CONFERENCE: Unitary character of the Five Chinese Metaphysical Arts: Destiny – astrology, Appearance – Feng Shui, Divination – the I Ching, Mountain – Taijiquan and Qi Gong and Medicine – Traditional Chinese Medicine – [...]]]> EVENTS

During the “Ezoteric Fest Festival”, 4th edition, TIMIŞOARA, 2010 May, 20-23 I will present the following conference and workshop:

There are three types of Qi, three primary forces which support the entire Creation: Heaven Qi, Earth Qi and Human Qi. Chinese people discovered how to use Qi and how to highlight the benefic qualities of Qi in order to get armony and balance in the body, mind and environment. There are preventive [...]]]>

There are three types of Qi, three primary forces which support the entire Creation: Heaven Qi, Earth Qi and Human Qi. Chinese people discovered how to use Qi and how to highlight the benefic qualities of Qi in order to get armony and balance in the body, mind and environment. There are preventive methods as Feng Shui art, Tai Qi and Qi Kung, but also curative methods as traditional chinese medicine and accupuncture.

When there is balance and armony in our environment, also our being willl be in harmony too. Of course, our spiritual life should be appropriate and our qi should be balanced through an appropriate alimentation, physical exercices and rest.

Heaven Qi

What cames from the above is named Heaven Qi and it is the most important force of nature. It descends in the form of a spiral from all Celeste bodies.

We are influenced mostly by the Sun-qi, then the moon, the planets of the solar system and ultimately by the stars. Sun Qi is the most important because without any life form on Earth would cease to exist and if it is too strong it burns, can cause headaches, skin cancer and even death. Moon also affect us very much, but its influence is more subtle affecting us psychologically, creating specific emotions and influence the inner feelings. In every moment of its cycle of 28 days it brings another kind of energy. Thus, it was observed that the seed planted two to seven days before new moon get a more abundant harvest, new moon cause also bird migration and influence reproductive cycles of animals.

A component of the heaven qi is the weather qi. Very low temperatures, and also the high ones affect us strongly. For some people, prolonged absence of light and long rainy periods creates very strong depressions and suicide tendencies.

Heaven Qi is associated with time, which is directly associated with change and transformation. The transition from day to night and the succession of the seasons is the outcome of Celeste activity. Thus for Feng Shui is crucial the year the building was built and it determines the most of the personality of the building.

Earth Qi

Mountains, water courses, plains, hills and forests have a different type of Earth Qi which nourish and feed us. Heaven Qi is more subtle than the Earth Qi.

Thus the mountain protects us and gives us a psychological support, we feel more stable when there is a mountain behind us. In Feng-shui, the mountain is of Yin nature, feminine, because the mountain nourish us as a mother protects her children.

Feng Shui studies and uses Qi generated by the natural mountains, but also by the artificial ones (high buildings surrounding our dwelling). There are very important also the interior mountains created by high furniture and massive internal walls, since they bring health and good relationships with other people if they are in harmony with other Feng Shui elements.

On the other hand, water courses represent yang energy, male. Ussualy the man is responsible to bring the prosperity of his family. Wealth Qi is found in lakes, seas and oceans and is transported by rivers, the outside streets and the inside corridors and hallways. It flows through the doors and windows. All these things are taken into account when considering the residential and office inhabited by a person or a family.

Magnetic earth field is a component of the Earthly Qi. Time of finishing the building of a house together with magnetic orientation generates the subtle essence of the home. You must understand that electromagnetic field affects the quality of qi entering and staying in the house. Similarly, it is known that power lines and electrical appliances diminishes our health.

Human Qi

We have our own qi we receive at birth with the our first breath. As a finger-print, this Qi is unique. In Feng Shui in the birth year is a very important information. Energy we born with is a vibration that can be compatible or not with the others and with the house. Human Qi is partly of electrical nature, but some of its aspects can not be measured and understood with the five senses since they are more subtle. It has two components, one physical (coarse) and a second metaphysical (subtle), the latter including destiny, luck and intuition.

Sheng Qi is vital energy, the positive Qi. It carries the beneficial currents which nourish our being. When we see a place full of life and balanced, a state of joy or that we have much energy, that place it is full of Sheng Qi.

Sheng-qi is related to our five senses.

