HOME
  |   PROFILE   |   ARTICLES   |   COURSES   |   PRODUCTS   |   FEEDBACK   |   CONTACT US   |   CASE STUDIES   |   FAQ
MAKE PAYMENTS
  Home >> Article Details
ANNUAL AFFLICTIONS
How often have you noticed that a renovation or repair has begun, and with it, a host of unforeseen and uncalled for problems follow? In my 18 years as an Interior Designer, I came across this ever so often, till finally, I found the explanation when I commenced my Feng Shui studies.
 
Why does this happen ?
Each year there are certain directions that are considered INAUSPICIOUS. If these sectors of a property are disturbed, then they will tend to exert their evil influences. For this reason, one cannot repair, use or renovate these sectors. These occurrences are referred to broadly as “shars” or “afflictions”.
 
Before you plan to build, renovate, repair or dig, you need to check if you are violating any “shars” or activating a problem area. The table below should guide you on this. Consulting a Feng Shui expert, of course, is the best way to avoid a problem.
 
In case your house sits, (the back of the house is the “sitting”) or opens a main door in such a direction, you should ideally avoid “disturbing the earth” completely.
 
These energies are cyclical and affect the various sectors by rotation, in a fixed pattern, at a pre-determined time cycle, which may be annual, once in 4 years, once in 9 years etc.
 
Being predictable enables us to anticipate and therefore prepare for such eventualities well in advance. Make sure that you plan any renovation and repairs so as to be in sync with these predictable patterns.
 
These annual afflictions are :
 
 
  Grand Duke & Year BreakerBACK TO TOP
 
Essentially, the Grand Duke is the position occupied by the “animal sign” of the year. E.g. 2008 is the year of the RAT, and on the 24 mountain ring, (see Feng Shui Parlance for more info) the keystone of Chinese Metaphysical studies, it appears in the North, so in 2008, the grand Duke is in the North.
 
The Year breaker, is exactly opposite so it falls in the South. This means that in the year 2008, the North and the South sectors of the house cannot be renovated. In addition, if your houses faces or sits on the north-south axis, or if your main door is in the north or the south sectors, you should ideally not renovate such a property, unless you want to attract a measure of bad luck, or what is called “the wrath of the Grand Duke”.
 
There are 12 animal signs occupying 1/12th of the earth’s orbit of 360 degrees. Each one represents one year therefore the Grand duke comes back to each position of 30 degrees, once in 12 years. However, we have only 8 sectors (North, North East, East…and so on) therefore sometimes, the Grand Duke stays in the same sector for two years at a stretch.
 
This happens in the sub-cardinal directions, not in the cardinal directions. The diagram gives you a perfect understanding of the situation.
 
YearLocationDegrees
RatN2352.6-7.5
OxNE122.6-37.5
TigerNE352.6-67.5
RabbitE282.6-97.5
DragonSE1112.6-127.5
SnakeSE3142.6-157.5
HorseS2172.6-187.5
GoatSW1202.6-217.5
MonkeySW3232.6-247.5
RoosterW2262.6-277.5
DogNW1292.6-307.5
PigNW3322.6-377.5
 
How to handle the Grand Duke :
 
  • If the Grand Duke is not disturbed, it will not pose any problem.
  • You can sit with your back to the Tai Sui but you cannot face the Tai Sui
  • Do not begin construction in the year that you face the Tai Sui.
  • If your door opens in the direction of the Tai Sui, you need to control it preferably by not using that door if possible, or if that is not possible, like if you have only one door to your apartment, then place two metal Qi Lins(not so effective, but the traditional Chinese solution)
  • If you have inadvertently disturbed the Tai Sui, you can partially ease the problem by placing a metallic obstruction in that area
 
Effects of Disturbing the Grand Duke
 
Illness, injuries, money loss and at the extreme end, fatal accidents can result from disturbing the Grand Duke. I have observed labour and employee related issues and legal problems in many cases. Theft also cannot be ruled out.
 
