The Winter Spirit and His Visitor

THE WINTER-SPIRIT AND HIS VISITOR

From: The Indian Fairy Book , The Original Legends

Author: Cornelius Mathews

An old man was sitting alone in his lodge by the side of a frozen stream. It was the close of winter, and his fire was almost out. He appeared very old and very desolate. His locks were white with age, and he trembled in every joint. Day after day passed in solitude, and he heard nothing but the sounds of the tempest, sweeping before it the new-fallen snow.

One day as his fire was just dying; a handsome young man approached and entered his dwelling. His cheeks were red with the blood of youth; his eyes sparkled with life, and a smile played upon his lips.

He walked with a light and quick step. His forehead was bound with a wreath of sweet grass, in place of the warrior's frontlet, and he carried a bunch of flowers in his hand.

"Ah! my son," said the old man, "I am happy to see you. Come in. Come; tell me of your adventures, and what strange lands you have been to see. Let us pass the night together. I will tell you of my prowess and exploits, and what I can perform. You shall do the same, and we will amuse ourselves."

He then drew from his sack a curiously-wrought antique pipe, and having filled it with tobacco, rendered mild by an admixture of certain dried leaves, he handed it to his guest. When this ceremony was attended to, they began to speak.

"I blow my breath," said the old man, "and the streams stand still. The water becomes stiff and hard as clear stone."

"I breathe," said the young man, "and flowers spring up all over the plains."

"I shake my locks," retorted the old man, "and snow covers the land. The leaves fall from the trees at my command, and my breath blows them away. The birds rise from the water and fly to a distant land. The animals hide themselves from the glance of my eye, and the very ground where I walk becomes as hard as flint."

"I shake my ringlets," rejoined the young man, "and warm showers of soft rain fall upon the earth.

The plants lift up their heads out of the ground like the eyes of children glistening with delight. My voice recalls the birds. The warmth of my breath unlocks the streams.

Music fills the groves wherever I walk, and all nature welcomes my approach."

At length the sun began to rise. Gentle warmth came over the place. The tongue of the old man became silent. The robin and the blue-bird began to sing on the top of the lodge.

The stream began to murmur by the door and the fragrance of growing herbs and flowers came softly on the vernal breeze.

Daylight fully revealed to the young man the character of his entertainer. When he looked upon him he had the visage of Peboan, the icy cold Winter-Spirit. Streams began to flow from his eyes.

As the sun increased he grew less and less in stature, and presently he had melted completely away.

Nothing remained on the place of his lodge-fire but the mis-kodeed, a small white flower with a pink border,

which the young visitor, Seegwun, the Spirit of Spring, placed in the wreath upon his brow, as his first trophy in the North.

The End.

Spring Thaw 2014

Spring Thaw

After the long drawn out winter where the endless snowy days at times tried our patience, who wouldn't welcome the hopeful signs of spring thaw?

Everything begins anew in spring after the thaw.

“Bowed down then preserved;

Bent then straight;

Hollow then full;

Worn then new;

A little then benefited;

A lot then perplexed.” 

“The way is empty, yet use will not drain it.

Deep, it is like the ancestor of the myriad creatures.

Blunt the sharpness;

Untangle the knots;

Soften the glare;

Let your wheels move only along old ruts.”

“As a thing the way is

Shadowy and indistinct.

Indistinct and shadowy,

Yet within it is an image;

Shadowy and indistinct,

Yet within it is a substance.

Dim and dark,

Yet within it is an essence.

This essence is quite genuine

And within it is something that can be tested.

From the present back to antiquity,

Its name never deserted it.”

“Highest good is like water. 

Because water excels in benefiting the myriad creatures without contending with them and 

settles where none would like to be, it comes close to the way.”

“Tentative, as if fording a river in winter,

Hesitant, as if in fear of his neighbors;

Formal like a guest;

Falling apart like the thawing ice;

Thick like the uncarved block;

Vacant like a valley;

Murky like muddy water.

Who can be muddy and yet, settling, slowly become limpid?

Who can be at rest and yet, stirring, slowly come to life?

He who holds fast to this way

Desires not to be full.

It is because he is not full

That he can be worn and yet newly made.”

Tao

With baited breath we await the arrival of warmth, sunshine and Fun.

The End.

The 2014 Annual Afflictions Part 4- The Illness Black Star #2 (also known as Ju Men)

The 2014 Annual Afflictions Part 4- The Illness

Black Star #2 (also known as Ju Men)

The Illness Black Star #2 flies to East during 2014 when the annual 2 Black combines with any untimely visiting monthly stars. The chi manifested from this combination can affect us undesirably and cause problems.

