I do not promise great wealth or instant happiness. But I do promise that over time, tuning the mind to the wonders of Feng Shui magic will bring varying degrees of extra good luck. This will manifest in greater successes and less obstacles in your life that will make all the difference to your feeling of well-being.
Recall what I said about developing purity of motivation. Implement each one of the 48 techniques contained in this book one by one…and work at improving your concentration. I know that you will be surprised by the results.
The pagoda brings serenity and success.
The dragon is woven into the very fabric of Chinese civilization in a shape and form that has remained remarkably unchanged over the centuries. Traditionally associated with strength and courage, the Chinese dragon has a long head with a gaping mouth, a pair of horns, and long flowing mane. His eyes are fierce and alert, his nostrils flaring, and he has a long sinewy body, covered with scales that reflect iridescent light. Sometimes the dragon is green or blue; sometimes he is red or golden. He is said to possess supernatural powers and can make himself invisible. When he flies through the skies small tongues of fire emanate from his body as he moves.
The dragon image is the most auspicious symbol in the Feng Shui gallery of propitious symbols. Activating the dragon’s cosmic chi in the home can be done in many different ways depending on which Feng Shui school and which branch of Taoist teaching you wish to follow. The rituals here are based on specific tips given to me years ago while I was working in Hong Kong. At that time I was Chairman of my own chain of department stores, known as the Dragon Seed Group. I learned a great deal about the dragon then and even wrote a book about it, which I released in 1988 — the year of the dragon. The intangible power of dragon symbols has never ceased to surprise me.
Releasing the Dragon’s Magical Cosmic Chi
For centuries the dragon has captured the imagination of humanity. In contrast to western imagery, where he is a gruesome monster to be feared and hunted, in China the dragon is a celestial creature, embodying the spirit of the earth and sky manifesting in many different forms and representing all things powerful, strong, and auspicious. Hidden among the ridges of mountains or coiled within the depths of winding waterways, his spirit bursts forth each time he is aroused. Ancient Chinese books are scattered with lyrical descriptions of his awakening. An eclipse occurs each time he decides to eat the sun or the moon, and typhoons take place when dragons battle. Dragons are believed to unfold in storm clouds, wash their scales in the waves, breathe fire as they streak through the skies like lightning, and bring the life-giving rains that mark the beginning of spring.
The dragon also plays a prominent role in Chinese history, for the Chinese dragon of antiquity descended onto earth and became the son of heaven, living as a mortal in the person of the Emperor. Whereas before he had been the ruler of the mountains and rivers, the sovereign of the seas and lord of the lakes, the dragon became a ruler of men. And so deep in the imperial halls and throne rooms of the Forbidden City in China dragons are painted, carved, engraved, and sculpted into every corner, telling eloquently of a time when dragons were revered as the highest celestial symbol of the land.
The Chinese dragon is said to possess supernatural powers. He can change color, from blue-green to golden yellow, and shape, from a mile long to a tiny earthworm, even to invisibility. He is always shown gazing longingly or appearing to reach and touch a round elusive object, said to be the great wish-fulfilling pearl. Some view this pearl as the sun, dazzling in its brilliance, some as the moon, piercingly white in its calm and iridescent glow. Thus the dragon is said to embody cosmic chi, so that with every intangible breath of his presence he holds out the promise of a better lifestyle, the promise of unbelievable prosperity, unimaginable happiness, and the genuine awakening of the human spirit at every level — mind, body, and spirit. How much of his dragon magic materializes in your life depends as much on the quality of your practice as on your own heaven luck, or tien chi.
All around the world, in every country where dragons can be found, prosperity rises. Over time people living in dragon countries grow prosperous and powerful. Wealth accumulates, moving from one part of the country to another and from individual to individual. The countries that possess dragons are those with mountains. It is within the undulating ridges of a mountain range that hidden dragons build their lairs, and which, when activated, come alive bringing great prosperity and power.
Placing the dragon image inside the home represents a big part of Taoist Feng Shui magic, since it is used to activate the cosmic chi he represents. However, he has to “sit’” in the correct places in the home, his eyes need to be awakened, and there are taboos associated with his size and color. He works best when placed in tandem with beautiful flowing water, and he brings great protective power to those who know how to wear his image in gold.
The American dragon spans the country with his head in California, his body writhing through Middle America, his tail in the northeastern states, and his claws spread the length of the country.
Dotting the Eyes of the Dragon
Very advanced Feng Shui adepts know how to discern the exact locations of the dragon’s body across the country, and so determine the more auspicious parts that represent special spots of prosperity. They are able to tell with remarkable accuracy where to find the five claws of the dragon, where power abounds, and also the belly, where prosperity is generated. Most importantly, they can find the head and tell you where the two eyes of the dragon are situated. To date it has been a closely guarded secret, but Feng Shui experts who can locate the head and eyes of the dragon can show you how to dot the eyes of the dragon, bringing him to life. When the dragon is awakened its breath fills the surrounding environment with copious amounts of yang energy, and any home located there will enjoy tremendous good fortune.
Tall buildings at strategic points in cities are said to represent the eyes of the dragon.
In the past, dotting the eye of the dragon required nothing more than the strategic placement of big boulders at certain places in a village or city. This would enable the dragon to see, thereby igniting its protective powers. Today, however, many Feng Shui masters agree that boulders are insufficient. Instead, they suggest that the best method of dotting the eyes of the dragon is to build large, tall buildings at strategic points. These buildings should stay lit at all times so that they look like the eyes of the dragon when seen from the skies above. So if you believe that the American dragon has its head in California, then it is easy enough to fly over the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco to locate the buildings that symbolize the dragon’s eyes. With the wealth emanating out of Silicon Valley, it seems likely that the eyes of the dragon have already been awakened.
In Hong Kong, the dragon’s head is believed to be in the Tsimshatsui area, where tall, grand buildings abound. Local people maintain that there are nine dragons in this part of Hong Kong, thereby giving rise to its name Kowloon, meaning nine dragons. In Beijing, there are stunning nine-dragon walls in the Forbidden City and in the Heibei park, and in Hong Kong there is a beautiful reproduction of these walls near the waterfront in the Causeway bay area. These nine dragon walls offer celestial protection to the cities and their residents, guarding them against natural disasters.
In the Malaysian peninsula there are two dragons living along the main range of mountains. One has its head on the northeastern outskirts of Kuala