Lillian Too’s Flying Star Feng Shui For The Master Practitioner
Lillian Too’s Flying Star Feng Shui For The Master Practitioner
Lillian Too
Take this ancient art a step further with Lillian Too’s beautiful guide to advanced Feng Shui and learn how to add real depth to your practise.Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice that brings ever-growing benefits to those who apply it to their lives. As the world becomes increasingly aware of this auspicious art, Lillian Too takes her more experienced follower to new and exciting levels of understanding with FENG SHUI MASTER PRACTITIONER.The basic principles of Feng Shui are easy to understand, but if you want to add real depth to your practise then this guide to advanced Feng Shui is essential reading.Beautifully illustrated with diagrams and line drawings, the book looks in depth at the secrets of the LoPan, the Flying Natal Charts, the cycles of time and space in Feng Shui and how to use these applications to protect both you and your family from life's obstacles now and for many generations to come.If you are already enjoying the benefits of Feng Shui in your life then this is a book you cannot afford to be without!
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Table of Contents
Title Page (#u6d4e99d0-684b-5028-9249-e23f862a7c52)
Introduction (#u5e6168ee-b256-5391-9b7c-1869ccbc414c)
Part ONE Secrets of the Luo Pan (#u35adffda-e29d-585a-b89f-87885c536e44)
1 Origins of the Luo Pan Compass (#uacd28dd2-b7c2-56bf-a26a-3303f7df097b)
2 The Feng Shui Luo Pan Today (#u91f9945b-4e28-509f-b50f-b43ff648396d)
3 Special Lines of the Luo Pan (#u83e5cf64-738a-5690-bf73-ac7bc940626d)
4 Heaven, Earth, and Mankind Plates (#u88f531de-93b1-5bfd-bf01-f7e287a7ce37)
5 The I Ching – Trigrams and Hexagrams (#ub29bf111-309f-579f-83b8-8620927a4f49)
6 Trigrams and Their Meanings (#uc45075d8-0ced-5e24-9ba4-6b0b25090513)
7 The Two Trigram Arrangements (#u46742f5c-6b35-5e16-b90b-2be9453195a8)
8 The Yin and Yang Pa Kua (#u9f55927c-e7e9-5c73-a298-2392e421182f)
9 The Five Elements and Their Cycles (#ubd372ffd-4239-589c-a111-8c4da3a4c592)
10 The Lo Shu Square and Ho Tu Numbers (#u6e829c2f-4199-50a7-8faf-394056a484ac)
11 Supplementing With A Modern Compass (#u3eb3be3e-bab8-550d-954a-86b3f3cef494)
12 Practical Notes on Taking Directions (#uc5dd0169-67ed-5393-b825-8fe1c2262b5f)
13 Determining the Facing Direction - Various Criteria (#ue4a3fabe-0bcf-521f-99cd-b3a182a9d050)
14 Sitting and Facing Directions (#u325b7d1a-8edb-514e-aca4-e2db187304ec)
15 Superimposing the Lo Shu Square on Floor Plans (#ue77423d7-2c63-5923-a0cf-0a1c0254c634)
Part TWO The 24 Mountains (#u514a81b2-9e33-5a4f-acb8-43ec67dc9805)
16 The 24 Mountains of the Earth Plate (#ueb49996a-0381-5007-ad93-006f6051c2d3)
17 Eight Mansions and Personalized Directions (#u128308a6-6fcd-5305-9632-8e91bf7bf5d4)
18 The 12 Earthly Branches of the 24 Directions (#uf4592c61-1165-5ec0-9082-0673156d4505)
19 The Four Important Trigrams of the 24 Mountains (#u2ed57aba-21d3-5c4c-a2b6-c9f2de0ad51e)
20 The Eight Heavenly Stems of the 24 Mountains (#ufc9f6a83-6da7-506d-ae37-820ddc498fe5)
21 Axis Directions for East and West Groups (#ucbff36c2-56af-5b3d-93b7-ab71ede328ed)
22 The Secret of the Castle Gate Entrance (#u2fd1e9df-145e-5277-a70a-06324d47fd86)
23 Using the Mankind Plate to Analyze the Impact of Buildings (#ub5ea4004-9cbf-5968-80ba-6bc686f51b83)
24 The Heaven Plate to Analyze the Flow of Water (#ua3aabe8e-a375-57df-a808-b326ecbc6481)
Part THREE Time Changes in Feng Shui (#uc51cb3cc-529f-5cca-9c2c-b40961d116df)
25 Cycles of Time Periods in Feng Shui (#ud3d28cd0-db44-5436-99fe-e4337ed7c976)
26 The Chinese Lunar and Solar Calendars (#uf871db46-63b4-5c99-a4aa-05b0ee6e653d)
27 Annual and Month Feng Shui Charts (#ub6ea9f1a-fe5c-531d-bbfd-b52af3e5818d)
28 Annual Afflictions and Feng Shui Cures (#udcdc6fd3-ec40-58b4-a4a4-7bdb7cf5afb5)
29 Working With the Grand Duke Tai Tsui (#ubf64968d-09fb-5f4a-ae33-7cf2a38ae089)
30 Exhausting the Nasty Five Yellow (#ue70de533-c0d0-534b-9240-38554a462f08)
31 Confronting the Three Killings (#ud1c238c2-31a1-52f9-b04c-03e5f9f16f2e)
Part FOUR Flying Star Feng Shui (#u523af41e-c8a7-5e36-9b13-30c4b5cfe3ea)
32 What Is Flying Star Feng Shui? (#u239ae0c5-4d87-53a6-873c-7a7b89dd5574)
33 Trigram Feng Shui and Annual Charts (#ud8799a15-8f0a-5127-94db-92bf5de179c4)
34 Interpreting Trigram Charts From Year to Year (#u03b5a54d-f3b3-5a8b-87c3-d9b128852ba4)
35 Constructing Flying Star Natal Charts (#u2427ba76-9188-581e-bc0c-4ac6c0622ed5)
36 Water Stars and Mountain Stars (#u372e5875-daff-552a-9414-a6bf8a762647)
37 Period of Seven Charts (#u70bc0d45-55d3-5fb1-8e0a-039663398728)
Part FIVE Interpreting Flying Star Charts (#u456fccff-5685-5418-9e51-c829c3bdd99a)
38 Meanings of the Nine Star Numbers (#u000bc795-282e-54ac-aa2f-36f8d3dfe4c8)
39 Strength of the Numbers in Different Periods (#u4a8dc1cf-af2c-5f1f-a338-46c9d3448be8)
40 Flying Star Combinations With Enhancers and Cures (#u1fb8e3f3-d1bf-5765-897a-d72babbebb6e)
41 Nine Palaces of the Home (#ue85266a2-7b71-56e4-9df5-25d9e63e7045)
Part SIX Advanced Work on Flying Star (#ue3cd075a-a9d0-5fb9-a5f8-46b850b0e1df)
42 The Auspicious Specials (#u06eb0553-edfd-5b66-bfcb-158312ef1037)
43 The Unique Situations (#u0af73b1e-1847-56b4-a248-f6e6afcb5e57)
44 The Ho Tu Number Combinations (#u999e0444-52be-5c62-be67-41d54f9d58b4)
45 Flight of Water and Mountain Stars (#ud8e0e4bd-83d8-5020-9195-d15c586cb6a9)
46 Eight Mansions and Nine Palaces (#u64e75d29-f176-531f-8498-ead4280e4e39)
47 Special Notes on Placement of Water (#u8eaf5faf-0cfc-5ac9-9b26-7e40203c21fa)
48 Tips on Water Placement and Water Flows (#u633adf91-dc92-5c58-89d0-912c50a7e0ac)
Part SEVEN Changing to Period Eight (#u30fcd85a-aeb7-5b00-a2c9-788e0f1502db)
Appendix Lunar Calendars (#u6d760cc8-8d1a-5a3b-9b24-7e02499577c3)
Index (#u8e9362fb-6d56-50ec-8039-af56a34d71bd)
Copyright (#u04e8e0c9-9220-5de8-abf3-dd757a388e1a)
About the publisher (#ub48fbcde-6c4c-550a-a1f5-af28536f2fa9)
INTRODUCTION Applying the Secrets of the Feng Shui Compass (#ulink_ce11e6b4-956e-50dd-8026-b5da4d08bb81)
THERE ARE MANY SYSTEMS OF FENG SHUI BUT THE EASIEST TO MASTER IS COMPASS FENG SHUI. THIS IS BECAUSE IT IS VERY PRECISE, REQUIRING ACCURACY IN READING THE COMPASS AND IN DEMARCATING THE SPACE BEING FENG SHUIED. COMPASS FENG SHUI TAKES THE GUESSWORK OUT OF FENG SHUI PRACTICE, AND ALL SERIOUS MASTER PRACTITIONERS OF FENG SHUI USE THE FENG SHUI COMPASS, OR LUO PAN, IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL WORK.
