Ki to the Japanese

Prana to the Hindus

Pneuma to the Greeks

Ankh to the Egyptians

Ruah to the Hebrews

Tane to the Hawaiians

Orenda to the Iroquois

Wakan to the Sioux

Arunquiltha to the Australian Aborigine

Learning what the ancient Chinese believed will give you an even deeper understanding of​​ the essence of​​ Feng Shui.

The literal translation of the Chinese character meaning “health” is “original qi.” The literal translation of the character for “vitality” is “high-quality qi.” The literal translation of the character meaning “friendly” is “peaceful qi."​​ 

Qi is more than “just energy.”​​ Qi moves, expands, accumulates, condenses. ​​ It moves quickly, slowly, in, out up and down. It meanders and spirals and flows along straight, angular and curved pathways. It rides the wind as in Feng,​​ and is retained in water​​ like​​ Shui. We​​ humans​​ are subject to Qi movement and power.

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Qi is​​ also​​ an information field that gives energy its impetus to move and change. In fact,​​ Qi is the underlying, holistic and vital force at the center of​​ all​​ things. ​​ It is​​ hyperspace, the sun, your pet, a seashell and you. If we describe Qi just as an energy flow, you deny​​ its metaphysical​​ qualities. ​​ Like intuition, fate, dreams and hunches we know they are real, we just can't​​ prove​​ their existence.

Qi can best be characterized as life breath or cosmic breath. ​​ Perhaps this list of qualities will help us better understand the enigma of Qi:

• Qi is the holistic and underlying force and substance of everyone and everything.

• Qi is the​​ non-measurable​​ and imperceptible breath permeating, connecting and uniting the cosmic and earthly realms.

• Qi is physical.​​ It's the life force​​ acupuncturists seek​​ to activate with their needles and​​ the​​ power martial artists​​ use​​ to split bricks.

• Qi is metaphysical. It is your luck, destiny and fate. It's your intuition, the sixth sense or the vibe you get about a person, place or thing.​​ 

• Qi is your spirit, your soul.

Whatever one calls it,​​ Qi is always​​ identifying, controlling and directing this invisible life force for your​​ benefit and​​ well-being​​ and​​ is what Feng Shui is all about.

From​​ the Guanzi text​​ dating from the​​ fifth century B.C.E.,​​ 

"When the essence of matter transforms, life is born. When transformation takes place on earth the grain grows. When the transformation takes place in Heaven, galaxies form. ​​ When Qi flows between heaven and earth it becomes ghosts and spirits. When Qi is stored in the body, a person become a sage. At birth, heaven contributes the essence; earth contributes the form. ​​ When essence and form combine, it becomes man. When there is balance and harmony there is life. ​​ When there is no balance and harmony, there is no life."

There are three different types of Qi: Heaven Qi, Earth Qi and Human Qi.

Heaven Qi​​ is the first force of nature. It's the Qi that spirals down from the celestial heavens - the sun, moon, planets, stars. If you don't believe in a​​ heaven,​​ then think of the central star in our solar system. Without its​​ magnetic​​ force,​​ life would not exist. Ignore its force and you could be prone to sunstroke, death,​​ or​​ skin cancer from its effects.

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Think also of the moon who deforms the shape of solid earth every 12 hours. Doesn't it stand to reason these forces can also affect little old​​ you? The migratory​​ and reproductive​​ patterns of animals, fish and birds conform to the cycle of the moon's phases.​​ The human being is 70% water and therefore is as susceptible​​ to the moon’s pull​​ as the water on earth whose tides are controlled by the​​ rotational cycles​​ of the moon.

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Weather Qi is a component of Heaven​​ Qi​​ because it affects our​​ wellbeing. Extreme hot or cold,​​ or lack of daylight and long seasons of rain can affect health and mood.

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Time is another factor of Heaven Qi,​​ associated with change and transformation.

Finally, Heaven Qi is associated​​ with destiny​​ (ming) and luck (yun). Westerners believe luck is random and predictable, but the Chinese believe it is measurable and knowable.

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Earth Qi is found in the forces of waterways, deserts, valleys, and plains. ​​ Mountains can protect us from harsh elements and they can provide psychological support. ​​ (Mountain is yin - like a mother guarding her children.)

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Water forces correspond to the yang energy of creating wealth. Water courses down rivers, streets and is contained in lakes and oceans. ​​ It flows through windows and doorways.

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Finding a balance between the natural elements and forces of nature is the fundamental premise of Feng Shui.

The earth’s​​ magnetic field is part of Earth Qi.​​ To honor Earth Qi, we​​ concern ourselves with positioning of electrical devices, high voltage power lines and appliances​​ because the​​ electromagnetic field influences the quality of Qi entering our home or office.​​ 

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Each person contains​​ individual​​ Human Qi. Just like a fingerprint,​​ your​​ Qi​​ is unique and marked at the time of your birth​​ the moment​​ you breathe your first breath.

