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If you were to mention the words "feng shui" in the United States just five years ago, most people would have responded "feng what?" As we rapidly approach the year 2000, however, close to 120 books have been published on the subject. Oprah has had a guest discuss it, Dateline and other television news programs have featured it and even Donald Trump has added his two cents (well, maybe a little more than two cents!). Feng shui has hit mainstream America.
Feng shui, the ancient Taoist "art of placement," was gestated in the breathtakingly beautiful mountain regions of the Middle Kingdom. The ancient Chinese believed that the earth was filled with the power of spirits. The world and everything in it-animals, plants, rocks and minerals, the waters, thunder, lightning and the mighty weather systems-all carry power.
Feng shui, translated as "wind and water," symbolizes the two major forces of nature. It is a philosophical/scientific system used to design and site a home, public building or ancestral tomb so that the structure maintains harmony with the nature spirits. It is believed that if this harmony is achieved, then light from the spiritual realm will shine on the family and descendants. They will live happy and prosperous lives. If the earth spirits are not considered and are disregarded, it is believed that the family may experience a harsh lifestyle or even disaster. The ancients believed that spirits and deities, some benevolent and some malevolent, surrounded them at all times. Because of this there was a profound need for protection. This was usually sought from the village shaman.
Thousands of years ago, before the invention of the nine-to-five corporate world, the villager worried about things like the best time to plant and harvest, where to site and build a home or tomb, how to cure illness, ease childbirth and so on. They needed someone to communicate with the spirit world in hopes of influencing the outcome. Depending on his or her personal power, the shaman could call upon the earth spirits either directly or through channeling the natural forces of the earth. Needless to say, dealing with the benevolent and malevolent spirits could create a dangerous situation that could be difficult to control. Therefore, the shaman needed to be highly qualified in such matters.
Particular objects can carry power. The power of the shaman or of the spirit evoked was channeled into the object to be used to redirect perceived negative energies and bring protection. Some of the objects are now commonly used by moderns who practice feng shui. Mirrors, natural crystals, bells, wind chimes, bamboo flutes, lanterns, talismans and gourds are respected carriers of power.
In October 1998, we had an opportunity to meet the eighty-one year old Taoist feng shui teacher, Master Chong, on sacred Jiu Hua Mountain, Anhui Province, China. He was wearing an old blue Mao jacket and cap. He had a long white beard and clear, knowing eyes. As our party made its pilgrimage to the ancient mountain temple, old Master Chong shared some of the feng shui wisdom he gained through his lifetime of practice and observation of the natural world.
He explained that feng shui theory was founded in his home province of Anhui during the Chin Dynasty. "Many feng shui masters are still employed by the common people" (although its practice is technically still illegal in the People's Republic of China), he told us through a translator. "They are hired by the people to plan the building of houses and ancestral tombs. They are also used to perform important ceremonies."
As we climbed the steep steps of sacred Jiu Hua Mountain, Master Chong told the story of two brothers from his hometown. "One year ago, these brothers had some money and wanted to make their parents' tomb more luxurious and beautiful. They moved it only a little. Within the year, both brothers died. I cannot explain the theory," he said sadly, "but I can tell you the result-all according to my experience."
Master Chong also explained that during his life, he continued his Taoist and feng shui practices secretly, even in times of adversity. "During the Cultural Revolution," he said, "I saw many people influenced by evil. They did terrible things to good people. All of the ones who committed these acts now have no descendants, all of them, without exception."
Master Chong told us to pause as we reached the halfway point up the very steep stairway. "When you climb the stairs, this is yang. You must pause to have harmony, yin. Always remember to balance; when you have exertion, you must have rest. Just let your breathing remind you: inhale . . . exhale, yin and yang. That will bring you balance."
According to Master Chong, the "number one" worst feng shui situation for a home is if a tree is in the center sight line of the front entrance or gate looking out from the home. "Number two" is if you can see the home's chimney or fireplace through the center line of the front gate to the home. If either of these two things happen, you must move the front gate, even slightly, so you do not have these alignments.
"Building a home on top of a previous structure's foundation is not good feng shui, especially if the foundation was that of a temple," he explained. "The land has been sacrificed and used by the deities. It is not good for human use.
"At the end of a mountain ridge is a very yin spot. This is the best place for a tomb or religious building," he said with a wry smile which lightened his wise face. You must place the tomb in line (parallel) with the ridge line, not across it. Earth energies known as "Dragon Lines" are believed to run along the ridges of hills and mountains. Hence crossing the "Dragon" would bring bad luck.
