That form defines energy and energy manifests information is the central concept of Form School feng shui. Every existing thing in the universe has three components: matter, chi energy, and information. What is visible to us is the matter aspect – but that contains the chi energy aspect, and the information aspect, even though they are not directly visible to us.
Chi Energy in Tai Chi Movement
Body, Chi and Mind are the three essentials in Tai Chi and other internal or healing arts.
Chinese medicine says: The Mind leads the Chi and the Chi leads the Blood. Our mind aspect can transcend personal limitations. Our Chi energy can nourish our physical and emotional health. Our movements can manifest as physical beauty.
Dr. Hsu will present these often neglected, though essential aspects of Tai Chi practice. His presentation will guide you through the practice whilst applying the principles of Mind and Chi energy to the movements.
This workshop is appropriate for all levels of tai chi practitioners or those who wish to learn to apply these principles.
Time: Saturday October 25, 2014
2 – 4 PM
Place: Mercer Island Community & Event Center
8236 SE 24th Street, Mercer Island, WA
Suggested Donation: $20:00
Dr Shan-tung Hsu began teaching Tai Chi locally in 1971. He was one of the first to introduce Tai Chi to the Pacific NW. He was the inspiration for founding the Five Willow Tai Chi Association. Dr. Hsu has been a committee member of the International Medical Qigong Association. He is the former publisher of World Qigong magazine. He has lectured on Chi energy and design globally for the past 30 years.
For further information contact: Diane Exeriede, 425-452-5581
Fivewillowtaichiseattle.org
In Form School feng shui, mountain and water are the two key features of the Four-Feature model that is used in analysis and design. (The Four Features are Mountain, Water, Guardian Hills, and Energy Spot. These constitute the keys to interpreting the energetic composition of any structure.)
The Year of Stable Luck
The Snake is leaving, but before it leaves, it wants to show its power by swinging its tail so people will remember it. This can be seen through the floods and cold spells in Europe; cold spells and droughts in the United States; the passing of respected people, like Nelson Mandela. And now the Horse Year is arriving.
The Year of the Horse will reflect the gentle, mild temperament of the horse. Natural events will be calmer and less extreme. There will still be political ups and downs, but they will be smoother and less haphazard. The economic situation is in a holding pattern in Europe. While the United States seems to be ready for a recovery, no real recovery should be expected. The economic growth will mostly be in Asia.
There will be some surprising lucky breaks in situations that have seemed unsolvable, like the Korean and Iranian situations. The situation in Ukraine has been intensifying for the last two months. If people can hold on, there may be a continuation of the Orange Revolution in the form of a Soft Revolution, a transformation that does not involve any major disruptions.
This will also be the twenty-fourth year of the Blue Mountain Feng Shui Institute. From the beginning, the BlueMountain emphasis has been on natural principles, and on Feng Shui as a manifestation of natural principles. The other emphasis is chi, the formative energy of nature. The focus was therefore at first, on environmental design. But chi and natural principles by their very nature are not restricted to one area of activity: they penetrate every kind of activity, since no activities are outside of nature. Over the past few years, we have explored the ways in which chi and natural principles work in other fields as well, especially health, communication, and personal cultivation. The emphasis of focus has gradually shifted from environmental design to the wider range of applications of energy and natural principles, and to understanding how they can be applied in any field.
For this reason, the Blue Mountain Feng Shui Institute will become the Blue Mountain Institute, and the focus will be the spectrum of applications of chi energy and natural principles. Environmental design will continue to be one focus. Another focus will be on the direct, simple application of natural principles to health. The third focus will be the application of natural principles to communication and personal growth.
The long-awaited book, Form Defines Energy, after many revisions, is scheduled to be published in May of 2014. In addition, the Institute is developing a series of short videos on Feng Shui subjects, to be posted on YouTube and on our web site.
