Glossary of Terms M-S
Magic Square
Three columns with three rows whereby the placement of the nine stars totals 15 in every direction.
Mantra
A ritualistic, spiritual, or sacred chant that is repeated either silently or audibly, and can result in inducing an altered state of consciousness.
Market
To network with others for increased exposure. To promote oneís business or product.
Mao, also called Rabbit
The fourth earthly branch in the cycle of twelve life energies, representative of the energy of rapid growth and self-accomplishment. It is used in Chinese Astrology Method of Minor Additions. Refers to the addition of simple, natural energy (such as plants, light, water, etc.), along with intention to affect Feng Shui changes without the need for major renovations.
Master
A title or designation of experience. This term is meant to imply someone that has 20 years of experience (Eastern practice), or has met specific criteria of a school, another master, or instructor (Western practice). Ask the person using the title what it represents. Criteria vary from school to school. The International Feng Shui Guild is working toward a set of standards to provide consistency in this realm.
MBA
Master of Business Administration.
MBTI
Myers Briggs Type Indicator is an instrument developed by the mother and daughter team of Myers and Briggs. It is a personality-assessment tool whose foundation is based on Carl Jungís work. To use this designation, one must have formal education and pass the exam.
MD
1) Doctor of Medicine (M.D. or MD, from the Latin Medicinae Doctor) is an academic degree for medical doctors. It varies between countries, from being an entry-level professional degree to being a relatively rare higher doctoral research degree.† 2) Managing director is the term used for the chief executive of many limited companies in the United Kingdom, Commonwealth, and some other English speaking countries. The title reflects their role as both a member of the Board of Directors but also as the senior manager. The term Chief Executive (or its American equivalent “Chief Executive Officer” or just “CEO”) is in general usage in the United Kingdom for the senior executive of public limited companies, charities, and Executive Agencies. At subsidiary companies usage is more variable, with managing director often preferred.
Metal
Also, see Chien or Tui. One of five elements used as a remedy or corrective. It represents West and NW on the compass and bagua. Colors symbolized by white, silver, gold, copper, and metal colors. This element implies leadership.
Ming
Ming4, life; fate, destiny, the ordinances of Heaven, order, command, or assign. A name or title. One of the five areas of influence.
Ming Gua, also called Ming Kua
1) Life gua-station or experience 2) A personís destiny trigram with its associated number, element, and life aspects, based on gender and year of birth; an astrological method of divination providing information about a subject, including the four most auspicious directions for the individual.
Ming Tang, also called Bright Hall
1) A courtyard, or entrance, especially where benevolent chi can gather 2) A defined area serving as a transition zone between one type of chi and another, sometimes containing a vortex of energy, commonly at a main entrance. 3) A gathering place.
Monkey
See Shíen, Asian Zodiac.
Mountain
Direction of the compass. Eight mountains refer to N, S, E, W, NE, NW, SE and SW. Twenty-four mountains refer to the eight directions and three subdivisions within each.
Mountain Star
Expressed as a number denoting the quality of chi in a sector of a structure. The Mountain Star represents the sitting (rear) direction of a structure in Flying Stars Feng Shui and is associated with people (health and relationships).
Mouth of Chi Feng Shui
Used by BTB School, Contemporary Western School, and several others. It orients the bagua with the North sector at the door and is grounded in form-school principles. It focuses on creating a nourishing flow of chi through the structure, and correcting intangible factors such as “predecessor chi.” It puts a strong emphasis on the client’s intentions for change and growth.
Moving Metal
A clock with a moving, metal pendulum or moving arms; metal sculpture with perpetually moving parts; hanging pots and pans; metal bells that ring when a door is opened; etc. A metal fan is acceptable only if blades donít cut toward people entering, sitting, or resting.
Mudra
A hand gesture often used with a mantra to clear the energy of a person or place or to offer a blessing.
MTF
Mountain-time-facing order of stars.
Natal Calendar
Nien Yen
The rich descendant’s area. When in balance, it improves family relationships, prevents arguments and solves problems. It is also good for the quality of home life.
Nine Star Ki
A form of divination similar to the Ming Gua method that uses the eight trigrams and all related information. It was made popular by the macrobiotic movement in the West. Although it is Japanese in origin, its use was adopted by many of the early Feng Shui practitioners in the West. It differs from the Ming Gua method in that it uses the same calculations for both male and female subjects.
North
A direction on the compass. Also, see Kan and water.
Northeast
A direction on the compass. Also, see Ken and earth.
Northwest
A direction on the compass. Also, see Chien and metal.
Numerology
The study of numbers and the manner in which they reflect certain aptitudes and character tendencies.
Ox
See Chou and Zodiac Asian.
Pakua, also called Pagua
See Bagua.
Palace
Name for each of the nine sections of the Luo shu square (grid), used to calculate a flying stars chart.
Partnership
Same as a sole proprietorship, except there is more than one person involved. The owners are personally liable for the company and its debt, income is distributed equally and is added on each ownerís personal tax returns.
Pendulum
An apparatus consisting of an object mounted so that it swings freely under the influence of gravity.