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We are​​ in​​ balance when Heaven and Earth Qi meet, marry and complement​​ each other.​​ That's​​ the magic connection which allows our​​ human Qi​​ to​​ flourish.​​ 

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Many western scientists and medical experts are accepting and embracing​​ the idea​​ that some kind of vital and holistic force exists within the body that regulates the totality of our mental and physical well-being. ​​ This bio-network reaches​​ far​​ beyond the body and connects us to the whole of our environment and,​​ on an even broader scale,​​ the collective consciousness,​​ or pure intelligence.​​ 

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Dr. Andrew Weil says that in the next decade HES,​​ Human Energy Systems - personal Qi​​ -​​ will create wellness.

The​​ previously​​ divergent​​ fields such as physics, biology, psychology, religion, anthropology, neurology are coming together​​ forming​​ the realization that our existence and purpose cannot be answered with just one part, one layer, one dimension.​​ It takes a village of parts to make our​​ lives and our​​ cosmos work.

VISUALIZE:​​ 

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Let's take a moment to close our eyes and picture​​ in our mind​​ a place where we feel balanced.​​ 

Picture​​ the layout of the space or place. ​​ 

With your mind's eye, scan the location​​ and​​ notice any details that contribute to your sense of harmony. ​​ 

What do you see?​​ 

What organization do you notice?

Take a moment to absorb this information.

 In Feng Shui Practice​​ There are different categories of Qi.​​  ​​​​ Handout #1

http://ergoemacs.org/emacs/qi_logo/Qi_logo_big.png

Sheng Qi​​ is positive Qi and it aligns with the six senses.

Sight Sheng​​ is​​ manicured gardens, neatly painted exteriors, tidy, clean and organized interiors, and happy cooperative people. Anything pleasing to the eye.

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Sound Sheng​​ is pleasant, relaxing sounds, babbling brooks, chirping birds, fountains, wind chimes, solitude, music.

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Touch Sheng​​ is smooth surfaces, pets, warm bath, a kiss, a gentle massage, silk, velvet.

Photo by Tiko Giorgadze on Unsplash

Smell Sheng​​ is flowers, perfume, scented candles, foods, pleasing fragrant odors.

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Taste Sheng​​ may be a home-cooked meal, comfort food, chocolate, fine wine, sweets. Anything that is found to be satisfying to the tongue and taste buds.

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Sixth Sense Sheng​​ is a feeling,​​ a vibe,​​ like when you are about to receive a promotion, when you click with someone,​​ falling​​ in love, winning a prize, receiving a commendation. It is the look and feel of confidence, cooperation, love and joy.

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Sha Qi is the negative Qi.​​ (We're not saying "bad Qi" - only things that make us feel on edge, jarred or imbalanced.)

Sight Sha​​ is​​ glaring lights, dark places, offensive, disturbing art, clutter, trash, dead or dying things.

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Sound Sha​​ is​​ noise pollution, traffic, screaming babies, sirens, construction​​ work, loud​​ arguments, yelling, certain types of music.

Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash

Touch Sha​​ is​​ grime, filth, dust, mold, splinters, cracks, tears, rickety staircases, thin ice, unsteady terrain, unwanted sexual advances,​​ physical aggression.

Photo by John Hult on Unsplash

Smell Sha​​ is​​ pollution, exhaust fumes, mildew, rot, pollen, toxins.

Photo by Thomas Millot on Unsplash

Taste Sha​​ is​​ bitter, sour, rotten, unfamiliar food stuffs.

Photo by Monika Grabkowska on Unsplash

Sixth Sense Sha​​ is​​ anger, hate, jealousy, tension, when you feel "something's wrong" or you feel watched or followed.

Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash

Poison Arrow Qi. ​​​​ This can hit you like a bullet. ​​ This comes in the form of sharp, pointed edges, straight roads, opposing doorways and windows, or anything directed at you in a straight line.​​ 

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The​​ First​​ Principle of​​ Feng Shui:​​ Yin and Yan​​ 

The concept of Yin and Yang is the first principle of Feng Shui.

Can there be female and no male? Can there be left and no right?

How about a day without a night? ​​ Each is the counterpart to the other and they are dependent on each other's existence. ​​ Separate, yet together,​​ yin and yang​​ represent the evolution of all things.​​ 

Historically,​​ yin meant shady and yang meant sunny referring to the sides of a hill.  ​​​​ But in the 8th century BCE yin and yang came to symbolize the two primal forces of​​ Qi.

Yin came to represent the feminine and​​ yang came to represent the male energies. ​​ These concepts are firmly embedded in Chinese philosophy, medicine and science. ​​ The understanding of yin and yang are fundamental to the understanding of Feng Shui.

In the West,​​ we share​​ Judeo-Christian-Islamic​​ beliefs that God or a supreme force created the universe.​​ Some believe creation was pure happenstance and some believe extraterrestrials colonized planet earth.

