FENG SHUI AND WATER

FS8M 

FENG SHUI AND WATER

Anyone who has heard anything about Feng Shui will be aware that Water plays an important role.  Indeed it has a vital part to play in creating balance and harmony in an environment.  It is this very role that has given rise to a misuse of the element in many instances.

 Feng Shui translates as Wind-Water.   

"Qi is dispersed by the Wind and gathers at the boundaries of Water"

In Classical Feng Shui it is said that 'Mountains govern People (Health and Wellbeing) and Water governs Wealth'. 

In certain contemporary Feng Shui methodology this is often taken out of context and Water is suggested in inappropriate locations in the name of attracting wealth. Does it work anyway?  Well, if you have tried it you can answer that one.

It is fundamental in Classical Feng Shui practice and vital that it is respected and used appropriately.  Water is generally regarded as Yang yet it does have its Yin and Yang attributes.  Yang Water is constantly flowing and in motion like the rivers and sea; Yin Water is fog, clouds and mist that are moist and almost ethereal in nature.

Most  generic recommendations suggest having a water feature (anything from an internal table top water fountain to an external swimming pool) in the North, the location relating to Water.  It is also suggested placing Water in the East and Southeast.  These Wood locations are then 'fed' by the Water.  While this is not incorrect there will be times when the needs of the residents and the time factor override these generalisations.

When the number 1 White Star whose home location is the North 'visits' another location recommendations sometimes suggest placing a Water feature in this area for the duration of the 'visit'.  Is this always a good idea?

Let us walk through an example from 2015 using the Monthly Flying Stars as an example.   In August 2015 the number 1 White Star will 'fly' to the West and remain there from August 8-September 7.  Would it be a good idea to place a Water feature here for the month?  In 2015 the West is the most inauspicious location of the year having both the 5 Yellow Earth Star and the 3 Killings present.  It is therefore recommended that the area be kept quiet and still for the year to avoid activating these negative combinations.  Placing a moving Water feature here would serve to activate the negative energy and stir up a host of potential hazards for residents. 

Each of the eight primary and secondary locations are not created equal and Water is not suitable for all areas.  At any one period of time there are only four out of the eight locations that are generally appropriate for Water.  And to conclude the  example of the Monthly Flying Stars above, Water is not generally recommended in the West at any time during this Period 8 (2004-2023) and the following Period 9 (2024-2043).

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.fengshui8mansions.com

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BA GUA or LUO SHU GRID

FENG SHUI  8 MANSIONS

BA GUA or LUO SHU GRID

What is the Luo-Shu Grid?  What is the BaGua? And how are they used in Feng Shui practice?

When looking to enhance your property using Feng Shui what do you think of first when looking at the floor plan of your property?

Do you superimpose the Luo-Shu Grid (3 x 3) or the BaGua (Pa Kua) over the floor plan?

What is the difference between these two grids synonymous with Feng Shui practice other than the obvious one of their shape?

If you follow Western Feng Shui (also known as BTB Feng Shui) the 3 x 3 Grid or BaGua is static with each of its sectors representing an 'aspiration' as well as colours, numbers, seasons and the five elements.  Beginning from the North the aspirations are: Career, Education, Longevity/Health, Wealth, Fame/Recognition, Love/Relationships, Descendants/Family and Mentor/Heaven Luck.

This Grid is always placed in the same position over a floor plan, with the middle sector at the bottom (career) in line with the front of your property.  No reference is made to compass directions or locations so each sector in a property is treated the same regardless of its direction and the location of each of the individual rooms within that property.  For example the 'Wealth' direction is always diagonally left of the front of the property.  This could relate to your living room, kitchen, bedroom or bathroom.  This style of Feng Shui is more static than its traditional counterpart in that regardless of the direction your property faces the internal sectors will all have the same attributes, with the front relating to career and so on.

This form of Western Feng Shui makes no provision for the influence of the external environment. 

The BaGua as used in Classical Feng Shui refers to members of the family, numbers, colours, seasons, the five elements, body parts and much more.  The information contained in the BaGua is then superimposed onto the Luo-Shu Grid.  Unlike BTB Feng Shui however the grid is placed over a floor plan based on the compass direction of your property. Its position will therefore change between properties depending on certain factors.  No two properties, even those side by side will have the same quality of Qi.  This is what makes Classical Feng Shui a dynamic practice. 

Classical Feng Shui teaches that the external macro environment will identify the presence and quality of Qi likely to enter your property.

