Feng Shui is neither a religion nor superstition. It arises in ancient China from the Taoist philosophies that proposed close relationship between man and his surroundings.

As such, Feng Shui refers to the science of studying the natural surroundings, the people and their premise as well as the time factor. The main aim of such study is to determine how the forces (or “Qi” in Chinese) of each of these elements interact with one another and the effect of such interaction.

Feng Shui study typically adopts the principles of balancing these forces (or “Qi”) through the application of the “Yin and Yang Theory” or the “5 Elements Theory”.

Through proper understanding and harnessing of Feng Shui knowledge, one can achieve the desired balance in forces and thus live in peace and harmony with the surroundings.

Qi is the underlying essence of all things in the universe. It is the all-encompassing, all-permeating, unifying force of everything. Both physical and meta-physical, Qi is the vital, nourishing force that is at the heart of the growth and development of the Cosmos, Earth, and Humanity. From the peak of the highest mountains to the depth of the deepest oceans, the flow of the rivers to the undulating ridges of the land, and from busy malls to the quaint little corners of the street – Qi permeates our world. Qi is the force that brings life to all beings.

An individual’s Qi is marked at birth, the moment when one inhaled his/her first breath. In Feng Shui, the year of birth is a vital source of information in Qi analysis. The force you were born into (your birth year) directly determines your life force compatibility with the life forces of others and with the forces of your home. A Feng Shui practitioner’s goal is to harness Qi in one’s environment to improve his luck cycle, relationships with friends & family, instil harmony and enhance career.

Feng Shui enables Man to take a proactive role in harmonizing and benefiting from the mechanism of our living world. Instead of allowing forces unseen in our environment to govern us, we learn to mould these forces and reshape our destiny by harnessing these forces (Qi) in our world.

Yin is the way of the Earth. It contracts and condenses. Yin represents the passive principle in nature. On a human level, Yin symbolizes femininity and inertia. It also represents the realm of death.

Yang, on the other hand, is the Way of Heaven. Yang expands. It represents the active principle in nature. On a human level, Yang represents masculinity and the positive side of our emotions. Yang represents the land of the living.

Yin and Yang are natural forms of opposing but interrelated energy forces that are in a constant state of change, movement and interaction. Both Yin and Yang must always be in balance. This dynamic relationship dictates the constant evolution of different stages of life from Birth, Growth, and Sickness to Death. If Yin and Yang aren’t balanced in your environment, their imbalance can produce unwanted emotional and physical effects.

The interaction of Yin and Yang is reflected by Night and Day, Positive and Negative, Fast and Slow, Male and Female, Anger and Happiness, and so forth. In the four seasons, Yang is reflected as the peak of summer and Yin as the coldness of winter.

Yin and Yang are therefore the two primordial forms of Qi. The interaction between Yin and Yang subsequently relates to the Five Elements.

The Five Element theory is the backbone of all Chinese Metaphysical studies. It is believed that all matters as well as the sentient beings in our universe are composed by a blend of the Five Elements – Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire. These five elements are but a form of Qi that is the result of interaction between the two fundamental forces of Yin and Yang. Such interaction could produce up to five phases of Qi that represents the product of different proportions of Yin and Yang.

Each of these five elements can be characterized in terms of various attributes such as physical properties, shapes and colors. The relationship between these elements are often described as “Cycles” where each cycle is characterized by how each of these elements affect – Produce (or grow), Control (or counter) or Weaken – one another.

PRODUCTIVE CYCLE
In this Productive Cycle, the elements are producing one another. Water provides essential nourishment for trees (Wood), which is then used as fuel for Fire, resulting in ashes (Earth). Earth is mined for minerals, or Metal, which when melted, runs like Water.

The key point to remember for the productive cycle is that an element strengthens and grows the element it produces.

CONTROLLING CYCLE
In this cycle, the elements keep each other under control. For example, Fire melts Metal. An axe (Metal) cuts into Wood. The roots of a tree grip tightly onto Earth (Wood control Earth). Earth forms a barrier to control Water – just like a dam holds back the massive amounts of water. Water extinguishes Fire.

In the controlling cycle, an element is countered or subjugated by its controlling element.

