter (Tui) this is the small metal area.  The number 7 Red Star in the practice of Flying Star Feng Shui is currently an inauspicious number connected to violence and robbery; anything connected with metal.  However, particularly in the western world it is historically a lucky number.  It is also a lucky number for anyone who has it as their Kua number.  7 is said to be a number relating to wisdom.  Seeing it on a regular basis is an indication that you should be focusing on your goals and not be diverted from your ultimate aim.  Doing this will ensure you will succeed.  The west is also the area relating to the family, to descendants luck.  

Number Eight (8) – The auspicious number 8 is an indicator of wealth and prosperity coming in to the home when it is correctly enhanced.  Its location is the small earth area of the northeast, the area of Ken (the youngest son of the family.)  It is the education and study luck location.  Because of its similarity with the infinity symbol, or interlinking rings, the number 8 is a cyclical number indicating a recurrence of positive experiences.  It will also bring good fortune to the youngest son of the home as well as any member of the family undertaking further education or learning of any kind in college, university or in a work situation.  

Number Nine (9) – Nine is a number which signifies completion.  It is a magnifying number and this suggests that a double 9 will multiply the good fortune associated with this auspicious number.  Its home is the south, a part of the home that represents fame and recognition.  It is the area of the middle daughter (Li) and when properly enhanced the south will bring good fortune to all the family but more specifically, the daughters, the females of the family.  When the number 9 appears on a regular basis it is an indicator to be confident in your ventures with assurance of their ultimate success.  The fire element is associated with the south as is the majestic horse. You can also introduce plants into the area to feed the fire of success.  Take care of this important number, a number that can neither be destroyed or changed to bring your desires to ultimate fruition.   

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

We hope enjoy our blogs and leave any comments below or email: crystal@abundance-chi.com visit: www.abundance-chi.com LynC

Feng Shui and the Lo-Shu Grid 4-6

Continuing on with numbers and elements around the compass from four to six.

Remember all odd numbers represent yang energies and all even numbers represent yin energies even when the area itself may be the opposite.  However, this is balanced out by the introduction of other elements into each area to create yin/yang harmony.

Number Four (4) – This is the number of the southeast.  On its own it is a number that represents work in the literary field; with education and learning.  In some Far Eastern dialects the number four sounds like ‘death’ so there are often high-rise buildings that do not have a fourth floor.  Four signifies stability and grounding created by the four sides of a square or a rectangle however it can also represent feeling trapped.

  

This is a yin number in a yang growth area signified by small wood and the area relates to the eldest daughter (Sun) of the family.  Its colours are the bright spring and mint greens; the fresh greens of the spring and early summer period.  The southeast also signifies long-term wealth and prosperity and is best enhanced with water, an aquarium, to enhance the element of wood.  In symbolic Feng Shui small wooden images and objects displayed in multiples of four are auspicious, fresh vibrant flowers and images of the horse will enhance this area for the benefit of the daughter of the house as well as protect the wealth of the family.

 

Number Five (5) – Five is the number of the central area of the home.  This area is known as the heart of the home or the Tai Chi.  Displaying each of the Five Elements in the centre will create auspicious energy for the whole household especially when you have an open-plan design to your home.  The colour of the centre is the earth colours like ochre or pale yellow.  Five is not associated with any aspiration in Feng Shui but its significance is important in the Five Element Theory.  It is a number that represents change, activity and motion.  It indicates the possibility of travel.  Because it is the central number in the Lo-Shu Grid it is a number that suggests being at the centre of things; whether these things or situations are good or bad.  The centre is an earth area that links the northeast and the southwest earth areas. 

Number Six (6) – Six is the number of Heaven and is an auspicious white star that resides in the northwest. This number represents spiritual help and especially benefits the male or the breadwinner of the family (Chien.)  This is the ultimate yang area representing as it does big metal and the colour white (which incorporates all the other colours in the spectrum.) It is a number signifying leadership and power. This is a powerful star and its location is a powerful area.  As well as Heaven, it is the place of the male of the family and the area to focus on to attract a powerful mentor figure into your life.  

Hanging a photograph of the man of the house here; and even hanging a picture of someone you look up to, a mentor, to help you in your career or the career you aspire to, will create positive vibrations.  This is one of the two most important areas to care for and activating this big metal area with sound, light and movement will keep the yang energy of the male flowing.  To achieve all three in one, locating the television in the northwest and keeping it turned on for a good length of time each day will attract auspicious vibrations.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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Feng Shui and the Lo-Shu Grid 1-3

The nine numbers of the original Lo-Shu Grid from the north following a clockwise cycle are 1, 8, 3, 4, 9, 2, 7 and 6.  The numbers opposite one another around the grid always add up to 10 and with the number 5 residing in the centre any row up, down or diagonally will add up to 15.