On the personal level, this will be a very auspicious year for people born in the years of the Dog and Tiger. For people born in the Horse year, too, this will be a year of very positive change. People born in the year of the Rat may have some challenges. People born in the years of the Rabbit and Ox can expect some difficulties, and the need to work harder. However, this particular Year of the Horse is a lucky one. So, even those who can expect challenges will find the challenges easier to overcome. People born in other years will find that their lives will tend to increase stability, and they will be able to advance bravely and calmly through the year. Everyone will find the year better than expected. This is a year of stable luck. As we go forward through the year, we will experience gentle progress.
In conclusion, after the turmoil of the Dragon and Snake years, things will be calmer. But horses are brave, and charge forward, so there will be progress and change. The essence of working with the Horse Year is to approach things gently, and with a quality of low-key humility. Then it will be possible to maintain a balance between the Yin and Yang aspects of the year, and navigate through its challenges with skill and serenity.
Shan-Tung Hsu
The recent unrest in Ukraine over its president Viktor Yanukovish backing out of a trade deal with the European Union, prompted one of my students in Kiev, to ask me about the national flag of Ukraine. How does the flag of Ukraine reflect the fate of the country? The flag is composed two equal sized blue and yellow bands. Originally, yellow on the top, now it is reversed and blue sits on top. Does this make any difference?
As we know, any successful company in the world has a good logo; such as, Apple computer, Facebook, Google, Nike, Mercedes Benz, and Twitter, to name a few. Likewise, any strong country in the world has a good flag design.
The most common national flag design is the combination of colored bands in either a horizontal pattern (German, Russia, and Netherlands) or vertical pattern (France, and Italy). Flags could also have different design patterns such as the flag of USA, England, China and Japan.
Good design is reflected by the color combination and the form of the pattern. For the flag with color bands, ideally it should have a three-color combination such as the flags of Germany (black, red, yellow), France and Russia (blue, white, red), and Italy (green, white, red). If there are only two colors, it should have three bands such as the Austrian and Canadian flags. Three (either color or band) represents a Yang number with more dynamic energy. Two (color and band) is a yin number. It is static and has less momentum such as flags of Libya, Monaco, Poland, and Indonesia. (Indonesia, in spite of its largest population and big territory, does not play any important role in the world stage).
Ukraine’s national flag of blue and yellow was officially adopted for the first time in 1918 by a short lived Ukraine People’s Republic and then was restored in 1992. There were times when yellow was on the top and blue was on the bottom. There are some who argue that maybe it’s better to have yellow on top instead of blue. The real issue is that it has two-colors and two-bands. Both are Yin in number (even number), and the lack of Yang energy from the numerology in the flag reflects stagnation, conflict, and indecision for the fate of the country.
Good design follows Natural Laws; Yin Yang Theory and Five Element Theory. From the Five Element theory point of view, Blue (Wood element) and Yellow (Earth element) are in direct conflict. What is more, even though Wood controls Earth, the light blue is a weak Wood, which means it does not have a strong control over Earth. This reflects stagnation and indecision. Also, from a Yin-Yang theory point of view, Blue is a yin color, Yellow is a neutral color, thus the flag energy also leans more toward yin. The flag of strong and rich countries such as USA, China, Russia, Japan, German, France, Italy, Netherland, and Canada all have the color red, the Yang color, in their national flag.
Ideally, Ukraine should add a Yang element in its flag. This can be done by simply adding a red band to the flag. If there is a concern of being too similar with other countries, it can also consider inserting an emblem, of which reflects the historical and cultural identity in the center of flag to bridge the Blue and Yellow colors. But make the blue, a darker blue for strength.
To change a national flag is not an easy task. It will require much national debate. However, all manifestations begin with a simple thought of a simple person. Time will come when people’s energy will change, to a stronger energy and inspire the change of the flag, for the better future of the country.
Shan-Tung Hsu, Ph. D.
Blue Mountain Institute
Seattle, Washington USA
shantunghsu@gmail.com
There is a country with a land size of 35,900 Km square, 0.37 % of USA. It has a population of 23 million (7.35% USA). This country has no oil, iron, coal, gold, or mineral deposit, nor does it have any other noticeable natural resources.
Yet this country has accomplished:
GDP per capita: $37,000 (USA $49.800)
Foreign Reserve: 408 billion. It ranks No. 6 in the world, next to China, Japan, European Union, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.
