Newsgroups: alt.magick,alt.magick.tyagi,alt.magick.order,alt.magick.ethics,alt.magick.tantra,alt.answers,news.answers Subject: alt.magick FENG shui REFerence file Followup-To: alt.magick Summary: This is a REFerence file for the alt.magick newsgroup. As such it constitutes an attendant file to the alt.magick FAQ, which is intended as an introductory file and its content may be discussed within the alt.magick.* contellation. The FAQ is available at: ftp://ftp.hollyfeld.org/pub/Esoteric/Usenet/Magick/FAQ.amgkfaq.9510 X-URL: http://www.portal.com/~tyagi/amgkfaq.html Keywords: divination feng shui geomancy taoism Supercedes: 9510 References: ftp://www.hollyfeld.org/pub/Esoteric/Web/Amgkfaq/ From: nagasiva@yronwode.com (tyaginator) Reply-to: nagasiva@yronwode.com (tyaginator) Archive-name: magick/fengref Version: 9511 Posting-Frequency: every six months or by necessity FENG SHUI FAQ Copyright (c) 1995 by William L. Cassidy. All rights reserved. WHAT IS FENG SHUI? The term feng shui is literally translated as "wind and water." Feng Shui--sometimes called Chinese "geomancy"-- first developed as the art and science of orienting dwellings, buildings and cities. At a later date, Feng Shui also came to be occupied with the situation of gravesites. Certain places in the landscape have life breath (sheng ch'i). Feng Shui is concerned with discovery of such places and due note of their individual qualities. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF FENG SHUI? Although its origins are lost in antiquity, Feng Shui appears to have developed in widespread consciousness during the Warring States period. With the advent of the compass, two schools of practice came into being: the "Form" School and the "Compass" School. The Form School--the earliest--is concerned with the essence of terrain, climate, and ch'i. The Compass School--a later development--adds the use of a specialized compass (and, later, a specialized ruler) to make its determinations. CAN FENG SHUI BE PRACTICED WITHOUT A COMPASS? Certainly. ARE THERE ANY FENG SHUI "MASTERS?" Feng Shui has, unfortunately, become corrupted. True masters of the art are rare. There are perhaps a half-dozen practitioners in the world who can claim mastery of the subject and none have much contact with the general public. They are concerned primarily with new temple construction, consultation with builders and architectural firms, and city planning. HOW IS FENG SHUI CORRUPTED? Feng Shui has become corrupted to contain absurd notions of interior decoration, the use of charms and talismans, the runaway concept of site "improvement," and by several generations of practitioners who know nothing of its true essence. There are scores of people who cater to popular superstition, offering to decorate homes, "improve" new businesses or resolve neighborhood conflicts, all for a hefty fee. Recent (and popular) English and Chinese language books on the subject have just compounded the problem. IS THERE A TIBETAN FENG SHUI? Yes and no. There are some modern Chinese "practitioners" who, in order to make themselves seem more "mysterious," claim to have studied "Tibetan Feng Shui." There is no indigenous Tibetan Feng Shui per se. The whole art of Feng Shui as practiced in Tibet descended from the Chinese Form School, and entered Tibet in the 7th Century. There is an indigenous Tibetan practice concerned with the location of secret places wherein religious treasures are concealed, but this has almost nothing to do with basic Feng Shui principles. IS FENG SHUI PRACTICED IN ANY OTHER COUNTRIES? Feng Shui is practiced all over the world. In Vietnam, for example, it is known as Dia Ly. Regardless of where it is practiced, it is still fundamentally a Chinese science. Thus, traditional Feng Shui principles in Vietnam (or America, for that matter) are the same as in China. CAN FENG SHUI GUARANTEE A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS? Not in and of itself, to the exclusion of all other factors. Anyone who claims differently is a fraud. It is important to remember that Feng Shui originated in an agricultural society and is founded on concern for environmental health and well-being.If a site is in harmony with forces seen and unseen, tangible and intangible, certainly this is of much benefit. CAN FENG SHUI BE TAUGHT? Certainly. A really gifted student will devote about twenty years of intense study and experience to reach the first stage