The Luo Pan is an invaluable tool. At first glance it is an intimidating instrument – it is filled with as many as 3000 Chinese characters, numbers, lines, and symbolic markings. The Luo Pans used by masters of feng shui are usually at least 9 inches (22cm) in diameter with over 20 concentric rings of numbers, characters, colors, and codes. These contain a wealth of secrets – secrets handed down from master to disciple for hundreds of generations. The Luo Pan contains enough feng shui secrets to fill many books. Today, the bright glare of 21st century attention means that these secrets are available to an ever-growing band of “disciples.”
To those who want to learn how to use the compass to create magnificent good fortune for themselves and their families, the secrets of the Luo Pan are worth learning – especially since on closer examination it is not such a daunting instrument after all.
The Luo Pan, or Chinese feng shui compass, is exactly the same as any western-style compass – it is not a different tool. Both compasses indicate exactly the same directions. The Luo Pan, however, was the ancient masters’ means of condensing all their feng shui knowledge into one instrument. Today, all the information contained in the Luo Pan can be reduced to simple charts and graphics that can be organized and presented in user-friendly formats. Then all you need is a simple western-style compass to get your bearings and your orientations.
This book is, in effect, your Luo Pan. All the information in the Luo Pan pertaining to Yang dwellings (that is houses of the living as opposed to grave sites, or houses of the dead) is explained here in detail and illustrated, where necessary, in easy diagrams. Practical examples are used to explain the more complex applications of the compass but as you turn the pages you will be amazed at how simple supposedly advanced feng shui can be. Do not expect to become a master overnight, however. The formulas of feng shui are easy to understand but if you want your practice to have real depth and potency you should use these formulas as much as possible. Repeated practical application is important in perfecting one’s understanding. Superiority in application comes from experience.
The more you use the formulas the more profound your use of feng shui will become. And then you will begin to appreciate the amazing genius behind this 4000-year-old system of environmental science. You will realize as you start to understand the lines and markings of the Luo Pan that the feng shui masters use it for more than just measuring directions. They use it as an instrument for studying the cosmic flow of chi, or energy, in the environment.
The Luo Pan recognizes that all directions are relative. Directions do not exist without a reference point. All directions – no matter who uses them – can only be expressed in terms of a starting point. Thus the Chinese view the compass as a measure of flowing chi currents around a piece of property or a home. This is the starting point, and from this they use the compass to divide the space around it, so that the chi of every degree of space can then be analyzed. In the Luo Pan, 360 degrees is first divided into eight segments of 45 degrees each. These correspond to the primary and secondary directions – north, south, east, and west, as well as northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast. These 45-degree segments have their corresponding attributes, elements, colors, numbers, and meanings. Just knowing the meanings of the eight directions enables any amateur feng shui practitioner to benefit greatly from the correct placement of doors, objects, rooms, and so forth.
Much contemporary feng shui practice concentrates on using the meanings of these eight basic compass directions to determine the arrangement of space and the placement of enhancers within the home. In this book we go deeper.
This is because these eight directions can be subdivided again to fine-tune the practice further. The Luo Pan divides each of the eight segments into three sub-segments of directions. This means that instead of having only eight directions, we now have 24 – each covering an angle of 15 degrees. The meanings of the Luo Pan are expressed according to these segments, which are referred to as “the 24 mountains.” Each mountain covers an angle of 15 degrees, and each angle of direction contains a broad range of meanings that define the variables of the most powerful formulas of feng shui.
The study of the 24 mountains is therefore central to the cosmic chi being analyzed. A further refinement of direction takes place when we go deeper. This is because the Luo Pan – and especially the Three Harmony Luo Pan – also takes account of three different bases upon which the direction north (and hence all other directions) can be determined. The Three Harmony Luo Pan recognizes three measurements of north: true north (that indicated by the sundial), magnetic north, and Polaris north. So there are three measurements of north. Each of these measurements is 7.5 degrees apart – with magnetic north in the center – and each is said to be sitting on a parallel “plate.” The Heaven Plate equates with true north, the Earth Plate with magnetic north, and the Mankind Plate with Polaris north.
The feng shui master uses all the formulas of the different plates, and hence the different measurements of north to analyze different aspects of feng shui – whether the analysis is of mountains and rivers, or the influence of time on one’s feng shui. It is because of this that the Luo Pan has so many rings – each set of rings signifies the meanings, formulas, and applications of each plate.
Our task is made easier, however, because most of the formulas for Yang dwellings use the magnetic north of the earth plate, and this is what we will largely focus on in this book. I strongly discourage amateurs from even attempting to practice Yin feng shui. The Luo Pan contains more than enough hugely beneficial information on Yang dwellings to keep one fascinated for a lifetime. It is unnecessary and even foolhardy to dabble with Yin feng shui since this requires practical work in cemeteries and gravesites. Ugh! As I have a natural aversion to cemeteries I have always politely declined any offer to teach me Yin feng shui.
There are different types of Luo Pan
Each type of Luo Pan contains the attributes and variables of different formulas. Thus one type of Luo Pan can be used to study the impact of landforms – such as mountains and rivers or buildings and roads in today’s city environment. Another type of Luo Pan is used to assess the quality of spatial and time dimension feng shui, while a third type combines the different plates of the compass that take account of three types of north. The Luo Pan is a very accurate and subtle instrument in that every angle measured in degrees of direction offers various interpretations and applications. Compass feng shui is based almost exclusively on measuring the luck of directions – both facing directions and sitting directions. Compass feng shui evolved from the trigrams of the I Ching placed round an eight-sided Pa Kua symbol, and it addresses the feng shui of both Yin and Yang abodes. As we are concerned with Yang dwellings, none of the Yin feng shui instruction manuals are included here unless they also apply to Yang abodes.
Today’s environment is different
Application of Compass feng shui in today’s environment should take account of how buildings, roads, towns, and cities have developed and changed over the centuries. The living environment of the 21st century bears no resemblance to that of ancient China whatsoever. So the circumstances and visual appearance of today’s world is not at all the same as when feng shui first developed. The chi was not as complex then as it is today, when we have to contend with the added complications of electricity and telecommunications.
Man-made or man-induced energy flow across the earth has added vastly to the lines of natural energy, so the kind of chi that affects modern homes is very different from that which affected homes and buildings of the past. It is important to bear this in mind when using the secrets of the Luo Pan. We need to be sensitive to the new environment when practicing feng shui – especially the significance of modern structures that may affect the feng shui of abodes near them. Thus satellite dishes, water tanks, transmission lines, multi-level roads – to name but a few modern-day structures – simply must be taken into account since their presence in any environment has strong feng shui implications. The same also applies to neighboring buildings. When the feng shui influence of surrounding structures is analyzed then care can be taken to diffuse any hostile chi emanating from them, while enhancing any benevolent chi they may send. This aspect of compass feng shui uses the Sarn He’ Luo Pan’s mankind plate. Here the formula uses the “man” plate set of 24 mountains and their corresponding elements in order to study the meanings of all nearby buildings, mountains, and structures. This is a very valuable formula which Hong Kong feng shui masters are especially fond of using.
The exciting promise of the Luo Pan
The Luo Pan is the key to unlocking a veritable treasure trove of methods that can be used to bring big transformations in luck. Over the course of this book I will share some of the skills that have been passed on to me. These will help you to read and understand the compass, tell you how to use the formulas for installing cures against bad luck, and how to activate chi to create powerful protective energy for you and your family. Good feng shui always means being protected from premature accidents and death. Good feng shui ensures that your family and all the residents of your household are safe, secure, and stable. Living within the embrace of protective chi helps you avert accidents and overcome life obstacles.
In addition, good feng shui that comes from well-positioned enhancers brings longevity and good health, success without obstacles, wealth, and great relationships. When used in conjunction with basic principles of feng shui, compass formulas add a stunning dimension to this wonderful practice.
Feng shui assessment is always about reading invisible chi patterns that influence a property. These patterns can be felt and determined on site – things like the strength and direction of the winds, as well as the smells and lushness of localized vegetation. But chi is best read by using the compass. In the atmosphere of any place there is always a vibration that one can tune into. The feng shui Luo Pan can often pick up these vibrations. More important than the tool, however, is a mind-set that encompasses earth and sky, land and water, Yin and Yang, productive and destructive forces, and a solid knowledge of formulas and interpretations. It is the practitioner that picks up the vibes of atmosphere and environment, so also trust your own instincts.