  Three Killings also known as the San Sha.BACK TO TOP
 
The 3 killings occur only in the four cardinal directions, and include all the three “mountains” of the trigram or sector. Moving anti-clockwise, the 3 killings affect each cardinal direction for a whole year before moving to the next cardinal direction in an anti-clockwise direction. A reduced effect also takes place on the adjacent mountains commonly known as the “assistant killing” directions, therefore in all, a total of 5 mountains are involved in each year, three branches or animal signs, plus the two sectors that are “pinched” or squashed between them. In 2008, the 3 Killings are in the south, hence in 2009, they will be in the east and so on.
For those looking for a more detailed explanation, the 24 mountains are divided into 4 “frames” each belonging to a specific element. In the year of the fire frame (including South); the 3 Killings are in the opposite direction (north) and so on, as they are in opposition to the ruling element of the year.
For example, 2008, the year of the Rat belongs to the Water frame, therefore the element that opposes it is Fire and the direction of Fire is the South, so in 2008, SOUTH is the sector afflicted by the 3 Killings or San Sha.
 
The table below efficiently summarizes the years of the san Sha or three killings for you.
 
In the Year of  Element Frame  Killing sector  Actual sub-sectors involved  
Rat, Dragon, MonkeyWater frameSouthSE3, S1, S2,S3, SW1
Rabbit, Goat, PigWood FrameWestSW3, W1, W2, W3, NW1
Tiger, Horse, DogFire FrameNorthNW3, N1, N2, N3, NE1
Ox, Snake, RoosterMetal FrameEastNE3, E1, E2, E3, SE1
 
How to handle the San Sha
 
  • Avoid disturbing the earth by digging or renovating in that area
  • No new construction
  • Avoid using or sitting in that sector, though you may face the direction of you like.
  • If you have no choice but to repair or renovate or begin construction work in the San Sha afflicted area, please use a good date to begin, so you can reduce the ill effects. Consult a qualified practitioner to get such a date; this is not something to be attempted by an amateur.
 

Effects of disturbing the San Sha or 3 Killings :

The effects can range from health issues, specifically related to blood or the loss of blood, loss of money and at the severe end of the spectrum one cannot rule our heavy injury, accidents, loss of life and fatal accidents.
 
The table below tells you which years belong to which animal branch.
 
Year of theChinese BranchYears
Rat  2008
Ox  2009
Tiger  2010
Rabbit  2011
Dragon  2012
Snake  2013
Horse  2014
Goat  2015
Monkey  2016
Rooster  2017
Dog  2018
Pig  2019
 
 5 YellowsBACK TO TOP
 
The 5 yellow star occupies an entire 45 degree sector each year. It recurs in 9 year cycles and it is the result of a simple mathematical calculation.
 
Based on the Loshu, a simple way of calculating where the 5 yellow is in a particular year is very easy:
 
  1. Add up the last two digits of the year 2008 so 0+8=8
  2. Deduct your answer from 9 (before 2000, it was deduct the answer from 10) so 9-8=1
  3. Place the answer in the center of the Loshu and fly it yang.
  4. See where the # 5 lands and that is the sector that has the 5 yellow affliction.
 
957
813
462
 
            ANNUAL SHAS AT A GLANCE
 
 GRAND DUKEYEAR BREAKERTHREE KILLINGS5 YELLOWS
yearChinese directionWestern directionChinese directionWestern directionChinese directionWestern directionChinese directionWestern direction
2007  NW3  SE3    West    North East
2008  N2  S2  South   South
2009  NE1  SW1  East   North
2010  NE3  SW3  North   South West
2011  E2  W1  West  East
2012  SE1  NW1  South   South East
2013  SE3  NW3  East centercenter
2014  S2  N2  North   North West
2015  SW1  NE1  West  West
2016  SW3  NE3  South   North East
2017  W1  E2  East   South
2018  NW1  SE1  North   North
 
Effects of disturbing the 5 yellows
The result of disturbing the 5 yellows is much the same as the other shas. Expect unforeseen problems when you dare to disturb the 5 yellows. I have found that living in a house that is sitting on the 5 yellows is far worse than facing it, unless you have a door that effectively invites the qi into your house, then that too is equally bad.
 
