The Four Chinese Celestial Animals

I recently did an interview with Michael Benner on his Ageless Wisdom podcast. It was entitled “Feng Shui and Taoism” During the interview, we discussed how the four Celestial Chinese Animals – The Azure dragon, The Red Phoenix, the White Tiger and the Black Tortoise – can be used as energetic metaphors to position oneself and ones home in space. The same animals are also used in Martial Art training. I think now, as we are gradually exiting our pandemic restrictions, is a great time to consciously review this simple teaching on how to best position oneself in the universe.

The four animals are also known as “the Four Guardians,” and each one has a specific magnetic direction, a color, a season and an element. They can also be used to position oneself or home irregardless of the magnetic direction. When utilizing this format, the left side is ruled by the dragon, the right side by the tiger, the front side by the phoenix and the back side by the tortoise.

For homes and businesses (this also applies to apartments and condos) the azure blue or green dragon is located on the left side as you look out from the front of your home. A building is looked at as an entity that breathes and functions as your second, protective skin. The front of a building is where the structure breathes in the qi and is usually where the front door is
located, but many apartments and condos now have their main entrance on a side or in the back. The left yang male dragon side is considered
auspicious expanding energy and rules wealth and prosperity. The landforms on his side should be higher than the right tiger side. A building on the left side building can also energetically function as a virtual mountain or hill. It is not good when looking out at the street in front of you ( virtual river) running down hill on the left side. It is said your wealth is being drained away.

The Tiger side which rules the right side of a building is a yin earthly animal. It is the female side of the building and rules health and relationships. It is seen as condensing energy and is ruled by metal. On this side, the topological features, both natural and manmade, should be lower. A street seen running downhill on the tiger side of the property may affect ones health and relationships.

The land in front of a building should be as open as possible so that the home or business can breathe freely. The front, or facing, is represented by the red phoenix. It represents perpetual inspiration, is associated with the Fire element, and has rising energy. It brings fame, success, and new opportunities for your home. Make sure there are no obstructions here.

As an example, when you are dining in a restaurant your four guardian animals should configure what is known as “power seating.” Your back should have a wall behind it and you should have open space on your left and right side for the dragon and tiger. Your red phoenix should have room to fly. If you are seated at a “twofer, ” against a wall on your left side, you have lost your dragon power, and if the chair has a weak back, you have no turtle protecting you.

Once you start thinking about these concepts, they make sense! you can see why it is taught in martial art classes.

The link to the interview is : https://www.invisiblearchitecture.com/feng-shui-and-taoism/

Love and Light,

Carol