The living universe is a multiple blend of a billion permutations. No two houses or properties are ever exactly alike, just as no single abode has constantly good or constantly bad feng shui. The nature of energy is such that it is always changing and evolving. So when using the compass it is always a good idea to take directions again and again. This ensures that the orientations of the land as well as the home are accurately read.
Chi is an elusive force
Chi is not easy to pin down so taking directions can be frustrating when the needle of the compass refuses to settle down. Be patient. Chi is like mercury, hard to grasp. One can study it, analyze it, live with it, embrace it, feed it, trap it, accumulate it – but it is foolhardy to take it for granted. So be patient and take your directions carefully from different angles. The key is to get the orientations of your home accurate and then Compass feng shui will amaze with fabulous and quick results.
There is a depth to feng shui that is very challenging. There are those who use instinct or some special metaphysical capability in their practice of feng shui. Others use assessment of physical shapes and structures to arrange their feng shui. Still others use a combination of different methods – I have seen a multitude of approaches used by different people with varying degrees of success. My perspective on feng shui is derived from the viewpoint of a user. I have used feng shui extensively, broadly, and boldly – in my work, my business, and my personal life – and it has given me the competitive edge. For over 30 years feng shui has been a good and dependable friend – and while I have experimented with different formulas, performed various rituals, and applied Symbolic feng shui in every aspect of my life, underlying all those has been my total reliance on the compass. My approach to feng shui has always been based on the compass.
Formula feng shui
I discovered Formula feng shui very early in my practice and long years of experience have made me very confident in its potency. Formula feng shui has never let me down. But, like everything else, practicing feng shui requires us to make decisions and trade-offs: which formula to use, which room to activate, whose direction to use, where to place the main door, and so forth. It is completely to be expected that one has to confront situations where the different formulas offer different recommendations.
In my experience, Flying Star formulas practiced in conjunction with Symbolic feng shui bring the fastest positive results. It is even better to combine flying star with Eight Mansions feng shui – especially in the arrangement and layout of interiors. In the 21st century many of us really only have control over the interiors of our abodes. Those who have gardens do have some control over their immediate exterior surroundings – but this control is usually limited. Therefore, Flying Star and Eight Mansions feng shui – which use directions and orientations – offer very important means of manipulating the way we interact with the chi of our immediate environment.
Compass Flying Star feng shui evaluates a property from the perspectives of time and time periods, but we must also never forget to use the Sarn He’ landscape formulas as these enable us to analyze the impact of nearby buildings. Eight Mansions feng shui adds the personal dimension and from this formula it is possible to identify directions and sectors that are particularly beneficial or harmful to individuals.
Compass feng shui is very comprehensive
Compass feng shui incorporates the study of numerology (the meanings of numbers and combinations of numbers), the powerful symbolic effect of the five elements, the two Pa Kua arrangements of trigrams, as well as some hitherto very well kept secrets of the feng shui compass itself.
Many feng shui masters acknowledge Compass Flying Star feng shui to be one of the most powerful systems of feng shui that has come down the centuries intact. Because of its potency, and its great reliance on numbers analysis, flying star, like the Luo Pan, can be daunting. In reality, this method of feng shui analysis is not difficult – indeed, as with all of the other schools and principle methods of feng shui, it becomes very easy once you understand the fundamental basis of the formula. Good feng shui works very fast in making your space feel more embracing and more harmonious. Feng shui has the potency to bring an easier life of abundance. But the element of personal effort can never be over stressed. When feng shui brings opportunities you still have to work at making something of those opportunities. Feng shui does ensure there are fewer obstacles in your life. It does bring better, more fulfilling relationships as well, and there are greater successes and higher incomes awaiting your efforts … using the compass methods leaves less room for mistakes because the techniques are specific and precise.
It is worthwhile investing time and effort in learning Compass feng shui because once you know how to use the different methods, you will amaze yourself with how proficient you can become at this ancient way of living in harmony with the environment. Flying Star feng shui takes the guesswork out of feng shui. Eight mansions personalizes your practice. The compass enables you to get the best of feng shui at all times.
You do not need to invest in a Luo Pan – a genuine and authentic Luo Pan is expensive. The charts in this book have all the information and knowledge you require to practice Yang feng shui. What you do need is a good ordinary compass. If you live in seismic area (for example, California) you will need a heavy-duty compass to get accurate readings. Otherwise any compass should be adequate. If you wish, you might find it useful to get a compass with the 24 sub-directions marked in. Armed with the compass, the formulas, and a clear mind, you can start immediately. Good luck!
PART ONE Secrets of the Luo Pan (#ulink_8139f429-6a55-5ab2-ba67-eed42d04e0ce)
1. ORIGINS OF THE LUO PAN COMPASS (#ulink_38c954fe-2322-508f-b625-5438f83c0c82)
AN AUTHENTIC CHINESE FENG SHUI LUO PAN IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED INSTRUMENTS IN THE WORLD. IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARILY PRECISE COMPASS THAT CONTAINS A TREASURE TROVE OF FENG SHUI FORMULAS AND SECRETS. THESE ENABLE THE SERIOUS PRACTITIONER TO TAKE PRECISE READINGS OF THE ORIENTATION OF ANY BUILDING OR PROPERTY AND, IF THEY KNOW HOW TO READ AND INTERPRET THE MARKINGS, OFFER INSTANT DIAGNOSIS AND SOLUTIONS.
Feng shui afflictions take different forms under a whole melange of circumstances and orientations. These afflictions can be caused by physical structures within the vicinity of the landscape, the orientation of the building’s doors and entrances, or simply the energy changes of time. All these and more can be decoded from the information contained within the Luo Pan. The markings on the Luo Pan give immediate correlations of every degree of orientation thereby pinpointing to the user under which method or formula there might be a feng shui problem.
How did the Luo Pan originate?
A colorful Chinese legend tells of a beautiful Goddess, known as the Lady of the Nine Heavens, who gave the Luo Pan compass to the Yellow Emperor and revealed to him the secret knowledge of how to use this special tool. Using the Luo Pan, the Yellow Emperor succeeded in defeating his enemies. In the ensuing centuries the compass device was progressively enhanced by the Duke of Chou, his son King Wen, and his grandson. The knowledge of the compass was combined with that of the Book of Changes, the I Ching, and, in the process, concepts of worldly and divine clairvoyance were established. Thus was formulated what would eventually become the fundamental underpinnings of the science of feng shui, a combination of all the knowledge of heaven and earth. As a tool, the Luo Pan was used in unison with the I Ching, which had by then been condensed into the eight-sided symbol called the Pa Kua.
Each Kua of the eight-sided Pa Kua symbol represents one major direction of the compass. And on each side is arranged the eight primary trigrams. These trigrams are placed in different arrangements thereby creating the Pa Kua of the Early Heaven arrangement and the Pa Kua of the Later Heaven arrangement. Both these arrangements appear in all Luo Pans. At the same time, the Lo Shu and Ho Tu squares were discovered and the numbers of these two numerology sequences were also synthesized into the Pa Kua and into the Luo Pan.
As a feng shui tool, the Luo Pan has been in use since the time of the Yellow Emperor around 2700 BC. It was initially used as a compass for taking directions before being refined into a complicated instrument for analyzing the landscape. Basically the Luo Pan was used to decipher the directional forces of nature and their bearing on the luck of abodes and their residents. Through the centuries and under different dynasties of imperial rule, the practice of feng shui has waxed and waned, but the Luo Pan evolved to contain the different formulas developed by different prominent masters during succeeding dynastic rules. Feng shui masters through the ages condensed their valuable observations and discoveries into working formulas, and their precious knowledge was engraved into the Luo Pan, to be passed down to their disciples.
During the Sung dynasty the lineage of transmission of divinatory sciences from one recognized master to the next was carefully chronicled. These transmissions included feng shui. In those times recognized experts were highly esteemed and feng shui practice flourished. The next dynasty significant to the story of feng shui was that of the Ming dynasty. During this time, feng shui developed new styles and orientations – rules were simplified and mountains, rivers, and stones were reclassified. Time cycles of feng shui were said to have been “invented” at this time, with the introduction of the Sarn Yuan (three periods or three cycles) system. Each cycle lasted 60 years, made up of three cycles of 20 years. This was to eventually become the basis of the Flying Star system of feng shui, which is gaining increasing popularity today, perpetuated by masters of the Compass schools. Flying Star formulas found their way into the feng shui Luo Pan which, during the Ming period, also expanded from 17 to 36 rings. In the late Ming, however, feng shui took on a bad name as “fake” masters and books were said to have become rather widespread.
