History

Once, long ago, the Chinese Emperor Fu Xi was sitting on the bank of the River Lo. Out from the river crawled a tortoise. The pattern on his back gave Emperor Fu Xi a vision of how the universe was ordered. This order or flow of energy involves the 5 Phases with the qualities of Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth. Fu Xi, 伏羲, 2000 BCE, expressed them as both numbers and in a binary code known as trigrams. This system was later applied to a universal and cosmic philosophy of space and time. The trigrams have correspondences in astronomy, astrology, geography, geomancy, medicine, the family, and elsewhere. Fu Xi arranged them in a way that indicated the primordial alignment of the Five Elements, or as the Ho Tu Bagua. Several thousand years later, King Wen, 周文王, 1112–1050 BC, is said to have arranged these Trigrams to represent the manifest earth, or the Later Heaven sequence 後天八卦.  They represent the 8 directions of the magnetic compass or BAGUA 八卦 and correlate to the 5 Elements. The Trigrams are the basic building block of the I-Ching. Click here for a brief explanation of the I Ching.

The Ancient Chinese understood the rotation of the earth and the constantly changing relationship of the earth to the stars and planets.  These ‘Stars’ are magnetic, vibratory energies said to be flowing through and around the earth.  These energies flow from 360⁰  based on an actual compass reading using magnetic North as a guidepost. This pattern for a home or office is determined by the sitting and facing directions of the structure. A formula allows this pattern to also be applied to a human birth chart. The relationship between the elements determines their strength, weakness, and how they interact. The Elements create, destroy, control, insult, and support each other. Each year, the energy changes. This energy is identified by its number. Because the energy is constantly moving with the passage of time, they are said to “fly” around the compass. The Feng Shui School that examines this phenomenon is called Flying Star Feng Shui,  or Xuan Kong Fei Xing.

Your home or office birth chart does not change, but, the earth is constantly moving through space and time and your home or office is subject to the changes in magnetic energy influenced by this movement. Thus, each month, day, hour, and even minute, there are different energies. One might examine all these aspects regarding one’s home, office, town, county, country, or hemisphere to determine the auspicious and inauspicious energies… do you get the picture? This article addresses the yearly stars of 2023. One should understand all the stars of the dwelling’s natal chart and the human’s birth chart (4 Pillars) to fully adjust the energies in a dwelling for health, wealth, and prosperity. The chart with 8 subdivisions (shown below) is commonly referred to as the Magic Square.

The Flying Stars and Magic Square

The graphic left is the Magic square. In Chinese numerology, the numbers 1, 6, 8,  are generally auspicious, while 2, 5, 3, and 7 are inauspicious. 4 and 9 are neutral. (detailed meanings follow) This map of the 8 directions is the Lo Shu 洛书 . 9 is South, 1 is North, 3 is East and 7 is West. Adding the numbers on this pattern vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, one arrives at a sum of 15. Each gua or sector represents not only a direction, but also one of the 5 Elements, and Yin or Yang. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every year brings changes in the flow of energy. The Magic Square reflects each element’s home base. But each year, the 9 elements move to a different place, adding complexity to the way the earth is influenced. The lower chart shows the energies for 2023.  The ultimate interpretation looks at many factors, including all landforms around a building and the building’s natal chart.  For example, Star 1 is the auspicious Water Star (which relates to wealth) but is found in the Southwest this year. It is slightly weakened because Southwest is an earth element and Earth Controls water. For this reason, I recommend placing not only cures for the home or office as a whole, but also using extra enhancements and cures in important rooms where you spend a lot of time like offices, bedrooms, and family rooms. The front door is also a very important aspect of the dwelling and cures should be applied to this area.

2023 is the year of the Yin Water Rabbit. Please see the report at Yin Water Rabbit to read about the astrology connected with this year and some predictions as to how this year might transpire for some of the animal signs. 

 

The Grand Duke Jupiter

In Eastern astrology, Grand Duke Jupiter, Tai Sui, means the Guardian God of the Year. Tai Sui governs all the fortunes of a particular year. There are a total of 60 Tai Sui, each personified as a celestial general in service of the Jade Emperor. They correspond to the cycle of 60 years according to the ancient Chinese calendar of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, one for each of the 12 animal signs paired with each of the five elements.

