I get a mass email with a feng shui superstition connected to it almost every single year. Some of my customers submit it to me directly to obtain my opinion on it and to determine whether or not it is genuine. But that’s not the case. As a serious practitioner, it is both aggravating and upsetting for me to see meaningless numerical games being passed off as feng shui edicts when they are not, and they just perpetuate the tainted image that this natural discipline has been forced to bear. In the year 2011, there was a calendar that was being circulated through cyber space that showed how a certain month had 5 saturdays and sundays in it and how this only happens once every 823 years and that people should pass the email around in order to receive an unexpected financial windfall. This calendar claimed that people who circulated it would receive a surprise financial windfall. This was what people in the 1970s referred to as a “chain letter,” and if you didn’t forward it on to other people, terrible things would happen to you. It would seem that the year 2011 wasn’t all that exceptional after all, since the number of years with five Saturdays and Sundays is set to repeat itself in 2012! The general public’s lack of knowledge prevents them from understanding the possible motivations behind the Chinese fixation with objects whose sums add up to 5. The fact that there are some rather fascinating number combinations that are taken into account in genuine feng shui calculations may be the reason why some people find the idea of playing number games to be intriguing. At one point in time, a variety of mathematical computations served as codifications for actual energy patterns and cosmic realities. In other words, you shouldn’t just accept the number at its stated value. It’s possible that the number truly refers to a particular instant in time, or space, or sound, or light. Some computations, for instance, result in quantities that are crucial in astronomy, such as the distances that separate the planets from one another. Not only is the mathematics involved excellent, but it is absolutely mind-boggling when we consider the fact that these equations were calculated thousands of years ago without the use of telescopes or other space technology comparable to what we have now. If you do a search on the internet for the term “magic squares,” you will find that mathematicians and astronomers from every ancient civilization have been trying to unlock the keys to the universe since the beginning of time, by observing number patterns and their possible connection and relevance to laws of physics. This can be found out by doing a search on the internet for the term “magic squares.” In addition, there was a period of time in history when astrologers and astronomers were allowed to sit down together at the same table and discuss their findings. Simply considering the Fibonacci or Solfeggio sequences on their own is sufficient to make one think about the perfection and hidden mysteries of our universe. The ying-yang theory as it is described in the yi jing I ching) is a complex binary system that can explain continuous patterns in the natural and man-made worlds. This is because the theory was derived from ancient Chinese philosophy. Even the compass itself is packed with symbolism via the use of numbers; for example, each of the compass’s 360 degrees corresponds to the passage of 72 years. After doing the calculation, we get a total of 25,920. A magnificent year in astronomy corresponds to about 25,920 years. It’s not uncommon for numbers to stand in for either time or space. One must have the same level of fluidity in this knowledge as someone who is fluent in more than one language. Early practitioners of Feng Shui were often well educated. They comprised astronomers, mathematicians, engineers, geologists, geographers, cartographers, and calendar makers who were all well-versed in their respective fields. Many worked under the supervision of the Chinese emperors, carrying the same weight and duty as a cabinet member in the administration of our government. Some have even provided counsel on matters of military strategy. The information that was available in classical feng shui was thought to be so powerful that emperors frequently tampered with the teachings and formulas (as well as the numbers) in order to purposefully spread false information. This practice began around 3,000 years ago and continued for the rest of history. The purpose was twofold: first, to put your political or territorial foes at a disadvantage by providing them with incorrect estimates; second, to keep your own people under control and impotent by tampering with the accuracy of the information that they might get as well. As a side note, I’m curious whether anybody, even in these modern times, still has faith that their government is really looking out for the health and best interests of each individual citizen. Among all Chinese metaphysicians and taoists, there is a rule of ethics that prevents one from declaring that if you don’t forward an email, for god’s sake, that something horrible or unpleasant would happen to you. This is because passing along information is considered to be an act of charity. This is counter to the principles that underlie all genuine spiritual activities. This contributes to the widespread misunderstanding that feng shui is associated with the occult or some kind of witchcraft. I can’t help but think of one of my favorite lines from the song “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” which is: “I heard it through the grapevine.” And it reads something like this: “they say trust half of what you see/son, and none of what you hear.” Therefore, you should assume that whatever you read or hear that is meant to influence all of the people, all of the time, is not accurate, even if you read or hear it. feng shui for skeptics: actual answers without superstition is one of the books written by kartar diamond, a practitioner who has been classically educated and who has written numerous other publications. Visit the website www.fengshuisolutions.net for further details on the learning tools and consultations offered by Kartar Diamond.
Author
jackemails@gmail.com