• sight Sheng – arranged gardens, pleasant exterior of buildings, clean, arranged and well-structured interior and open and happy people. Generally speaking, the sight Sheng is everything enjoyable for our sight.
• hearing Sheng – fountains, birds chirp, wind bells, babies babble and certain genres of music. You must know that what you liked hearing may be disturbing to others.
• touch Sheng – smooth surfaces, pets, a kiss, a massage, silk, satin, velvet, a hot bath are examples of touch Sheng.
• smell Sheng – flowers, perfume, flavor and smell of food are some types of smell Sheng. Again, what makes us pleasure can dislike to somebody else.
• taste Sheng – foods cooked at home, chocolate, a good wine or liquor are associated with taste Sheng, in fact, everything we love about this sense.
• There is Sheng Qi of the sixth sense. It is about feelings, emotions, feelings that brings a feeling of pleasure, for example, the feeling of being in love.

Sha Qi energy is destructive, harmful, negative Qi, which adversely affects the health and interior state. When we think we are attacked by something invisible, when we suddenly feel sad, lifeless, drowsiness, upset, then we perceive the existence of Sha Qi. Similarly, Sha Qi is related to each five senses:

• sight Sha – dark places, the black art or which suggests violence, thrash, dead or dying bodies and eveything frightening us or making us sick
• hearing Sha – noise, sirens, noise from auto traffic, construction work noise, children crying or certain types of music that suggests violence and low vibration
• touch Sha – dust, ash, dirt, cracks or chips. Physical or sexual aggression are examples in this regard
• smell Sha – pollution, rotting food, hum, the smell of garbage, acid fumes are some examples
• taste Sha – salty, sour or rotten food. Here also the opinions are divided, the food of animal origin are Sha for vegetarians and for the rest are Sheng
• There is Sha of the sixth sense – when we feel watched or supervised, when we feel that something is not right although we have no explanation for this or when we have a tensioned feeling, anger, fear, hatred or jealousy . All these symptoms are caused by resonance with dark beings.

Trigrams are symbols composed of three straight lines, which are said to have been invented by the king Fu Hsi around 4500 BC. He used these symbols to make observations of heaven and earth, and note the comments made. Symbols represent the sky, lake, fire, thunder, wind, water, mountain and [...]]]>

The eight trigrams

Trigrams are symbols composed of three straight lines, which are said to have been invented by the king Fu Hsi around 4500 BC. He used these symbols to make observations of heaven and earth, and note the comments made. Symbols represent the sky, lake, fire, thunder, wind, water, mountain and earth. Characteristic of these symbols is that the continuous lines represent Yang and interrupted in the middle – Yin.

The eight trigrame are placed in a specific sequence, with the sky at the top (south) and earth at the bottom (north). This arrangement of the eight trigrame symbolize natural phenomena or nature forces. For this reason it is considered they have a protection role. There are two arrangements of trigrams, previous the Creation and after. This arrangements of the eight trigrame has been made to reflect the transformation of elements during the four seasons. Thunder and wind have been placed in the east and south-west being attached to wood phase and spring season. The fire was placed in the south to symbolize summer trigrams associated to metal element – the lake and the sky – in the west and north-west symbolizing the fall season and finally, mountain and earth corresponding to earth phase were placed in opposite sides, one in south-west and the other in the north-east – this being the central line of Tai Ji, which reflects the importance of land throughout the year.

Thus the top of TAIJI symbol, with maximum Yang is considered to correspond to the FIRE action, south direction, the summer, bitter taste, red, orange and yellow colors, [...]]]>
Sometimes it is used the five elements term in place of the five phases and it is referring to wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

Thus the top of TAIJI symbol, with maximum Yang is considered to correspond to the FIRE action, south direction, the summer, bitter taste, red, orange and yellow colors, the feeling of joy and to laughing.

The bottom of TAIJI symbol, with maximum Yin, it is considered to correspond to the WATER action, north direction, winter, cold, salty taste, colors black and blue, the feeling of fear and to crying.

In the same way, the WOOD action is in the left side of the TAIJI symbol when Yin changes to Yang, having the same “quantity”. This action corresponds to the direction east, spring, wind, sour taste, color green, the feeling of anger and to scream.