These deities reign in order, each taking a turn for an entire year, respectfully referred to as Liu Nian Tai Sui. In ancient times, this cycle was mapped out according to the rotation of Jupiter, which circles the sun once every 12 years. You can understand where Tai Sui will be for the year by knowing which animal sign and Element is reigning (Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch). This year, 2022, the Yin Water is the Heavenly Stem and Rabbit is the Earthly Branch of the year. Rabbit’s domain is the East, therefore The ruling Tai Sui of the year is General Pi Shi.

This is a powerful element in Feng Shui. One should respect this direction in your home of office. One should keep the area of your home where Tai Sui falls as calm and peaceful as possible. Avoid loud noises, construction, or anything that might create a disturbance. Please refer to the Yin Water Rabbit blog for more information. 

 

Feng Shui Numerology

The Stars have natural qualities assigned to them. The malevolent energies that “Fly” around the Bagua. are 2, 3, 5, and 7. 1, 4, and 8 are auspicious. Other energies that move based on the Stem and Branch of the year – Tai Sui (Grand Duke Jupiter), Sui Po (Year Breaker), and San Sha (3 Killings). 2 Black Illness Star Wu Wang (Five Yellow) are perhaps the most noxious.

Tai Sui (Grand Duke Jupiter), — E2 — 82.50 to 97.50

Sui Po (Year Breaker) — W2 —  262.50 – 277.50

San Sha (3 Killings) — WEST sector 247.5—292.5

Wu Wang (Five Yellow) —NW—292.50—337.50

Black 2 – EAST 67.50—112.50

General Principles

Do not disturb (no construction) the Grand Duke E ( 82.50 to 97.50)  or Year Breaker (W 262.50 – 277.50 )

Do not face the Grand Duke.

Instead, face the Year Breaker

Do not turn your back on the 3 Killings (WEST Sector)

Avoid construction and unnecessary activity in the EAST, WEST, or The Grand Duke and San Sha placement

If you have a door in the Grand Duke or 3 Killings sectors, try to use it less this year.
Be certain it is clean, neat, and well-lit.

 

 

8 Mansions – The Human Element

The chart to the left describes how the sectors relate to the aspects of human life e.g. fame, relationships, and health. This is the arrangement of the compass. Each 45⁰ bears the energy of one of the basic building blocks of the universe as described by Daoist philosophy – Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal. Each Element is also assigned a number thought to embody these Elements, the Direction, and Season. These energies affect the aspects of human life. You can see this chart is the same as the magic square, but one is square and the other is hexagonal!

When your home’s natal chart is overlaid on this map, you can determine which sectors are best suited energetically for certain activities and you can make adjustments based on this knowledge. You can add or remove objects from the environment to attract or discourage certain energy to make the dwelling a more peaceful space. In ancient times, the Emperor’s Palace would be constructed to maximize this energy, even if it meant moving rooms monthly or yearly! Today, we resort to the art of Feng Shui to maximize potential.

As a rule, one would place cures first, then enhancements. If you have objects, plants, paintings etc. you have used in the past, remove them from their place, clean them and then replace them either in the same place, or another spot indicated by the new year. In classical Feng Shui, mountains generate energy and rivers conduct energy. In an urban setting and in a home, one would use objects to generate energy and movement to conduct this energy. In an urban setting, Mountains can be other buildings (outside the home) or large heavy objects, inside the building. Virtual rivers would be roadways. The moving hands of a clock or flowing water in a fountain would conduct energy inside a home. We use the principles of the 5 Element Theory to decide what to use to balance a home or office and, thus, reduce harmful energy (a cure) and enhance auspicious energy. Ideally, this is done before the Lunar New Year, January 22 this year, but anytime is better than not at all.