So in general there are similarities between the Luo-Shu Grid and the BaGua as used in both Western and Classical Feng Shui.  The differences however are more pronounced when it comes to their use.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.fengshui8mansions.com

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THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD DATE!

No, we are not talking about a romantic date or dinner date with friends more a positive date for:

a) making Feng Shui changes in your home or workplace

b) proposing marriage to that special someone

c) celebrating your Wedding day

d) breaking ground to build your dream home

e) moving home

f) signing a business contract

These is only a drop in the ocean compared to what date selection can be used for.  It is mainly for those events that will have a long-term effect on your life.  So why is it important to choose a particular date?  The simple answer is the quality of Qi present at a precise date and time will influence an event and people involved in the event.  To infuse the occasion, whatever it may be, with positive energy requires knowing when the energy is harmonious. 

Qi (energy) is constantly in motion.  In Feng Shui we tend to focus on the annual and monthly changes of energy but in truth this also goes down to the day and the hour and it is this that we look to when choosing a date for a specific event.

You have all experienced days when everything you turn your hand to goes right or wrong or your mood changes from positive to negative (or vice versa) for no apparent reason.  This is the impact that Qi is having on you.  Often described as 'one of those days' the energy of the day is, or is not, in harmony with you.  Did you know that your birth date will influence whether a day is positive or not? 

 

There are generic 'good' and 'bad' days and then there are those days that are good or bad for some and not for others.  When you are looking to arrange something that will impact your life for the foreseeable future it makes sense that you start on a day and at a time that will benefit you.  In 5 or 10 years time is it going to matter what the weather was like on your Wedding day or where you held that important business meeting?  It might matter more that things are not going well for you in your personal or business relationships and you cannot understand why.  Imagine that you went into partnership, whatever kind, on a day that benefitted one party and was a conflict day for another, or the day was a generic bad one - things will ultimately come to a head and disharmony will ensue.

Consider the benefits of date selection and how it can help you will ensure your adventure begins on the right footing, there is definitely more to gain than lose.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.fengshui8mansions.com

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

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FOUR NOBLE ANNUAL STARS

FENG SHUI  8 MANSIONS

FOUR NOBLE ANNUAL STARS

As we are moving closer to the Year of the Yin Wood Goat in 2015 it is time to take note of where the good and bad stars will be residing for the year.

In this post we will look at the stars known as the 'Four Nobles'.  These are the Sun Star, the Moon Star, the Dragon Virtue Star and the Fortune Virtue Star.  They each have their own unique energy and are used to counteract a specific negative issue.

From February 4 2015 to February 3 2016 the Four Nobles are situated in the following directions.

 

Sun Star (SW3), Moon Star (NW1), Dragon Virtue Star (NE3) and Fortune Virtue Star (SE1).

By activating one, or all of these stars, you can help alleviate difficulties occurring in your life.

So how do you activate?  The first thing is to identify your issue.  The second is to know which sector each star occupies during any particular year.  The third is to choose a good date and time (using Date Selection) and the fourth, the activation involves movement.  The movement of changing the furniture around,  clearing clutter from the area, knocking a nail in the wall in the direction of the star or opening a window all constitute activation.  The idea is that the movement activates the Qi and by extension the star.

One thing to remember is that you do not have to have any connection to the direction involved, ie. you do not have to be the Chinese astrological animal of the area.  If you have the issue associated with a particular star you can help alleviate the situation by activating the star.

Which star for which issue?  The Sun Star is a Yang star and will help males more than females.  When activated it will lessen the effects of having inadvertently activated one of the negative stars of the year such as the Five Yellow or the Three Killings.

The Moon Star is a Yin star and will help females more than males.  If your business or career depends on communicating with clients, customers, fellow workers or management and you have trouble getting your message across this is the star to activate.  As a Yin star it does affect feelings and emotions.

The Dragon Virtue Star is there to help when you have blockages or obstructions in your way.  These can be caused by difficult people who stop you from progressing in your working life and prevent you getting due recognition for your efforts.  It can help give a boost to your finances or your career path.  It can also be activated when you apply for a bank loan, to smooth the path and get a 'yes' response.

The Fortune Virtue Star is the star to activate to benefit from a more satisfying lifestyle in all areas.  Health, wealth and happiness can all be improved by activating this star.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.fengshui8mansions.com

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

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FIVE ELEMENTS IN ACTION

FIVE ELEMENTS IN ACTION

The Five Elements in Feng Shui (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) have three cycles; the productive, the exhaustive and the controlling*.

