Image: Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain / CC0)
TL;DR: The Second Black Star (Ju Men) belongs to the Earth element and is one of the most inauspicious stars in Xuan Kong Flying Stars, governing illness, disputes, and misfortune. However, when it meets favorable configurations like 'Second Black encountering Vitality' or when a prosperous star shines upon one's destiny, it can become a star of wealth and nobility.
What is the position of the Second Black Star in the Nine Star Xuan Kong system?
Xuan Kong Nine Star (Cửu Tinh Huyền Không) is an important school of feng shui that uses nine stars (Cửu Tinh) to analyse how energy fields change across space and time. These nine stars are: First White, Second Black, Third Jade, Fourth Green, Fifth Yellow, Sixth White, Seventh Red, Eighth White and Ninth Purple. Each star carries an element, its own auspicious or inauspicious meaning, and a position that shifts by year, month, day or hour within a defined cycle of operation.
In this system, the Second Black Star, also known as Cự Môn tinh, belongs to the Earth element and sits in the Kun palace (the Southwest palace) of the Later Heaven Bagua. This is a special position, since Kun represents Mother Earth, nurturing and tolerance, but it is also where gloom and illness reside. It is precisely this opposition that gives the Second Black Star its dual nature: on one hand, auspiciousness for finances and stability when supported by prosperous energy; on the other, misfortune, illness and gossip when its energy is declining.
What are the characteristics and origins of the Second Black Star?
Element and direction of the Second Black Star
The Second Black Star belongs to Yin Earth. In the five-element relationships, Earth generates Metal, so the Second Black Star can nourish Metal stars such as the Sixth White (Qian) and the Seventh Red (Dui). At the same time, Fire generates Earth, so the Ninth Purple (Fire element) can strengthen the power of the Second Black Star. Conversely, Wood controls Earth, so the Third Jade (Wood element) can restrain the Second Black Star. These are the key relationships for interpreting how the Second Black Star interacts with other stars when they fly into the same area.
The Second Black Star represents the Kun palace, the Southwest direction. The Kun palace symbolises the mother, the older woman in the family, and softness and compliance. In terms of health, the Second Black Star relates to Earth-related organs in the body such as the spleen, stomach, digestive system and the spleen, as well as tumours and growths. When the Second Black Star is weakened or activated by external factors, it can cause problems with digestion, overall health and chronic illnesses.
What does the name Cự Môn mean?
The name Cự Môn (巨門) means "great gate" or "giant door". In Tử Vi Đẩu Số (Vietnamese astrology), Cự Môn is a star governing gossip, slander, argument and misunderstanding. It also represents scholarship and the ability to speak, but if it is not well controlled, this gift of speech becomes a tool that creates unnecessary trouble. The similarity between the meaning of Cự Môn in Tử Vi and the Second Black Star in Xuan Kong shows a shared frame of reference in Eastern feng shui thinking: an energy that can produce both good and bad, depending on its state of prosperity or decline and on how people interact with it.
What are the auspicious and inauspicious meanings of the Second Black Star?
When the Second Black Star is in command (prosperous energy)
When the Second Black Star is in a prosperous state (that is, when it meets favourable timing, usually when it occupies a position supported by the period's prosperous energy, or when it receives strong generative support from other stars), it is no longer an inauspicious star. At this point, the Second Black Star becomes a very good star for finances. It symbolises abundance, wealth, and stability in money, land and property. The ancients had a saying, "When the Second Black Star is prosperous, its wealth tops the whole region", referring to the outstanding wealth this star brings when it is at the peak of its energy.
In this state, the Second Black Star also carries the meaning of growth and flourishing. It can bring good fortune for pregnancy and childbirth, especially for daughters, due to its Yin Earth nature. In addition, because it is the star of the Kun palace (mother earth), it can also bring protection and peace to the mother and the women in the household, helping them enjoy a stable and healthy life.
When the Second Black Star loses command (declining energy)
This is the state in which the Second Black Star is most often mentioned in feng shui texts. When the Second Black Star is weakened (usually when it does not receive the period's prosperous energy, or is diminished by other factors), it becomes a fearsome inauspicious star, known as one of the "Three Killings" of Xuan Kong (along with the Third Jade and the Fifth Yellow).
In its declining state, the Second Black Star governs the following issues:
| Issue | Manifestation |
|---|---|
| Illness | This is the most typical meaning of the declining Second Black Star. It causes illnesses of the digestive tract, stomach and spleen, chronic illnesses that are hard to cure, or illnesses related to women. In severe cases, it can be associated with tumours and cancer, especially when combined with other killing stars. |
| Gossip and slander | The declining Second Black Star is the star of argument, litigation, misunderstanding and gossip and slander. It makes relationships in the family and workplace tense and prone to conflict. People living in an area affected by the declining Second Black Star often encounter trouble related to speech, signatures and contracts. |
| Misfortune and disaster | The declining Second Black Star also brings unwanted misfortune, unexpected accidents, and stagnation in work and life. It creates a gloomy, heavy feeling that leaves people tired, discouraged and stripped of the motivation to strive. |
How the Second Black Star interacts with other stars
The meaning of the Second Black Star is never considered in isolation, but always in relation to other stars when they appear together in a particular palace. These combinations create different combination patterns.
