My recent articles in the Sun Daily newspaper.
Feng Shui 2019
http://fengshuiunzip.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/fengshui2019-2.pdf
Zodiac 2019
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The Wan Nian Li a.k.a the 10,000 Year Calendar is a conversion chart that allow us to convert between Gregorian Date and the equivalent Chinese Solar and Lunar Dates and vice versa. It usually comes in the form of a thick manual containing pages and pages of tables, typically one for each year. But do not be fooled by the name. There are usually only between 100 to 150 years of current data in each book, not ten thousand!
In the earlier days, the calendar is only available in Chinese but more recently it is also available in English. With the advent of the internet, you can now access software based calendar or conversion tools that allow you to do the same on your PC or phone.
In this article, I will focus on the paper based English version of the Wan Nian Li and I will show you how you can find the Chinese Solar and Lunar equivalent of any Western Gregorian date.
In the table provided you will find a portion of the conversion calendar for the first three Gregorian month of 2017.
The first row shows the Stem Branch of the year 2017 which is Ding You or Fire Rooster (in light red).
The first three column from left to right shows the first, second and third lunar month. On the left of each of the column, you the representation M D which is the Western or Gregorian month and date. That the first lunar month in 2017 starts from 28 Jan (and reading down) and ends on 25 Feb. Similarly the second lunar month starts from 26 Feb and ends on 27 Mar. And the third lunar month from 28 Mar to 25 April.
The rightmost column is the lunar day.
Using this table, it is quite easy to find the equivalent lunar date for any Gregorian Date. Take for example the 15 Mar 2017 (in light yellow). This Greg date falls in the second lunar month and (reading horizontally) coincidences with lunar day 18. Thus the lunar equivalent date for 15 March 2017 is Lunar Month 2, Day 18, Ding You year (2017).
Let’s work on another example. Take the 1 April 2017 (in light green). This Greg date falls in the third column or third lunar month. Reading horizontally, it coincides with lunar day 5. Thus the Chinese lunar equivalent date for the 1 April 2017 is Lunar Month 3, Day 5, Ding You year (2017).
Finding the Chinese Solar equivalent date is a bit harder. In 2017 the first Solar month is called Ren Yin followed by the second month Gui Mao and third month Jia Chen. The first day of the Chinese Solar month however does on fall on the 28 Jan. Instead it falls on the 7th Lunar day when “Spring Arrives” or “Li Chun”. This is equivament to the Greg date 3 March 2017.
This first solar month runs till a day before the start of the second Solar month “Insects Awaken” which is the 7th Lunar day in Feb or 4th March 2017. The second solar month starts from the eighth lunar day or Gregorian 5th March till a day before the start of the Solar 3th Month or “Clear Brightness” or “Ching Ming” on the 3rd April 2017.
Lets work on an example. Let’s take Gregorian 23 Feb 2017 (in light blue). On the right is Xin Si which is the Day Pillar. This date falls between 3 Feb and 4 Mar and hence is the Chinese Solar month one which gives the month pillar Ren Yin – marked in light blue.
Hence the Chinese Solar equivalent date of the 23 Feb 2017 is Day Pillar Xin Si, Month Pillar Ren Yin and Year Pillar Ding You (2017). Again, if this looks familar to you, it is because it is the three of four pillars of Ba Zi!
In this year of the Earth Dog, I spent my first 10 days of the Chinese Lunar Year participating in an event in Singapore. It is called Fortune Street and is organized by Resorts World at Sentosa.
It is a one stop center where you can get your fortune read by Chinese Astrologers, Palmists, Tarots, Energy Readers etc. For me it was a 10 days grueling session running from 12 noon to 10 pm with breaks.
Each session was limited to 10 minutes. For me you have a choice of learning your current year luck or your current 10 years luck in the area of career, wealth, relationships and health both mental and physical. Or you can ask a specific question and I will dwell as far inside as I can within the 10 minutes.
Though it was very tough, it was a good learning experience for me as a Chinese Astrology especially in speed reading using Zi Wei Dou Shu! And it gave me the opportunity to re-establish relationship with some old friends as well as make some new ones.
Here are some photos.
And not forgetting the other Masters who participated in the event such Master Paul, Master Kalpana, Master Khor, Master Hilary, the team from the Golden Spaces etc
And other registrars such as Lina, Nafa who Amelia helped to register and schedule the endless stream of customers!
When I first started practicing Feng Shui, most of my clients would first buy a house and then use my service to help optimize the interior for them.