Each of these numbers and their associated direction has an element, colour, shape, family member, aspiration as well as more intangible aspects such as body parts or musical notes.  We will look at the fundamental parts of each number and how they affect us all.

All odd numbers represent yang energies and all even numbers represent yin energies even when the area itself may be the opposite. 

Number One (1) – This is the number of the north. It is one of the auspicious white stars of Feng Shui and is synonymous with career luck. One represents new beginnings, creativity, independence and self.  The north represents water; the colours blue and black; its shape is wavy. The middle son (Kan) has his home in the north and it signifies dark, winter, an excess of yin energy.  Water and the number 1 are both yang.  If the north represents the back of your home avoid placing a water feature here, especially a pond, pool, waterfall or swimming pool.  Water at the back can suggest lack of support in your endeavours. 

Number Two (2) – This is the number of the southwest.  It is a yin number which represents the yin energy of big earth and its shape is the even-sided square which represents a solid base; loving and nurturing energy.  Two represents a couple, balance, yin and yang; it signifies co-dependence, partnerships and co-operation; it invites choice. It is a number representing interaction with others, and unity.  Its colours are earth colours such as ochre.  The southwest is a vital area to care for as it represents the female, the mother, caring and nurturing, love and relationships in its many and varied forms.  Love and relationships between a couple, between family members and between friends.  This is predominantly a yin area (Kun) the receptive, the yielding.  

Number Three (3) – Three is the big wood area of the east and it signifies communication.  The number three is a yang number that signifies the trinity; in this instance father, mother and child and also time represented by past, present and future.  It also represents Heaven, Earth and Man which are the basis for Feng Shui practice.  It indicates pleasure achieved through creativity. The shape of the east is rectangular. 

This location represents the eldest son of the family (Chen) and signifies new life and upward growth.  Its colours are the darker olive or emerald greens.  Sons are known as the Dragons of the family and east is the location of the mighty Green Dragon.  If you choose symbolism an image of this celestial creature is auspicious here together with large round leaved lush plants. The east also represents health and longevity.  Growing bamboo, which is one of the many symbols of longevity, in the east of your garden is auspicious, however take care of the variety you choose as they grow fast and can take over if not controlled.  Other symbols of longevity are the pine tree, peach and the long-legged Crane.  These are often represented together in oriental paintings. This is the place to house your larger pieces of wooden furniture. 

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

We hope enjoy our blogs and leave any comments below or email: crystal@abundance-chi.com visit: www.abundance-chi.com LynC

Feng Shui and Your Gua Number

Your Gua (Kua) number is a personalised number based on your date of birth using the lunar calendar.

To find out your Gua number click this link http://tinyurl.com/Kua-Numbers.  This will show your favourable and unfavourable directions, your individual Gua number based on your date of birth and list your four favourable directions in their order of importance.

Your four inauspicious directions are shown below.

Kua Number	Bad Luck	Accidents and Mishaps	Six Types of Misfortune	Total Loss
1	West	Northeast	Northwest	Southwest
2	East	Southeast	South	North
3	Southwest	Northwest	Northeast	West
4	Northwest	Southwest	West	Northeast
5 (Male)	East	Southeast	South	North
5 (Female)	South	North	East	Southeast
6	Southeast	East	North	South
7	North	South	Southeast	East
8	South	North	East	Southeast
9	Northeast	West	Southwest	Northwest

The Eight Mansions (sometimes known as the Eight Houses or the Eight Palaces) Formula, is a personalised Formula of Feng Shui and once you know each of your auspicious and inauspicious directions you can use this information to arrange your living and working space to bring good fortune to you.

Before finding out more about the Eight Mansions Formula let us first go back to the source.  There is much to discover about the nine numbers of Feng Shui synonymous with the original Lo-Shu Grid or the Magic Square as it is also known.  When Feng Shui was first conceived the Lo-Shu Grid placed the elements in different locations.  For example the male and the female, the parents, were placed south and north respectively.  This signified heaven (9) and earth (1), male and female directly opposite one another, confronting, yet combining to create a balance of Yin and Yang.  This then determined the positions of other elements around the Grid. 

These elements combined to complement one another, to bring harmony.  Fire and water were thus located east (fire) and west (water.)  In perfect harmony these two create steam which is an important additional source of power even in our modern times.  In the Early Heaven Arrangement this also signifies water falling on the earth to feed and nurture plants, seeds and flowers with fire (sunshine) warming them to bring out their full height, beauty and growth.

