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Feng Shuii & Chinese Astrology:
Inside Chinese Metaphysics
The Basics of
Chinese Metaphysics |
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by Barbara Finch |
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For many years I have had a passion for Chinese metaphysics. There is such a vast amount of information and so much mystery that it can never become boring. My study has allowed me to better understand myself and those around me, enabling me to improve my relationships with others. It has taught me to look at time differently, how to take advantage of auspicious times to move forward on certain dreams, and when it is best to lie low and work quietly. I have been thrilled to see how Chinese metaphysics has helped my clients as well, inspiring them to find practical ways to reach their goals, have more fulfilling relationships, and find hope during difficult times.
The Chinese in particular have developed a multifaceted philosophy about life, with separate yet interrelated concepts. First and foremost is the importance of living in balance and harmony. In subsequent columns I will talk about various Chinese metaphysical ideas, and decided it is helpful for me to first give you a little information about the basics of Chinese metaphysics before we go into greater detail.
In many Chinese metaphysics courses, you will hear that there are five basic areas of study. They are called the Wu Shu or Five Arts. These include Ming (Destiny), Bu (Divination, Fortune Telling), Xiang (Figure Analysis), Yi (Medicine) and Shan (Mountain).
Ming means destiny and includes the study of astrology to better understand the events of and the plan for our lives. Bu studies the “why” in life. The Yi Jing is in this group as it teaches us to make wise choices and also how to behave in order to have a good life. Xiang has to do with seeing the hidden truth in our faces and the palms of our hands. Yi is studying Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture, etc. "Shan" means mountain and involves Feng shui and other occult theories and methods.
The Chinese believe that all of us are affected by five areas of influence. In order of significance, these areas are Ming, Yun, Feng Shui, Yin De and Du Shu.
Ming is Destiny or Fate. This is decided from the moment we take our first breath. Ming determines who our parents and family are, our position in society, and the result of past choices and decisions. Ming is what has brought you to read this article. The Chinese place perhaps a bit more emphasis on fate than do Westerners, who generally believe that we alone can create and change our own destinies at any time in life. But we can agree that many things happen to us in life over which we have no control.
We can learn more about our destiny through the study of astrology. The Chinese have developed several types of astrology, most notably Zi Wei Dou Shu, Four Pillars of Destiny, and Iron Plate. Timing is critical in astrology, helping us see when the best periods are to move forward on a new or risky project, and when to lie low and wait for a more auspicious time. There are also several date selection techniques that are used to help one choose the best timing for important events in life, such as weddings, business openings, and more.
Yun is Luck. There are differences in how the Chinese and Westerners view luck. Westerners tend to see luck as somewhat mercurial and spontaneous. However, the Chinese have developed ways to calculate one's luck, periods of time that you can consider a kind of "mini-destiny". There are different periods in our lives when we are in good luck, bad luck or mediocre luck. We can also be in good luck but have other clashes to our natal charts, which can bring good and bad to us at the same time. Again, timing is everything. If we know that "void" luck is approaching, periods of time where we could lose money or good health, we can be sure to put our money in a safe place or work to have a healthier body. This allows us to be one step ahead of the gods.
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Feng Shui is the study of analyzing, choosing and creating the best environments possible for ourselves. This includes not only the external form (land/water formations, slopes and other buildings around us), but also the internal (where the door or qi mouth to a building is located, its floorplan layout and more). Feng Shui can also determine the likelihood of success or injury, thus good feng shui can help improve our ability to reach our highest potential by optimizing positive energy and minimizing negative influences.
Yin De is sometimes called Karma. It is good deeds and character, being willing to treat others well, thereby accumulating good karma. It is learning to look at ourselves openly and honestly, and to take personal responsibility for our thoughts and actions.