*This cycle is also sometimes referred to as the destructive cycle.  This indicates that it destroys the element it is opposed to.  In reality 'controlling' is less final.  Controlling means its opposing element is kept in place rather than destroyed.  It is only when there is an excess of control that it becomes a major issue.

When using the Qi of the Five Elements to resolve or improve a difficult situation the Yin and Yang polarities as well as the element being used will determine the speed with which change is likely to occur.

What exactly does that mean? 

If your consultant has recommended placing water in a certain sector for example and you have been given a suitable date and time to carry out this procedure, how quickly will it take effect?  Yang water is active, moving water and if it has been recommended to strengthen your growth prospects it may mean placing it in a wood (growth) area.  Water feeds wood - but how quickly?  Yang wood is represented by tall and straight trees and the East.  Even in ideal conditions they will take their time to grow.  Yin wood in contrast is the grass, flowers, vines and bushes and the Southeast.  In ideal conditions they will grow quickly.  So placing a water feature in the East is likely to take more time to take effect than in the Southeast. 

Metal is often recommended as a solution to a negative sector such as the East or Southeast (this is a controlling relationship between metal and wood).  Yang metal is generally machinery, moving metal and is hard and unyielding so how quickly will it control wood.  Something like a chain saw can cut down the tallest tree quickly but would have minimal effect on grass or flowers so its effect in the East would work quicker than it would in the Southeast.  Yin metal is small metal items, coins, small knives, fine jewellery - how quickly would that impact the wood of the East?  In the Southeast however a small knife or a pair of scissors would be more effective at controlling the wood than in the East.

There is no instant solution to Feng Shui recommendations and looking at the Five Elements in this way shows that some changes will take longer to implement than others.

The interaction of the Five Elements is not the only solution to negative situations and your Feng Shui Consultant will find the best possibly answers based on your individual circumstance.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.fengshui8mansions.com

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

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

CLEAR YOUR CLUTTER!

FENG SHUI  8 MANSIONS

Feng Shui tips often begin with 'clear your clutter' as the number one way to improve the flow of Qi in your home or office. 

What is your clutter?  Is it the same as that of your neighbour, your sister or your husband/wife?

Clutter is different for everyone.  No two people are going to see clutter in the same way.

One person might smile at a display cabinet of trinkets collected lovingly from each holiday destination and happily relive all the moments they were purchased.  Someone else looking at the same display cabinet will see a mix of 'organised (or disorganised) chaos' - clutter.

So how do you interpret clutter?

Is it only what you see?  Is it physical items such as books, magazines, newspapers or clothes piled high in the corner of a room, or is it something else?

Clutter can be tangible or intangible, it can be physical or mental.  What is it that attracts your attention each time you see it or think of it (you don't always have to be looking at something to know it is there), that makes you immediately say 'I must get around to clearing, cleaning or disposing of that' ?  It becomes clutter in both the physical and mental field.  It is clutter both tangible (that which you can see) and intangible (that which is in your mind). 

Which would you interpret as clutter; a pile of unwashed dishes or a dusty tabletop?  An inbox full of emails you will never read and haven't got around to disposing of, or a recurring thought in your mind of something undone, unfinished or unresolved.

Clearing clutter is a valid exercise however identifying what it is and which clutter is most distracting is something you should consider before diving head first into a huge pile of clothes.

Feng Shui is not just about what you can see.  After all we cannot see Qi, we can only see and feel its effects yet we know it is there.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.fengshui8mansions.com

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

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

Visit http://www.fengshui8mansions.com for our consultation and date selection services

FENG SHUI - Mountain and Water Stars

"Qi is scattered by the Wind, and gathers at the boundaries of Water"

Guo Po (276-324AD) Book of Burial

The purpose of Classical Landform Feng Shui (Luan Tou) is to assess the natural environment; the mountains and water; to analyse the quality of Qi in an area.

Yin Mountains create Qi.  With wind but no water this Qi will scatter.  With too much wind the Qi will not collect.  To harness the Qi it must come into contact with Water allowing it to gather.  We can then harness this Qi and direct it towards our property and both mountains and water are necessary to achieve this. 

When the natal chart of a property is created it is based on the date the residents move in, it takes account of the Water Stars (facing) and the Mountain Stars (sitting) as well as the Base Star (the dominant Qi) of each location.  Each of the eight sectors (the four primary and the four secondary sectors) have a central base star and a facing and sitting star.

Water Stars are said to govern wealth; it is Yang and movement, Mountain Stars are said to govern people; they are Yin and still. 

