Flying Stars Alert for July 7 to August 6 2009

Central – 9 Purple
This July, the auspicious Future Wealth star #9 Purple is aligned in the Central Palace, making this location the second best location for the month! If you are keen to augment your income in the long run, or even strengthen your children’s future prospects, do make full use of this area by conducting your activities, work- or play-related, here! You will be enjoying plenty of good ‘future’ luck this way!

North – 5 Yellow
The most inauspicious area of the month, the North palace is visited by both the monthly and annual star #5 Yellow, also known as the ominous Accident star. If you make use of this area, you can be sure that you or other dwellers of the home is in for some slip-ups, accidents and other bodily injuries! The best way to keep safe from the #5 Yellow is to avoid the North altogether this month.

If you sleep in this area, or can’t help but to use the North on a daily basis, you can weaken the Earth element of this nasty-star by using Metal cures. Metal cures are simply a Feng Shui term for metal décor pieces made of brass, silver and other base metals. Use protective pagoda metal cures – you’ll see better improvements this way.

Southwest – 6 White
The benevolent #6 White, being a very positive and Yang star, is a good to tap into if you are keen in climbing the corporate (or even social!) ladder. This area is best used for business or social meetings and get-togethers, though it’s not such an ideal place for sleep at the moment.

Make use of the Wealth God Cai Shen in the Southwest this month to strengthen its luck. Remember, place your venerable statues on an elevated height!

Northwest – 1 White
The benevolent Family star #1 White has flown in the Northwest palace for the month as well as the year, making this location fertile ground for some great family harmony! Conduct most of your family related activities in the central area of your home this month for the best effects – you will begin to see a wonderful sense of harmony and camaraderie between dwellers this way. Those who live with friends should also make use of the Northwest area.

Northeast – 3 Jade
The Northeast Palace is afflicted this month (and year!) by the Argument Star #3 Jade. If your central space is taken up by a convergence area such as a dining room or living room, this will mean plenty of in-house brawls and fights that may even lead to permanent enmity between those living under one roof.

Weaken the effects of this anger-mismanagement star by simply using the color red! Red represents the crucial Fire element that can weaken the Wood element of this star. To cure, decorate your Northeast location with a red lampshade or a red carpet.

You can also use incense burners – the smoke wafting from these will summon up the Fire element very well to weaken the effects of this fight-happy star.

South – 4 Green
The famed Romance and Academic star, #4 Green, is in the South Palace this month and the double effects will be of most use to those who are seeking potential partners or academics who are in the midst of exams and papers.

To enhance your love or education luck, simply conduct most of your activities in this location! Utilizing the Water element is also a great idea in strengthening the effects of the #4 Green – decorate this area with a fish tank or a desktop fountain.

You can read the entire Flying Stars forecast by clicking here.

Blessings and all the best,
Corey

The Mythical Tale of Pangu and Nuwa - Part I

This is an especially interesting story I wrote regarding Chinese mythology. The tale is based entirely on the recorded history of Chinese myths and legends, and this particular tale takes place during Early Man (B.C.) years. Do read on.

In the beginning, the world and universe consisted of a black mass of emptiness. The solar system, the moon and the earth were unformed masses that were yet to take shape and exist. Some people visualized the concept of nothingness as a large egg.

From this large egg birthed the first creature ever in the universe. His name was Pangu. Pangu was born and grew up in an all-enveloping darkness. He slumbered for several thousand years after being born, and woke up as a large, imposing giant.

Lumbering around alone in his universe, Pangu realized that his living space was filled with darkness and chaos, and he was determined to begin the creation of order. Picking up a heavy axe (we must here state that we have no idea where our ogre found himself a tool in darkness), Pangu took a hefty swing and fractured the egg-universe.

The lightweight elements of the egg rose up and floated upwards, turning into the sky. The heavier part of the egg fell downwards and became the earth. As both the light and heavy elements of the egg separated to take new shape, Pangu was very concerned that the sky would stitch itself together with the earth again, to create chaos. Therefore with his large hands, Pangu pushed the sky and the earth apart and further away from each other ten feet each day.

As he did so in several days, Pangu also grew taller and taller, until he finally stood like a pillar holding up the firmament. He remained in this position until the earth and the sky solidified, and became firm. There would be no chance of their stitching together again.

Pangu released his hold on both elements in relief and lay down to take a rest. Because he dispensed thousands of years in order to grow and also to keep the earth and the sky separate, by now he was a decrepit version of himself and his slumber took a deadly turn.

Pangu slept to his death. As he underwent this transformation, his entire being shifted shape and took form to create nature as we know it. The last breaths of Pangu turned into the winds and clouds, his voice took the shape of thunder, his left eye became the sun and the right became the moon. The wasting body of Pangu turned into mountain ranges, and his blood became flowing rivers. In short, each part of his anatomy turned into a part of the earth.

The hairs on his body turned into trees and flowers, the parasites living on his skin turned into animals and fishes and his bones formed different kinds of precious stones and minerals. Even his sweat turned into dew.

Thus Pangu, colossal being and the first living entity of earth, gave his body to augment the earth and the sky. It was now complete with a solar system, mountains, rivers, oceans, animals and plants. But, humans have yet to exist.