For this reason later feng shui scholars were extremely critical of Ming-period feng shui. During the Ching period, the practices expounded by the Ming scholars were censured and as a result there was movement towards embracing the more theoretical texts of the Sung practitioners.
2. THE FENG SHUI LUO PAN TODAY (#ulink_5231b843-c3b6-504a-a36c-5885f0b6fe24)
Today the Luo Pan and its rings of symbols, trigrams, numbers, and Chinese words is regarded as an indispensable instrument by professional feng shui consultants. In the same way that the abacus continues to be used by Chinese merchants who prefer it to the modern-day calculator, feng shui practitioners of the old school prefer using the Luo Pan to the modern-day compass.
Of the many different feng shui techniques requiring the use of the compass the most popular and influential are:
The time cycle techniques also known as Time Dimension feng shui. This incorporates the Flying Star, or Shuan Kong, method of feng shui analysis.
The Three Harmony method which refers to the harmony between Heaven, Earth, and Man, as reflected in the Heaven Plate, the Earth Plate, and the Man Plate of the Luo Pan. This Luo Pan is very comprehensive and contains three sets of rings, each denoting one of the plates. This is a combination Luo Pan which has many Chinese words and is said to be the most complete as it also contains information on time cycle feng shui.
The feng shui Luo Pan is first and foremost a compass for measuring directions. So the most important part of the Luo Pan is the magnetic needle and directional marking in the center. It is vital never to compromise on the quality of this central needle since so many of the nuances of good and bad luck depend on accurate compass readings.
To reiterate: the Luo Pan divides directions into 360 degrees around a point of reference. This is divided into eight main directions and 24 sub-directions. These sub-directions are referred to as the 24 mountains, and each mountain measures 15 degrees (360 divided by 24 equals 15). The rings that indicate the 24 mountains of the different plates are very important simply because many of the major feng shui formulas use the 24 mountains to express and demarcate good and bad luck orientations. So all Luo Pans have the 24 mountains.
The remaining rings, however, can contain a number of different formulas, as Luo Pans vary according to which master designed them. Even when they contain the same formulas they may be presented in a different way. The numbers and characters of the Luo Pan are therefore confusing to the uninitiated – until they are interpreted and explained.
I want to stress that you do not need to invest in a Luo Pan to become an excellent feng shui practitioner. It is important only to know how to use a compass and how to measure, use, and apply directions according to the formulas. So as long as you have a compass – any good compass – you can apply all the secrets of the Luo Pan.
If, however, you do wish to invest in a Luo Pan here are a few guidelines. Good Luo Pans are made with precision and care, and are best crafted from wood – they should never be made of plastic, cardboard, or paper. The face of the compass, i.e. where the rings are placed, is known as the heaven dial and this sits on a base made of wood known as the earth plate. The heaven dial or face of the Luo Pan is usually made of stamped copper plate. High-quality Luo Pans have clear, sharp, and well-crafted characters and measurement degrees, and they never rust. Examine it carefully to make certain it is made of good materials and that the compass in the center is accurate and of good quality. Choose a size you feel comfortable with. A medium-sized Luo Pan is usually sufficient to contain all the essential information. When you buy a Luo Pan you should take care of it, storing it properly, and keeping it away from electrical and metallic devices so the needle stays sound.
Here are further pointers to take note of when examining a Luo Pan …
1 Take special note of the needle quality. This is the most vital part of the compass, and is the single most expensive part of any Luo Pan. The needle must align accurately on top of the red line in the center of the compass. Never buy a Luo Pan with a cheap needle. Also remember that the needle is extremely sensitive to metallic objects so a large needle might be better than a small one.
2 The two red dots must be present and these should point north (the rat direction) while the point of the needle should point south (the horse direction).
3 Look at the accuracy of the axis cross. These are the two nylon threads that must cross the cardinal axis directly at 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees of the heaven dial. There cannot be even the slightest deviation. If there is, the Luo Pan is deemed to be worthless.
4 Take note of the heaven dial, which must be clear and not blurred so that characters can be read easily.
5 Turn the Luo Pan on its earth base – it should move freely and feel smooth.
6 The earth base should be square as directions are often taken by pressing it parallel to the wall or door of a building – the four sides must thus be square and straight.
Generally I would say that for beginners, and for those who want to practice Yang feng shui, the ring of the 24 mountains is the most crucial – and this can easily be committed to memory using an ordinary compass.
3. SPECIAL LINES OF THE LUO PAN (#ulink_ae64f962-4212-5c86-a4d6-d4a6c995199f)
Before we go into the details of the concentric lines around a Luo Pan, it is extremely important to take note of the special lines that indicate inauspicious directions. These pertain to what are known as the cardinal death lines and the major and minor emptiness lines. (The phrase death lines do not necessarily mean death in a physical sense. It can also refer to loss, failure, and other extreme forms of bad luck.) One of the most well-kept secrets of Compass feng shui – previously known only to lineage masters – is that the facing directions of doors and entrances should never lie exactly on the lines that indicate the exact cardinal and secondary directions of the compass. On a Luo Pan these lines are easily identifiable – they are the lines that bear exactly north, south, east, and west, and northwest, southwest, northeast, and southeast. Thus if north is deemed to be the best direction for you and you wish to have your door face north, then you should make sure it does not face exactly north but rather a couple of degrees off exact north. This is true of all the four primary directions and the four secondary directions.
Kung mang, or emptiness lines, also spell misfortune and severe bad luck. There are eight major emptiness lines and these separate each of the eight main direction sectors – N, S, E, W, NW, NE, SW, and SE. There are also16 minor emptiness lines and these separate the 24 mountain sub-sectors in each of the eight sectors.
The inauspicious and dangerous lines of directions are as follows:
The death linesare the cardinal directions bearing 90, 180, 270 and 0/360 degrees, as well as the secondary directions bearing 45, 135, 225, and 315 degrees.
The major emptiness lines are directions that are bearing 22.5, 67.5, 112.5, 157.5, 202.5, 247.5, 292.5, and 337.5 degrees.
The minor emptinesslines are directions that are bearing 7.5, 11.25, 33.75, 37.5, 52.5, 56.25, 78.75, 82.5, 97.5, 101.25, 123.75, 127.5, 142.5, 146.25, 168.75, 172.5, 187.5, 191.25, 213.75, 217.5, 232.5, 236.25, 258.75, 262.5, 277.5, 281.25, 303.75, 307.5, 322.5, 326.25, 348.75 and 352.5 degrees.
If you discover that your house is facing a death line or a major or minor emptiness line, and you are unable to change the orientation of your door, one method of at least reducing the negative effect is to place some kind of metal decoration on the door itself. This can be a door knocker (the best are brass lion head door knockers) or you can also hang sword coins on the inside of the door. The introduction of a bit of metal is usually sufficient to move the chi so that the main door into the house no longer faces the death or emptiness line. Having said this, please note that if you are having a spate of enormous bad luck and you discover that your door is facing one of these lines then it might be a good idea to adjust the door slightly so that it no longer faces the dangerous line of direction.
Another little-known method is to transform your house into a “heavenly abode” by placing an altar directly opposite the entrance door. You will find that the Chinese like to place their altars here and it is said to be an excellent antidote for overcoming the affliction caused by facing a kung mang, or emptiness line. It is believed not only to deflect the ill-effects of emptiness lines but also to bring in auspicious luck instead. Irrespective of your religion it is said that once you introduce an altar, any kind of altar, the emptiness line gets broken.
In addition to death and emptiness lines, there are also certain directions that are referred to as Yin gaps, and these indicate problems in human relations for the residents. Doors that face Yin gaps cause problems between spouses and create family disharmony, marriage problems, and can even lead to eventual breakups. The Yin gaps are the direct centerlines of each of the 24 sub-direction sectors.
These deadly directions and Yin gaps bring secret afflictions to any building and, because of this, feng shui masters who know about Compass feng shui always check this aspect of any home or office before they do anything else. When advising on the design of new homes this is also taken into account. Usually compass directions are taken during the actual construction of any home to ensure that directions are properly read and applied.
Since the compass is affected by the presence of metal, it is important to remember that main doors are best when they are made of wood. If there is metal on the door this should be taken into account when checking the door direction during construction.
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Lillian Too
Take this ancient art a step further with Lillian Too’s beautiful guide to advanced Feng Shui and learn how to add real depth to your practise.Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice that brings ever-growing benefits to those who apply it to their lives. As the world becomes increasingly aware of this auspicious art, Lillian Too takes her more experienced follower to new and exciting levels of understanding with FENG SHUI MASTER PRACTITIONER.The basic principles of Feng Shui are easy to understand, but if you want to add real depth to your practise then this guide to advanced Feng Shui is essential reading.Beautifully illustrated with diagrams and line drawings, the book looks in depth at the secrets of the LoPan, the Flying Natal Charts, the cycles of time and space in Feng Shui and how to use these applications to protect both you and your family from life's obstacles now and for many generations to come.If you are already enjoying the benefits of Feng Shui in your life then this is a book you cannot afford to be without!