of proficiency. It is helpful to wander around the earth, visiting remote places, villages, farms, towns, cities, etc. It is helpful to sleep alone in the mountains, hills, or deserts, and experience changes in weather and climate. It is helpful to read all of the classics on the subject, and to further study the modern sciences. Extremely well developed powers of observation are necessary, and these are difficult to teach. After a time, however, one gets a sense of knowing what to look for. Later, this becomes a "felt" experience that really shouldn't be described. IS FENG SHUI A RELIGION? No. Feng Shui is similar to natural science. IS FENG SHUI CONCERNED WITH DIVINATION? No. Although you can make certain observations concerning the probable outcome of certain activities, there is no divination aspect to Feng Shui. ARE THERE "LUCKY" AND "UNLUCKY" PLACES? All places are "lucky." Some places are "luckier" than others. The deepest place in the ocean is lucky for sea-turtles. CAN FENG SHUI CHANGE LUCK? In the mundane sense, perhaps yes. In the ultimate sense, certainly no. WHAT ARE "DRAGONS" AND "TIGERS?" Dragons and Tigers are symbolics used to describe topographical formations. Such symbolics can also refer to two of the four quarters: the Azure Dragon of the East; the White Tiger of the West. WHAT ARE DRAGON "VEINS?" Dragon veins or Dragon pulse are generally considered ch'i conducting sinews and features of topography. One also hears of the Dragon's "navel," which is generally considered an ideal place. WHAT ARE "SECRET ARROWS?" The sha are noxious channels, or, in the alternative, evil influences or stagnant exhalations. Sha are bad vapours or inhibiting courses. DO MIRRORS REPEL "SECRET ARROWS?" Not in my experience. Yet, thousands of people believe that mirrors have such value, giving rise to the infamous "mirror wars" we always hear about. CAN (AND SHOULD) A GRAVE BE "SITED?" Any respect or care one shows to one's ancestors cannot be wrong. This should be done for its own sake and not to confer wealth, fame or other benefit to the living. CAN (AND SHOULD) SITES BE "IMPROVED?" Within reasonable limitations, some improvement is possible. Common sense can work wonders. There is some argument about whether or not ch'i can be "attracted." It can, but the question is what kind? In general, you cannot "put" ch'i in a place where ch'i is weak, but you can (occasionally) diminish sha. DO PRAYERS AND SACRIFICES PLAY ANY ROLE? While it is certainly possible that prayer could change the course of rivers and the lay of mountains I have not personally seen it done. It is, however, of demonstrated benefit in changing men. Blood sacrifices are to be condemned as barbaric and cash sacrifices usually benefit only one party. CAN (AND SHOULD) FENG SHUI BE APPLIED TO INTERIORS? Not in the classic sense. Feng Shui can open the mind and train the eye, giving rise to a sense of balance, harmony and order. This can be reflected in the placement of objects in interiors, or in a general awareness of space and circulation. A beautiful, well-maintained fish tank pleases the eye and has an interesting quality if you like that sort of thing. It is not a cure-all for Feng Shui problems. Color and light are likewise important, but here we begin to get away from the essence of what Feng Shui is and what Feng Shui does. Again, the idea is to use common sense. WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FENG SHUI AND ASTROLOGY? Later schools of Feng Shui incorporate astrological conventions and fate calculation conventions into the basic concept of Feng Shui. To the extent that both can be founded on five element theory there is a definite relationship. But developed Feng Shui is much "larger" in the sense that it can incorporate heaven, earth, man and fate into one cohesive whole. _________________________________________________________________ * Back to Asian Astrology Home Page ============================================= This document is Copyright (c) 1995, authors cited. All rights reserved. Permission to distribute the collection is hereby granted providing that distribution is electronic, no money is involved, reasonable attempts are made to use the latest version and all credits and this copyright notice are maintained. Other requests for distribution should be directed to the individual authors of the particular articles. nagasiva, tyagi tyagI@houseofkaos.Abyss.coM (I@AM)