What happens when the Second Black Star meets good stars?
| Combination | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Second Black Star meets First White (Water) | This is a pattern considered beneficial for relationships and health if the First White is a prosperous star. The Water of the First White can reduce the dry, illness-bearing nature of Earth in the Second Black Star. This combination can bring clarity and reduce gossip, and is especially good for the studies and exams of children in the household. |
| Second Black Star meets Sixth White (Metal) | Earth generates Metal, so the Sixth White (the Wen Chang star of literature and nobility) is nourished by the Second Black Star. This is a good pattern that helps bring out leadership talent and career advancement, bringing power and respect. The Second Black Star here acts as solid backing for the development of the Sixth White. |
| Second Black Star meets Eighth White (Earth) | Both are Earth element, so when they meet they can support each other. If both are prosperous, this signals lasting wealth and growth in real estate and property. However, if both are declining, together they create a very strong source of illness energy and stagnation. |
What happens when the Second Black Star meets bad stars?
| Combination | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Second Black Star meets Fifth Yellow (Earth) | This is one of the worst patterns in Xuan Kong, known as "Nhị Ngũ giao gia" (二五交加). Both are major inauspicious stars of the Earth element. When they combine, their negative power is multiplied, causing serious disasters in health (incurable disease), unexpected accidents, loss of wealth and property, and extremely heavy misfortune. The ancients were extremely wary of this pattern. |
| Second Black Star meets Third Jade (Wood) | Wood controls Earth, so the Third Jade (the star of gossip and conflict) can restrain the Second Black Star. However, this restraint does not bring anything good. It creates a hidden war, leading to disputes, litigation and sharper gossip, especially issues related to law and contracts. Health is also affected, as Wood controlling Earth causes liver and gallbladder illnesses combined with spleen and stomach problems. |
| Second Black Star meets Seventh Red (Metal) | Earth generates Metal, making the Seventh Red (the Po Jun star of robbers and theft) stronger. This combination can lead to problems of lost assets, theft, deception, and troubled romantic relationships that easily attract the wrong people. In terms of health, it can cause illnesses related to the respiratory system and skin, because Metal is generated by Earth but is then controlled by Fire (if present). |
Practical applications of the Second Black Star in daily life
How to determine the position of the Second Black Star
To apply this knowledge, you first need to determine the position of the Second Black Star in your living space. In Xuan Kong feng shui, this position changes every year and every month. Determining it is usually based on the Lường Thiên Xích (a tool for calculating the movement of the Nine Stars) to find the star governing the period for a specific year or month, then flying them to the palaces on the bagua chart.
For example, in Period 8 (2004-2023), the Eighth White Star (an auspicious star) sits in the Gen palace (Northeast). The Second Black Star sits in the Kun palace (Southwest), its natural position in the Later Heaven Bagua. However, in Period 9 (2024-2043), the positions of the stars will change. Specialised calculation tools or reference tables are needed to determine them accurately. In 2024 (Giáp Thìn), the Second Black Star flies to the Northeast palace (Gen). Therefore, the Northeast area of the house this year needs special attention.
How to neutralise the declining energy of the Second Black Star
Once you have determined the position of the declining Second Black Star, appropriate remedies are needed. The goal is to minimise its negative impact, or if possible, transform it into positive energy.
| Remedy | Description |
|---|---|
| Limit strong activity | Avoid carrying out important activities in an area affected by the declining Second Black Star. For example, you should not place a cooking stove, desk or bed in this position during the time it is declining. Frequently passing through or living in this area will inadvertently activate the bad energy. |
| Using the Earth element to weaken it | One principle of neutralisation is to use the star's own element to weaken it. However, with the Second Black Star, strengthening Earth can make it stronger if it is in a prosperous state (which is actually good). If it is declining, strengthening Earth will add to the gloom and illness. Therefore, this approach needs careful consideration. |
| Using the Metal element to drain its energy | Because Earth generates Metal, using Metal objects (such as metal, white stone, clocks, metal statues) in this area will help drain the bad energy of the Second Black Star and reduce its power. This is a remedy used by many people. |
| Using the Water element to wear it down | Although Earth controls Water, a little water (such as a small basin of water or a small aquarium) can make the Earth damp and reduce its dry, illness-causing nature. However, great care is needed, because if water is overused, when the Second Black Star is prosperous it can cause kidney and ear problems due to Earth controlling Water too strongly. |
| Using the Wood element to restrain it | Because Wood controls Earth, Wood-element items (green plants) can be used to restrain the Second Black Star. However, this approach can create conflict, leading to gossip and argument as analysed above. It is therefore usually only used when the Second Black Star is too strong and needs to be urgently held in check. |