In Feng Shui one will always need to consider health as a priority because, without health, one cannot have an otherwise fulfilling life and certainly one will not be able to obtain good luck in making money. The eldest or only son of the family, in particular, needs to watch out for danger and long term illnesses, especially those related to the abdominal and gastrointestinal areas. Even if there is no son in the house the illness energy in the East should not be left unattended or without remedy as it can still affect everyone. One may not know that this star is also capable to bring about loss of wealth, injuries, gossips, lawsuits, relationship problems, insomnia (sleeping problems) and depression. Better to place all the necessary Cures to render it benign. Another good thing to do is to avoid using the East area as much as possible. Strive to keep it as quiet as possible and definitely shun all types of renovation and disturbing the earth. If you really have to renovate or refurbish the east room, do not engage in such activities during the months of March May, June, October and December 2014.

If your bedroom is located in the east sector of the house, you will be prone to falling sick. All is not lost however, there is a cure to subdue #2, and that is the 8 Immortals Wu Lou with Long Life Vase. 

 You may also hang any wooden Wu-Lou (gourd) in the east corner of the room or east post of the bed as an effective cure. Additionally you may place many round metal decorative objects, so long as they are calming and do not have any sharp points, to dissipate the #2 Black Star’s negative influence in the East. Avoid using red color in this sector and refrain from displaying triangle shapes or fiery pictures.

You can also use the 8 Immortals Wu Lou to dissipate the negative earth if your kitchen happens to be located in the East. If your main door is in the East, then a good remedy to dissipate the effect of the #2 star would be to hang a Ba Gua outside the door. 

Inside you may place a salt water cure and have the six Chinese coins tied with red ribbon. 
Another good Cure to place in the East would be a gold Tsai Shen Yeh (God of Wealth) statue which will help in reducing the bad earth and will also help to guard your wealth for the year. Additionally you can place a Ru Yi wealth and legal enhancer in the East.

In 2014 a metal Dragon Turtle is also used as a Feng Shui cure to neutralize the energy of negative annual stars, particularly the #2 (visiting East) and #5 star (visiting NW). In this case it brings strong protective energies as related to the fiery and courageous energy of the dragon and the watchful guardian energy of the turtle.

Dragon Headed Turtle

The Dragon and the Turtle are both considered celestial creatures and are part of the four Feng Shui guardians assigned to each of the four cardinal directions. The green Dragon is in the East, the red Phoenix in the South, the white Tiger is in the West and the North has the black Turtle. So any combination of these celestial animals logically makes for a more powerful force.

The Dragon Tortoise is a hybrid of the celestial dragon that also is blessed with the attributes of a sturdy and steadfast tortoise. With the head of dragon and a body of a turtle the energy of the dragon, comprising courage, determination and success, is perfectly blended with tortoise’s longevity of tenure, to provide one with a protection and lasting and successful career luck. How apropos that the Dragon Headed Turtle is often depicted on a bed of coins and ingots, holding a coin in its mouth- eliciting lasting wealth and occasionally, appears with claws and Ru Yi- bringing forth authority and protection. In these configurations the dragon is said to be blowing good breathe to people and carrying the Ru Yi which signifies power, high rank and doing everything well.

With the Dragon Headed Turtle, the symbolic meanings of the dragon (luck); tortoise (long life), baby tortoise (new beginnings, fertility or excellent descendants luck) and the coins representing the money that can be made, are the reason for its heightened popularity. The various designs on its back meanwhile, such as a whole lo or a shu square symbol or with one or several baby dragon turtles riding it, always represents a good beginning and a new business venture with prospects. For those of you that are in a relationship, or wishing to have one, The Dragon Tortoise also furthers fortunate relationships. It is a fantastic energizer for scholastic finesse and superior knowledge as well as for acquiring many benefactors at school and work.

A word of caution: Do not place this symbol in the kitchen or bath room.

The ideal placement of the Dragon Turtle would be in the North, NW or East sector of the house. Placing this dragon at home is said to bring the occupants of a home good luck, wealth and feeling of security. The Dragon Headed Turtle also protects a home from negative energies.

Do not put the Dragon Headed Turtle in the North or East if it is directly in front of you while putting it at office or business place. Instead it would be best to position the symbol parallel to where you sit; here it can enhance your relationship luck. If you have arguments and troubles you can display it right behind your seat looking sideways which signifies support. Display it in Northeast for scholarship and to further your education.

Indeed, keeping a dragon turtle will attract prosperity to your business and improves your relationships with those around you. To further improve the general relationship luck you may place a piece of red ribbon in his mouth, which works wonders. To improve wealth a piece of golden ribbon can be kept in its mouth. If you are having Health problems place a piece of blue ribbon in his mouth.

Apart from all these attributes listed above, Dragon Headed Turtle is a wonderful gift to give to someone who is starting a new business, career or a new job.

Best of Luck