Water is influenced by the orbit of the moon and to a lesser degree the orbit of the earth around the sun; the tides of the oceans and seas is caused by the gravitational force of the moon and sun.  As Feng Shui is often depicted pictorially, imagine the flow of Water; Water flows and it is this flow that governs wealth.   

The 'wealth' aspect of the Water Stars is the wealth of money and the wealth of career or business growth. 

Looking pictorially at the image of a Mountain it represents stability and security.  The Mountain is unmoving, supportive and reliable.  Mountains are created by the magnetic pull of the stars that produce them and they are named after these same stars.   The quality of each mountain is determined by the star that creates it.  Mountains generate Qi.  Some emit positive Qi, these are the lush green mountains and some emit negative Qi, these are hard and rocky, the type of mountains that do not foster growth.

The 'people' aspect of the Mountain Stars covers your family tree, relationships, health, personal attitude to life and the rank or level of achievement you aspire to.  It determines the quality of your life.

In an urban environment mountains are replaced by buildings and water is replaced by roads.  These are analysed in the same way as the mountains and water of the natural world.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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Feng Shui and Five Elements Harmony

At first glance two of the three cycles of the Five Elements, the Exhaustive and the Controlling Cycles, seem to fly in the face of living in harmony with the Chi Energy permeating our existence.

And the Controlling Cycle gives the impression we use placement in Feng Shui to destroy the Energy in our environment.

A more accurate way of interpreting the Controlling Cycle is as a ‘blocking energy’ or a ‘controlling power’ rather than a ‘destructive’ force.  After all our ultimate aim is to live in harmony with everyone and everything so it is neither our purpose nor our right to ‘destroy.’

How and why is the Controlling Cycle necessary? How and why do all the elements interact the way they do?

To reiterate, the Controlling Cycle is as follows:

Water extinguishes Fire

Fire melts Metal

Metal destroys Wood

Wood weakens Earth

Earth controls Water

In our modern world the solid structures that are our homes and offices, together with the infrastructure that allows us to move quickly and easily from one place to another are built for practical purposes with less thought given to the impact on Qi flow. This often results in fast moving or blocked Energy in certain areas. 

In addition colours, shapes, lights, microwave towers and so on, as well as buildings Yin in nature such as hospitals or police stations, all have a bearing on the quality of Energy we experience in our immediate environment.

Therefore, to create a harmonious and auspicious flow of Chi it is sometimes necessary for remedies to be put in place to counteract the negativity identified in and around our homes and offices.  This is where the Controlling Cycle of the Five Elements comes into play.  By introducing the element that ‘destroys’ it is possible to deflect , block or re-route negative Energy helping transform it into positive Energy by creating a flow rather than a ‘poison arrow.’

Water extinguishes Fire

Fire is sunshine; it is the light created by lightning; electricity; and it is the flames we see when we burn wood, paper and coal.

Fire is an element that has to be created.  It does not have a life of its own.

When Fire on Earth gets out of control it has to be extinguished and this is achieved by dousing it with Water.  Therefore Water destroys Fire.

However, there is a way to harmonise these two opposing elements. 

Harnessing equal quantities of Fire and Water; using Fire to heat Water or other liquids; creates a new Energy source; steam.  This important element is then used to power machinery such as turbines, engines and the humble iron.

Another form of steam comes from a natural source. Water from hot springs is heated by geothermal heat deep inside the Earth. This is the heat from the mantle of the Earth. These hot springs often have a high mineral content and are a magnet for tourists. The springs are said to provide health-giving properties because of the minerals they contain.

Fire melts Metal

Metal is a cold and unyielding element hidden deep within the Earth.  It has no life of its own.  It is mined from the Earth and harnessed in large quantities.  To change its structure it is first necessary to heat the Metal to a liquid state allowing it to be manipulated.  Therefore Fire destroys Metal. 

To transform Metal from its rough state into something useful and valuable we create Fire to melt the Metal. Once heated to a sufficiently high temperature the Metal changes structure from a solid to a liquid.   From this new liquid form it is fashioned into tools, girders and machinery; communication devices and computers; all necessary for life in our 21^st Century world.

Metal has the potential to destroy when it is fashioned into weapons. This is one element that should always be treated with respect.  So that’s the useful and the destructive side of Metal taken care of. 

However, Metal also symbolises the wealth of our world in the form of gold, silver and platinum. 

These are precious Metals representative of the wealth we exchange personally, nationally and internationally.  Jewellery is fashioned from Metal and it is used as a symbol of adornment, beauty and love. 

This is all done thanks to the power of Fire.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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