WEAKENING CYCLE
This is the reverse process of the Production Cycle. For example, in the Production Cycle we learned that Water produces Wood (as in water is used to nourish trees). Conversely, we can say that Wood weakens Water – because Wood absorbs Water. This is known as the Weakening Cycle.

Similarly, Metal is weakened by Water in the sense that Water contributes to the oxidation (rusting) of steel (Metal). Metal in turn weakens Earth – the results of ore (Metal) mining weaken Earth. Earth weakens fire. Why? Earth cannot burn, and limits the spread of Fire. Finally, in the Production Cycle, Wood is used to make fire. However, in the Weakening Cycle, Fire consumes Wood and therefore Fire weakens Wood.

The various cycles and their characteristics have often been applied in Feng Shui analysis and implementation to achieve the desired balance and harmony. For example, after analyzing the premise, it is concluded that the presence of “Sha Qi” (Negative or Killing Energies) is of the Earth element type. Therefore, we can implement the Weakening Cycle theory by employing the use of Metal Elements with the intention to weaken the otherwise “bad” Earth Element.

The roots of classical Yang Sang Feng Shui are very ancient and its basic principles are the same as those of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. It is a natural science, which regards the environment as an integral element of the art of living.

During the Zhou Dynasty (from 11th century BC to 256 BC), the fortune of a dwelling was determined by “Zhai Bu” divination. For example, in order to determine the auspiciousness of a gravesite, “Zhai Bu” is used to analyze if an underground spring is present beneath the burial site. If there is one, then it is not a suitable burial site. This practice became the embryonic form of Feng Shui.

During the Warring States period (475-221 BC), the study of I-Ching became very popular. Chinese cosmology and philosophy like Confucianism, Daoism, the theories of Yin and Yang, the Five Element (Wu Xing), and the Bagua etc., began to take shape.

By the time of the Han dynasty (206-220 AD) there appeared written records of Feng Shui consultations. The study of Feng Shui at that time was initially linked with the study of I-Ching. The popularity of I-Ching and Feng Shui reached their peak during the Han Dynasty.

The word “Feng Shui” first appeared during the Qing Dynasty. Guo Pu who lived from 276-324 AD, wrote in his book “Zhang Shu” or the Book of Burial, “the dead should take advantage of the Sheng Qi, the wind will disperse the qi and the water will contain it.” The ancients said that one should try to gather the qi so that it will not disperse. The aim is to keep it flowing but contained. Hence it is called “Feng Shui” which literally mean “Wind” and “Water” in Chinese.

Because of its power and effectiveness, Feng Shui knowledge was traditionally a guarded secret, not accessible to the general population, and the teachings were transmitted orally from Master to a limited number of students. Confidentiality was strictly required.

THE FORM SCHOOL of FENG SHUI
The Form School of Feng Shui is the first and oldest Feng Shui school dating formally to the Song dynasty (AD 960 -1279). Initially, its purpose was to analyze burial site so as to orientate ancestors’ tombs.

Even before Daoism and Confucianism, ancestor worshiping was already an intrinsic part of the Chinese belief system. They strongly believed that the souls of ancestors would directly determine the well-being of the offspring. Good health, fortunes, etc could be enhanced or lost depending, in some measure, on the favourable location and orientation of their ancestors’ tombs.

The orientation of homes is also an integral part of Form School Feng Shui. Landforms and watercourses, and their inherent energies, are analyzed to determine their effects, if any, on the people living within or around.

THE COMPASS SCHOOL of FENG SHUI
The Compass School Feng Shui is based on the concept that each of the eight cardinal directions holds a different energy. Around this central premise, other factors are added, including astrology and numerology. The compass school method is very computational, relying on intellect rather than intuitive insights.

The tool of the trade in this school of Feng Shui is none other than the compass. An early version, dating to about AD 83, was a two-part, south-pointing instrument – metal spoon made of magnetic loadstone and a square base-plate. This developed into what is now called a “Luo-Pan” compass used by practitioners today.

The luopan has anywhere from 4 to 26 concentric information rings featuring the 8 main directions and the finer 24 distinctions. It also includes symbols from the Yi-Jing (known to Westerners as The Book of Changes), the 28 constellations, and the five phases (or elements).

Within the Compass School, there exist systems of determining the auspiciousness of your dwelling. Two such systems are called The East/West System (also known as the Eight-House School) and the System of the Nine Floating Stars (also known as Flying Star).