Peony
The peony is among the longest-used flowers in ornamental culture and is one of the national emblems of China. In Japan, Paeonia lactiflora used to be called ebisugusuri(“foreign medicine”). In kampo (the Japanese adaptation of Chinese medicine), its root was used as a treatment for convulsions. It is also cultivated as garden plant. In Japan, it is said that Chinese people call Paeonia lactiflora “prime minister of flowers”.
Period
A cycle of qi, it is the primary requisite for construction of a flying-star chart. This is the beginning process of the time factor to determine the allocation of qi throughout the structure. Some schools utilize the move – in date as the essential time factor. The most widely-recognized method is to use the time of construction as the determining factor and more specifically the time of the closing of the roof. Each age or period lasts 20 years and begins on a year ending in the number four (1944, 1964, 1984, etc.).
Ph D
Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D. (informally PhD), an abbreviation for the Latin “Philosophiae Doctor”; alternatively, “Doctor Philosophiae”, D.Phil. from Greek (meaning “Teacher of Philosophy”), is a doctoral degree granted upon completion of extensive academic work in a field of study. In medieval times, any research outside the fields of theology, medicine or law was calledîphilosophyî hence the Ph.D. degree covers a wide range of subjects. Contemporary Ph.D. degrees are awarded in nearly every field of the sciences and the humanities.
Phoenix
A symbolic animal of Form School representing summer, the color red, and the compass point South. The Phoenix represents water features in front in the Form School armchair metaphor.
Piercing Heart Doors
Three or more doors in a row.
Ping
See Bing.
Pig
See Hai, Zodiac, Asian.
Plum Blossom I Ching
I Ching divination by time and space. Used to divine a current event or any date when a present event strikes you as an omen.
Poison Arrow
A term that refers to sharp, hostile corners or objects, both indoors and out, that can cause oppressive, destructive or disruptive energy; or sha qi, to be directed at the inhabitants of a space.
Portent
An omen or sign of something to come manifested in accordance to a resonance with persisting energy; from the Eight House or Eight Mansions method. Each of the eight outer quadrants of the bagua has a portent depending on the gua calculation for the person or building it is being related to. Each portent has an auspicious or inauspicious association. This association is determined by the pattern of the changing lines of the trigram contained within that sector.
Practitioner
One who practices an art or discipline.
Pre-Heaven Bagua, also called Early Heaven Bagua or Sequence
The oldest arrangement of the eight trigrams. In this bagua, the trigrams opposite each other are complimentary, symbolizing the opposite forces of yin and yang, and representing an ideal state when everything is in balance or static.
Predecessor qi, also called Predecessor chi
The residual energy left behind by the previous inhabitants of a space.
Pyramid School
Qi (Mandarin)
Also known as chi.
Qi Cultivation, also called chi cultivation
Techniques, such as meditation, qi-gong, tai ji or other (usually) Asian techniques, rituals, acupuncture, and Feng Shui that are used to enhance or adjust personal chi or qi, allowing it to flow smoothly throughout the body.
Qi Kung, also called Chi gong
1) A martial art which gathers chi in the body.† 2) A series of choreographed movements based on this martial art said to bring health benefits.
Qian, also Chien, Ch’ien, Chyan, Heaven, “The Creative”
One of the eight trigrams (guas or quadrants) of the bagua, associated with the Northwest; the number six; hard-metal element; the colors grey, white, metallic gold, silver; father or boss; travel; benefactors; and other life aspects. Chien is denoted by three solid (yang) lines and is the most yang trigram.
Quadrant
An area defined as East, SE, South, SW, West, NW, North, NE, or center—every 45 degrees of the compass.
Quo
According to the Scholar Warrior Dictionary, [quo is] Kingdom, a term used with Tsong quo referring to China.
Rabbit
See Mao, Zodiac, Asian.
Ram, also called Goat, Sheep
See Wei, Zodiac Asian
Rat
See Zi, Zodiac, Asian.
Red Envelope Tradition
In BTB Feng Shui, refers to an exchange of red envelopes containing some amount of money between a client or student and a BTB Feng Shui practitioner or teacher who has been asked for, and has provided, transcendental solutions. This tradition was developed to ritualize, respect and honor the information given, and to acknowledge the exchange of energy between client and practitioner. The number of red envelopes given is relative to the significance of the information provided.
Registered††
Recorded member or student of an organization.
Remedy, or Cure
Remedies consist of the five elements (fire, earth, metal, water, or wood) and are used to achieve balance, harmony, and beneficial chi in a space; or to suppress, neutralize or dissipate negative or stagnant energies (or chi).
Ren, also called Jen
The ninth heavenly stem in the cycle of ten, denoting yang water, based on the productive cycle of the five elements as they go through their yin and yang phases. It refers to the more active and aggressive aspects of the water element and is used in Four Pillars astrology.
Reverse
A type of structure determined with flying stars. It means not good people or prosperity energies. Thereís always some sort of struggle—money and people; divorce, bankruptcy, foreclosure, business moving in and out, residences where people move every couple years.
