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

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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

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FENG SHUI - CLASSICAL vs MODERN

Following a recent question from a client:  "How can you have two versions (classical and modern) of Feng Shui?" I decided to post my answer in this article.  So here goes.  

My reply was: "Classical vs Modern Feng Shui is a very good question.  Thing is Classical Feng Shui is the original form however since the 1990s it has been almost become what you could call Feng Shui for Home Interior.  Classical concentrates on Qi (energy) and its quality (which is after all what it is all about) while modern concentrates on putting this and that here and there.  While Classical does advocate this in a limited sense it is not the be all and end all of what is required. Classical works from the outside in - if it is bad outside it will at best be average inside; if its good outside it 'can' be great inside.  Modern is the symbolic/colour/images version, Classical is the movement of Qi and its influence.  There is a place for some of the modern and to be honest that is what a lot of people in the West expect from an audit but it has to be an accompaniment, not a stand-alone system." 

 So....What do you know about Feng Shui?  Do you follow the classical route or do you subscribe to the more modern approach and are they so very different?

 

There are fundamental differences.  Classical Feng Shui focuses on the macro and modern Feng Shui focuses at the micro level.  Classical Feng Shui requires an experienced eye to identify positive and negative elements in the environment causing positive or negative Qi to flow towards a property.  It identifies where, when and who will be affected by both positive and negative Qi.  Where appropriate, recommendations are made to improve a good, or alleviate a bad situation.  In general, Classical Feng Shui prefers 'prevention rather than cure.'  It is not always possible to remedy a major affliction with plants, water or the placement of objects.  Minor afflictions may however be blocked or diverted with the addition of one, or more of these remedies.

Modern Feng Shui focuses on the internal and the immediate outdoors as well as in some cases, suggesting more of a do-it-yourself approach.   It also tends to focus on short term rather than long term results.

As the result of a professional audit recommendations may include, but not be limited to,  internal furniture layout, colour and the use of water features.  It is more about the flow and quality of Qi both external and internal.  Where are the mountains and water in relation to your property?  Where is your main door, kitchen, bedroom and office located?  These are areas that will have the biggest influence on the quality of Qi and your experiences.  When was your house built?  The list goes on......

Is one of these better than the other? 

While we focus on Classical Feng Shui we would say the answer lies in the effectiveness of the application and your own results.  Have you have had a Classical Feng Shui audit conducted on your home, what effects have you experienced?  Have you had a modern Feng Shui audit and were you satisfied with the outcome?  If you have elected for a do-it-yourself approach, did you achieve your objectives?

"The proof of the pudding is in the eating" as the saying goes.

Both Classical and Modern Feng Shui practitioners who have 'made the grade' recommend what has worked for them.  They are proof that 'their system works!' 

Just one more thing to remember.  You have to have a crystal clear vision of what you want to achieve with Feng Shui.  'Attracting wealth', 'finding a partner', 'being happy' or 'being healthy' is not enough.  Write it down and be descriptive.  Do you want a quick fix or long-term focus?  These are all things to consider before declaring that Feng Shui is not working for you, whichever method you choose to employ.  

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

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Feng Shui and Flying Stars

"In addition to the Flying Star Chart of a home there are annual, monthly and daily Flying Stars.  These 'fly' from sector to sector in a set pattern which is known as the Lo-Shu Path."

Feng Shui practitioners and enthusiasts are aware that every year there is a change in energy caused by Stars 'flying' from one sector to another.

This Lo-Shu grid shows the original location for each of these Stars which also represent one of the Five Elements.  1 is Water; 2, 5 and 8 are Earth; 3 and 4 are Wood; 6 and 7 are Metal; 9 is Fire. 

It is the flight from one sector to another that affects the quality of the Feng Shui of any property and its occupants.  It also affects the energy on a larger scale which is why some parts of the world have better fortune in certain years than others.

Knowing the interaction between the Five Elements allows you to better understand why some areas are positive in a particular year and some areas are negative.  As an example, the combination of Wood and Metal is a controlling one and while the level of that control depends on many factors, it creates conflict when they meet in a sector. 

Annual and monthly Flying Stars (daily Flying Stars are generally used for specific purposes such as Date Selection) are short term, you know there will be an end to the good or the bad.  The Flying Stars of your individual property based on its completion date is long term.

In addition to the nine Flying Stars there are also annual stars (both good and bad) that visit certain sectors.  Stars like the Dragon Virtue; Fortune Virtue; the Sun and the Moon fly into an area to bring specific types of assistance to the residents.  The Sun Star, being Yang, is particularly helpful to males and it can ease the effects of having inadvertently activated one of the negative Stars.  The Moon Star, being Yin, is particularly helpful to females and can help with communication. 

The 3 Killings, the 5 Yellow and the Grand Duke Jupiter are well-known negative Stars.  The 3 Killings, when activated, brings with it three different types of negative Qi and each year it resides in one of the primary compass locations.  The 5 Yellow, when activated, brings with it five types of misfortune such as general bad luck or at its most malevolent, serious health or relationship issues.   The Grand Duke always occupies the location of the animal of the year affecting the fortunes of the animal directly opposite around the compass.  For example in 2014 the Grand Duke occupies S2 (Horse) making N2 (Rat) exposed to his displeasure.  In 2015 the Grand Duke will reside in SW1 (Sheep) making NE1 (Ox) vulnerable.

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.

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