Chinese Daoists​​ (Taoists)​​ have their own idea. ​​ By observing nature's forces and monitoring their effects on our bodies, they concluded that we are a microcosm of the macrocosmic natural world. That means we are individually a reflection of the larger universe. ​​ 

Handout #2​​ - Wuji and Taiji,

Daoists believe we come from a​​ great void​​ called​​ Wuji. ​​​​ Wuji is believed to be the fountainhead of​​ creation,​​ and the source of pure knowledge. ​​ Wuji is expressed as a circle, unbroken. Symbolizing eternal motion and wholeness;​​ the circle appears empty, containing nothing,​​ and yet it is full of​​ possibility.​​ ​​ 

Wuji,​​ the seemingly empty circle, is the nucleus containing ceaseless possibilities and when it is set in motion it sparks life and change occurs. This single primordial entity divides, forming two fundamentally equal​​ Qi​​ forces​​ Taijii:​​ yin and​​ yang.​​ 

 ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Wuji

 ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Taiji

Some say the design is that of a fish or a tadpole which swims headfirst. ​​ Some say it represents the sun and the moon.​​ 

Yang​​ energy is considered masculine.​​ Yang is very​​ expanding, active, energetic, outward,​​ passion,​​ and lighter (less dense).​​ Yang is fast moving and expands outward.​​ Yang symbolizes the heavenly forces that expand. It represents the active principle in nature. On the human level it represents the masculine and also the positive side of our emotions. ​​ Yang represents the living while Yin represents the dead.

Yin represents the passive principle in nature.​​ It​​ is associated with shadows, femininity, and the trough of a wave.​​ It is interior and represents the​​ deepest and darkest​​ part.​​ Both​​ yin and yang​​ are​​ equally valuable in the patterns and cycles of our lives. Each bear equal weight and importance.

The dot in the middle of the symbol​​ represents the​​ potential for change. ​​ Nothing can be wholly​​ yin,​​ nor can anything be totally​​ yang. Each has a decimal dot of death and life within it so that here is always a potential for movement and change​​ within each and the whole.​​ ​​ 

Things are only yin-yang in relationship to other things.

Handout #3: Yin Yang

Yin:      Yang:

Feminine     Masculine

Cool/Cold     Warm/Hot

Rich      Lite

Mother     Father

Dark      Light

Stillness     Moving

Back      Front

Soft      Hard

Curved     Straight

Rounded     Angular

Earth      Sky

Moon      Sun

Low      High

Small      Large

Ornate     Plain

Wide      Narrow

Horizontal     Vertical

Floral      Geometrical

Shadow     Spotlight

Inner      Outer

Textured     Smooth

Receding     Rising

Accepting     Bold

Wet      Dry

Do not think that the description of​​ yin​​ expresses the Chinese view of women.​​ It only expresses the inward and quiet side of nature.​​ Yang does not necessarily represent the Chinese​​ view of a man, only the expressive and active side of nature.

The​​ Taiji​​ symbol​​ represents the eternal interaction between​​ yin and yang.​​ 

Like two sides of a coin​​ yin can never separate from​​ yang. They influence and empower each other. Together,​​ yin and​​ yang represent the laws​​ of nature: perpetual and unceasing change.

From birth to death we oscillate in a beautiful dance of intertwining and interconnected energy. ​​ 

The S-curve represents​​ the idea​​ that nothing is complete, fixed or absolute. ​​ Life cannot be defined by rigid,​​ black and white thinking. In​​ yin there is a seed of​​ yang; in​​ yang there is a seed of​​ yin. In the clearest sky you will find a cloud and in the darkest night you will find a star. Even on your happiest day, there is a seed of​​ sadness and​​ on​​ your​​ saddest day there is a grain of hope.​​ 

Feng Shui is the uniting force that can bring the two forces into balance.​​ 

A lot of Feng Shui​​ is just​​ common sense. If a room is too dark; add more light. If a room is too cold, add some warmth.​​ Yin-yang.

Please read:​​ 

The Chinese Creation Myth:

The story of the mythical figure Pan Gu and how he created the world dates back to the second century C.E. ​​ 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/641411171902389227/

In the beginning there was an egg, where the enormous giant Pan Gu slept. ​​ After 18,000 years Pan Gu awoke and with an ax cracked open the shell. ​​ The egg's light elements, symbolizing yang, rose up to become Heaven. The heavy parts, symbolizing Yin, formed earth. With his feet firmly planted on earth, Pan Gu's head supported heaven. ​​ Each day, as Pan Gu grew ten feet taller, the sky rose ten feet higher and the earth became ten feet thicker. ​​ This process continued for another 18,000 years. And when heaven and earth were sufficiently separated, Pan Gu died. ​​ His breath became the winds and clouds and his voice became the clapping thunder. His eyes became the sun and the moon, and his body and limbs formed the mountains. ​​ His blood turned into flowing rivers. His hair became the stars and the fleas and lice on his body, humankind.

In the next Module we will learn about​​ the​​ Five Elements. ​​​​ We will return to the concept​​ of​​ yin-yang​​ for further refinements when we apply the other principles​​ in our lessons ahead.​​ 

Homework:

• Write 100-200 words about how the Chinese concept of Qi and the universe differs from your upbringing. If they were the same, describe.​​ 

• Think of your home. What yin-yang qualities can you find there?

• Take the Test.