In recent years, I see a shift towards first selecting a house before buying and then using my services to optimize the Feng Shui for them.
As a consultant, I highly favor this approach. While both the interior and exterior are important, the surrounding has a more significant effect on the luck of the occupants. The mountain (real and including higher land) and water (real including lower land) in the right places relative to the house can enhance or degrade the Feng Shui quality of the house as well as the spaces within.
For example, a north 2/3 (352.5 to 22.5 degrees) facing house built in the current period of 8 (between 2004 and 2024) should have mountain at the sitting side of the house to enhance the health and relationship quality of the house. And if you decide to use the North East side of the house as a bedroom, it should ideally have a mountain (or higher land) outside at the NE.
Another factor is structure, that generate “Sha Qi” such as high tension pylon that are located nearby the house. Most times it is difficult to block or neutralize such “Sha Qi”. So it makes a lot of sense to buy one located farther away from such structures.
Yet another factor is the the facing direction of the house which can affect the luck of the occupants depending on their Ba Zi. So it makes a lot of sense to buy only those with facing directions that are favorable.
If the house buyer chooses to select before buying, he can avoid all of these problems. He can then concentrate on optimizing the interior, knowing well that the external Feng Shui is fine and supportive.
A few months ago, the Malaysian Retailers Association invited me to contribute a couple of articles to their magazines.
Here are what I wrote for them.
“What every Business Owner should know about Feng Shui?”
“Pick the Right Feng Shui Outlet”
Our destiny and luck is determined at birth. Well at least to a certain extent. But what if our birth chart shows poor or weak spousal relationship luck? Are we doomed to be lonely or unhappy? Can we do something to improve it? The answer according to our ancient forefathers is a resounding yes.
Before we dive into the solutions, there is a need to clarify spousal luck. It means you have the opportunity to meet someone you like very much, who feels the same way about you and together you live a happy and blissful life.
I would like to clarify spouse luck and marriage. Most times good spouse luck leads to a relationship and then to marriage. Your birth chart reflects your spouse luck but not necessarily your marriage. In some society, marriage is optional and there are many married couples who are not married. That is why it is very difficult to answer this very common questions from my lady clients, “When will I get married?”. That is totally up to you.
So what can you do if you have poor spousal relationship luck?
I think you should create the opportunity to meet more people. Its like sales. The more prospects, the better the odds of making a sale. You should also consider making yourself physically more attractive e.g shape up, dress well etc. And get the help of professionals or friends to see if you have any personality “faults” that you should correct.
With that out of the way, here are some spousal relationship advice.
The ancient Chinese believe that a relationship will have a better chance at success if the man is much older than the woman or if the woman is older than the man.
For a man marrying a younger women, the age difference should be at least 7 years. It is better if the age difference is wider.
However for a woman marrying a younger man, the age difference need to be just 1 year, although a few more years difference is quite acceptable.
Apparently education level and socio economic status matters too. The relationship will have a greater chance of success if one partner man or women has a much higher level of education than the other. Or if one is very much wealthier than the other or has a much higher standing in society!
Interestingly, race and cultural differences also helps. So marrying someone who is of a different race or distinctly different different cultural backgroud can increase your chances of success.
So is geography. Marrying someone who hails from a different part of the world can apparently help too.
Another popular way is to marry someone who has gone through a breakup (must be serious) or a divorce or widowed.
The ancients believe that your will have better luck the second time around. Apparently marrying someone who has done it before can increase your chances of success.
What if all of the above fail?
The ancients have a solution too. You see, the birth chart apparently shows the opportunity and quality of your “proper” spouse relationship. It does not reflect your “improper” spouse relationship luck. Therefore if you have an “improper” spouse relationship like becoming the mistress of a married man or the second or third wife, where legal, or simply not registering your marriage, you increase your chances of success!
True or not, I will let you decide.
Sometimes the birth chart indicate weak spouse luck during a certain period. While this usually mean challenges in the relationship during the period, it can also mean another thing for example, physical separation. For example the husband is offered a good high paying job in another country. He decides to leave the wife and children at home but come back periodically to visit. It can be reflected as poor spouse luck in the chart. It is case, it reflects the time and distance apart rather than the actual shape of the relationship!
The selection criteria for an auspicious site near the mountains and in a vast plain are different. For an auspicious site near the mountains, we look out for good looking protective mountains on all sites, with water running through it, a wide Bright Hall at the facing side and mountains further away that check or slow down water exiting the site.
In a vast plain, we look for protrusion in the land and in the absence of protrusion, we look for slowing moving quiet water.