The earth was soon filled with gods, giants and even monsters. Of these impressive inhabitants, a single mother goddess named Nuwa was the most important. She was the creator and bringer of order, and had the torso and upper body of a human but the bottom half of a dragon. Nuwa was a shape shifter much like Pangu and could switch forms.

Nuwa embarked on an expedition around the world, and found it beautiful, compelling and rich in natural resources. But it was a lonely to live in too, since human beings were yet to exist and only animals roamed the land. She felt very sorry for herself and desired company.

With this thought in mind, Nuwa proceeded to scoop handfuls of mud and shaped little replicas of herself, but with one difference – instead of a dragon-like bottom half like her own, she gave her little mud creatures legs and the ability to walk upright. She took painstaking care in creating these ‘dolls’ and felt very proud of herself with her results.

Nuwa arranged her mud dolls in a row and breathed life into them. The creatures took life into humans and danced about the delighted Nuwa, calling her Mother and making a din of joy. With this success Nuwa sought to make more mud creatures.

Hand-crafting each human by hand proved a cumbersome duty even for the tireless mother goddess, therefore she employed her magic powers to achieve a quicker result. She dipped a cane stick into some mud and shook off the excess onto the ground. The mud-droplets took shape into humans, albeit not as beautifully rendered as her initial few people.

Did you like this tale? Stay tuned for parts II, III and IV!

Blessings and all the best,
Corey

Feng Shui Tips for Fertility

Here is a few Feng Shui tips for Fertility luck. Some of you may have been married for quite a while with no luck at children yet and some of you might have just recently tied the knot and setting up your own household with a baby in mind. You might also still be single but would like to be in the know. No matter - the Feng Shui tips below on fertility Feng Shui will benefit all readers.

- The husband’s Kua is the direction a couple should follow for family luck. Sleep in his Yan Nian direction to enhance fertility and promote spousal well-being. You can consult the Gua Calculator to determine this.

- Elephants are said to symbolize fertility and virility. They can also create auspicious descendants’ Qi. Place an elephant statue by the West or Northwest direction. If you wish for a son, lodge a stone on the back of the statue.

- Throw on your rattiest clothes and paint the Southwest wall of your bedroom any color from the yellow family to signify earth and motherhood. Paint the West and Northwest walls white for fatherhood.

- A laughing Buddha statue with children climbing all over him symbolizes the joy of children. Thus, It can facilitate the laughter and happiness of your own future children to your home. Display the statue prominently in the East direction of the bedroom.

- Do not cut any trees or remove any hills or mounds from the Northwest area of your home, for this represents the support of the father and in turn, symbolizes protection for you and your family.

- Refrain from decorating your home with fierce pictures of predatory animals in aggressive poses. These images will fail to nurture and consequently will ‘kill’ the warm fertile ambience you are striving for.

- Dragon symbols are strongly Yang in nature and are almost always restricted from being placed in the bedroom for such properties. But in the case of trying to conceive a child, it is a perfectly good idea to place a small dragon representation next to the bed to conjure up the precious Yang energy to aid conception. Hang a tassel with a bronze dragon or a small dragon charm next to the bed for this purpose.

Blessings and all the best,
Corey

Feng Shui Dictionary - Brought To You By The Letter "I"

It's been a cool, somewhat chilly day so far. I had the misfortune to catch a cold, and though nursing oneself to health is pretty cumbersome prospects I am thankful I did not catch the dreaded H1N1 disease! I hope you have armed yourself with a diet of fresh veggies, fruits as well as extra vitamin supplements to keep your immune level high and strong. Everyone needs to take care in order to surpass this most dreaded type of influenza.

Anyway, enough with health chatter and let's get back to topic! Here's some education for Feng Shui enthusiasts - an excerpt of my book The Feng Shui Dictionary.

Here's the Dictionary's Letter I section in its entirety. I'd love to hear from you for feedback regarding this ebook - we are now planning an updated version soon.

I Ching (The Book of Changes)
I Ching, also known as Yi Jing, the Classic of Changes and the Book of Changes, is considered to the be oldest known Chinese classic text. This text is regarded as an explanation of a system of divination, and comprises of a series of symbols, poems, commentaries and guidelines. It also describes an ancient system of cosmology and philosophy that is intrinsic to ancient Chinese cultural beliefs.

Illness
A recurring illness of occupant is a sign of less than desirable Feng Shui. If the occupants of the home or office often take turns getting sick, steps are needed to improve the general energy of a location.

Incense Burner
The use of incense in China is an ancient practice spanning centuries, back in the prehistoric times. Incense-burning activities hold spiritual, cleansing and religious meanings.

Censing has a long history in China. Generally, people cense their clothes to show courtesy and censing later became a practice favored by intellectuals. Before the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.- 220 A.D.), incense burners made of ceramics, porcelain, brass, iron and tiles already came into being. During the Xuande reign (1425 - 1434) of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), the making technique of bronze incense burners reached its peak.