(#ulink_9f7e31c4-3e34-56fd-9085-9bee01dfe1da)
Table of Contents
Title Page (#u6d4e99d0-684b-5028-9249-e23f862a7c52)
Introduction (#u5e6168ee-b256-5391-9b7c-1869ccbc414c)
Part ONE Secrets of the Luo Pan (#u35adffda-e29d-585a-b89f-87885c536e44)
1 Origins of the Luo Pan Compass (#uacd28dd2-b7c2-56bf-a26a-3303f7df097b)
2 The Feng Shui Luo Pan Today (#u91f9945b-4e28-509f-b50f-b43ff648396d)
3 Special Lines of the Luo Pan (#u83e5cf64-738a-5690-bf73-ac7bc940626d)
4 Heaven, Earth, and Mankind Plates (#u88f531de-93b1-5bfd-bf01-f7e287a7ce37)
5 The I Ching – Trigrams and Hexagrams (#ub29bf111-309f-579f-83b8-8620927a4f49)
6 Trigrams and Their Meanings (#uc45075d8-0ced-5e24-9ba4-6b0b25090513)
7 The Two Trigram Arrangements (#u46742f5c-6b35-5e16-b90b-2be9453195a8)
8 The Yin and Yang Pa Kua (#u9f55927c-e7e9-5c73-a298-2392e421182f)
9 The Five Elements and Their Cycles (#ubd372ffd-4239-589c-a111-8c4da3a4c592)
10 The Lo Shu Square and Ho Tu Numbers (#u6e829c2f-4199-50a7-8faf-394056a484ac)
11 Supplementing With A Modern Compass (#u3eb3be3e-bab8-550d-954a-86b3f3cef494)
12 Practical Notes on Taking Directions (#uc5dd0169-67ed-5393-b825-8fe1c2262b5f)
13 Determining the Facing Direction - Various Criteria (#ue4a3fabe-0bcf-521f-99cd-b3a182a9d050)
14 Sitting and Facing Directions (#u325b7d1a-8edb-514e-aca4-e2db187304ec)
15 Superimposing the Lo Shu Square on Floor Plans (#ue77423d7-2c63-5923-a0cf-0a1c0254c634)
Part TWO The 24 Mountains (#u514a81b2-9e33-5a4f-acb8-43ec67dc9805)
16 The 24 Mountains of the Earth Plate (#ueb49996a-0381-5007-ad93-006f6051c2d3)
17 Eight Mansions and Personalized Directions (#u128308a6-6fcd-5305-9632-8e91bf7bf5d4)
18 The 12 Earthly Branches of the 24 Directions (#uf4592c61-1165-5ec0-9082-0673156d4505)
19 The Four Important Trigrams of the 24 Mountains (#u2ed57aba-21d3-5c4c-a2b6-c9f2de0ad51e)
20 The Eight Heavenly Stems of the 24 Mountains (#ufc9f6a83-6da7-506d-ae37-820ddc498fe5)
21 Axis Directions for East and West Groups (#ucbff36c2-56af-5b3d-93b7-ab71ede328ed)
22 The Secret of the Castle Gate Entrance (#u2fd1e9df-145e-5277-a70a-06324d47fd86)
23 Using the Mankind Plate to Analyze the Impact of Buildings (#ub5ea4004-9cbf-5968-80ba-6bc686f51b83)
24 The Heaven Plate to Analyze the Flow of Water (#ua3aabe8e-a375-57df-a808-b326ecbc6481)
Part THREE Time Changes in Feng Shui (#uc51cb3cc-529f-5cca-9c2c-b40961d116df)
25 Cycles of Time Periods in Feng Shui (#ud3d28cd0-db44-5436-99fe-e4337ed7c976)
26 The Chinese Lunar and Solar Calendars (#uf871db46-63b4-5c99-a4aa-05b0ee6e653d)
27 Annual and Month Feng Shui Charts (#ub6ea9f1a-fe5c-531d-bbfd-b52af3e5818d)
28 Annual Afflictions and Feng Shui Cures (#udcdc6fd3-ec40-58b4-a4a4-7bdb7cf5afb5)
29 Working With the Grand Duke Tai Tsui (#ubf64968d-09fb-5f4a-ae33-7cf2a38ae089)
30 Exhausting the Nasty Five Yellow (#ue70de533-c0d0-534b-9240-38554a462f08)
31 Confronting the Three Killings (#ud1c238c2-31a1-52f9-b04c-03e5f9f16f2e)
Part FOUR Flying Star Feng Shui (#u523af41e-c8a7-5e36-9b13-30c4b5cfe3ea)
32 What Is Flying Star Feng Shui? (#u239ae0c5-4d87-53a6-873c-7a7b89dd5574)
33 Trigram Feng Shui and Annual Charts (#ud8799a15-8f0a-5127-94db-92bf5de179c4)
34 Interpreting Trigram Charts From Year to Year (#u03b5a54d-f3b3-5a8b-87c3-d9b128852ba4)
35 Constructing Flying Star Natal Charts (#u2427ba76-9188-581e-bc0c-4ac6c0622ed5)
36 Water Stars and Mountain Stars (#u372e5875-daff-552a-9414-a6bf8a762647)
37 Period of Seven Charts (#u70bc0d45-55d3-5fb1-8e0a-039663398728)
Part FIVE Interpreting Flying Star Charts (#u456fccff-5685-5418-9e51-c829c3bdd99a)
38 Meanings of the Nine Star Numbers (#u000bc795-282e-54ac-aa2f-36f8d3dfe4c8)
39 Strength of the Numbers in Different Periods (#u4a8dc1cf-af2c-5f1f-a338-46c9d3448be8)
40 Flying Star Combinations With Enhancers and Cures (#u1fb8e3f3-d1bf-5765-897a-d72babbebb6e)
41 Nine Palaces of the Home (#ue85266a2-7b71-56e4-9df5-25d9e63e7045)
Part SIX Advanced Work on Flying Star (#ue3cd075a-a9d0-5fb9-a5f8-46b850b0e1df)
42 The Auspicious Specials (#u06eb0553-edfd-5b66-bfcb-158312ef1037)
43 The Unique Situations (#u0af73b1e-1847-56b4-a248-f6e6afcb5e57)
44 The Ho Tu Number Combinations (#u999e0444-52be-5c62-be67-41d54f9d58b4)
45 Flight of Water and Mountain Stars (#ud8e0e4bd-83d8-5020-9195-d15c586cb6a9)
46 Eight Mansions and Nine Palaces (#u64e75d29-f176-531f-8498-ead4280e4e39)
47 Special Notes on Placement of Water (#u8eaf5faf-0cfc-5ac9-9b26-7e40203c21fa)
48 Tips on Water Placement and Water Flows (#u633adf91-dc92-5c58-89d0-912c50a7e0ac)
Part SEVEN Changing to Period Eight (#u30fcd85a-aeb7-5b00-a2c9-788e0f1502db)
Appendix Lunar Calendars (#u6d760cc8-8d1a-5a3b-9b24-7e02499577c3)
Index (#u8e9362fb-6d56-50ec-8039-af56a34d71bd)
Copyright (#u04e8e0c9-9220-5de8-abf3-dd757a388e1a)
About the publisher (#ub48fbcde-6c4c-550a-a1f5-af28536f2fa9)
INTRODUCTION Applying the Secrets of the Feng Shui Compass (#ulink_ce11e6b4-956e-50dd-8026-b5da4d08bb81)
THERE ARE MANY SYSTEMS OF FENG SHUI BUT THE EASIEST TO MASTER IS COMPASS FENG SHUI. THIS IS BECAUSE IT IS VERY PRECISE, REQUIRING ACCURACY IN READING THE COMPASS AND IN DEMARCATING THE SPACE BEING FENG SHUIED. COMPASS FENG SHUI TAKES THE GUESSWORK OUT OF FENG SHUI PRACTICE, AND ALL SERIOUS MASTER PRACTITIONERS OF FENG SHUI USE THE FENG SHUI COMPASS, OR LUO PAN, IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL WORK.