For auspicious site near the mountains, certain characteristics or a combination of characteristics can produce different results. Some can make the residents wealthy. Others produce high ranking officials and yet others may create learned men.
In the rest of this article, you will learn what these characteristics are.
Lets start with sites that can make the residents wealthy. The site should protected by good looking mountains on all sides. These are the Tortoise mountain at the back, the Green Dragon and White Tiger on the left and right embracing and the Red Phoenix at the facing side. In addition the site itself should be slightly protruded like the back of a tortoise. The Tortoise mountain at the sitting should look like a warehouse i.e. rectangular with a somewhat flattish top. The warehouse shaped mountain signifies storage of wealth.Two waterways should come from the back and merge in front of the site and there should be mountains or large stones at the facing to slow down the water when that exit the site. Since water represent wealth, slow lingering water signifies accumulation of wealth.
Finally the table mountain at the facing should look like an ox.
Next the site of the very High Ranking Officers and Chief Executives. The site itself should be on land that is higher than other auspicious sites in the surroundings and the land should slope forward. Height signifies ranking and the higher it is the better. The mountain ranges should be full of rises and falls and have magnificent peaks before reaching the site. The protective mountains should resemble banners, drums, pen, tortoises and horses (you have to use your imagination). Very High Ranking Officers and Chief Executives requires influence, power and intelligence. Mountain ranges with rises and falls bring in a lot of qi or energy into the site. Banner and drums shaped mountains signifies power while pen shaped mountains signifies intelligence.
The site should be flanked by two waterways that have made hundreds of turns (again signifying strong qi) before reaching the site. Ideally there is a Heaven Pond higher up the site to ensure a continuous flow of water. Once at the auspicious site it should curve and slow down in front, checked or slow down by mountain or large stones (Seal Hill) downhill of the site.
What about the sites of High Ranking officials
It depends on their rank and job function. For ministers and senior executives, they should be magnificent mountains at the back plus good looking protective mountains all around that resembles banner, drum, pen, horse and tiger. Pen shaped mountains – tall and thin – will produce intelligent officials or executives while drums and banner like mountains gives the residence authority. As usual you need a Bright Hall and have waterways that curve and slow down in front of the site.
Sites for Queen, First Ladies and Wife’s of CEO’s? Yes, there are sites that are more likely to produce them. First the mountain should be shaped like a dressing table. The facing mountain should resemble delicate eyebrows. And finally some curving and lingering waterways at the front!
What about industy? Mountains that resemble a seal or Seal Hill (large stones that slows down water flow) also represent authority. If you are in transportation or logistics look for progressive mountains (mountains that gets higher as you progress backward from the site) and those with plenty of rises and falls.
If you are involved in finance look for mountains that look like warehouses with waterways at the facing that curve and flow slowing. Those in professions that require honesty, ethics, moral and principles such as judges and anti-corruption officers should look for sites that is on higher ground or stand out. Mountains in the facing side should be straight and balance signifying moral and ethics while waterways should be clean signifying honor, purity and truth.
Those in education and research should have surrounding mountains that look like pen and pencil plus curve waterways at the facing.
There are also sites for the long lived. What you need is a high or soaring mountains behind the site.
What about the short-lived? The site is low and isolated without protective mountains and exposed to wind from all sides. When protective mountains are present, they are short bare and narrow and scattered with no relationship to each other. The Tortoise mountain is a retreating dragon (as opposed to a progressive one) and waterways run straight in front of the site and there is usually a noisy and loud waterfall nearby!
Is there a difference between the site of the short lived and the site of the poor. Yes, there is. Like the site for the short lived, the site of the poor is isolated without mountain protection from all side. And when mountain is present, they are slim, ugly, rocky and bare. There is either an absence of water or when water is present it is dirty and flows against or away from the site. Finally the Bright Hall is small and narrow.
In ancient text there is also the site of prostitutes.
Here the facing mountain resembles a women pulling up her skirt. The Green Dragon and White Tiger do not embrace like the pincers of a crab. Instead it flank outwards. Finally there are two hills leaning against each other like a couple embracing!
It is not too difficult find mountains that look like warehouses, drums or pen since we are familiar with the objects in question. But how do you read a mountain that looks like horses in full flight or one that resembles a women pulling up her skirt? You simply have to let you imagination go. Happy mountain watching!
In mountainous areas we study the spines and backbones of the mountains to look for auspicious sites. In flat land we look at the pulse of the earth. Let me explain. A flat land or a vast plain is like a ocean. Earth energy underneath it creates protrusion much like waves. Therefore when there are protrusions on a flat land, the earth energy or qi in the land is strong.