Electronic Industry: rank No. 4
Steel industry: No. 4
Petro-chemical Industry: No.4
Import/export Volume: No. 12
Mass transit quality: No.5
Literacy rate: > 96%
Health Care service quality: No. 5
National Health Insurance is administrated by the Ministry of Health, and has a population coverage of 100%. The average premium is around $30 per month and there is easy access to very good health care service. Its per capita health expenditure is $750 (less than 1/10 of USA)
Literacy rate: >96%
The cost of water, electricity, gasoline, school tuition, tax rate are among the lowest in the world.
Political system: Democratic, with strong opposition political party.
Religious/worship areas: one for every 1,500 of the population.
It’s amazing! Isn’t it?
So, what is this country?
–Taiwan (Republic of China)
Pay a visit to this beautiful island. Enjoy the picturesque landscape, friendly people, most abundant variety of fruit and vegetables, and the best of Chinese food.
Shan-Tung Hsu
Blue Mountain Feng Shui Institute
A logo is a graphical element, together with its logotype, forms a trade mark or commercial brand for recognition. One of the most important parts of a company’s branding strategy is choosing the right logo. From a feng shui point of view, a logo is beyond just a trademark or brand. It encapsulates the
energy of the company in the image. It represents the very essence, the totality of the company.
All successful companies have good logos; all failing companies have bad logos. There are no exceptions. A good logo should be simple, visually balanced, and resonate with the company or organization’s service or product. In creating a logo, one should incorporate the yang principle for momentum, encode a hidden message, use a friendly visual image and provide an emotional or mental association. A logo, good or bad, reflects whether a company will either be successful or a failure. If one studies the history of a logo of any company, one can clearly see the co-relationship between the ups and downs of that company.
For the past 25 years, Microsoft has used a logotype instead of a graphic image. Not by any conscious consideration, the use of a plain typeface name actually served Microsoft very well. It was responsible for Microsoft’s long term success until now.
A graphic image commands more attention than does a simple typeface. It presents a stronger focus and defines the company stronger. But the definition also comes with limitations of its flexibility and potential. For the last few decades, the ever evolving field of the computer industry has not been a
defined industry. As a software company, Microsoft’s main asset is intelligent property.
In the classical Five-Element or Wu-Xing Theory, intelligence is associated with the Water element. Water does not like to be defined; water resonates with flow and flexibility. Not surprisingly, Microsoft also resonates with the Water element by strategically forgoing perfection with its flooding the market
first and fixing it later approach. The simple typeface of Microsoft, not to be defined, resonates with Microsoft’s philosophy and has been serving it very well.
As Microsoft continues to diversify its product lines, it moves out from the purity of the Water element. Thus, the Physical level has to change to reflect the energy and information attributed in a logo. This is the underlying reason why Microsoft changes its logo. It is how energy naturally plays out,
not through surface reasons or by conscious efforts.
The new logo is composed of a multicolored Windows symbol in front of the “Microsoft” name in a lighter type. Jeff Hansen, Microsoft’s general manager of brand strategy said it is intended to signal the heritage but also signal the future – a newness and freshness.
The new logo’s form is wholesome, and it also reflects stability. However, seeing it from a feng shui perspective, from the matter, chi energy, and information perspective, the logo is a very ordinary design, it reflects that Microsoft will not continue enjoying its phenomenal success it has for
over the past decades.
In the first place, there is no energy connection between the four colored tiled image and the Microsoft word. These two look like separate entities that just happen to be placed next to each other. Both serve itself, not to one another . They are not in love nor do they go hand in hand.
In the second place, the colorful tiled image on the right hand side, the yin side, signifies the past. The light type face of Microsoft on the left hand side , the yang side, signifies the future. Respectively, they reflect the colorful and glory past and the not the colorful future. We cannot expect Microsoft to have
much excitement to show in years to come. However, since the logo is still basically wholesome and stable in form, Microsoft will maintain to be a viable company.
Shan-Tung Hsu. Ph.D.