The METAL action is in the right side and represents the transformation of Yang in Yin, corresponds to the direction west, autumn, dryness, spicy taste, white color, a sense of sadness and to hiccup.

The last is the EARTH action and we have exhausted the four directions… Well, Earth is a special action or movement. It corresponds to the center and it may be associated with the end of summer, because in China and lately even world-wide, the summer season increased in duration. Earth is associated with damp, sweet taste, a sense of reflection and with singing.

Maybe you wonder why we used the concept of movement or action and not the elements? The reason is that these five activities are states lasting for a short period of time, are energies in continuous movement, without rest. The rest is associated with a maladive state, as well with a chaotic motion, with unbalance.

Thus these can be considered phases. Wood phase is associated with active functions that are increasing. Fire relates to energy reaching the maximum level of activity and is about to decline or to stop. Metal phase is related to declining energy. Water is the state that have reached the maximum rest and is ready to ascend. And finally the earth state is related to neutrality or balance, is somehow a kind of buffer between all the other phases.

The concepts of Yin and Yang are in fact the basis of the Chinese metaphysics. Principles are opposed, but complementary and are fundamental for the Chinese way of thinking and covered by Tai Ji. Now, Yin and Yang terms represents also the two primary aspects of the Qi force. Yin has been described as [...]]]>

The concepts of Yin and Yang are in fact the basis of the Chinese metaphysics. Principles are opposed, but complementary and are fundamental for the Chinese way of thinking and covered by Tai Ji. Now, Yin and Yang terms represents also the two primary aspects of the Qi force. Yin has been described as the feminine principle of nature, seen as being weak and passive. Yang has been classified as male principle of nature, then active and strong. All events in nature are interpreted in terms of Yin and Yang, these terms originate from and are contained in themself. At its origins, Yang represents the inert or living things on Earth exposed to the Sun and the term Yin represents the Shadow.

Yin represents the earth energy and stable material. Yin shrinks and condensates; represents the passive principle from nature, expressed by the dark, cold and moisture. At human level, represents femininity and symbolize human inertia, is related to concentration retraction, rest, the bottom side, the right side, the interior, darkness, silence, cold, black, winter, north, night, month, water, imagination, intuition, creativity, the back side, inactivity, rest, sadness, weakness.

Yang is the expression of heavenly energy. Yang has the quality of expansion. It is the active principle in nature expressed by light, heat and dryness. At human level, is related to masculinity and the positive emotions. Other features are: expansion, dilatation, excitement, the top side, the left side, the exterior, light, noise, heat, day, white, summer, south, sun, motion, the front side, active, firmness, analytic, exuberance, aggression.

These features are not exhaustive. With minimal effort you can deduct the other side who are either of Yin or Yang nature. Energy is constantly flowing and transforming and during this process it changes the Yin and Yang components, depending on the conditions. When analyzing the energies of the environment it is good to keep that one thing is Yin in relation to other which is more Yang or vice versa. The same applies to people and the interactions between them. Knowledge of Yin-Yang principle and its recognition in nature brings you a better understanding of life and opportunities and creates a harmony outside and inside us.

Taiji symbol

This symbol represents the interaction between the Yin and Yang. As the two sides of the coins, Yin and Yang can not be separated. The symbol shows us that nothing is completely Yin or Yang, but each manifestation in Univers contain its opposite, starting as a point of a potential action or condition and increasing in time.

You’ll find many representations of the TAIJI symbol, but the only accurate one is represented here in the image. Yang is on left side with the maximum at the top and Yin is on the right side, with the maximum at the bottom.

There is a lot of debate about Feng Shui. A lot of information is available on the Internet and also many books were published in the recent years. Also many shops are selling Feng Shui stuff. Very good, but in fact what is Feng Shui?

Feng literally means [...]]]>

Chinese ideogram for "Feng Shui"

There is a lot of debate about Feng Shui. A lot of information is available on the Internet and also many books were published in the recent years. Also many shops are selling Feng Shui stuff. Very good, but in fact what is Feng Shui?

Feng literally means wind and Shui means water, so the translation would be water and wind. Here we have the two Chinese ideograms for Feng (water) – above and for Shui (wind) – below. But why this combination? The answer is that the two forces, water and wind, are those who create and destroy the Chi energy.