Our forefathers believe that the earth energy in a vast plan is very strong. So strong that wind blowing from all sides cannot blow away and exhaust the qi in the land. This is much like an auspicious site near the trunk of the mountain ranges. It is still good even if the protective mountains are not all in place.
Water can absorb qi and where there is water, qi will linger and accumulate in that area. In a flat land and in the absence of protrusions, look for water. Some masters think water is more important than mountains. A land site without mountain but with water is still good. Without mountain qi is blow away but with water qi accumulates and wind stops. However water is only useful if it flows slowly like when it is checked by mountains or large rocks or curved waterways, or when it flows into a lake.
Protrusion in Flatland
It is better when a waterway has flowed hundreds of miles before flowing into the auspicious site as they are believed to bring in a lot of qi. Rivers should ideally be deep as they tend to be slower and quieter. A river with many curves and bends is auspicious and very often Dragon Lair on vast plans are found on the inside of such as curve. The meeting point of two rivers or a confluence is a highly revered feature. Always look for them in a vast plain.
Water that flows straight and very fast is not auspicious. Water that makes a lot of noise is also not desirable. Waterfalls and water that runs very quickly pass rocks and stone generate a lot of noise and can bring disaster to residence. Worst is water falling into large holes. They create laughing or weeping sound which is not desirable. In fact noisy rivers are called “crying red phoenix” and brings sorrowful events.
When water splash against the shorelines they make loud noises make the site not suitable for residential purposes. A little inland is desirable although waterfronts are quite suitable for commercial premises.
Waterways
In a vast plain, the land is exposed to strong wind from all sides. Even though the qi in a vast plain is strong having waterways running though it is better than not having one. To summarize when looking for auspicious sites in flat land, first look for protrusions failing which look for slow moving curved waterways or lakes.
While on the subject of wind, our forefathers favor the south wind as it blows gently and bring warmth. They dislike the north wind which brings in the bitter cold from the north. Generally south, south east and east wind are considered auspicious while those from the north and west are not.
This may not apply to your locale depending on your geography and you must adept accordingly.
Another point to note with wind is that our forefathers believe that wind that blows over a river or ocean before arriving at the site is auspicious.
To recap, when evaluating auspicious site in a vast plan, look for protrusion as these are signs of high energy in the land. In the absence of protrusion, look for water in the form of clear, slow moving and curved waterways or lake.
Avoid water that flows fast and straight and especially those than general a lot of noise.
If you have been following the last articles on auspicious Feng Shui site you will realize that a good site is not easy to come buy. That is a fact and in practice we often end up with less than perfect auspicious sites.
One example is the Nest site. It is one with the Black Tortoise at the back, Green Dragon and White Tiger on the left and right respectively without water and Red Phoenix Mountain at the facing. It is not perfect but still acceptable. At the very least the Black Tortoise and the mountains behind bring qi into the area while the Green Dragon and White Tiger stops the qi from being blown away. A variation of the Nest site in one where the Dragon and Tiger embrace the site like the pincers of a crab.
Another example is the Breast Site. Two mountains with a relatively flat valley in-between with water running through it is also acceptable. Again the mountains and the ranges behind bring qi into the area. Although the area is not totally protected from wind, the river running through it help to accumulate qi. Again not perfect by still quite acceptable.
In the rest of this article I will share with you some of principles that our forefathers use to locate auspicious sites. Central to it is the concept of Yin and Yang. The mountains are considered Yin as it is view as static while water is Yang since its characteristics is to move. Too much Yang or Yin is not favorable but when Yang and Yin meet it is favorable.
Therefore when the mountains (Yin) meets water (Yang) as in the case of mountains meeting a vast plain, water ways, lake or ocean it is auspicious and you are likely to find auspicious sites.
Although a mountain is considered Yin, if it has many rises and falls it is said to have Yang features. Remember that it is favorable when Yang meets Yin. Therefore a mountain with lots of peaks and valley, curves and turn is considered highly favorable.
Water is consider Yang as its natural tendency is to flow downhill. When water slows or stops it is said to have Yin features. Therefore when water is checked by mountains or large stones, slows down or stop momentarily (when it flows into a lake), it is considered highly favorable.
Yang and Yin are opposites. Therefore you should look for flat land in undulating land where peaks and valleys are normal. And in flatland look for protrusions. This is an important principle for selecting auspicious sites in flat land which I will cover in another article. To take it further, in dry land, look for an area with rivers and lake and in wetland look for an area that is dry!
