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

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.

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.

Feng Shui and the Season of Spring

Well, Spring has sprung – at least in terms of the date on the calendar in the Northern Hemisphere!  You might be living somewhere that hasn’t quite got the memo yet.  

I have yet to see spring blossom in all its glory and beauty however I have seen daffodils in full bloom.  Definitely work in progress, I think.

All this being said this time of transition makes it a great time to do some planning, to look outside your four walls and decide how things are looking in the great outdoors.

Whether you have a garden at the front of your home with your very own ‘bright hall’ or not, there is always something you can do to welcome positive Chi into your home; to bring some vibrant natural energy into your space.

So how can you influence the quality of the energy entering your home or office?  How can you bring new, young and vibrant Chi indoors?

One important thing is to know the direction your home faces, as each direction has an influence on the type of Chi flowing. 

The North is influenced by Water first and Metal second; the Northeast and Southwest is influenced by Earth first and Fire second; the East and Southeast I influenced by Wood first and Water second; the South is influenced by Fire first and Wood second and the West and Northwest is influenced by Metal first and Earth second.

A north-facing front doors is probably one of the more challenging scenarios as it has a lack of direct sunlight reaching your door.  Having its main Chi influences in Water and Metal associates it immediately with winter, with cold and dark; and that is how it can look and feel if steps are not taken to brighten and lighten the space making it inviting and welcoming.

Despite the fact that Water and Fire are in conflict, light is essential in a north-facing garden.  The great thing is there are so many modern lighting options available.  Create a welcoming path towards your front door with metal and white lights.  A winding path slows down the movement of Chi and will convert it from fast and inauspicious Shar Chi into slow and auspicious Sheng Chi.  White, blue or purple flowers will inject positive Yang energy.  It is important to brighten your north-facing garden to inject some much needed warmth and ensure you are inviting the most auspicious Chi possible into your home.

Remember its all about harmony and balance and gardens are all about the Five Elements.  Its impossible to create an outdoor space without Earth as the starting point.  Trees, bushes and flowers all represent the element of Wood; Metal is naturally buried deep in the Earth and can be introduced in its own right with Metal lighting or Metal Water features. 

Fire and Water?  Well, even in a darker North-facing garden the brightness of the sun will have its influence.  To further brighten the area introducing lights both in the garden and on either side of your front door will invite a welcoming glow.  That’s the Fire taken care of.  Even if you don’t introduce a Water feature into your garden, early morning mist and the influence of rain will bring forth the Water element to cleanse, refresh and sparkle.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

Enjoying our posts?  Register with Google+ Google Friend Connect to follow.
Visit http://www.abundance-chi.com to discover more about Feng Shui

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