Chinese incense items are not always available, the use of incense sometimes deeply discouraged by government. But Chinese perfumers have managed to produce some fine quality products. Some incense made in China come from a secret source. Incense use in religious ritual was first widely developed in China, and eventually transmitted to Korea, Japan and Vietnam. Incense holds an invaluable role in East Asian Buddhist ceremonies and rites as well as in those of Chinese Taoist and Japanese Shinto shrines. It is reputed to be a method of purifying the surroundings, bringing forth the Buddhist Alamkaraka (Realm of Adornment).

In Chinese Taoist and Buddhist temples, the inner spaces are scented with thick coiled incense, which are either hung from the ceiling or on special stands. Worshippers at the temples light and burn sticks of incense in large bundles, which they wave while bowing to the statues or plaques of a deity or an ancestor. Individual sticks of incense are then vertically placed into individual censers located in front of the statues or plaques either singularly or in threes, depending on the status of the deity or the feelings of the individual.

Feng Shui utilizes the power of incense to muster up favorable Fire element, as well as for cleansing properties. It is said that burning incense dispels negative Qi, or energy, from a premise to allow the arrival of cleaner, fresher and more positive Qi into a premise. Thus incense burning is an important step in Qi cleansing and space clearing ceremonies in Feng Shui.

Indoor Gardens
Indoor gardens are a form of Feng Shui practice. Placed in the correct sector of the home, these bring exceptionally good fortune. If you want an open-air design in your home that calls for indoor gardens and landscaped interiors, make sure that these are located in the East, the Southeast or the South sector of your home. Following this advice allows you to blend harmoniously with the elements that make up your living space. Do not place your indoor garden in the sector which corresponds to the Southwest or the Northeast. This will cause disruptions in your family life and could also harm the marriage.

Interior Feng Shui
The arrangement of furniture to create auspicious vibrations. This refers to the layoutu of the home and the allocation of rooms according to Feng Shui guidelines. It also refers to the selection of curtains and carpets and other soft furnishings. The ideal Feng Shui home creates a warm ambience where Yang energy and auspicious Qi flow freely from room to room.

Did you like this post? You can find out more about the Feng Shui Dictionary by clicking here!

Blessings and all the best,

Corey

Chinese Astrology for July Sneak Peek

Greetings! The day has been especially productive for me. I got so much work done before lunch hour - in fact, I have even compiled the Chinese Astrological forecast for July.

In keeping with the 'insider' feel of this blog of mine, here is a little snippet of next month's (July) Chinese Astrological forecast for the animals Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon and Snake.

Read on to know the exclusive details.

THE OX

Ox, many new changes are afoot this month therefore be prepared. If you are in need of advice or counseling you may turn to friends who have encountered the same.

July is a good month for you to travel or moving into a new house.

THE TIGER
Tiger, be happy this month because chances are you may receive a promotion at work! The hours of slaving away on the job with finally pay back. If you have your own business or are in the partnership-type venture, you will receive a little extra dose of good luck.

Singleton Tigers may not fare well this month in the Romance front so it is best to keep your expectations on the low.

THE RABBIT
If you are pursued to join a business partnership, do all your homework before proceeding and don’t rush in. Communication with people are you is good, and furthermore you will you will meet some old friends who will be especially helpful during the second half of the year.

Rabbit people born in 1951 will have ordinary Wealth Luck, so avoid making investments. Those born in 1975 should be careful of hand injuries.

THE DRAGON
The month of July sees you acquiring new skills and knowledge related to your work! These new tricks will be especially useful in the near future. You may be invited to join a partnership. If you like, you may accept the offer on the condition that the ‘price is right’.

This month sees some gossips swirling in the air regarding you. Keep your nose clean and all will be well.

Dragon people born in 1967 should take care of their health problems related to the respiratory system.

THE SNAKE
The month of July is particularly unfriendly to the Snake person. You may possibly encounter problems at home regarding the health of your elders. Ensure that they undergo medical check-ups even for minor cases.

Parent Snakes will be a little short of patience this month so remember to be especially tolerant towards your kids.

Snake people born in 2001 need to be especially careful of injuries.

For more information, do sign up for free to receive my thrice-monthly newsletters right in your Inbox. You may do so by going to Dragon-Gate.com Aside from Chinese Astrology, I also dedicate newsletters to monthly Feng Shui tips and Flying Stars forecast.

Blessings and all the best,

Corey

Jumping The Bandwagon

Greetings! Here is my very first blog post. If you are only hearing of me for the first time, welcome to my blog!

And, for those of you who have faithfully followed my monthly newsletters at Dragon-Gate.com, I am so very glad that you have decided to follow my ruminations and thoughts via Blogspot, as well.

Some of you may have wondered, "why is Corey only beginning to blog now?" The truth is, I have tried many, many times to start-up blogs but such is futility. There is now a smattering of half-dead blogs following the wake of my new project, coreytsang.blogspot.com. In a nutshell, I've never had the endurance to keep up a blog, really, though I have tried countless times.

Life is cyclical in nature as we know it, therefore something tells me that I have come full circle of my blogging (mis)adventures through coreytsang.blogspot.com. It all ends (and begins!) right here.

Here is my introduction. Welcome, gentle reader, and do enjoy your stay.

Blessings and all the best,
Corey