Embracing the Power of Feng Shui
Using Zen
Buddhism to
Navigate Life
By Lia Menna Gross
“A farmer’s horse ran off, prompting the neighbors to lament, ‘That’s bad.’ The next day the horse returned along with three wild horses, the neighbors declared, ‘That’s good.’ When the farmer’s son broke his leg trying to tame the wild horses, the neighbors commented, ‘That’s bad.’ The next day, the army came to draft the farmer’s son for an impending battle but because of his broken leg, they didn’t draft him. It so happened that all the soldiers who fought in the battle died, but the son survived because of his fractured limb. This time the neighbors kept silent. They had learned the futility of judging situations in terms of black and white, good and bad.”
– Zen Buddhist proverb as adapted by Louis, Anthony. Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Tarot: A Comprehensive Guide. Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications, 2016.
Recent events continue to tear the fabric of humanity leaving us at odds. Some say it’s good; others, it’s bad.
The farmer in the proverb above says, “Maybe so. Maybe not. We’ll see.”
Maybe this was meant to happen.
Maybe in it NOT happening, we wouldn’t be able to evolve.
Maybe an awakening wouldn’t be taking place if it hadn’t.
“Maybe so. Maybe not. We’ll see.”
In Feng Shui, the family area is linked to the past and the children area to the future.
Maybe in going back to challenges faced by our mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers, a part of us is cracked open making space for more light to be shed on the collective shadow.
“Maybe so. Maybe not. We’ll see.”
Maybe it’s about more than control.
Maybe it’s about more than fear.
Maybe it’s about a complete shift in the way humanity operates.
“Maybe so. Maybe not. We’ll see.”
Maybe it’s about tearing down the walls that divide us; walls created by judgement, the act of defining right and wrong as absolutes that each and every being must abide by.
Maybe it’s about learning to see the connectedness of all living things.
Maybe it’s about opening our eyes and our hearts to the light of compassion.
When standing at the foreground of what feels like a challenging situation, I invite you to zoom out and look at the bigger picture.
Identify those areas of your life that you can control and release your grip on what you cannot.
By implementing this practice, you may begin to feel lighter allowing your inner flame to shine brighter.