Mr. Jin, from Shijiazhuang in Hebei province and approaching fifty, is a typically successful man of achievement. He shoulders the burden of his company’s development and the livelihoods of over a hundred employees, the duty of supporting his parents, the responsibility of educating his children, and various public service commitments. Recently, however, he’d felt his physical health declining, and the fearless, daring spirit (“dare to climb a mountain of swords and plunge into a sea of fire”) that once defined him had inexplicably faded. Not wanting to retire yet and still eager to strive, he sought me out for a comprehensive consultation.
“You have an amiable personality with strong affinity for others,” I began after analyzing his Qi Men Dun Jia chart. “You’re hardworking, willing to bear burdens, possess a pioneering and reforming spirit, and are both decisive and meticulous. However, your overall development hasn’t been smooth lately. Your business is currently weak; despite significant investment, growth is too slow. Your dedicated nature is admirable, but these past two years have been characterized by getting half the results with twice the effort (事倍功半) – simply bad luck. Yet, you possess resilience, the tenacity to ‘bite down on the green mountain and not let go’ (咬定青山不放松 – idiom for holding fast to goals). You can still reach new heights.”
“That’s exactly my situation now, no new breakthroughs. That’s why I came for your guidance,” Mr. Jin confirmed.
“According to the principle of Wan Xiang Xiang Gan Lun [related metaphysical theory of interconnectedness],” I explained, “These issues are all caused by your environment. You have a red mole on your left upper back.”
“Yes, I do.”
“To the southeast of your residence, there’s a round water pit or sump that often emits an unpleasant sound. Also, in the southeast area of your house, a lamp is broken.”
“Correct. There are four lamps in total there, and one is indeed broken,” Mr. Jin verified.
“The window on the south side of your house, slightly towards the east, doesn’t open or close properly.”
“I’m not sure about that one.”
“Call home now and ask,” I suggested.
Mr. Jin called his wife, who checked and confirmed, “Yes, the window has a problem; it doesn’t close tightly.”
“So the window really does have an issue! Do these things truly affect me?”
“Absolutely. There’s an informational connection between the environment and people – this relates to the theories of Wan Xiang Quan Xi Lun, Wan Xiang Yi You Lun, Wan Xiang Xi Tong Lun, and Wan Xiang Xiang Gan Lun.”
“Can these issues be resolved?”
“Yes. First, remove the inconspicuous red mole on your left back tomorrow between 7 AM and 11 AM (during Xun Palace time). Second, repair the broken lamp in your house during the same timeframe. Third, simultaneously, start wearing a crystal string or bracelet that incorporates a Buddha charm (有佛的水晶串).”
“The philosophy in Qi Men Dun Jia includes ‘Bu Po Bu Li’ (不破不立) – no destruction, no construction,” I elaborated. “Without injury, there’s no breaking; without breaking, there’s no building anew. Breaking the old pattern is necessary to establish the new. By removing that mole, you break the old pattern, opening up a new phase for yourself, welcoming a ‘new spring’.”
“Okay, thank you! I will follow your instructions,” Mr. Jin affirmed. He then added, “I’m getting older now, and I’m thinking of moving back [possibly to hometown or a previous base]. Is that feasible?”
“Yes, it’s feasible. You have good connections there; moving back wouldn’t be a problem.”
“Could you please look at my health as well?”
“Firstly, the circulation in the left side of your heart system is slightly weak – left atrium, left ventricle function shows minor weakness, but nothing too serious.”
“I don’t know the specifics, but whenever I get tired, I feel pain on my left side.”
“In your youth, you strained yourself (‘strained your Qi’ – 岔了气儿) while helping someone push a donkey cart improperly. That’s the root cause (病根儿) of this recurring chest/heart pain,” I continued. “Secondly, you have rheumatism in your knees, which flares up during windy or rainy weather. Thirdly, your stomach function is slightly weak, but it’s not a major issue.” I identified these three points consecutively.
“I’m thinking of constructing a building in the parking lot on the left side. Is that viable?”
“It’s feasible, but the process might not be smooth, and progress could be slow.”
“My business hasn’t been doing well for the past four or five years; the returns aren’t significant. I’m considering changing my investment direction. What do you think about opening a hotel?”
“That’s viable. This line of business aligns with your inherent information/nature. Your good interpersonal skills will attract customer flow. However, development likely won’t be rapid.”
“Another headache is debt collection. It’s true what they say: ‘The debtor is the master, the creditor is the grandson’ (欠账的是爷，要账的是孙子 – idiom). Several parties owe me millions, and even though legal cases have been filed, the debtors are elusive. There’s one debt of over nine million RMB – do you think I can recover it?”
“Your chart indicates you’ll likely only recover about half of it. The situation will fluctuate; they’ll promise payment then retract. They’ll placate you superficially but have their own fixed intentions internally.”
“I’m thinking of expanding towards the city. Is that indicated?”
“Analyzing the chart, you’re better off developing where you are now. Your network and connections are here. You lack foundation in the city; moving there would present excessive difficulties. It’s unnecessary.”
“How is our husband-wife relationship?”
“You and your wife often disagree; your relationship develops amidst disharmony.”
“What about my son and daughter? My daughter’s zodiac is the Rooster, and my son’s is the Horse; he’s in New Zealand.”
“Your daughter currently has some throat issues. Your son’s eyesight is weak, indicating nearsightedness. His current situation is unstable, but he has great potential for future development (‘hou jin’er’ – 后劲儿). Both children are generally healthy otherwise.”
“Are there any precautions I should take?”
“Mainly pay attention to your heart and knee issues, repair the window in your frequently used room, and remove the mole. After doing these things, your career can still advance further,” I advised.
In Qi Men Dun Jia philosophy, the character for ‘man’ (男) can be phonetically associated with ‘difficulty’ (难). Men may equal difficulty, meaning they face many hardships and burdens, yet they often do so without fear or tears.