养生(Yang Sheng) - Nurture Vital Energy - Book extract

养生(Yang Sheng) - Nurture Vital Energy

来龙去脉 (lai long qu mai)= the coming and going of the dragon's veins

It refers to the intricate details or underlying causes of a situation, especially those that are not immediately apparent. In the context of Feng Shui, it often pertains to understanding the subtle energy flows and environmental factors that influence the harmony and balance of a space.

Literally speaking, Feng means wind, Shui means water. Wind and water together constitute an essential part of nature’s air-conditioning system for all creatures on earth…

In Feng Shui art, the lows and highs in a mountain is called 龙“long” (dragon), the highest hill in a mountain is called 来龙“lai Long” (Dragon coming), the rivers in the mountains is called 脉“mai”, the part of the rivers that have the most water is called 去脈“qu mai”. The masters of Feng Shui are people that look for these 来龙去脉“Lai Long Qu Mai”, meaning they are looking for the best Feng Shui to bring better luck.

The best point of 来龙去脉“Lai Long Qu Mai” is where there is a concentration of 气Qi, the source of life.

Feng Shui masters once identified the best points of 来龙去脉(Lai Long Qu Mai), they would try to contain and channel it but still respecting nature’s natural flow. What it is of nature has its own balance, flows naturally. There are so much knowledge still to be explored on the universe’s energy flows, we have to be very careful when intervene in Feng Shui.

We don’t need to intervene in Feng Shui to benefit from the best of it. We can simply identify a few natural places where Feng Shui is the best and go there to get recharged. There are lots of mountains and rivers that have great Feng Shui all over the world. I believe everyone can find a few just by going into nature and feel them out!

The best Feng Shui places often have 活水 (Huo Shui) =live water. There is no better live water than natural waterfalls that make enchanting spectacles of sights and sounds.

High mountain waterfalls usually have cleaner water and the Qi flow is the best. I know whenever I approach such places, I would feel recharged, alive, like having a vital energy regeneration…of course, but if you explain it in the Feng Shui art theory, it is because there’s no better generators of Qi – than live water. Waterfalls are not only waters that are alive, but they dance and make beautiful nature spectacles.

Feng Shui isn’t a mystery, everyone can practice, here are a few basics:

Feng Shui Analysis: In feng shui practice, consultants analyze the "来龙去脉"(lai long qu mai) of a location to determine the quality of energy flow or Qi. They consider factors such as the shape of the land, the direction of water flow, the placement of buildings, and the surrounding environment to assess how these elements affect the energy dynamics of the space.

Site Selection: When selecting a site for construction or development, understanding the "来龙去脉" (lai long qu mai) is essential in identifying auspicious locations with favorable energy flow. For example, a site situated at the convergence of two gently flowing rivers, where the Qi is believed to be vibrant and harmonious, may be considered ideal for building a home or a place of business.

Interior Arrangement: Inside a building, practitioners of Feng Shui pay attention to the "来龙去脉" (lai long qu mai) when arranging furniture and décor to optimize the flow of energy. They may consider factors such as the placement of doors and windows, the orientation of rooms, and the distribution of objects to ensure a balanced and harmonious environment.

Remedies and Adjustments: If the "来龙去脉"( lai long qu mai) of a space is found to be unfavorable, Feng Shui practitioners may recommend remedies or adjustments to correct imbalances and enhance positive energy flow. This could involve installing mirrors to redirect Qi, adding plants to improve air quality, or rearranging furniture to create better circulation.

The concept of "来龙去脉" states the importance of understanding the subtle influences that shape our environment and recognizing how these factors can impact our well-being and luck, as perceived in Feng Shui practice.

Feng Shui is an art, but everyone can be a Feng Shui master either by learning the skills and art. There are also innate artists, if you are highly intuitive and spiritual, you might simply go with your feelings instead of paying attention to consciously learned knowledge and skills.

For example, where should you place your bed in your bedroom? [1]

There are many do’s and don'ts in Feng Shui, it’s like you want to be a believer and there are so many gods, real and fair ones, you don’t know which one to choose, you might simply believe in yourself instead! For the subject as to where to place the bed in your bedroom, there are many charts and analysis on how to do it. You can find a Feng Shui master to check it out for you, but finding a trustworthy Feng Shui master in itself is an art. I would think the easiest way is to tune into your own feelings and feel it out. The best place to place the bed is where you FEEL the safest in your bedroom. Once you feel it out, you’ll find actually they correspond very well to carefully analyzed Feng Shui arrangements, it would probably be at perfect angles and distances with the doors and windows, etc.??

Translating Chinese Proverbs Into Daily Wisdoms Amazon Link :

[1] I will put up a YouTube video to explain where to place the bed in bedrooms.