The Luo Pan is an invaluable tool. At first glance it is an intimidating instrument – it is filled with as many as 3000 Chinese characters, numbers, lines, and symbolic markings. The Luo Pans used by masters of feng shui are usually at least 9 inches (22cm) in diameter with over 20 concentric rings of numbers, characters, colors, and codes. These contain a wealth of secrets – secrets handed down from master to disciple for hundreds of generations. The Luo Pan contains enough feng shui secrets to fill many books. Today, the bright glare of 21st century attention means that these secrets are available to an ever-growing band of “disciples.”
To those who want to learn how to use the compass to create magnificent good fortune for themselves and their families, the secrets of the Luo Pan are worth learning – especially since on closer examination it is not such a daunting instrument after all.
The Luo Pan, or Chinese feng shui compass, is exactly the same as any western-style compass – it is not a different tool. Both compasses indicate exactly the same directions. The Luo Pan, however, was the ancient masters’ means of condensing all their feng shui knowledge into one instrument. Today, all the information contained in the Luo Pan can be reduced to simple charts and graphics that can be organized and presented in user-friendly formats. Then all you need is a simple western-style compass to get your bearings and your orientations.
This book is, in effect, your Luo Pan. All the information in the Luo Pan pertaining to Yang dwellings (that is houses of the living as opposed to grave sites, or houses of the dead) is explained here in detail and illustrated, where necessary, in easy diagrams. Practical examples are used to explain the more complex applications of the compass but as you turn the pages you will be amazed at how simple supposedly advanced feng shui can be. Do not expect to become a master overnight, however. The formulas of feng shui are easy to understand but if you want your practice to have real depth and potency you should use these formulas as much as possible. Repeated practical application is important in perfecting one’s understanding. Superiority in application comes from experience.
The more you use the formulas the more profound your use of feng shui will become. And then you will begin to appreciate the amazing genius behind this 4000-year-old system of environmental science. You will realize as you start to understand the lines and markings of the Luo Pan that the feng shui masters use it for more than just measuring directions. They use it as an instrument for studying the cosmic flow of chi, or energy, in the environment.
The Luo Pan recognizes that all directions are relative. Directions do not exist without a reference point. All directions – no matter who uses them – can only be expressed in terms of a starting point. Thus the Chinese view the compass as a measure of flowing chi currents around a piece of property or a home. This is the starting point, and from this they use the compass to divide the space around it, so that the chi of every degree of space can then be analyzed. In the Luo Pan, 360 degrees is first divided into eight segments of 45 degrees each. These correspond to the primary and secondary directions – north, south, east, and west, as well as northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast. These 45-degree segments have their corresponding attributes, elements, colors, numbers, and meanings. Just knowing the meanings of the eight directions enables any amateur feng shui practitioner to benefit greatly from the correct placement of doors, objects, rooms, and so forth.
Much contemporary feng shui practice concentrates on using the meanings of these eight basic compass directions to determine the arrangement of space and the placement of enhancers within the home. In this book we go deeper.
This is because these eight directions can be subdivided again to fine-tune the practice further. The Luo Pan divides each of the eight segments into three sub-segments of directions. This means that instead of having only eight directions, we now have 24 – each covering an angle of 15 degrees. The meanings of the Luo Pan are expressed according to these segments, which are referred to as “the 24 mountains.” Each mountain covers an angle of 15 degrees, and each angle of direction contains a broad range of meanings that define the variables of the most powerful formulas of feng shui.
The study of the 24 mountains is therefore central to the cosmic chi being analyzed. A further refinement of direction takes place when we go deeper. This is because the Luo Pan – and especially the Three Harmony Luo Pan – also takes account of three different bases upon which the direction north (and hence all other directions) can be determined. The Three Harmony Luo Pan recognizes three measurements of north: true north (that indicated by the sundial), magnetic north, and Polaris north. So there are three measurements of north. Each of these measurements is 7.5 degrees apart – with magnetic north in the center – and each is said to be sitting on a parallel “plate.” The Heaven Plate equates with true north, the Earth Plate with magnetic north, and the Mankind Plate with Polaris north.
The feng shui master uses all the formulas of the different plates, and hence the different measurements of north to analyze different aspects of feng shui – whether the analysis is of mountains and rivers, or the influence of time on one’s feng shui. It is because of this that the Luo Pan has so many rings – each set of rings signifies the meanings, formulas, and applications of each plate.
Our task is made easier, however, because most of the formulas for Yang dwellings use the magnetic north of the earth plate, and this is what we will largely focus on in this book. I strongly discourage amateurs from even attempting to practice Yin feng shui. The Luo Pan contains more than enough hugely beneficial information on Yang dwellings to keep one fascinated for a lifetime. It is unnecessary and even foolhardy to dabble with Yin feng shui since this requires practical work in cemeteries and gravesites. Ugh! As I have a natural aversion to cemeteries I have always politely declined any offer to teach me Yin feng shui.
There are different types of Luo Pan
Each type of Luo Pan contains the attributes and variables of different formulas. Thus one type of Luo Pan can be used to study the impact of landforms – such as mountains and rivers or buildings and roads in today’s city environment. Another type of Luo Pan is used to assess the quality of spatial and time dimension feng shui, while a third type combines the different plates of the compass that take account of three types of north. The Luo Pan is a very accurate and subtle instrument in that every angle measured in degrees of direction offers various interpretations and applications. Compass feng shui is based almost exclusively on measuring the luck of directions – both facing directions and sitting directions. Compass feng shui evolved from the trigrams of the I Ching placed round an eight-sided Pa Kua symbol, and it addresses the feng shui of both Yin and Yang abodes. As we are concerned with Yang dwellings, none of the Yin feng shui instruction manuals are included here unless they also apply to Yang abodes.
Today’s environment is different
Application of Compass feng shui in today’s environment should take account of how buildings, roads, towns, and cities have developed and changed over the centuries. The living environment of the 21st century bears no resemblance to that of ancient China whatsoever. So the circumstances and visual appearance of today’s world is not at all the same as when feng shui first developed. The chi was not as complex then as it is today, when we have to contend with the added complications of electricity and telecommunications.
Man-made or man-induced energy flow across the earth has added vastly to the lines of natural energy, so the kind of chi that affects modern homes is very different from that which affected homes and buildings of the past. It is important to bear this in mind when using the secrets of the Luo Pan. We need to be sensitive to the new environment when practicing feng shui – especially the significance of modern structures that may affect the feng shui of abodes near them. Thus satellite dishes, water tanks, transmission lines, multi-level roads – to name but a few modern-day structures – simply must be taken into account since their presence in any environment has strong feng shui implications. The same also applies to neighboring buildings. When the feng shui influence of surrounding structures is analyzed then care can be taken to diffuse any hostile chi emanating from them, while enhancing any benevolent chi they may send. This aspect of compass feng shui uses the Sarn He’ Luo Pan’s mankind plate. Here the formula uses the “man” plate set of 24 mountains and their corresponding elements in order to study the meanings of all nearby buildings, mountains, and structures. This is a very valuable formula which Hong Kong feng shui masters are especially fond of using.
The exciting promise of the Luo Pan
The Luo Pan is the key to unlocking a veritable treasure trove of methods that can be used to bring big transformations in luck. Over the course of this book I will share some of the skills that have been passed on to me. These will help you to read and understand the compass, tell you how to use the formulas for installing cures against bad luck, and how to activate chi to create powerful protective energy for you and your family. Good feng shui always means being protected from premature accidents and death. Good feng shui ensures that your family and all the residents of your household are safe, secure, and stable. Living within the embrace of protective chi helps you avert accidents and overcome life obstacles.
In addition, good feng shui that comes from well-positioned enhancers brings longevity and good health, success without obstacles, wealth, and great relationships. When used in conjunction with basic principles of feng shui, compass formulas add a stunning dimension to this wonderful practice.
Feng shui assessment is always about reading invisible chi patterns that influence a property. These patterns can be felt and determined on site – things like the strength and direction of the winds, as well as the smells and lushness of localized vegetation. But chi is best read by using the compass. In the atmosphere of any place there is always a vibration that one can tune into. The feng shui Luo Pan can often pick up these vibrations. More important than the tool, however, is a mind-set that encompasses earth and sky, land and water, Yin and Yang, productive and destructive forces, and a solid knowledge of formulas and interpretations. It is the practitioner that picks up the vibes of atmosphere and environment, so also trust your own instincts.
The living universe is a multiple blend of a billion permutations. No two houses or properties are ever exactly alike, just as no single abode has constantly good or constantly bad feng shui. The nature of energy is such that it is always changing and evolving. So when using the compass it is always a good idea to take directions again and again. This ensures that the orientations of the land as well as the home are accurately read.