 

This was known as the Early Heaven Arrangement or Yin Feng Shui and the grid was, and still is by some, primarily used to determine burial sites. 

However the Lo-Shu Grid now generally used is known as the Later Heaven Arrangement or Yang Feng Shui; Feng Shui of the living.  This arrangement takes a cyclical view of the seasons and their elements giving a more natural flow to the Grid, to show how the Yin/Yang symbol of harmony moves from spring (a time of growth and expansion) through summer (bringing all things to full beauty), autumn (the time to harvest fruits of the earth) and on to winter (a time of rest.)

The northeast represents late winter/early spring, a time of slow awakening, the east is the location of springtime in all its reborn beauty, the southeast signifies early summer and the south, the height of summer.  The southwest is the location of late summer/early autumn and the west is the place of the autumn season, a time of reflection and preparation for the cold, dark days to follow.  The northwest takes us from late autumn to early winter and the north brings the cycle to a close giving us the dark days of winter, a time of stillness and rest for the earth.

These directions affect us all regardless of our Gua number and for this reason all of the eight compass directions, plus the central grid, can be decorated to create overall harmony.  Balance in life and in the home is all important to ensure positive energy for everyone.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.fengshui8mansions.com

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West Group and East Group Houses

Your Kua number, is your personalised number based on your date of birth as identified by the lunar calendar, and once you know this you can practice the Eight Mansions Formula of Feng Shui.

 

This is a straightforward and personalised Formula of Feng Shui which determines auspicious and inauspicious locations in the home for each individual and in future blogs we will look at each of the nine Kua numbers found in the Lo Shu Grid and their characteristics in more detail.

However, additionally the Kua formula can be used to divide houses into eight types; it calculates the facing and sitting directions of a home which in turn identifies whether the residents are in harmony, or in conflict with their living space.

While we will concentrate mainly on the personalised Formula for individuals, what follows is a brief description of the eight types of houses and their attributes.

The eight types of houses are based on their facing and sitting directions and will either be east group or west group.  Whether they are auspicious for the residents is dependent on personal Kua numbers which will place them in either east group or west group.

 

As with all formulas in Feng Shui compass directions are important so the first step is to take the compass reading of the front of your house from the inside looking out, the place where the maximum of Yang energy is generated.  This is usually, but not exclusively, where the front door is located.  Once you know this direction, the ‘facing direction’ you turn to find the ‘sitting direction’ which is where the group, and the name of the house, is determined.

If your back door, or your sitting direction is not directly opposite the facing direction of your main door, the sitting direction takes precedence when determining the type of house you occupy.

Following is a list of all the facing and sitting directions, the type of home, and whether it is an east group or a west group home.

Facing NORTH	Sitting SOUTH	East Group	LI House	Fire
Facing NORTHEAST	Sitting SOUTHWEST	West Group	KUN House	Earth
Facing EAST	Sitting WEST	West Group	TUI House	Metal
Facing SOUTHEAST	Sitting NORTHWEST	West Group	CHIEN House	Metal
Facing SOUTH	Sitting NORTH	East Group	KAN House	Water
Facing SOUTHWEST	Sitting NORTHEAST	West Group	KEN House	Earth
Facing WEST	Sitting EAST	East Group	CHEN House	Wood
Facing NORTHWEST	Sitting SOUTHEAST	East Group	SUN House	Wood

It is the sitting direction that determines the group of the house.  It is the group that will determine whether a home is auspicious for its residents.

As an example:                 

If your house faces North it sits South.  This is a fire element home and is auspicious for an east group person. 

There are only two examples where the facing and sitting directions belong to the same group and that is the North/South axis (east group) and the Northeast/Southwest axis (west group.)  In all other cases compromises will be required because if the facing direction is east or west group, the sitting direction will be west or east group.

The sitting direction always takes precedence.

In circumstances when your home is in the opposite group to you (based on your Kua number) and it is not possible to change an east group house into a west group house, and vice versa, whilst not ideal, the answer is to arrange the internal layout in harmony with your auspicious directions.

In a family home, the Kua number of the breadwinner of the home takes precedence as without them the source of income and wealth will be lost.  There may have to be compromises in the home of a couple, both working on equal terms, if they belong to different groups.

These are basic principles of this method of determining your house type, however it does give some idea of things to look for when exploring the fascinating world of Feng Shui.  It can also be particularly useful to bear in mind if you are looking to move home.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

We hope enjoy our blogs and leave any comments below or email: crystal@abundance-chi.com visit: www.abundance-chi.com LynC