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Contents

Preface.........................................................................................xiAcknowledgements................................................................................xiiiIntroduction....................................................................................xvChapter 1. Classical Feng Shui History & Symbolism.............................................1Chapter 2. Black Sect Tantric Buddhist Feng Shui (BTB) History & Symbolism.....................9Chapter 3. Career & Life Purpose North/Water...................................................17Chapter 4. Wisdom & Self Actualization Northeast/Earth.........................................25Chapter 5. Family & Community East/Wood........................................................31Chapter 6. Wealth & Prosperity Southeast/Wood..................................................37Chapter 7. Reputation & Fame South/Fire........................................................47Chapter 8. Love & Relationships Southwest/Earth................................................53Chapter 9. Creativity & Children West/Metal....................................................61Chapter 10. Helpful People & Travel Northwest/Metal............................................71Chapter 11. Mind, Body & Spirit Center/Earth...................................................77Chapter 12. Gardening The Outdoor Bagua........................................................85Conclusion......................................................................................91About the Authors...............................................................................95Resources.......................................................................................97References......................................................................................99

Chapter One

History & Symbolism

'FENG SHUI' MEANS 'WIND WATER' and speaks to the fact that the practice of Feng Shui seeks to align and balance people and their buildings with the forces of heaven (wind) and earth (water). Feng Shui is probably more than 5000 years old, but archaeologists have discovered written texts about the discipline from about 600 C.E. during the Tang Dynasty. Builders and carpenters in particular used pamphlets that listed directions and ways to measure and interpret earth formations: this was a very early use of Feng Shui.

In the 1960's during China's Cultural Revolution, the practice of Feng Shui was suppressed. However, since then, it has found a resurgence not only in the East but especially in the West.

Feng Shui grew out of the very ancient Oriental peoples' observation of the skies above them. Like other prehistoric societies, the Ancient Chinese were very much at the mercy of the seasons and the weather, and so sought to codify and perpetuate their observations. Think of Stonehenge in England, or the Great Pyramids in Egypt, or the Incan Pyramid of the Sun, or the Easter Island Monoliths: they all in some way are related to astronomical and seasonal events, such as solstices. In this way, early societies sought to relate themselves to the larger world, and to their place in the cosmos.

The use of the stars, and in particular the North or Pole Star which relative to the rest of the heavenly objects moves very little, makes sense when we realize that the magnetic compass was not invented until the eighth century in Europe. It was likely brought there by traders who went to the Orient, where lodestones had been used to determine the north-south axis for centuries. Just like early navigators who used Sextants and Astrolabes and other tools dependent on the movement and position of celestial bodies, the Ancient Chinese developed their own astronomical hypotheses and practices before they invented the compass, and had their own names for constellations such as the Big Dipper and Orion.

Feng Shui, like ancient Western philosophy and other mystic traditions, established certain 'elements.' Western thought is most familiar with four: earth, air, water and fire, whereas in the Orient and in Feng Shui we have five: metal, earth, fire, water and wood.

Combined with the movements of the stars, planets and our own Sun, these elements and their characteristics influence the physical world in which we live. Feng Shui seeks to take advantage of propitious influences and negate inauspicious ones as much as possible by understanding the elements and the celestial transitions.

The Chinese developed their compass or Luopan, which first used iron oxide (the 'lodestone') to indicate the north-south axis, in the second century C.E. The Luopan, however, differs from the Western compass in several ways. First, a Luopan points to the south magnetic pole; Western compasses point north. Another obvious difference is the intricate Feng Shui formulae on the cover of the Luopan. This is called the Heaven Dial; it sits on the Earth Plate, and rotates freely.

The Luopan has 24 directions, however, not just the usual four or eight on a Western compass. A Luopan allows 15 degrees for each direction; the entire circle, therefore, consists of 360 degrees, just like a Western compass. Interestingly enough, the Sun takes 15.2 days to go through a direction on a Luopan, so each degree on a Luopan equals roughly one day, and an entire circle of the Luopan equals a terrestrial year. Therefore, while the Luopan does measure earthly north-south, it also corresponds to the movement of the Earth around the Sun. This is another example of the way in which Feng Shui combines both earthly and celestial features.

In Classical Feng Shui, there are three major tools or theories practitioners use. First is the concept of Chi, or energy, called in various traditions prana, élan vital, or life force. Chi moves and shifts and fluctuates, it is not always static. This is why in Feng Shui it is important to allow the Chi to move freely, and also to take advantage of areas where the Chi most naturally flows.

The second theory is the concept of yin/yang or polarity. Yin/Yang, also called masculine/feminine, dry/wet, hot/cold is all about balance. The ideal state is a balanced state. Anyone who has ever had dizzy spells because of a fall, or due to substances such as alcohol or some medications will understand how disorienting it is-far from ideal! Feng Shui uses the concept of polarity and yin/yang to balance and align one's dwelling or other space so that all areas are harmonious, and the Chi flows freely through all the elements.

A companion concept to polarity is the theory of the five elements: metal, earth, fire, water and wood. This is called 'wu xing.' In Feng Shui, while these actual substances are used in various areas, it is their force, which is necessary to and inherent in life, which is most important.

The third theory or tool is the Bagua, or the energy template. This is based on the Luopan directions and incorporates the elements. It is used as a template and placed over the footprint of the home or building to which Feng Shui principles are being applied.

Classical Feng Shui developed into two major schools: Form and Compass, known as Ti Li and Li Chi. As we have seen above, Feng Shui grew out of ancient Chinese Astronomical study and the analysis of terrestrial features such as mountains, valleys, and bodies of water. As such, it makes sense that...