A Heavenly Pond is a lake found high up in the mountains. It is mountain meeting water and is highly revered. In addition a Heaven Pond upstream ensures a continuous flow of water to auspicious sites downstream. Since water is wealth a continuously flowing river is preferably to one that only flows for some months in a year.
Some people ask me if water needs to be visible for it to work. Answer is no. If you are near enough water will still work for you even if you cannot see it.
Another thing to look out for it Progressive Mountains. Behind the Black Tortoise, there should be a group of mountains that get gradually bigger and taller as it progresses into the background. Such mountains bring strong qi into the area and give good luck, financial gain and social standing for many generation.
The opposite is the Retreating Mountains where it gets smaller and shorter as it progress into the background. Such mountains bring financial losses and damage to reputation.
Again I cannot emphasis enough that the mountains must be Living Mountains or one with lush vegetation with a strong flora and fauna community. Sick Mountains or those with inauspicious shapes, barren, dry and sandy will bring disasters, diseases, financial problems and death.
In the next article, I you will learn how to identify auspicious sites in flat land or vast plains.
In Feng Shui, an auspicious land site is called a dragon lair. It is a reservoir of strong qi that bring good luck, prosperity, financial gain and social standing to the occupants.
Dragon Lair are often found at the tail of the Dragon or mountain range. A mountain range can have multiple tails and one that has run for hundreds of miles continuously brings along plenty of strong qi and is likely to host a lot of Dragon Lairs.
In the last article I mentioned Resting Dragon which is a place where qi comes to rest before continuing on its journey downhill. This is normally a valley or a relatively flat land surrounded by mountain or water. You should find Dragon Lairs here.
A Stopping Dragon is one that has come to the end of its trip like a mountain meeting a vast plain or meeting the ocean. Your should find Dragon Lairs here too.
In between is the Running Dragon which is one that is neither resting nor stopping. They carry qi but do not accumulate qi and you should not find Dragon Lairs here!
A textbook auspicious site is often described using the four animals namely Black Tortoise, Green Dragon, White Tiger and Red Phoenix. The Black Tortoise is found at the back of the auspicious site and is the tail of the mountain range or incoming dragon. The Green Dragon and White Tiger on the left and right respectively protects the site from wind.
Water in the form of rivers and lakes should be present at the facing. The waterways should embrace the site. The Red Phoenix which are smaller mountains found downstream serves to slow down the water and prevents it from rushing away. Water running quickly away from a site is inauspicious and suggest a loss of wealth.
The mountains should have lush green vegetation preferably with mist at the top. The water should be clear and slow flowing and the soil moist with abundant flora and fauna.
The Black Tortoise mountain should slope gradually to the auspicious site. This is often referred to as the Tortoise bowing to the people and indicate a willingness to transfer qi to the occupants.
The opposite is a steep drop often referred to as the Tortoise Hold its Head Up which suggest an unwillingness to transfer qi.
The Green Dragon and White Tiger should embrace the site like a crab with its pincers. This represent a merging of yin and yang and is highly auspicious. It is not auspicious if the pincers turn out. The Green Dragon which should be taller than the White Tiger should slope gradually to the site.
The quality of the site is enhanced if the Green Dragon and White Tiger is protected by another layer of mountain aptly called the Outer Green Dragon and Outer White Tiger.
In auspicious site should be closer to the Tortoise mountain. In front of the site there should be a wide and open space called the Bright Hall. A Bright Hall that is broad with a clear view symbolizes a bright future and plenty of opportunity for the occupants.
Water flowing into a site from upstream is called the Heavenly Door. It should be wide, open and unimpeded signifying wealth and good luck flowing into the site. Water existing a site is called the Earthly Door. It should be narrow and closed. It is better if you cannot see it flowing away.
Waterways should not flow directly at or away from the site. Instead it should embrace the site and if possible return to the site before flowing downstream. This is call Returning Water. If there are two waterways, they should ideally cross rather than run parallel.
The Red Phoenix mountains downstream serve to impede or slow down the water flow. The Red Phoenix mountains close to the site are called Table Mountains while the ones further downstream are called Worshiped Mountain.
These mountains located downstream serve a critical role and many ancient master would not even consider a site that do not have such water impeding mountains.
Large rocks in the river called Seal Hill are favorable too as they help to slow down water flow.
Before I end this article, I must emphasis that the mountains surrounding the site must be good looking to bring good luck. Mountains that are ugly, uneven, sharp or pointed are bad bring bad luck to the occupants.