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Call Oprah, Kua Numbers
This is a "call Oprah or Roseanne"-piece. Be forewarned. "Professional
FSers" please read on. (I'm creeped out that I'm sharing such personal
things... but, hey: my balls are used to tuff walls.)
During my twenty-something years, I played two leading roles on Broadway.
Had
ongoing parts in three network soap operas. And spent 6 years as host of
Motown's most popular weekend talkradio show. And, yep -- I've done Johnny
Carson, CNN and all yer mom's television likes. I even bought my house with
cash. Impressive, eh? (Yeah, if yer inta that.) But self-promotion or self-
esteem has never been a strong factor of mine. I still get jumpy playing
Solitaire -- crazed I'll make a stoopid move. -- I've only purchased one
pair of
new shoes in the past 5 years.
Today, as a pushing fifty- kinda guy, I prefer "backstage"-kinda things.
(Been there, done that.) I adore teaching, mind you. But I get a really
beautiful bagua buzz alone at the computer keyboard. Just me, my Mac and
in my BVDs.
Among the many publications I write for is Stephen Skinner's fantastic
Feng Shui For Modern Living
magazine from the UK. I live
and breathe every day rounding up 1500 words every 25 days about who's doing
what in FS-USA. I cruise the internet for items. I telephone tid-bits
advertised in various FS pubs hoping for an anecdote to inform the world
about harmony in the home.
It takes a lotta ch'i and chutzpah to fill two pages every month. But I love
it.
Still, it cranks my interviewing-ears outta shape when constantly hear, "How
much you gonna pay me for talking about my FS business?"
Gimme a break.
The expense account for a columnist far exceeds a paycheck. Yep. I get
paid by my Brit publishers (not others). Skinner's is a class act. I like
working with them and adore their integrity. A "jernalist" quickly learns
that you do it for "the love of the work" and not the paycheck.
Within reason, a similar affection should apply for wind and water wizards
and
wannabes. Yeah?
Hey: I gotta pay the mortgage and Visa bill every month too. But it breaks my
heart and hara when "professional FSers" chose the "high horse" rather than
the "right course" concerning.sharing and giving. --A good instructor learns
from every class attendee. Every student is a catalyst to the teacher.
Whatever happened to grandeur? Especially when the print result is often the
interviewee's self-promotion? It wrinkles my heart and hara when folks ride
the "high horse" rather than take the "right course". Sheesh. Tell it to
Oprah when she calls. Take Roseanne's vis-a-vis Monica payola.
If I e-mail or ask you for something to share to help promote FS
(translation: you and your business)
please remember the keyword "share." If you haven't
yet heard from me, send an e- and let's swap stories. -- Cool, no?
Generous Books
On that note: do you have any ragged, used copies of old Feng Shui books
you've memorized (since most books are variations of the same ole, same ole
theme) that are just collecting dust?
Recently, a student from the Department of Psychology in Russia's Ural
University wrote me a sincere letter informing me that it's nigh impossible
for USSrers to obtain FS titles. If you have a few extra rubles and a
generous heart, please send any new or used books to Yaroslav I. Koryakov;
Gottwald St, 11-33; Ekaterinburg; 620034; Russia. And practice what FS
preaches: harmony, change, giving, growth.
Calculating Your Kua Number And Best Directions
Okay: time for some sharing (are you tired of that word yet? "Class-time."
Okay?)
According to Classical tradition, to achieve good Feng Shui - the ancient
Asian
philosophy that says everything in a home affects its tenant and assigns
specific traits to each compass direction - it is essential to know where each
sector lies in your room, home or garden in order to activate good ch'i
(pronounced "chee:" energy) and attract opportunity, luck and health.
Traditional FS schools assign the following strengths to every compass
direction of each room in a living space: north-facing areas relate to career
and work aspirations; the south deals with your social demeanor and
appearance and how others assess you; the east with health and physical
well-being, sexuality; west with those you consider family; north-east with
education and credentials; north-west concerns travel and assistance from
out-of-town friends; south-east with financial gain; and, south-west with
intimate love relations.
Newcomers to Classical FS should check out
http://www.fengshuisociety.org.uk.
It is also important to learn which Directions are auspicious for you as an
individual which is determined by what is called a KUA number. This
suggests
the Direction you should constantly "activate" with color, moving objects
like
mobiles, aquariums, mirrors, candles and such, and should face while
sleeping,
eating, writing, working.
To determine your Best Direction, calculate your kua number using the
following steps:
1. If you are born between January 1st and February 20th, check the date on
which the Chinese New Year fell in the year of your birth, otherwise proceed
immediately to Step 2. One such table is published in the back of Lillian
Too's Complete Illustrated Guide to Feng Shui (Element) or checking
http://www.asiaconnect.com.my/lillian-too.
-
If you were born before Chinese New Year, subtract 1 (one) from the year of
your birth. For instance, if you were born 6th February 1964 (when Chinese
New Year fell on 13th Feb) then you should count your birth year as 1963.
2. Take the last two digits of your year of birth and add them together.
For example, if you were born in 1974, then add 7 and 4 to give 11. If the
result is greater than 9, add the digits together again, eg 1+1=2.
Similarly,
21 breaks down as 2+1, or 3.
3. If you are a MALE, SUBTRACT this answer from 10, eg 10-2=8.
If you are a FEMALE, ADD 5 to the number produced in Step Two, eg 2+5=7.
4. If the number is greater than 9, add the digits together again until you
get a single digit.
5. Note: If the answer is 5 and you are a male, use kua number 2.
If you are a female and the answer is 5, use kua number 8.
6. The result is your kua number.
Now use this kua number to find your best direction:
1=South-east (prosperity),
2=North-east (education),
3=South (recognition),
4=North (career prospects),
6=West (support system; children),
7=North-west (networking; travel),
8=South-west (relationships),
9=East (health).
Few rooms are perfectly square, so by superimposing the compass directions
and
their attributes over your floor plan you can identify any problems
related by
unbalanced or unusual shapes. For instance, a "missing" corner could
indicate
particular difficulties.
In Classical FS, one normally uses the calculations of the breadwinner in the
dwelling but that's not always straightforward in the 90s. If a member of the
household is requiring special attention, for instance an ailing loved one,
you may choose to "adjust and energize" the home for their well-being.
Now grab a compass and a pencil and paper and see how your place "adds" up
and
begin subtracting your shortcomings. Like A Course In Miracles' says: "There
is no such thing as a problem for you without a gift in its hands."
About the author:
Dennis Fairchild is the Birmingham-based author of several books, including
Healing Homes:
Feng Shui - Here & Now,
the US correspondent for Europe's Feng Shui For Modern Living
magazine and spoke at the 3rd annual International Feng Shui Conference.
Also of Interest:
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