Feng Shui & Destiny

Many of my brothers and sisters can’t figure it out — why is it that the people who’ve achieved the most, the ones who’ve reached genuine financial freedom, all seem so calm? So zen? So utterly unruffled? How does someone keep rising, keep thriving, without the hype, without the war cries, without the constant adrenaline? There’s a reason for it. And you should know what it is. Here’s the thing: if you ever get the chance to spend real time up close with someone whose net worth clears the C5 threshold, you’ll understand immediately. The charging-hard, attacking-everything style simply cannot be sustained. Once in a while is fine — but try to keep it going for more than a week, and it doesn’t matter if you’re human or immortal, you will break.

One who knows how to ask — and truly knows how to listen — can come to understand almost anything. Through questioning, we can discern truth from falsehood. But to ask effectively, three conditions must be met: first, ask the right person; second, choose the right moment; third, ask in the right way. When you ask well, everything becomes knowable. You can follow a thread all the way to the root.

A minority controls capital and power. The majority believes it possesses public opinion and moral authority. So the majority perpetually tries to use those tools — public opinion and the moral high ground — to overturn the cage woven by capital and power. But here is the truth: the former is real; the latter is illusory. The masses believe they wield this illusory force, yet the outcome is always the same: manipulated by illusion, they become cannon fodder and enforcers — serving the very ends of power and capital they imagined they were opposing.

Since I began sharing profile pictures and background images back in February, I’ve lost count of how many readers have written back to say: “It’s incredible — after using the images Master Chi shared, I genuinely feel at ease, and things have been going so much more smoothly.” Honestly, I feel grateful myself. Because this at least confirms that we, as human beings, do need beautiful and auspicious things to quietly tip the scales in our favor.

Another day as a frequent flyer — just touched down at the airport. But the heart-to-heart exchanges with my brothers and sisters must continue. Inspiration struck mid-flight: rather than writing a full article, why not simply lay out the key points directly? That works just fine. Things to do more of — the high-energy practices: Exercise, early to bed and early to rise, movies, music, singing, dancing, calligraphy, travel, tea drinking, savoring fragrance, flower arranging, sitting in stillness, reading, practicing calligraphy from models, appreciating paintings, copying scriptures, playing the qin, burning incense, growing flowers, moon gazing, listening to rain, stargazing, sunbathing, enjoying snow, birdwatching, watching fish, hot spring bathing, foot soaking, mountain hiking, gazing into the distance, looking out from great heights, walking, rowing a boat, wandering through mountains, playing in water, finding warmth in winter, escaping summer heat, following the natural flow, letting go of worries, doing good deeds, fitness training, yoga, meditation, cooking, relaxing, taking a bath, tending to your mental wellness, chatting, photography, handicrafts, swimming, laughter, creating, loving cats, getting fresh air, donating, collecting books, rock music, taking a nap, clearing your mind, humming songs, screenwriting, a light drink, running, comics, building blocks, reciting poetry, art books, picking fruit, hugging, aromatherapy, eating sweets, playing ball sports, fishing, watching dramas, embroidery, admiring flowers, wall climbing, playing with toys, camping, visiting galleries, visiting museums, petting cats, piano, brewing tea, abstract art, hugging trees, gourmet dining, ice cream, doodling, playing instruments, online gaming, visiting gardens, honoring ancestors, lighting lanterns, hide-and-seek, foot baths, cooking meals, eating fish, archery, climbing trees, spontaneous visits to friends, seeking out new flavors, reading poetry, dance, writing letters, hugging dogs, deep contemplation, appreciating the artistry in paintings, performing music, craftsmanship, pottery, massage.

Today is the Lantern Festival. First, I wish all my brothers and sisters peace, joy, and smooth sailing in everything. And since it is the Lantern Festival, it also marks the true beginning of the new year. Some of you are still feeling a little lost. You sense that this Year of the Wood Dragon may bring a gradual warming and renewal — yet you’re not quite sure what to do about it.

A few hours ago, on a flight from Beijing to Shanghai, I came across a reader’s question in my messages: “Master, I really want to know — how did you and people at your level climb so high?” I was going to write a long piece in response. But after sitting quietly with the thought for a while, a few words came to me. Simple. Piercing. I’ll share them here:

Some things I’ve witnessed lately have weighed on me. So I want to offer a few words of honest counsel to the brothers and sisters who’ve come from the countryside, county towns, small cities, and other such places. First: the vast majority of ordinary people who come from small towns are in no way inferior to their big-city peers. They’re just as sharp, just as naturally gifted. The problem is that traditional Confucian education runs too deep in these places. So you either get raised by mediocre parents who beat the independence out of you — producing a meek, naive, long-suffering kid who can’t make a single decision for himself — or you get neglected entirely and drift into becoming a directionless street kid who doesn’t care about anything and knows even less.

Student Question: Good day, Master. I’d like to ask about preview and review strategies for my child’s elementary school Chinese language studies. We’ve been going about it rather aimlessly — just having the child go through the material over and over from beginning to end. The child pushes back and refuses to cooperate. I find myself getting anxious at times. My child’s father thinks the daily in-class content is so minimal — is it really necessary to keep drilling it? We have different views on the child’s education in this area. I’d like to ask Master how to resolve this.

As is my tradition each year, I — Master Chi — release a comprehensive Chinese zodiac (生肖) overview during the Spring Festival period. And I have to say, quite a few of you have been eagerly anticipating it. My inbox has been flooded with messages since Chinese New Year’s Eve, with everyone asking me to hurry up and post it. So why is this Twelve Chinese Zodiac Annual Overview so eagerly awaited?