Ten years in the making, the National September 11 Memorial was completed and opened to the public on September 12, 2011.  The eight-acre park was designed by Israeli- American, Michael Arad of Handle Architects, a New York and San Francisco firm.  The Memorial is composed of a forest of swamp white oak trees with two square pools, one on each of the original foot prints of the North and South Towers.  The core of the design is a 30-foot man-made wall of water that hugs the sides of the one-acre reflecting pools. The downward-streaming water is meant to symbolize falling tears.

The purpose of the memorial was to commemorate those who died in the September 11 terrorist attack, and those involved in the rescue work, and to provide a place for the families of the victims to be reminded of the loss they suffered and for continue grieving.  It is also intended as a reminder that we should remain vigilant against the threat of another attack, and also to show the world the American spirit:  that we may be destroyed, but we can rebuild.

People with a basic understanding of how energy works know very well that to hang onto past tragedy serves only to perpetuate the negative energy, and continue to be consumed by it. A memorial park should be more than merely a place of remembrance:  it should lead in a positive direction.  It should inspire, by conjuring up a positive image, like the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial.   Even the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery inspires people by commemorating heroic acts and sacrifices for good causes.

Most who died on 9-11 were just victims, caught up in an event they did not choose.  In this, they were not much different than millions of innocent civilians who have died in wars all over the world.  Although it may be appropriate to have a reminder of tragedy and grief, the reminder should also lead to a symbol of hope for peace and celebration of life.

A wrong concept always leads to wrong manifestation. Not surprisingly, from a feng shui point of view, the design of the 9-11 Memorial fails badly on all three levels:  informational, chi energy and physical manifestation.

Instead of creating a Yang, upward and positive energy, the design reflects a Yin, downward and negative energy.  If we wish to show an American spirit that can rise up after being destroyed, we should build something that moves upward, above the ground, rather than something that sinks 30 feet below ground.  In fact, when the “Reflecting Absence” design was first selected from among the 8 finalists, relatives of the victims gathered with other concerned citizens to protest the choice.  They too thought that the memorial should be built above the ground.  Despite this, many politicians hailed the creativity and thoughtfulness of the design, and the chosen design prevailed.  From a feng shui perspective, both the designer and the decision panel had either lost touch with common sense, or had somehow developed a much disoriented mind set.

The most significant feature of the design is the waterfall.  From a feng shui perspective, a body of water metaphorically represents money and wealth. The 52,000 gallons of water per minute, rushes into the center dark pit, symbolizes that money is continuously going down to the drain.  This is especially so since it is in the center of New York City, the financial center of USA, at the site of the World Trade Center buildings that were a major part of that financial nexus.  On both the information and energy levels, this reflects not only the current state of affairs, but also the days to come.  Even more, the treasured survival tree is a non-fruit bearing pear tree that was rescued from the World Trade Center grounds  — a further suggestion of the infertility of hopes for economic recovery in the years to come.

As a tourist attraction, what can it offer tourists?  What can a tourist expect to take away from this?  Only sad memories of the event, and the tears of the victims’ families?  It literally is a depressed place and a depressing place. What incentive would tourists have to visit?

An additional irony is that, in the midst of the financial crisis, the US government spent 500 million for the project.  And, coincidentally or not, within a week after the National September 11 Memorial opened to the public, the Occupy Wall Street movement began.

Shan-tung Hsu Feng Shui, Yin-yang

Human beings live between Heaven and Earth, nourished by Yang and Yin energy.  The energy of Heaven comes downward from above, manifesting as sunshine, rain and so on.  The energy of Earth rises upward from below, manifesting as food, water and other nourishing products.  Heaven (yang) energy implies dynamic expansion while Earth (yin) energy implies collection, connection, cooperation and nourishment.  Without the effects of Earth’s energy that emerges to balance the outward expansion of Heaven’s force, there will be conflict and strife.  What are the most powerful factors in manifesting Earth energy, the energy of connection and cooperation?  The answer is trees, forests and all vegetation.  The places that tend to have more conflict in the world are just those places that lack forests, or that have undergone recent, sudden deforestation. In modern history, there are positive correlations between the depletion of natural forests and the general level of strife and chaos in the world.  This is the source of the problem.
In the arenas of politics, economics or other specialized spheres, there is constant effort to control chaos and conflict.  The emphasis is not on how to solve the issues but on how to not create further problems.  Due to this, there will always be an uphill battle to find a fundamental solution to today’s issues.  From a feng shui perspective, the best solution is found in Mother Nature.  We must look at it from an energy (chi) level.   Chaos and conflict means there is too much Yang energy so it is necessary to increase the nourishing Earth or Yin energy or increasing energy for cooperation and support.  How do we go about this? We must begin by planting trees and establishing greenery all over the world.  In the meantime, where forests are abundant, water will be abundant. And water, to the planet, is like blood in the human body.  
The global warming and the increase of CO2 is the modern urgent concern.  While people search for different ways to find solutions, which are often complicated, we should just ask our Mother Earth for a solution.   According to a scientific study, 20% of CO2 is attributable to deforestation, which is more than all of the world’s cars and trucks combined.  Let us stop and take the time to think.   How much of a positive impact will there be in solving the CO2 issue if instead of deforestation, we increased forestation?

Shan-tung Hsu Feng Shui, Yin-yang

I have been fascinated by crop circles for some years.   However, once in a while, I believe there might be some created as a hoax. But because of the consistent neat and intricate patterns, created by UFOs or other mysterious forces or not,  I find it is impossible to be the work of man.   In the world of art design, how often does one encounter such unique and beautiful designs by humans?  The crop patterns not only have been changing in size, from small to large, but the designs have developed from very simple, to extremely complicated in its detail.  The recently appeared 250 meter by 60 meter jelly fish crop circle is most amazing!  Form Defines Energy!  I do believe the design represents some sacred meaning or message.  For those of you into the Tai Chi symbol, here are two crop circles with the sacred Yin-Yang image.

Shan-tung Hsu Energy, Yin-yang

The core of feng shui teaching is about designing our ideal living environment. The guiding principle behind this is the natural principle. The fundamentals of the natural principle stems from the Yin-Yang theory.

What we should try to fine tune in our lives, is the striving for the balance of yin and yang, the two polar aspects of every existence and transformation.  This same principle should also guide our activities in response to the natural seasons.  Seasons has its Yin-Yang cycle.  In spring, yang arises and by summer, yang reaches to the maximum.  Come fall, yin appears and during winter, yin reaches the maximum.  Yang is dynamic and active while yin is the opposite. If we are to live in synchronization with the seasons, we should be active in spring and summer then slow down in fall and rest in winter.  In the natural world both plants and animals exhibit this pattern.  In old times, farmers also followed this pattern; after fall harvesting, the farmer takes a good rest until the spring sowing time.  However, after the industrial revolution, and in this modern society, we have no longer followed the natural way. The human has become a machine. The mechanical 9-5 daily working hour and 5 days a week working schedule throughout the year, in the name of proficiency or whatever reasons, prevent us to resonate with the natural rhythm. It is not ideal for health, emotion, and spiritual growth. It is a stupid human invention. We have lost sight of the big picture- a picture of wholesome living.

Shan-tung Hsu Feng Shui, Yin-yang