Chi is an elusive force
Chi is not easy to pin down so taking directions can be frustrating when the needle of the compass refuses to settle down. Be patient. Chi is like mercury, hard to grasp. One can study it, analyze it, live with it, embrace it, feed it, trap it, accumulate it – but it is foolhardy to take it for granted. So be patient and take your directions carefully from different angles. The key is to get the orientations of your home accurate and then Compass feng shui will amaze with fabulous and quick results.
There is a depth to feng shui that is very challenging. There are those who use instinct or some special metaphysical capability in their practice of feng shui. Others use assessment of physical shapes and structures to arrange their feng shui. Still others use a combination of different methods – I have seen a multitude of approaches used by different people with varying degrees of success. My perspective on feng shui is derived from the viewpoint of a user. I have used feng shui extensively, broadly, and boldly – in my work, my business, and my personal life – and it has given me the competitive edge. For over 30 years feng shui has been a good and dependable friend – and while I have experimented with different formulas, performed various rituals, and applied Symbolic feng shui in every aspect of my life, underlying all those has been my total reliance on the compass. My approach to feng shui has always been based on the compass.
Formula feng shui
I discovered Formula feng shui very early in my practice and long years of experience have made me very confident in its potency. Formula feng shui has never let me down. But, like everything else, practicing feng shui requires us to make decisions and trade-offs: which formula to use, which room to activate, whose direction to use, where to place the main door, and so forth. It is completely to be expected that one has to confront situations where the different formulas offer different recommendations.
In my experience, Flying Star formulas practiced in conjunction with Symbolic feng shui bring the fastest positive results. It is even better to combine flying star with Eight Mansions feng shui – especially in the arrangement and layout of interiors. In the 21st century many of us really only have control over the interiors of our abodes. Those who have gardens do have some control over their immediate exterior surroundings – but this control is usually limited. Therefore, Flying Star and Eight Mansions feng shui – which use directions and orientations – offer very important means of manipulating the way we interact with the chi of our immediate environment.
Compass Flying Star feng shui evaluates a property from the perspectives of time and time periods, but we must also never forget to use the Sarn He’ landscape formulas as these enable us to analyze the impact of nearby buildings. Eight Mansions feng shui adds the personal dimension and from this formula it is possible to identify directions and sectors that are particularly beneficial or harmful to individuals.
Compass feng shui is very comprehensive
Compass feng shui incorporates the study of numerology (the meanings of numbers and combinations of numbers), the powerful symbolic effect of the five elements, the two Pa Kua arrangements of trigrams, as well as some hitherto very well kept secrets of the feng shui compass itself.
Many feng shui masters acknowledge Compass Flying Star feng shui to be one of the most powerful systems of feng shui that has come down the centuries intact. Because of its potency, and its great reliance on numbers analysis, flying star, like the Luo Pan, can be daunting. In reality, this method of feng shui analysis is not difficult – indeed, as with all of the other schools and principle methods of feng shui, it becomes very easy once you understand the fundamental basis of the formula. Good feng shui works very fast in making your space feel more embracing and more harmonious. Feng shui has the potency to bring an easier life of abundance. But the element of personal effort can never be over stressed. When feng shui brings opportunities you still have to work at making something of those opportunities. Feng shui does ensure there are fewer obstacles in your life. It does bring better, more fulfilling relationships as well, and there are greater successes and higher incomes awaiting your efforts … using the compass methods leaves less room for mistakes because the techniques are specific and precise.
It is worthwhile investing time and effort in learning Compass feng shui because once you know how to use the different methods, you will amaze yourself with how proficient you can become at this ancient way of living in harmony with the environment. Flying Star feng shui takes the guesswork out of feng shui. Eight mansions personalizes your practice. The compass enables you to get the best of feng shui at all times.
You do not need to invest in a Luo Pan – a genuine and authentic Luo Pan is expensive. The charts in this book have all the information and knowledge you require to practice Yang feng shui. What you do need is a good ordinary compass. If you live in seismic area (for example, California) you will need a heavy-duty compass to get accurate readings. Otherwise any compass should be adequate. If you wish, you might find it useful to get a compass with the 24 sub-directions marked in. Armed with the compass, the formulas, and a clear mind, you can start immediately. Good luck!
PART ONE Secrets of the Luo Pan (#ulink_8139f429-6a55-5ab2-ba67-eed42d04e0ce)
1. ORIGINS OF THE LUO PAN COMPASS (#ulink_38c954fe-2322-508f-b625-5438f83c0c82)
AN AUTHENTIC CHINESE FENG SHUI LUO PAN IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED INSTRUMENTS IN THE WORLD. IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARILY PRECISE COMPASS THAT CONTAINS A TREASURE TROVE OF FENG SHUI FORMULAS AND SECRETS. THESE ENABLE THE SERIOUS PRACTITIONER TO TAKE PRECISE READINGS OF THE ORIENTATION OF ANY BUILDING OR PROPERTY AND, IF THEY KNOW HOW TO READ AND INTERPRET THE MARKINGS, OFFER INSTANT DIAGNOSIS AND SOLUTIONS.
Feng shui afflictions take different forms under a whole melange of circumstances and orientations. These afflictions can be caused by physical structures within the vicinity of the landscape, the orientation of the building’s doors and entrances, or simply the energy changes of time. All these and more can be decoded from the information contained within the Luo Pan. The markings on the Luo Pan give immediate correlations of every degree of orientation thereby pinpointing to the user under which method or formula there might be a feng shui problem.
How did the Luo Pan originate?
A colorful Chinese legend tells of a beautiful Goddess, known as the Lady of the Nine Heavens, who gave the Luo Pan compass to the Yellow Emperor and revealed to him the secret knowledge of how to use this special tool. Using the Luo Pan, the Yellow Emperor succeeded in defeating his enemies. In the ensuing centuries the compass device was progressively enhanced by the Duke of Chou, his son King Wen, and his grandson. The knowledge of the compass was combined with that of the Book of Changes, the I Ching, and, in the process, concepts of worldly and divine clairvoyance were established. Thus was formulated what would eventually become the fundamental underpinnings of the science of feng shui, a combination of all the knowledge of heaven and earth. As a tool, the Luo Pan was used in unison with the I Ching, which had by then been condensed into the eight-sided symbol called the Pa Kua.
Each Kua of the eight-sided Pa Kua symbol represents one major direction of the compass. And on each side is arranged the eight primary trigrams. These trigrams are placed in different arrangements thereby creating the Pa Kua of the Early Heaven arrangement and the Pa Kua of the Later Heaven arrangement. Both these arrangements appear in all Luo Pans. At the same time, the Lo Shu and Ho Tu squares were discovered and the numbers of these two numerology sequences were also synthesized into the Pa Kua and into the Luo Pan.
As a feng shui tool, the Luo Pan has been in use since the time of the Yellow Emperor around 2700 BC. It was initially used as a compass for taking directions before being refined into a complicated instrument for analyzing the landscape. Basically the Luo Pan was used to decipher the directional forces of nature and their bearing on the luck of abodes and their residents. Through the centuries and under different dynasties of imperial rule, the practice of feng shui has waxed and waned, but the Luo Pan evolved to contain the different formulas developed by different prominent masters during succeeding dynastic rules. Feng shui masters through the ages condensed their valuable observations and discoveries into working formulas, and their precious knowledge was engraved into the Luo Pan, to be passed down to their disciples.
During the Sung dynasty the lineage of transmission of divinatory sciences from one recognized master to the next was carefully chronicled. These transmissions included feng shui. In those times recognized experts were highly esteemed and feng shui practice flourished. The next dynasty significant to the story of feng shui was that of the Ming dynasty. During this time, feng shui developed new styles and orientations – rules were simplified and mountains, rivers, and stones were reclassified. Time cycles of feng shui were said to have been “invented” at this time, with the introduction of the Sarn Yuan (three periods or three cycles) system. Each cycle lasted 60 years, made up of three cycles of 20 years. This was to eventually become the basis of the Flying Star system of feng shui, which is gaining increasing popularity today, perpetuated by masters of the Compass schools. Flying Star formulas found their way into the feng shui Luo Pan which, during the Ming period, also expanded from 17 to 36 rings. In the late Ming, however, feng shui took on a bad name as “fake” masters and books were said to have become rather widespread.
For this reason later feng shui scholars were extremely critical of Ming-period feng shui. During the Ching period, the practices expounded by the Ming scholars were censured and as a result there was movement towards embracing the more theoretical texts of the Sung practitioners.
2. THE FENG SHUI LUO PAN TODAY (#ulink_5231b843-c3b6-504a-a36c-5885f0b6fe24)
Today the Luo Pan and its rings of symbols, trigrams, numbers, and Chinese words is regarded as an indispensable instrument by professional feng shui consultants. In the same way that the abacus continues to be used by Chinese merchants who prefer it to the modern-day calculator, feng shui practitioners of the old school prefer using the Luo Pan to the modern-day compass.