Cures and Enhancements

As most of you know, I prescribe a variety of cures and enhancements. First and foremost, using nature and the principles of the 5 Elements is the most effective way to balance a home or office.  I believe that once one understands the basic premise of the energy, a homeowner may use objects, colors, paintings, etc. which are in keeping with his/her own personal beliefs to attract different energies to effect a cure for misfortune. The idea is to use objects or colors which will attract certain energy, based on balancing the 5 Elements, to mitigate noxious energies or enhance auspicious ones. You are much better served with something you love and feel connected with instead of adopting a cultural icon to which you have no relationship.

The Salt Cure

My favorite, industrial-strength cure for negative energies is the Salt Cure. This device will pull unwanted energies from a room. They are mere pennies to make (pun intended because you use pennies!) and they must be replaced each year at the Chinese Lunar New Year or up to a month before. Directions for making them are here.

As for other cures, details are listed below, sector by sector.  These remedies may shift slightly depending on the home’s “Birth Chart”. If your house faces any of the inauspicious directions, extra caution should be taken. The same is true if a bedroom is in any of the inauspicious directions for the year. Depending on the dwelling’s chart, these influences can be better or worse. Refer to own your home’s drawing.

PLEASE NOTE: Flying Star Feng Shui is best considered in relation to other schools of Feng Shui and an individual’s personal astrology. That said, if your personal Four Pillars contain any of the animals that conflict with the current Year Pillar, you need to take special precautions. (Please click here to see my article on 2023 Year of the Yin Water Rabbit) One way you can do this is to be certain your cures and enhancements are in place for your home and office. Rooster has a clash this year. Rat and Dragon have conflicts and Harms.

Inauspicious
Degree/Direction	Element	Attributes	Traditional Cure		Other
82.50 to 97.50	Grand Duke Jupiter Tai Shui	Very temperamental ruler of the year (there are 60 who cycle through the years, repeating only after 60 years.)	Honor him and do not disturb him (traditional – Picture or statue of Goddess Duo Mu, Mother of the Big Dipper), Also a photo, token of Tai Sui		Avoid Disturbing this direction. No wind chimes, digging or construction in 2022, do not sit with your back to him
262.50– 277.50	Year Breaker	Opposite Grand Duke	Honor this Direction, you may face it. No construction		do not dig or do construction
West Sector Dui	3 Killings Shui Po	Financial Loss, sickness	A Religious object (Traditional -3 Protectors, facing South)		Avoid facing this direction. No Construction or other disruptions
NorthEast Gen	Red 7	Robberies, Lawsuits,	Blue Rhino at the door, Glass vase with 3 bamboo stems. Avoid Earth colors, crystals, pottery		Be aware of potential break-ins if there is a door; check locks and security systems
NorthWest Qian	Yellow 5	Destruction.	Metal objects-6-rod metal wind chime, 6 metal coins. Avoid earth colors, crystals, pottery		Avoid the use of this area if possible. Place Salt cure, heavy metal objects
South East	Green 3	Quarrels	Avoid blues and greens in this area or live plants		If this falls in a family gathering area, place a salt cure here as well.
East Zhen	Black 2	Illness,	And metal objects, The color white, 6-rod metal wind chime. avoid earth colors, crystals, pottery		Avoid the use of this area if possible. Place a salt cure

Auspicious
Direction 2023	Star	Meaning	Enhancement	Avoid
North	Purple 9	Fame, Money Luck,	Water Elements, blue, (Traditional – 8 Gold Coins, Brass Wu Lou, Gold Ingot)	Green or wood elements
Center	Green 4	Good Health and	Water, Fresh Flowers, (Traditional – Lucky Bamboo, Wooden Kuan Yin) Greens and blues	Metal, Reds, Fire
SouthWest	White 1	Intelligence, Career,	Water, Fresh Flowers, (Traditional – Lucky Bamboo, Wooden Kuan Yin) Greens and blues	Avoid Metal,  Reds, fire`
South	White 8	Knowledge, Future Wealth,	Red, Fire, Light, pottery, crystals, Yellows, browns,	Metal, Plants, whites, greens
West	White 6	Financial and Career	Enhance with Metal or gold, six gold coins	Too much Fire (Light) or Wood Element