Reverse House, also called Shang Shan
In a Flying Stars chart, the water Star resides in the Mountain Palace and the Mountain Star resides in the water Palace. For cycle eight, the eight water Star resides in the sitting direction and the eight Mountain Star resides in the facing direction. The energies for this structure are not good for money (wealth) or for people (health and relationships).
Reversed door
A door that opens to the smallest part of the room or to a wall.
RN
Registered Nurse.
Rooster
See You, Zodiac, Asian.
Sacred architecture
The practice of architectural design based on observing the patterns occurring in nature and the cosmos, then reflecting and replicating these structures to create a resonance with nature and the divine. Temples and cathedrals were built according to these principles. The incorporation of sacred architecture in Feng Shui today combines aspects of sacred geometry and sacred proportions with an intuitive and energetic understanding of the site and the client to achieve these goals.
Sacred geometry
The study of proportion and inherent order in space, including how shapes affect energy. It is an ancient study that has been preserved in certain mystical traditions. Measurements, properties, and relationships of points, lines, angles, surfaces and solids are observed and related to the pure principles existing in nature.
San Ban Gua
All palaces of the flying star chart contain the mountain-time-facing combinations of 147, 258, and 369. Reputedly, this structure is auspicious under all circumstances.
San cai
The three treasures; heaven, earth, and humanity. An essential principle of Daoist thought and Feng Shui, it refers to the three levels of chi and luck that influence our lives.
San Yuan, also called Great Cycle of 180 years
Refers to three cycles of twenty years each comprising one cycle of sixty years, and is the basis of Flying Stars Feng Shui. A particular chi is prevalent during each twenty-year cycle. These twenty-year cycles are based on the cycles of the planets Jupiter and Saturn. Every twenty years they align, causing a major energy shift.
Sau
One of three immortal deities that represent achievement and longevity.
S – Corporation
After a corporation has been formed, it may elect ìS Corporation statusî by submitting a form to the Internal Revenue Service (some states require their own version). Once this filing is complete, the corporation is taxed like a partnership or sole proprietorship rather than a corporation. Thus, the income is ìpassed throughî to the shareholders for purposes of computing tax returns.
Seam Needle
One of the directional needles on a San He luopan. The seam needle reads 7.5 degrees behind the correct needle. The seam needle was originally used in yin house feng shui as the guideline to locate the “sands” and “water.”
Secret Arrow
Cutting chi generated by a straight alignment of landform features such as trees, poles, or nearby buildings.
Sequence
See Later Heaven bagua, Pre-Heaven bagua.
Sha
Destructive, negative, harmful, inauspicious.
Sha Chi , also called Sha qi
Also known as killing breath, sha chi refers to the negative energy that is caused by sharp angles and hostile structures.
Shamanism
A spiritual or religious practice where shamans can intercede between humanity and spirits.
Shan – (Mandarin) – shan1
Translates as mountain.
Shang – shang4
To ascend, up, above.
Shang Shan
Above mountain, see double-facing.
Shang Shan Xia Shui
Above mountain and below water, reversed house or out-of-place mountain and water, prominent star occupies mountain in the facing and water in the sitting.
Sheep, also called Goat, Ram
See Wei, Zodiac, Asian.
Shen
Spirits.
Sheng
Life, growth, beneficial.
Sheng Chi
Generates breath. This area within a building when in balance attracts prosperity, wealth and success in examinations (lifeís journey).
Shui (mandarin)- shui 3
Translates as water; a general term for river, etc.
Shíen, also called Monkey
The ninth earthly branch in the cycle of twelve life energies, representative of restless and flexible energy. It is used in Chinese Astrology and Four Pillars.
Si, also called Snake
The sixth earthly branch in the cycle of twelve life energies, representative of strong and active energy. It is used in Chinese Astrology and Four Pillars.
Si Chi
Negative energy that is dull, and lifeless. It lessens the good positive chi and brings a low energy to the area.
Sitting
The direction that an individual or building sits. This typically represents where the most yin energy is.
Snake
See Si, Zodiac, Asian.
Solar New Year (or Solar calendar)
Based on the sunís cycle (365 days a year), is the day the annual star changes which usually begins February 4th or 5th each year.
Sole Proprietorship
A business with one owner. A business organized as a sole proprietorship is not separate from its owner, merely a different name that the business owner operates under. The owner is personally liable for the company and its debt, all income is added on the ownerís personal tax returns (pass-through taxation).
South
A direction on the compass. Also, see Li and fire.
Southeast
A direction on the compass. Also, see Hsun and wood.
Southwest
A direction on the compass. Also, see Kun and earth.
Space Clearing
A ceremony that rids a building of existing energies. It is not considered Feng Shui, but facilitates it. There may be residual emotional or physical negative energies from previous land or building occupants.
Star
A number representing an energy or quality of chi which moves cyclically through time in a Flying Stars chart.
Sui Wey – Sui Xing
The star (planet) Jupiter.
Sun, also called Síun, Xun
One of the eight trigrams, guas or quadrants of the bagua, associated with the Northwest, the symbol Wind, the element wood, the number 4, the colors green or purple, the eldest daughter, wealth, prosperity and other life aspects. In the I Ching, Sun is denoted by two solid lines over one broken line.
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