Direct vs. Indirect Wealth: Are You Chasing the Wrong Cash Flow?

The Hidden Wall That Stops Growth

Many business owners we meet have the same story. They work hard, run their businesses well, and sell products people want. But they hit a wall where they can't make more money, no matter how much they spend on ads or try to improve sales. They work harder than ever in 2026, but get less back. If this sounds like you, the problem might not be your business plan. It might be how your workspace is set up. You're probably focused on Direct Wealth (hard work) while missing or blocking Indirect Wealth (energy that helps money flow easier).

In Classical Feng Shui, especially the San Yuan (Three Cycles) system, wealth comes in two ways. There's money you earn by working hard, and money that comes through opportunities, investments, and being in the right place at the right time. The second type follows special rules called the Direct Spirit (Zheng Shen) and the Indirect Spirit (Zero God/Ling Shen).

Most business owners know a little about "Qi" or have tried basic Flying Star charts in their offices. But "Pop Feng Shui"—using lucky colors, golden frogs, or general wealth corners—doesn't work with the big changes that happened when Period 9 started. We're now in this new twenty-year cycle (2024–2044), and the energy map of the universe has changed. What worked in Period 8 doesn't work anymore.

The hidden wall stopping your business growth is often breaking the "Zero God" rule. Your workspace layout fights against how cosmic Qi flows now. When you line up your space with these advanced rules, you stop chasing money and start catching the "windfall" energy of the Indirect Spirit. This article explains how to find and fix these energy blocks using the Direct vs Indirect Spirit formula.

Understanding Direct and Indirect Spirit

To change your workspace energy effectively, we need to look at how the system really works. Direct Spirit (Zheng Shen - 正神) and Indirect Spirit (Ling Shen - 零神), also called "Zero God," come from the Later Heaven Ba Gua and its connection to Lo Shu square numbers.

In each Period, certain compass directions become more powerful. We're in Period 9 now. This means the ruling star is the #9 Purple Fire Star. How this ruling star works with the main directions controls the flow of Yin (Stillness) and Yang (Activity).

The Direct Spirit (Zheng Shen)

The Direct Spirit location is the "Wang" (Prosperous) direction of the period. In Period 9, the Direct Spirit is in the South.
This area controls the "human" part of your business: health, relationships, employee loyalty, and daily operations running smoothly. Because this area has strong period energy, it needs stability to work safely. It needs "Mountain" energy—stillness, solid objects, and support.

The Indirect Spirit (Zero God/Ling Shen)

The Indirect Spirit location is directly opposite the Direct Spirit. In Period 9, the Indirect Spirit is in the North.
This is the "Zero God" area. Ancient texts say: "The Dragon turns to the Water to find the Pearl." The Indirect Spirit controls Wealth, especially cash flow, investment returns, unexpected opportunities, and fast growth. This area needs activity to release its Qi. It needs "Water" energy—movement, flow, and openness.

Not knowing the difference between these two "Spirits" is the main reason a nice-looking office can still have a failing business. You can't just activate a "wealth corner" without knowing if that corner needs a Mountain or Water.

THE CURE

"Jin Chan" Money Toad

Place in your office entrance to activate Direct Wealth energy and boost business income

VIEW PRODUCT

Period 9 Space Formula Chart

The formula is simple and strict: Mountain must go to the Direct Spirit; Water must go to the Indirect Spirit. When this balance is right, the Yin and Yang energies of the property work well with Period 9's cosmic timing.

Finding the "Wealth Leak"

The most important use of the Direct vs Indirect Spirit formula is finding problems. When clients tell us things like "we make money but don't keep profits," or "we get contracts but lose money doing the work," we almost always find they're breaking this space law. In Period 9, these mistakes are specific and harmful.

The "Water in the South" Mistake (Broken Wealth)

This is the worst setup in the current cycle. We often see offices where the CEO put a big fish tank, water fountain, or main busy entrance in the South area, thinking they're activating Period 9's "Fire."

This is a terrible mistake. The South (Direct Spirit) needs a Mountain (stillness) to stabilize the ruling Qi. When you add Water (movement) to the South, you're "drowning" the Direct Spirit.
* What Happens: This creates "Po Cai" (Shattered Wealth). The business might make money, but costs will mysteriously rise to eat it up. Also, because the Direct Spirit controls "People," this mistake shows up as serious internal problems: employees quitting often, partner fights, and health issues for the business owner (especially heart or eye problems, matching the Fire element).

The "Mountain in the North" Mistake (Blocked Qi)

On the flip side, many businesses unknowingly block their main wealth door. The North area (Indirect Spirit) is supposed to receive wealth energy in Period 9. It "wants" movement and openness.
We often see offices where the North area has heavy filing cabinets, a solid wall with no windows, a large safe, or a tall building blocking the view outside.
* What Happens: This creates a "Mountain" where "Water" should be. The wealth Qi gets choked. The business will hit a ceiling. The team works very hard, operations are stable (because the South might be fine), but the "lucky breaks" never come. Cash flow becomes tiny. There's no ready money. The business becomes "owns things but has no cash."

Expert Note

In our recent checks of tech startups struggling to get Series B funding in 2025 and 2026, we found a pattern. Those with open workspaces that allowed movement (Virtual Water) in the North got funding faster than those who put their server rooms or heavy storage (Virtual Mountain) in the North. This isn't luck; it's how environmental energy works. If you're fighting for every dollar despite having a great product, you're probably blocking the Zero God in the North.

Fixing Energy Flow for Cash Flow

Once you find the problem, the fix must be exact. This isn't about rebuilding; it's about "flipping the energy" of the space to match Period 9 Direct and Indirect Spirit laws. This works like an energy lever, making your business efforts stronger.