Water: Chi is created by evaporating water. Scientific explanation is that water, as a substance turns from liquid to vapors through a chemical reaction process at the molecular level that generates and releases energy.

Wind: How the Chi is destroyed by wind it’s easier to understand, wind energy disperses chi and move it from a place to another. If in a given area there are strong air currents, it will generate a bad feng shui as it prevents Chi to stabilize. Thus, this area will not benefit from your existing chi.

Feng Shui is the art and also the science of living well in harmony with the space itself. Specifically, feng shui seeks to boost the positive forces of nature and to correct the negative ones with the intention of bringing better health, welfare and inter-human relations in balance. To achieve this, the Chinese have observed cyclical movements of nature and tried to find out how these changes in nature affects us. From these ancient observations of nature three basic principles of Chinese metaphysics appeared: yin and yang, the five phases and the eight trigrams.

Certainly, entering for the first time in a new house, either you feel something is wrong, or you felt attacked or that your energy is decreasing or conversely that all is calm, as you have a state of peace and feeling very well. What at your first glance has no explanation can be understood and corrected through Feng Shui, if needed. Feng Shui is the Chinese art through which you can create a harmonious environment that will bring you happiness, prosperity and health. It creates a balance between the forces of earth and heaven. Many times these forces can be blocked or shaken and the result is an environment that suck energy and makes us feel permanently tired.

Positioning objects in certain places without a specific knowledge (inside cupboards, over the tables, as decorations, plants) inside the house you can also block the smooth flow of chi energy. The stairways, their form, the position or shape of the doors can also create blockages. It’s therefore very important that these blockages are removed and their identification is part of the analysis that we perform.

Feng Shui is the personification of the Chinese spirituality more than anything else. In China, faith in the influence of Feng Fhui is so strong that everyone tries to meet the requirements of Feng Shui. A famous example is the apartments building in Repulse Bay in Hong Kong. After the completion of the building it was discovered a huge space in the middle of the building. Because the Feng Shui master who examined the building concluded that “the mountain star falls in water”, there were destroyed thirty apartments where tenants would have been seriously affected and architecture has been restored. Although in China there was a law in 1979 which prohibited all the practices based on superstitions, currently Feng Shui practices are still widely used and a very large number of Feng Shui practitioners still exists.

Chi has a lot of meanings: the air we breathe, the earth’s magnetic field, cosmic radiation, sunlight, our spirit or even our luck. This force govern our health, welfare and happiness.

The purpose of Feng Shui is to enhance the positive aspects of Chi and to minimize the negative ones, to identify, [...]]]>

Chi

Chi has a lot of meanings: the air we breathe, the earth’s magnetic field, cosmic radiation, sunlight, our spirit or even our luck. This force govern our health, welfare and happiness.

The purpose of Feng Shui is to enhance the positive aspects of Chi and to minimize the negative ones, to identify, control and direct the Chi for the benefice of the human beings.

It is a concept difficult to designating the energy or life principle that animates the world and penetrates all the events and the components visible or invisible and coordinates their activity. Chi is the essence behind all things, is the “substance” or force which contain everything and allows the expression of all that is created and merge the heavenly and earthly energy essences with the human ones.

Fritjof Capra compares the Chinese concept of Chi with the quantum field from modern physics in his book “The Tao of Physics” in this way: “As the quantum field, Chi is a invisible form of matter pervading space which and condensing to form the visible material world. The Chi and the quantum field are at once the essence of material objects and the connection between objects found as waves.”

Chi is structured on several levels. Two of them are the physical Chi, coarser and the metaphysical Chi, a more subtle essence. Chi is permanently moving and is in a constant process of transformation. The movement is quick or slow, on the surface or falling in deep, ascending or descending. It is driven by the wind (Feng) or contained in water (Shui) which flow is controlling. We can not avoid the influence of qi, we need to know how to use and direct it to where we need it.

The concept of Chi is known to other cultures too, but they are using other terms: ki in Japanese, prana for Hindus, pneuma for Greeks, Ankh for the Egyptians, Ruah in Hebrew and last but not least the manifestation of the Holy Spirit to the Christians.

In a house or room Chi must flow freely, must not be blocked or obstructed by any means and this Chi is the object of Feng Shui.