Finally, Master Chong admonished us all to not strive for things like fame and fortune. He believes that much of our future has been predetermined. If we waste a lot of energy seeking instead of experiencing the natural flow of our lives, we may miss or even obstruct the opportunities we were destined to receive! "Try to observe the world" he said, "watch it flow. Study it and experience more. Come to the conclusion-this is very important."
In modern times, there are many traditions of feng shui throughout the world. Some schools utilize complex compass analysis to determine the flow of qi in and around a location. Another school views the shapes of the immediate environment to intuit the natural energies. Yet still others put most emphasis on the use of the eight trigrams of the I-Ching Ba-Gua to determine the differing variations of yin and yang.
All the various schools find their roots in the powerful shamanic rituals and ceremonies practiced in the Chin and early Han dynasties by the "Fang Shih." These Fang Shih were early Taoist shamans.
The Fang Shih masters were called upon to work their magic for many reasons. Before petitioning the spiritual realm for assistance, these masters made offerings to the deities, thanking them for support and blessings. Then using their symbols, sacred mantras and talismans, they asked for assistance.
One of the main tasks of the local Fang Shih shaman was healing the sick. It should be noted that in the most ancient history of Chinese shamanism, this was usually the task of the shamaness. The ancients believed that illness was the result of the invasion into the body by negative spirits. The shaman channeled protective and healing power from the benevolent spirits into talismans which were given to those with illness or disease.
Many Taoist Fang Shih masters became famous for their healing abilities with talismans. One school of Taoism, the original Celestial Teachers Way, emphasized the use of talismanic magic. They believed that the use of talismans and incantations were some of the highest forms of the healing art.
To create a talisman, an ancient script was drawn on yellow paper with red ink. Usually, a powerful mantra was written to evoke a particular deity or spirit. The talisman was activated when it was created by the shaman. Without activation it was useless. In other words, if it was duplicated by another, it lost its power.
The paper talisman was then burned, releasing wishes and prayers. The ashes of the talisman were gathered, added to a cup of water and drunk by the patient or person needing help. Carried by the ashes, the powerful mantra was released into the body to battle the negative spirit causing the illness.
The use of talismanic images drawn on paper evolved over time to the ceremonial use of ornate and colorful printed paper known as zhi ma or paper joss. These papers are burned as a part of shamanic feng shui to cleanse and clear a location of negative energies. They depict symbolic images of deities, Taoist and Buddhist saints, immortals and ancient script.
Burning is an ancient method of transforming energy. As a substance burns, it releases energy in the form of heat and smoke, which then travels skyward. A burning ceremony is a symbolic method of letting go of mistakes and failures and ushering in a new start. The act of burning these papers in a ritual sends messages to the spirit world, and you receive blessings and help in return. They are burned in accordance with your most sincere earthly wishes. This ritual is performed whenever you move to a new location, on such designated days as New Year's Day or in times of bad luck or trouble.
One joss paper package is known as "The Wish Fulfilling" package. It is a bundle of brightly colored papers wrapped with a depiction of the Three Immortals of Taoism representing Happiness, Wealth and Longevity and is specially blessed by a master.
Here is a simple burning ritual that can be performed for financial or relationship problems:
1. Go to your backyard, porch or balcony. If they are not available, use a fireplace or wood stove. Be aware of fire safety. Use a fire-proof bowl or receptacle, and have a lid or cover handy in case the flames get out of hand.
2. Light candles, then incense. If you do not have an incense burner, use an apple or orange to hold the incense. Ask that the spirits come to the light of your candles and accept the offerings of incense.
3. For money problems, mention the name of your business or job (even one you would like to have) and ask for help from the spiritual realm to increase your wealth. For relationship problems, ask for spiritual help and understanding to create healthy partnerships. Repeat a prayer of your choice nine times while holding you hands together in a prayer-like fashion (mudra). Visualize money flowing into your life and that your relationships are healthy, loving and strong.
4. Burn all the paper joss from the package at once or in small groups.
Perform this ritual during the day. The hours between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. are especially auspicious as the energetic make-up of the day changes subtly from yang to yin. Other feng shui modalities may be overlaid upon the initial clearing of a site. Regardless of the system one uses, a ritual joss burning will insure appeasement of the nature spirits and a cleansing of negativity that may be left from previous uses of the property.
Helen and James Jay are co-authors of the critically acclaimed video productions Feng Shui: The Chinese Art of Design and Placement and Feng Shui: Creating Sacred Space in Your Garden or Landscape. Their forthcoming book, Paper Dragons; The Shamanic Roots of Feng Shui, is due to be published in 1999. They will lead two International Feng Shui Pilgrimages to Sacred China in April and October, 1999. For information on their programs or to obtain paper joss kits or other feng shui products, call 1-800-551-2482.