Of the many different feng shui techniques requiring the use of the compass the most popular and influential are:
The time cycle techniques also known as Time Dimension feng shui. This incorporates the Flying Star, or Shuan Kong, method of feng shui analysis.
The Three Harmony method which refers to the harmony between Heaven, Earth, and Man, as reflected in the Heaven Plate, the Earth Plate, and the Man Plate of the Luo Pan. This Luo Pan is very comprehensive and contains three sets of rings, each denoting one of the plates. This is a combination Luo Pan which has many Chinese words and is said to be the most complete as it also contains information on time cycle feng shui.
The feng shui Luo Pan is first and foremost a compass for measuring directions. So the most important part of the Luo Pan is the magnetic needle and directional marking in the center. It is vital never to compromise on the quality of this central needle since so many of the nuances of good and bad luck depend on accurate compass readings.
To reiterate: the Luo Pan divides directions into 360 degrees around a point of reference. This is divided into eight main directions and 24 sub-directions. These sub-directions are referred to as the 24 mountains, and each mountain measures 15 degrees (360 divided by 24 equals 15). The rings that indicate the 24 mountains of the different plates are very important simply because many of the major feng shui formulas use the 24 mountains to express and demarcate good and bad luck orientations. So all Luo Pans have the 24 mountains.
The remaining rings, however, can contain a number of different formulas, as Luo Pans vary according to which master designed them. Even when they contain the same formulas they may be presented in a different way. The numbers and characters of the Luo Pan are therefore confusing to the uninitiated – until they are interpreted and explained.
I want to stress that you do not need to invest in a Luo Pan to become an excellent feng shui practitioner. It is important only to know how to use a compass and how to measure, use, and apply directions according to the formulas. So as long as you have a compass – any good compass – you can apply all the secrets of the Luo Pan.
If, however, you do wish to invest in a Luo Pan here are a few guidelines. Good Luo Pans are made with precision and care, and are best crafted from wood – they should never be made of plastic, cardboard, or paper. The face of the compass, i.e. where the rings are placed, is known as the heaven dial and this sits on a base made of wood known as the earth plate. The heaven dial or face of the Luo Pan is usually made of stamped copper plate. High-quality Luo Pans have clear, sharp, and well-crafted characters and measurement degrees, and they never rust. Examine it carefully to make certain it is made of good materials and that the compass in the center is accurate and of good quality. Choose a size you feel comfortable with. A medium-sized Luo Pan is usually sufficient to contain all the essential information. When you buy a Luo Pan you should take care of it, storing it properly, and keeping it away from electrical and metallic devices so the needle stays sound.
Here are further pointers to take note of when examining a Luo Pan …
1 Take special note of the needle quality. This is the most vital part of the compass, and is the single most expensive part of any Luo Pan. The needle must align accurately on top of the red line in the center of the compass. Never buy a Luo Pan with a cheap needle. Also remember that the needle is extremely sensitive to metallic objects so a large needle might be better than a small one.
2 The two red dots must be present and these should point north (the rat direction) while the point of the needle should point south (the horse direction).
3 Look at the accuracy of the axis cross. These are the two nylon threads that must cross the cardinal axis directly at 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees of the heaven dial. There cannot be even the slightest deviation. If there is, the Luo Pan is deemed to be worthless.
4 Take note of the heaven dial, which must be clear and not blurred so that characters can be read easily.
5 Turn the Luo Pan on its earth base – it should move freely and feel smooth.
6 The earth base should be square as directions are often taken by pressing it parallel to the wall or door of a building – the four sides must thus be square and straight.
Generally I would say that for beginners, and for those who want to practice Yang feng shui, the ring of the 24 mountains is the most crucial – and this can easily be committed to memory using an ordinary compass.
3. SPECIAL LINES OF THE LUO PAN (#ulink_ae64f962-4212-5c86-a4d6-d4a6c995199f)
Before we go into the details of the concentric lines around a Luo Pan, it is extremely important to take note of the special lines that indicate inauspicious directions. These pertain to what are known as the cardinal death lines and the major and minor emptiness lines. (The phrase death lines do not necessarily mean death in a physical sense. It can also refer to loss, failure, and other extreme forms of bad luck.) One of the most well-kept secrets of Compass feng shui – previously known only to lineage masters – is that the facing directions of doors and entrances should never lie exactly on the lines that indicate the exact cardinal and secondary directions of the compass. On a Luo Pan these lines are easily identifiable – they are the lines that bear exactly north, south, east, and west, and northwest, southwest, northeast, and southeast. Thus if north is deemed to be the best direction for you and you wish to have your door face north, then you should make sure it does not face exactly north but rather a couple of degrees off exact north. This is true of all the four primary directions and the four secondary directions.
Kung mang, or emptiness lines, also spell misfortune and severe bad luck. There are eight major emptiness lines and these separate each of the eight main direction sectors – N, S, E, W, NW, NE, SW, and SE. There are also16 minor emptiness lines and these separate the 24 mountain sub-sectors in each of the eight sectors.
The inauspicious and dangerous lines of directions are as follows:
The death linesare the cardinal directions bearing 90, 180, 270 and 0/360 degrees, as well as the secondary directions bearing 45, 135, 225, and 315 degrees.
The major emptiness lines are directions that are bearing 22.5, 67.5, 112.5, 157.5, 202.5, 247.5, 292.5, and 337.5 degrees.
The minor emptinesslines are directions that are bearing 7.5, 11.25, 33.75, 37.5, 52.5, 56.25, 78.75, 82.5, 97.5, 101.25, 123.75, 127.5, 142.5, 146.25, 168.75, 172.5, 187.5, 191.25, 213.75, 217.5, 232.5, 236.25, 258.75, 262.5, 277.5, 281.25, 303.75, 307.5, 322.5, 326.25, 348.75 and 352.5 degrees.
If you discover that your house is facing a death line or a major or minor emptiness line, and you are unable to change the orientation of your door, one method of at least reducing the negative effect is to place some kind of metal decoration on the door itself. This can be a door knocker (the best are brass lion head door knockers) or you can also hang sword coins on the inside of the door. The introduction of a bit of metal is usually sufficient to move the chi so that the main door into the house no longer faces the death or emptiness line. Having said this, please note that if you are having a spate of enormous bad luck and you discover that your door is facing one of these lines then it might be a good idea to adjust the door slightly so that it no longer faces the dangerous line of direction.
Another little-known method is to transform your house into a “heavenly abode” by placing an altar directly opposite the entrance door. You will find that the Chinese like to place their altars here and it is said to be an excellent antidote for overcoming the affliction caused by facing a kung mang, or emptiness line. It is believed not only to deflect the ill-effects of emptiness lines but also to bring in auspicious luck instead. Irrespective of your religion it is said that once you introduce an altar, any kind of altar, the emptiness line gets broken.
In addition to death and emptiness lines, there are also certain directions that are referred to as Yin gaps, and these indicate problems in human relations for the residents. Doors that face Yin gaps cause problems between spouses and create family disharmony, marriage problems, and can even lead to eventual breakups. The Yin gaps are the direct centerlines of each of the 24 sub-direction sectors.
These deadly directions and Yin gaps bring secret afflictions to any building and, because of this, feng shui masters who know about Compass feng shui always check this aspect of any home or office before they do anything else. When advising on the design of new homes this is also taken into account. Usually compass directions are taken during the actual construction of any home to ensure that directions are properly read and applied.
Since the compass is affected by the presence of metal, it is important to remember that main doors are best when they are made of wood. If there is metal on the door this should be taken into account when checking the door direction during construction.
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Lillian Too
Тип: электронная книга
Жанр: Фэншуй, фэн-шуй
Язык: на английском языке
Издательство: HarperCollins
Дата публикации: 17.04.2024
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О книге: Take this ancient art a step further with Lillian Too’s beautiful guide to advanced Feng Shui and learn how to add real depth to your practise.Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice that brings ever-growing benefits to those who apply it to their lives. As the world becomes increasingly aware of this auspicious art, Lillian Too takes her more experienced follower to new and exciting levels of understanding with FENG SHUI MASTER PRACTITIONER.The basic principles of Feng Shui are easy to understand, but if you want to add real depth to your practise then this guide to advanced Feng Shui is essential reading.Beautifully illustrated with diagrams and line drawings, the book looks in depth at the secrets of the LoPan, the Flying Natal Charts, the cycles of time and space in Feng Shui and how to use these applications to protect both you and your family from life′s obstacles now and for many generations to come.If you are already enjoying the benefits of Feng Shui in your life then this is a book you cannot afford to be without!