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Du Shu is Education, Study, going to school. This is where the hard work comes in. We cannot expect to learn via osmosis. We have to be willing to take the time and energy to study and learn. Chinese teachers often do not give answers to their students, or they might give just a tantalizing, teasing nugget of information that prompts the student to search for the answers on his/her own. This builds not only knowledge, but also patience, discipline and confidence to help us become the best we can be. We can make wiser decisions, get a better job, improve our lives and temper our destiny.
These five areas of influence are divided into 3 categories - Heaven Luck (Ming, Yun), Man/Person Luck (Yin De, Du Shu) and Earth Luck (Feng Shui). We have most control over Man/Person Luck - we try to treat others well and we work hard. Fewer people control their Earth Luck or feng shui. They may not know much about feng shui or they may be in circumstances that do not allow them to move. Heaven Luck is the hardest to comprehend but has the most influence - what is our destiny, what is coming for us in the future? It is a lifelong search.
What is Qi?
Whenever we discuss energy in Chinese metaphysics, whether it is energy in your home, in your body, in the air, the heavens or the earth, we are talking about Qi. Qi is the universal energy. It is vital force. It may be either in a static or dynamic state, and it is found in all things. It is the very essence of life, and all things arise from it.
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The Tai Ji (Yin Yang Symbol)
Most of us are well acquainted with the "Yin Yang" symbol and can list off several examples of yin/yang energy - hot/cold, male/female, light/dark, etc. However, there is much more to the Tai Ji than this. The theory of Yin and Yang is the utter foundation of Chinese metaphysics. It is the heart from which all study of Chinese metaphysics evolves, including Feng Shui, Chinese Astrology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Yi Jing, and Palm/Face Reading.
In Chinese cosmology, Yin and Yang are the two primal forces or types of qi that originate from the Wu Qi, the void that contains the potential for all things in the Universe. From the Wu Qi emerges the Tai Ji, the principle of opposing but interacting forces - Yin and Yang - that represent the transformation of energy.
The Tai Ji or "Yin Yang" symbol illustrates this interrelationship of opposing yet interacting qi.
What is Yin?
Yin is illustrated by the black portions of the Tai Ji. Yin qi is related to the feminine, cold, intuitive, night, dark, moist, receptive, and still. Yin is the female energy that holds and nurtures the fetus as it develops to birth. Yin is soft and flowing, yielding to and molding itself around yang forces.
What is Yang?
Yang is represented by the white portions of the Tai Ji. Yang qi is masculine and is hot, reasoning, day, bright, dry, assertive, and active. Yang is the male energy that enters and fertilizes an egg. Yang is direct and bold, and pushes through yin forces.
As the Tai Ji suggests, having perfect balance between yin and yang is the ideal. Without yin there can be no yang. Without yang there can be no yin. Imbalances between yin and yang cause illness and natural disasters. The Chinese metaphysician analyzes our bodies and homes, our lives and our environment, and determines what is needed to bring balance. If your home is too dim, it will be easy for you to become depressed. If you are spending too much, you cannot save for the future. If a mountainside becomes too wet, it will cause a mudslide.
The Tai Ji is drawn as a circle to represent the continuous cycle of yin turning to yang, and yang turning back to yin. The black and white dots remind us that yin exists within yang and yang exists within yin. Neither can exist without the other. Men have estrogen as well as testosterone in their bodies, and women have testosterone as well as estrogen. The reverse "S" through the center illustrates the fluidity and constant flow and interaction between yin and yang qi.
Remember that the Tai Ji is actually three dimensional, continuously rotating, merging and separating, and is spherical in shape. Sound familiar? Think about the Earth.
The ancient Chinese keenly observed their world, observing sunspots as early as 28 AD and even inventing the first seismograph (Han Dynasty, ~206 BC-220 AD), far earlier than done in the West. Using the Big Dipper constellation, they determined the four cardinal directions of North, South, East and West, and divided the year into 24 segments called Jie Qi, six for each season.