Director, Blue Mountain Feng Shui Institute
www.bluemountainfengshui.com
206-523-3946 or shantunghsu@gmail.com
A logo is a graphical element, together with its logotype, forms a trade mark or commercial brand for recognition. One of the most important parts of a company’s branding strategy is choosing the right logo. From a feng shui point of view, a logo is beyond just a trademark or brand. It encapsulates the
energy of the company in the image. It represents the very essence, the totality of the company.
All successful companies have good logos; all failing companies have bad logos. There are no exceptions. A good logo should be simple, visually balanced, and resonate with the company or organization’s service or product. In creating a logo, one should incorporate the yang principle for momentum, encode a hidden message, use a friendly visual image and provide an emotional or mental association. A logo, good or bad, reflects whether a company will either be successful or a failure. If one studies the history of a logo of any company, one can clearly see the co-relationship between the ups and downs of that company.
For the past 25 years, Microsoft has used a logotype instead of a graphic image. Not by any conscious consideration, the use of a plain typeface name actually served Microsoft very well. It was responsible for Microsoft’s long term success until now.
A graphic image commands more attention than does a simple typeface. It presents a stronger focus and defines the company stronger. But the definition also comes with limitations of its flexibility and potential. For the last few decades, the ever evolving field of the computer industry has not been a
defined industry. As a software company, Microsoft’s main asset is intelligent property.
In the classical Five-Element or Wu-Xing Theory, intelligence is associated with the Water element. Water does not like to be defined; water resonates with flow and flexibility. Not surprisingly, Microsoft also resonates with the Water element by strategically forgoing perfection with its flooding the market
first and fixing it later approach. The simple typeface of Microsoft, not to be defined, resonates with Microsoft’s philosophy and has been serving it very well.
As Microsoft continues to diversify its product lines, it moves out from the purity of the Water element. Thus, the Physical level has to change to reflect the energy and information attributed in a logo. This is the underlying reason why Microsoft changes its logo. It is how energy naturally plays out,
not through surface reasons or by conscious efforts.
The new logo is composed of a multicolored Windows symbol in front of the “Microsoft” name in a lighter type. Jeff Hansen, Microsoft’s general manager of brand strategy said it is intended to signal the heritage but also signal the future – a newness and freshness.
The new logo’s form is wholesome, and it also reflects stability. However, seeing it from a feng shui perspective, from the matter, chi energy, and information perspective, the logo is a very ordinary design, it reflects that Microsoft will not continue enjoying its phenomenal success it has for
over the past decades.
In the first place, there is no energy connection between the four colored tiled image and the Microsoft word. These two look like separate entities that just happen to be placed next to each other. Both serve itself, not to one another . They are not in love nor do they go hand in hand.
In the second place, the colorful tiled image on the right hand side, the yin side, signifies the past. The light type face of Microsoft on the left hand side , the yang side, signifies the future. Respectively, they reflect the colorful and glory past and the not the colorful future. We cannot expect Microsoft to have
much excitement to show in years to come. However, since the logo is still basically wholesome and stable in form, Microsoft will maintain to be a viable company.
Shan-Tung Hsu. Ph.D.
Director, Blue Mountain Feng Shui Institute
www.bluemountainfengshui.com
206-523-3946 or shantunghsu@gmail.com
Pu-erh tea grows in China’s Yunnan province. Its history can be traced back to the Han dynasty (206 B.C. – A.D. 220) but it became popular outside China only at the end of 20th century. Pu-erh tea is made from a large-leafed variety of tea. The buds and tender leaves are first converted to raw material called mao-cha (毛茶) by a process involving wilting, kneading, and drying in the sun. The mao-cha is then steamed and pressed into a compressed disk or brick form, then put in storage to allow a natural aging process to “mature” the tea.
Traditionally, tea from Yunnan was sold to Tibet and Southeast Asia regions. The tea was transported by tea-horse caravans or by tea porters over the treacherous Tea Horse Road, often in bad weather. During transportation, the tea went through a second phase of fermentation by microorganisms. This is why it has been classified as “post-fermented” tea. Slow oxidation and post-fermentation created a unique earthy, sweet taste and aroma, and a beautiful ruby red color. This traditional pu-erh tea is now called “green” or “raw” pu-erh. It ranges from the initial green state to partially fermented, and post fermented tea. In other words, it cut across all categories of the fermentation process.