Turning On the Indirect Spirit (North)

To unlock the "Zero God" wealth luck, you must add Yang energy to the North area of your office or building.
* The Fix: The strongest activator is Water.
* How To Do It: Place a large, active fish tank or water feature in the North area. The water must be moving (Yang). A bowl of still water won't work; it needs a pump or bubbler to stir the Qi.
* How It Works: The moving water excites the "Ling Shen" Qi in the North. This acts like a signal, pulling external wealth opportunities into the space. It tells the universe this area is open for business.
* Other Option: If a water feature won't work, make sure the North is the busiest part of the office. It should be a main entrance, a busy hallway, or an open window facing a road.

Securing the Direct Spirit (South)

To protect the business and make sure the owner has the energy to handle incoming wealth, you must anchor the South.
* The Fix: You must add Mountain energy.
* How To Do It: Place high, heavy, solid objects in the South area. This could be a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf, a heavy safe, large stone sculptures, or tall, solid cabinets. If the South has a window, keep it covered or make sure it looks out onto a quiet, tall building.
* How It Works: These heavy objects act like a mountain, creating Yin energy. This "locks in" the ruling Qi of Period 9, turning unstable potential into stable power. It makes sure the wealth created by the North stays, rather than gets wasted.

THE CURE

Zen Pixiu Water Fountain

Position in your workspace wealth corner to activate Indirect Wealth flow and attract investment opportunities

VIEW PRODUCT

Pro-Tip: The Water Flow Rule
When placing a water feature in the North to turn on the Indirect Spirit, which way the water flows matters. The water must seem to flow inward toward the center of the room, or keep circulating in the tank. Never let a waterfall or design make water flow out toward a door or window. Water flowing away takes the Qi with it, making wealth drain away instead of building up.

By placing Water in the North and Mountains in the South, you create the "Period 9 Power Line." You're no longer swimming upstream; you're using the river's current.

Advanced Wealth Formulas

While "Water in the North, Mountain in the South" is the basic law of Period 9, smart use requires understanding how these elements work in modern city environments. Most businesses can't build their headquarters near real rivers or mountains. We must use Virtual Landforms.

Virtual Mountains and Water

In the concrete jungle, Mountain and Water change from literal to functional.
* Virtual Water: In a city, "Water" is anything lower, moving, or open (Yang).
* Outside: Roads are the city's rivers. A busy highway or intersection acts as strong Water energy. Ideally, your building should have a road or open space to its North.
* Inside: Elevators, stairs, main entrances, and open-plan work areas act as Virtual Water. If you can't place a fish tank in the North, putting your sales team (high activity) or the main entrance in the North does something similar to turn on the Indirect Spirit.
* Virtual Mountain: "Mountain" is anything higher, still, or solid (Yin).
* Outside: Tall nearby buildings, retaining walls, or a quiet dead-end street act as Mountain energy. Ideally, your building should be supported by a taller building to its South.
* Inside: Executive offices, storage rooms, server rooms, and solid walls act as Virtual Mountain. Putting the CEO's office in the South uses the Direct Spirit to give authority and command.

The Sub-Direct Spirit (Cui Guan)

While the North is the main wealth area (Zero God), advanced users also use the Sub-Direct Spirit (Cui Guan - 催官). In Period 9, secondary wealth flows can be tapped through the Southwest, Southeast, and East.
These areas play a supporting role. While the North brings the "Windfall," using Water in the Southwest or Southeast can support steady, consistent money growth. But be careful: turning on these areas requires a precise Flying Star check to make sure you don't accidentally trigger a bad star (like the #2 Sickness Star or #5 Yellow). For beginners, stick to the main North-South line—it's the safest and strongest lever in Period 9.

When to Expect Results

Feng Shui isn't magic; it's building up influence. Once you've fixed the Direct and Indirect Spirit placement (like moved the fish tank to the North and cabinets to the South), don't expect to win the lottery tomorrow. It usually takes 45 to 90 days for the Qi to settle and new energy patterns to show up in business performance. The first signs are usually smoother operations (South stability) followed by more inquiries or leads (North activation).

A Step-by-Step Action Plan

To move from theory to results, follow this action checklist. Don't skip the checking phase; being precise makes the difference between a breakthrough and fake results.

1. Find the Center: Get a floor plan of your office. Find the geometric center. Stand in this center point physically.
2. Compass Reading: Using a good compass (or a Luo Pan app set to True North), identify the North (337.5° – 22.5°) and South (157.5° – 202.5°) areas of your space. Mark these on your floor plan.
3. The Check:
   • Look at the South: Is there water here? A fish tank? A busy door? A large window facing a highway? These are leaks.
   • Look at the North: Is there a heavy safe here? A blank wall? A storage room? These are blocks.
4. The Clear: Remove the conflicting items. Remove the water from the South. Move the heavy storage out of the North.
5. The Activation:
   • Place your Active Water feature (Fish tank/Fountain) in the North.
   • Place your Heavy Earth objects (Cabinets/Statues/Safe) in the South.
6. Watch: Track your cash flow and operational problems for the next three months. You should see a change: problems decrease, ready money increases.

Matching the Times

The difference between Direct and Indirect Spirit isn't about superstition; it's about matching the "space weather" of our current time. In Period 9, the universe is sending a specific signal. You can either tune your receiver (your business location) to that frequency and enjoy clear transmission, or you can stay on the old frequency and struggle through the static.

You already have the Direct Wealth part—your hard work, your strategy, and your discipline. By using the Indirect Spirit formula, you add the missing piece to the equation. Stop chasing the money. Open the North, secure the South, and let the flow come to you.