Heluo Articles - Nine Star Ki Basics

Each of the 9 Stars is linked to one of the Five Transformation phases. Do not look upon the Five Transformations in a static way. Also, Qi can be never classified as to exclusively ‘belong’ to a certain season, direction, organ.

Apart from the fact that there is no way of course in which we can divide One Qi into yet smaller ‘segments’, Qi cannot be quantified.

In our Nine Star Ki and Xuan Kong Feng Shui studies we follow Qi in its endless process of waxing and waning. In observing Qi in this process – and following Qi through the months of a year - we learn how to distinguish between Qi that is in its phase of waxing and Qi that is in its phase of waning, but Qi can never be classified as to exclusively belong to a certain season, direction, organ.

Yet, if you are a 9 Fire, you will probably feel strengthened by another 9 Fire person or feel strengthened in a 9 Fire Year.

As a 9 Fire, you may feel supported by a Wood person or the Wood months and you may feel controlled by a Water person, or you may feel constrained in Water years and months.

Keep in mind however that these typologies are relative and often cause for rather simplistic and rigid applications, where we do not also understand that no-one is just ‘such and such Number’, without also carrying the seed of all other Numbers.

When you were born in a 9 Fire year, it means nothing more than that Fire energy was in its prime. It does not mean that Fire was the only Qi you took in with your first breath. All other energies were present in this 9 Fire year, in whatever waxing or waning phase.

Suppose you were born in the Metal months (August, September, October) of a 9 Fire year, then – apart from Fire energy being prevalent - surely Metal s was waxing as well during these months.

This article can but touch on the very basics, but for anyone interested in yet deeper studies, there is a dynamic world of Qi studies out there.

Whenever we do so, it is merely because we need to be able to ‘communicate Qi’ or we need to do some ‘pushing hands’ with Qi in its consecutive phases of waxing and waning, for instance in our work as a teacher or consultant. We need to apply the dynamics shown here in diagnosis and treatments in Nine Star Ki and Feng Shui.

Mostly the Five Transformations are explained using seasons for the Northern Hemisphere. However, we cannot say that Wood is Spring, Fire is Summer, because the seasons are reversed on the Southern Hemisphere.

Instead, we show the months linked to the Five Transformations as the Five Elements were originally linked to the solar months of a year. If we then say that Wood governs and is the most prevalent Qi in February, March and April, this is true for both the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere, regardless of season or climactic considerations. No alterations should be allowed in the Luo Shu for either Hemisphere, for reason that the Luo Shu is not based on the seasons, but rather on Universal Qi – true for the entire globe – and on the earth orbit around the sun.

Also, we cannot say Qi is the Heart or Qi is the Bladder. We can only say Qi governs these organs.

The circle shows any system enclosed in itself, be it our cosmos, our solar year, our physical bodies, but it never fixes Qi in certain phases, seasons or directions.

April, July, October and January – although linked to their seasons – also belong to the Earth phase.

Follow the circle clockwise to find the Supporting Cycle

Follow the five star anti-clockwise to find the Damaging Cycle

Last but not least the Elements can strengthen each other. Metal strengthens Metal, Fire strengthens Fire et cetera.

Very important!

Many misleading statements are being made concerning these cycles.

Do not follow the reasoning that you and your partner are incompatible, just because your Numbers relate to the controlling cycle.

It is only unfortunate that we use some of the terminology shown here, but you need to understand that these terms originally stemmed from warfare.

All Five Elements mutually depend on each other. None of the cycles discussed here is ‘negative’ by definition. In fact, Water needs Earth to control it. Any element can stagnate or build up too much energy, so it welcomes being depleted. It takes some experience to have a full appreciation for these dynamics.