The contours of time

Time is the curve of the universe. It is the recurrent pattern of the unfording cosmos. "To master change, nothing is more important than to understand time". The observations of the earliest Feng Shui practitioners and the experience of those who have developed the art down to the present day led them to perceive cycles of time recurring over diffenrent durations. The largest cycle they could detect had a total span of 180 years. This comprised nine cycles of 20 years, Which then repeated themselves in sequence at the end of each of the nine 20-year periods. Within each 20-year cycle were the smaller cycles of the years, months, days, hours, and seconds. Each of these cycles continues to be used in Feng Shui for understanding and predicting the behaviour of energy.

The shortest cycles, those that take place in less than one year, are normally used for advising people who are planning special events such as mrriages, the signing of contracts, and the opening of new buildings, offices, and shops. The aim is to determine on which day of a particular month (or even which hours on that day) are best for moving into a new house or undertaking a major business commitment.

The longer rhythms are taken into account in marking decisions about major life changes, such as changing careers. These cycles begin with the lunar year. The phases of the moon form the basis of the Chinese calendar ang the year normally begins at a point in early February. Each year, on the professional advice of Feng shui experts, countless owners and occupants make significant physical alterations to their homes and offices. This is most common in Chinese communities, but increasingly the practice is becoming more widespread. The changes range form repainting the walls and repositioning furniture, mirrors, and decorations through to adjusting the alighment of doors and partitions. Whether the changes are small or large, all are done to take into account the way in which the energetic environment changes with the various cycles of time. Beyond the annual cycle, there is a larger pattern of change that occurs over 20 years. This corresponds to the system of numerology, and the significance of each of the nine basic numerals. Each number is related to a location. Knowing this, Feng Shui practitioners are able to warn their clients about the possible qualities of energy that will affect them in specific directions in specific years. The sequence of boxes trace the movement of a particular aspect of energy through the nine years.

The dark boxes indicate the cirection from which harmful energy may be expected of the area where on should be particularly careful.

The chinese calendar

The earliest Chinese calendars were drawn up by the astrologers of the Imperial Court. A Chinese calendar resembles and almanac, originally giving topical advice to farmers as they planned their agricultural year. Today, a Chinese calendar includes a wider range of Information. The calendar in front covers a single year. Instend of giving the days and dates, the top line tells the principal direction from which positive energy can be expected throughout the year. Belowe that is further subdivided to give 24 different directions: the calendar tells the impact of the energy coming from each angle. The bottom half of the calendar gives importand advice on the appropriate times for burials and the orientation of grave sites according to the movement of energy that year.

The calendar behind starts at the top with the dates and days of the week. Below that is the name and expected time of the particular energy that will be most beneficial on that date. Then comes advice on activities that should be avoided on that day. This is followed by a row of characters giving the correspondences between the day and the lunar calendar, the Five Energies, and the stars. The last three rows give further advice, including adtivities that are particularly recommended for that day.