Direct & Indirect Spirit (Zheng Shen & Ling Shen) & Water Placement
On February 4th, 2024, we entered Feng Shui Period 9, a 20-year cycle that will influence wealth, opportunity, and people luck until 2044. Each Feng Shui period has its own rules for how landforms, water, and structures should be positioned to support prosperity.
One of the most important — and often misunderstood — classical methods for this period is known as Direct & Indirect Spirit, also called Zheng Shen & Ling Shen.
What Is Direct & Indirect Spirit?
Despite the name, this method has nothing to do with ghosts. It is based on classical Ho Tu and Lo Shu principles, using numerical relationships such as:
- 1–6
- 2–7
- 3–8
- 4–9
These combinations determine where water and mountain support must be placed during each 20-year Feng Shui cycle.
This approach is sometimes referred to as a Water Dragon method and can be extremely powerful when applied correctly — but it must be followed carefully.
Period 9 Wealth Formula (2024–2044)
In Period 9, the governing star is Star #9, which resides in the South.
This creates the following structure:
- Zheng Shen (Direct Spirit) → South → Must have mountain or solid support
- Ling Shen (Indirect Spirit) → North → Must have water or lower ground
In simple terms:
- ✅ Water belongs in the North
- ✅ Mountain or solid support belongs in the South
- ❌ Avoid water in the South from February 4th, 2024 onward, unless professionally advised
Primary & Secondary Wealth Areas in Period 9
Primary Wealth Area
North (Ling Shen)
Enhance with:
- Real water (pond, river, fountain)
- Road, open space, or lower ground
Water must be:
- Outside only
- As far from the building as possible
- Real (not symbolic water indoors)
Secondary / People Luck Area
South (Zheng Shen)
Must have:
- Mountain
- Hill
- Tall building
- Trees or hedges
- High fence
- Rock or boulder formation
If natural mountains or buildings are not present, a “virtual mountain” can be created using solid, elevated features such as fencing, trees, or large stones.
Critical Rule for Period 9
🚫 Do not place water in the South (inside or outside) from February 4th, 2024 onward unless advised by a qualified Feng Shui consultant.
If you currently have:
- A pond
- Pool
- Fountain
- Water feature
in the South, it is generally recommended to relocate it.
What If You Don’t Have Both Water & Mountain?
- Water in the North but no mountain in the South
→ Wealth can still be strong - Mountain in the South but no water in the North
→ Good people luck and harmony - No water in the North
→ Does not mean poor wealth
This method is one of many within traditional Feng Shui and should be viewed as part of a larger system.
Using This Formula When Choosing a Location
From 2024–2044, locations that naturally feature:
- Water to the North
- Mountains, hills, or tall buildings to the South
tend to support:
- Prosperity
- Growth
- Stability
- Opportunity flow
This applies to homes, offices, and entire neighborhoods.
Period 9 Wealth Formula Recap
✔ North → Water / lower ground
✔ South → Mountain / solid support
❌ No water in the South without professional guidance
✔ Water must be outside
✔ Distance from the building matters
Final Thoughts
The Direct & Indirect Spirit method is a foundational principle of classical Feng Shui for Period 9. When aligned correctly with the land and environment, it supports long-term prosperity, stability, and harmony.
Feng Shui works best when we respect time, space, and natural form — not when we force symbols where they don’t belong.
Custom Image for This Blog Post
Below is an image concept created specifically for this article.
Image Description
- Lo Shu grid clearly shown
- South highlighted as Zheng Shen (Mountain / Solid Support)
- North highlighted as Ling Shen (Water / Lower Ground)
- Labels: Period 9 (2024–2044)
- Clean, modern, classical Feng Shui aesthetic
- Neutral earth tones with red (South) and blue (North) accents
Happy FengShui-ing!
