WHERE IN THE WORLD DO THEY GET ALL THOSE NUMBERS?

 

 

Intimidated by flying stars?   You’re not alone.   Many people are scared off by the mere mention of drawing a flying star chart.  It’s not as hard as it looks, though. With a few rules and step by step instructions, it should be making sense soon! 

 

We’re going to build a chart for a house with a facing of 270 degrees…due west…also known as W2.   This gives us a sitting mountain in E2 at 90 degrees.

 

First, we start by examining the Luo Shu.   It’s a simple little map, nine numbers in a pattern we will follow forwards and backwards throughout the process.

 

4	9	2
3	5	7
8	1	6

                                                                   NORTH

 

The Luo Shu numbers begin in the center with 5, then to the bottom right 6 (northwest), then the 7 (west) just above it, etc. We will use different numbers, but the same pattern. It’s important to remember also that the Luo Shu is set up “Chinese style” with north at the bottom, south at the top. 

 

Some stars will fly forward on the same path as above, and some will go backwards on that path.   Below is a diagram showing the path of forward flying stars.    

Center (1), northwest (2), west (3), northeast (4), etc.

 

                                                                   SOUTH

9	5	7
8	1	3
4	6	2

 

 

When we determine which number goes in the center, we simply follow the Luo Shu path either forward or backwards to build our chart. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We begin with the first center star. This will start the time star portion of the chart. Time stars are determined by the 20 year period. Currently we are in period 7, the house we are auditing was built in this period, so 7 goes in the center of our time star chart.

 

Following the Luo Shu path, with south at the top, the chart begins with the 7 time star in the center, then 8 in the northwest corner, 9 in the west, etc.

 

                                                                   SOUTH

6	2	4
5	7	9
1	3	8

 

 

                                                                            EAST  WEST

 

 

                                                                   NORTH

This is the time star sequence.

Once you’ve determined the facing direction, take the opposite direction and you have the sitting mountain.   This is the point where we pick up the center star in the mountain star section of the chart.

 

For example: If you have your sitting direction in E2 you will begin your mountain star sequence with the 5 in the center, because on the time star chart the east position holds the 5.   (remember, south is at the top)  Place the 5 above and to the left of the 7 time star in the center, and you have the start of your mountain chart. 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                 EAST   WEST

                                                                   NORTH

 

 

But, which way to go?  First, we have to determine whether the stars are flying backwards or forwards! In this chart the stars will fly backward because the west (270*) facing (W2) is yin. (Have you figured out why they call it “flying stars” yet?) You can find the yin and yang designations of the mountains on your Luo pan, or on the chart below.

 

 

In our chart the mountain (sitting) and facing (water) stars will fly backwards.   Begin with the 5 mountain star in the center (taken from the sitting side of the chart, remember?).   Now, going backwards the northwest will be 4, the west 3, the northeast 2, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                 EAST   WEST

                                                                   NORTH

 

 

Now you have your time stars and mountain stars….on to the water (facing) stars! Using the same principle, the water stars are determined by the original time star chart.

 

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                                                         ORIGINAL TIME CHART

 

 

6	2	4
5	7	9
1	3	8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The facing is in the west…so the 9 star is placed in the center, next to the mountain star, above and to the right of the time star. And since we’re flying backwards, we get:

 

                                                                    SOUTH

 

                                               EAST WEST

 

 

 

                                                                    NORTH

 

There you have it! Just be sure to practice and double check your work often. A small mistake can result in the wrong chart, which can either be useless, or dangerous. One of the most difficult tasks is finding the facing direction.   Sounds simple, right? But if you have the wrong one, you have the wrong chart. No amount of work will make it right, so make sure your facing direction is the correct one.