In 1973, a tea manufacturer in Yunnan invented a way to simulate the traditional process for aging mao-cha by using prolonged bacterial and fungal fermentation in a warm and humid environment under controlled conditions for 30-40 days. The tea is then dried and compressed into a cake or brick form. This cake is then stored for a few months to allow cooked smell to dissipate before sending it to market. Pu-erh tea produced through this process is called “cooked” or “ripened “ pu-erh.
While green pu-erh takes years to reach a rich and mellow state, the cooked pu-erh takes only six months. People who first encounter pu-erh tea prefer cooked pu-erh, since it is mellow and sweet. However, experienced connoisseur may prefer aged green pu-erh, as it more alive and has more depth.
Unlike green tea, which ideally should be consumed soon after production, green pu-erh can be stored for many years. Pu-erh tea is often classified by years and region of production, much the way wine is classified.
If black tea can be compared with a vigorous, assertive gentleman, then the mellowness of pu-erh tea is rather like earthy, affectionate old grandparents. Good pu-erh can be steeped many times. It is very dependable and can be counted on, just like grandparents, who, seasoned by life’s lessons, can be relied upon for support and guidance.
While green tea is sharp and refreshing, pu-erh is sweet and soothing, with a hint of earthiness. Also with its beautiful ruby color, pu-erh has been described as “drinking a warm campfire”.
With green tea as an innocent teenager, oolong tea as a mature and sophisticated lady, black tea as a vigorous and assertive gentleman, and pu-erh tea as mellow and affectionate grandparents; all these makes up a nice and wholesome tea family. All has their uniqueness. Tea lovers embrace all teas; drinking green tea in the morning, Pu-erh in evening and oolong and black tea the whole day long.
Enjoy Tea, Enjoy life!
With green tea as an innocent, energetic teenager, and oolong tea as a sophisticated, mature lady, there must be a father figure in the tea family; it is an assertive gentleman– Black Tea.
Black tea, which the Chinese call “red tea” because of its rich red color when properly brewed, is a fully fermented tea. With a strong full-bodied flavor and taste, black tea is the most consumed tea in the world. It accounts for some 70% of all production and consumption.
The process of making black tea is similar to that of making oolong tea, except that the tea is fully “fermented” by allowing the oxidation process to continue until complete. Originally, black tea was made only in China. But after 1830, the British successfully grew Assam tea in India, which became the world’s largest tea producer of black tea. Black tea cultivation has since spread to Africa, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and other parts of the world.
The most famous black in China are Lapsong Souchong , Keemun, and Dian Hong. All Chinese black teas are enjoyed without adding milk or sugar, though many Westerners often do add them. Others enjoy their black tea with honey and lemon.
Full-bodied black tea is assertive, like a successful, vigorous gentleman. To brew it well, the water should be near boiling point. Relating to a vigorous, assertive gentleman is very different from relating to a teenager. It’s not just that gentlemen are unafraid of challenges; they prefer challenges. In the someway, black tea prefers water near the boiling point. If the water is not hot enough, many qualities of the tea do not develop. Like a vigorous, successful gentleman, black tea is straightforward and forthcoming. Unlike oolong, which can be steeped several times with increasing subtle difference, black tea does not gradually reveal different aspects with successive steepings. Every steeping remains the same (though it may become weaker). It is what it is, and presents itself fully from the beginning.
While a youngster can quickly lose the energy of youth, a mature person has endurance. In the same way, green tea may lose its freshness quickly, but black tea retains its flavor for years.
In the West, most black tea is sold in the form of tea blends, a combination of teas from different areas. This allows tailoring the blend to many different customer tastes and creates a more uniform quality. However, blending teas creates a loss of distinctiveness of teas produced at particular time in particular areas.
In a traditional family, in addition to parent and children, to have mellow and affectionate grandparents are an added blessing. In the tea family, there is this added blessing –- Pu-erh Tea. To be continued…..