 
How to handle the 5 yellows
It is very easy to handle the 5 yellows. The best method is to make sure you don’t use that area or renovate, repair or carry out any breaking work in that sector. If this is not possible, and, say you have to use that area or it is your main door, then you need to suppress it by using salt or metal.
 
A six rod metal wind chime that actually moves and emits a metallic sound is good, but I have found that a good salt water cure effectively deals with the problem.
 
What is a Salt Water cure ?
A salt water cure is the traditional method for handling the annual 5 yellow star. The traditional saltwater cure can be easily made, very economically at home. All it entails is an appropriate sized container filled with kitchen salt to the brim. One then inserts 6 copper or brass coins (they don’t have to be Chinese, it is the metal that is important) and one silver coin. Water is then filled to the brim, and in the process, the salt somewhat settles down. The size of the salt water cure depends on the size of the area to be treated. For a room within a house, 5 kgs of salt is enough but for larger areas, one can use up to 200 kgs of salt. Correspondingly, the metal coins can be small brass or copper pennies for a smaller cure and in the case of a barrel of salt; I find it easy to buy simple solid brass doorknobs in place of the coins. Once again, a silver coin, though symbolic, is needed to complete the cure.
 
What happens once you make this cure and place it in the afflicted sector ?
Within the first week, you will notice some activity, even if you don’t actually touch or move the salt water cure. You may notice splattering around the container, hardening of the salt to a rock-like state or simply, either the salt or the water disappearing. In all cases, do what it takes to get it back to its original state, either replenish the salt or the water!
 
Where do I keep it ?
This year, you keep it in the South of your property. The Chinese year started in February the 4th 2008 this year and ends on the 3rd of February 2009 next year, which is when you will need to follow the #5 star to its new abode in the North.
 
Some technical details for the Feng Shui compliant reader !
 
Is it only useful for controlling the annual 5 star ?
No. In certain cases, the #5 flying star also tends to play havoc, especially when the #5 is supported by external formations. (This is a bit technical) in such cases, you may notice repeated breakdowns and dysfunction in plant and machinery. Or, you may notice people in a certain area continuously falling ill, or complaining of especially stomach disorders, or complaining of dullness. If your Feng Shui consultant confirms that it is due to a # 5 flying star, you can use this method to control it.
 
I have found great success using this simple cure, provided the size of the cure is right.
 
Case Study
 
61
6
15
2
83
4
72
5
59
7
37
9
26
1
94
3
48
8
 
The problem :
This case was a factory, Period 7, facing West 2. Here the South was afflicted with the 1-5 combination, and in addition, the ground sloped into a deep ditch.
The machinery here was a boiler, the main working component of this factory. It kept breaking down and the downtime was causing huge financial losses, not to mention that the orders and deliveries kept getting delayed
 
The solution :
A large metal drum, capacity 400 liters, was filled to the brim with sacks full of salt; we needed nearly 6 X 50 kg bags of salt to achieve this.
 
In lieu of the coins, which would have been insignificant in the context of so much of salt, I used brass weights, weighing a kilo each, the type that fruit vendors still use in India, on the balance scales. The silver coin was put in unobserved, to prevent theft. Finally, the drum was filled with water and within a week, the main cause of frequent breakdowns was discovered. After this repair job, the breakdowns became less frequent and finally stopped altogether.
 
D.I.Y.
You can use this cure in your home provided you are able to locate the South sector of your house accurately. To do this, stand in the absolute center of your house. Take a compass and see where the South points to. Locate the outermost point within your home and place the salt water cure there.
 
If you are fortunate to have an open space outside like a garden or a terrace, then place it outside rather than inside. An external ledge or window sill is also usable.
 
   
Copyright © 2008, sherrymerchant.com. All Rights Reserved.