The proper analysis and harnessing of Feng Shui knowledge can bring about ultimate balance and harmony of the various Qi in your home, office or any other premise. Listed below are some of the ways that you can benefit from having good Feng Shui:
• Career advancements
• Improved health
• Harmonious family living
• Improved social interactions
• Feeling more in control
• Eliminating depression
• Prevention of accidents
• Prevention of accidents
• Guidance to making the correct decisions in your life
• Proper arrangements of home to fully harness Qi

In Feng Shui study, knowledge of the time of birth of an individual is often essential information. The energies or “Qi” present at that time, pictured as stars and/or the stems and branches, have a profound impact on the individual. Perhaps we are imprinted with this energy, or perhaps we are born at a particular time due to its resonance with our fate.

Fate (or Ming in Chinese), can take the following meanings of
1. Life
2. Fate, Destiny
3. The ordinances of Heaven
4. Order, Command
5. Assign (a name, title, etc.)

These meanings are interrelated. One must have life to have a destiny. Destiny is perhaps the ordinance of Heaven. We can also expand the meaning to assigning a name or title, just as we are named at birth or given a title by someone of a higher rank.

“Ming” belongs to pre-heaven. It is fixed at birth and impossible or difficult to modify. It is what you start with. However, you will have choices but there are limits to the choices available.

If fate is pre-heaven, then luck (or Yun in Chinese), is post-heaven. Luck varies with the time of the day and could be as predictable as the weather. If you can know the condition of your luck, you can plan and base your actions on how strong it is at that time to maximize your potential.

There is one more meaning of Yun. In Feng Shui and Chinese astrology, it has the meaning of a period of time. Therefore in Feng Shui, the twenty-year construction periods are called Yun. They are related to the Nine Flying Stars. These periods repeat themselves in 180-year cycles (9 Stars times 20 years each).

In Ba Zi (Four Pillars of Destiny) and Zi Wei Dou Shu (Purple Stars) analysis, Yun are related to the stems and branches (which belong to a cycle of sixty):

1. The ten-year periods of time are called Da Yun, the big luck. 2. Annual cycles are called Xiao Yun, the small luck.

The quality of your Earth Luck can be improved by the practice of Feng Shui. A Feng Shui Master can help one to improve the Feng Shui of his home, or help to fulfil one’s needs and restore balance.

Ba Zi or Four Pillars of Destiny (Eight Characters) analysis is a sophisticated art of Chinese Astrology that can be used to perform analysis of a person’s life according to his/her Year, Month, Day and Hour of birth.

In order to perform Ba Zi analysis, the four timings of the Year, Month, Day and Hour of birth are arranged into four columns or pillars and hence the name “Four Pillars of Destiny”. Each pillar of time is further separated into two groups.

The first group is denoted as “The Heavenly Stems” which comprises of the Yin and Yang components of the Five Elements – Yang Wood, Yin Wood, Yang Fire, Yin Fire , Yang Earth, Yin Earth, Yang Metal, Yin Metal, Yang Water, Yin Water

The second group is denoted as “The Twelve Earthly Branches” which comprises the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

A detailed analysis of the relationships among these Chinese characters can enable one to explore the cyclical influence on one’s life in terms of personality traits, strength and weakness, state of health, etc. Ba Zi analysis can also reveal social interactions with family, friends that can be use to enhance relationships, career, studies, business and many others.

Flying Star (also known as Xuan Kong) Feng Shui is the most dynamic and interesting school of Feng Shui science. Flying Star Feng Shui interacts with the elemental changes in the environment over time.

Every home or workplace has its own arrangement of stars. Each star represents one of the five elements: Water, Wood, Earth, Metal and Fire.

The stars interact with each other and move in cycles that can bring good health, career opportunities and enhance our relationships. A Feng Shui Master, on using the knowledge of the location of the stars, can utilize them to improve health, relationships and career luck. They can also pinpoint out any bad arrangements, which coincide with whatever disputes, disharmony or problems one is facing now and offer remedies to them.

Flying stars move in a 180-year cycle that is made up of 9-twenty year cycles. The age of your house determines its flying star arrangement or birth chart. Over time, annual and monthly stars fly in and combine with your home’s initial birth chart and change its energy. The implication of these changes is that a cure that works for you at one time may be ineffective or even harmful during another.