They noticed that the sun appeared to move its sunlight on the Earth as the seasons progressed. So they set up poles in the ground and recorded positions between sunlight and shadow throughout the year and the length of shadow every day. After connecting the pole markers and shading the yin area (Summer Solstice to Winter Solstice), their chart appeared like this:
If you rotate the chart slightly clockwise, you have the Tai Ji symbol, which appears in a variety of forms in Chinese metaphysical texts.
Everything in the Universe is related to yin or yang, and is a blend of both. We see this duality in every aspect of our lives. After the dark night (yin), the sun rises and shines all day (yang), then sets back into night again. From the cold Winter comes warm Spring, then the fiery heat of Summer, followed by the cooling of Autumn back into Winter. We live very busy lives (yang), but we know that we must get rest and sleep (yin) to bring our lives and bodies back into balance to avoid fatigue and illness.
You see the Tai Ji drawn in at many different angles, but one is considered the most accurate in Chinese metaphysics. If you remember that Yang is fire and heat, then it must rise. If Yin is water and cold, then it falls. The Tai Ji represents the very nature of the Universe, from compass directions, to seasons of the year and their temperatures, the five basic elements and time of day.
Spring - Increasing Yang
Spring is the beginning of the Chinese New Year, usually at the end of January for the lunisolar calendar or early February for the solar calendar. After the long, cold Winter, the sun begins to warm the earth again, triggering new plant growth. Because of this, Spring and the Spring equinox is associated with the Wood element. Because the day also begins to warm in the morning as the sun rises, Spring is associated with the East direction. So these are associated with the left side of the Tai Ji, where the yang is increasing.
South - Maximum Yang
Since fire and heat rise, the top of the Tai Ji represents maximum yang. From the point of view in China, South is warmer than North, so South is placed at the top of the Tai Ji. This is the time of the Summer Solstice, Fire element (heat) and noon. The days are brightest and longest during the summer than at any other time of year.
West - Increasing Yin
After the hot days of summer, the weather begins to cool during Autumn. It is time for the Autumn Equinox and for harvesting crops. Similarly, the day cools into night as the sun sets in the West. Because of these cooling properties, Metal element is associated with the West. These energies are on the right side of the Tai Ji, where yang is diminishing and yin is increasing.
North - Maximum Yin
The autumn days turn cold as the season changes to Winter. Winter is associated with Water because of the snow, ice and rain. The days are darkest and shortest with the Winter Solstice. We have reached maximum yin.
Nothing exists separately from the rest of the Universe, so nothing is completely yin or yang in and of itself, and neither is better than the other. Yin and yang perpetually transform into each other, and it is this act of continual transformation that creates and strives to balance the world.
By balancing the yin and yang within ourselves, by learning and working hard, and by remedying our feng shui, we can improve our destinies and our karma. We can fulfill the best in our relationships, health and work, and the energies in our environment. We can create a better world.
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Barbara Finch,
Feng Shui &
Chinese Astrology
Consultant, Writer, Instructor, & Speaker
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Barbara Finch has been fascinated with metaphysics since childhood. Following a vedic astrologer's advice in 1995, she has studied feng shui and other Chinese metaphysics in earnest with Masters Larry Sang and Peter Leung, becoming an instructor for both.
Using both ancient and modern techniques and methods, Barbara has vast experience in residential and commercial feng shui consultations. She also teaches and writes extensively on Chinese Metaphysics.
Barbara is also a professional Chinese astrologer using Zi Wei Dou Shu, a form of Chinese astrology. Additionally, with Master Leung, Barbara has recently written a correspondence course on The Four Pillars of Destiny, another Chinese astrology. This course contains extensive and profound information on Four Pillars, much that has never before been available in the English language.
Barbara has lectured on Chinese astrology for the American Federation of Astrologers and various other groups.
Continually updating and expanding her knowledge of Chinese metaphysics, Barbara is committed to using this ancient wisdom to help those seeking assistance to best harmonize themselves with nature, time and space.
Have a question or comment for Barbara Finch? Contact her:
Email:
barbara@finchshui.com
Website:
http://www.finchshui.com
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