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What are Mountain and Water?

The terms "Mountain" and "Water" are used literally in Feng Shui, but also apply to abstract principles used in Feng Shui. The concepts of these terminologies extend far beyond their typical definitions.

In terms of Feng Shui, �Mountain� can be real or virtual. Mountain refers to real mountains in direct contact with air, but also refers to objects of substance and size such as elevated grounds, trees, walls, buildings, heavy and large objects, big statues, closed doors and windows, glass, curtains, absence of movement, tranquil rooms, colder and darker rooms, yin qualities. �Mountain� is a barrier, anything that can stop, block out, calm down Qi.

A closed door or window is Mountain because it can stop Qi. Closed doors and windows have become barriers in accordance with the principles of Feng Shui. So there is no reason you should be bothered when sitting or sleeping in line with a closed door or window.

In terms of Feng Shui, �Water� can be real or virtual. Water refers to real water in direct contact with air, but also refers to lower grounds, open doors and windows, open space, landscaping, warmer and brighter rooms, round furniture implying movement, activity, yang qualities. �Water� is a pathway, a flow, anything that allows the circulation and movement of Qi, anything that can attract, contain, hold, activate, move, or distribute Qi.

An open door or window is Water because it allows Qi to flow through. If you open two doors in your house so as to allow the Qi to flow from one room to the other you used the Water principle. Opened doors and windows give a pathway to Qi and are Water.

Passive and inert, the essence of Mountain is yin, �Mountain� is the barrier and means that you block or stop Qi where it needs to be blocked by using one of the Mountain techniques in the correct location and direction. Active and kinetic, the essence of Water is yang, �Water� is motion and means you use one of the Water attributes to open up, move, or activate Qi.

Xuan Kong based principles and techniques are simple, but must be performed and applied in accordance with the correct direction, at the correct location, in the correct amount, and at correct time.

All of these principles apply to both the inside and outside of a building.

When the headboard of a bed is against a wall it is supported by Mountain. The base of the bed is then open and referred to as Water.

The reason we refrain from placing a desk to face a wall is because we would have Mountain in the front and Water at the back. This has nothing to do with intruders or lack of vision, just common sense.

A house would be built to face out from the Mountain, not to face the Mountain.

What are Facing and Sitting?

The terms �Facing� and �Sitting� apply to the directions from which Qi enters and protects a building.

�Facing� and �Sitting� are concepts that refer to the active and the supported sides of a structure. Facing is yang, active, the true front, the area of the building where most of the Qi enters. Sitting is yin, passive, the true back, the area of the building where the most protective support is available to block Sha Qi and to assist the containment of Sheng Qi.

Facing refers to the �Wealth� aspects of a structure. Wealth implies that which is beneficial to prosperity and can be interpreted as finances, but also as knowledge, relationships, activity, wealth, status, opportunity, and other material gain. Facing is referred to as �Water�.

Sitting refers to the �Health� aspects of a structure. Health implies that which is beneficial to wellbeing and can be interpreted as physical health, but also as comfort, tranquility, longevity, people, relationships, fertility, and family. Sitting is referred to as �Mountain�.

Facing and Sitting are not necessarily determined by a front door or front and backyards. The Facing is the side where the most yang Qi enters the building. Sitting is the side directly opposite the Facing.

Xuan Kong dictates what is referred to as an �armchair� configuration for a structure. Armchair configuration means that the built structure is supported at three sides, with an opening to the true front, the Facing side, to be exact.