The Wu Lou is a very famous Feng Shui amulet, considered among the most powerful: it is the Sacred Gourd, or Calabash. Symbol of long life and perfect health, both among Taoists and Buddhists, the Gourd has an octagonal shape and represents the perfection of Heaven and Earth together, so it is considered a form that brings wealth and prosperity.
The Wu Lou is traditionally used to counteract the malevolent stars 2 and 5 of Flying Stars. It is always recommended to place it in the east corner, to protect health and family. The magic gourd also serves to transmute the negative energies of hostile and malevolent people, and accelerate healing processes, ensuring well-being and long life for the whole family.
The bottle gourd originates from a fruit. Once dried, it becomes very durable, and its shape makes it useful as a container for medicine. The Wu Lou was often carried by elderly people to promote longevity and to dispel or ward off pernicious influences. The Wu Lou is one of the most important tools to cure many negative situations and improve our Feng Shui. It is a powerful symbol of health and longevity. Many deities, such as Sau Sing Kung (Fuk Luk Sau with the auspicious star 3 in Flying Stars Astrology), Li Tieh Kuai (one of the Eight Immortals), and Mad Monk (Chai Kung), carry this excellent object with them to enhance their blessings in healing a serious ailment. The shape of the Wu Lou is also a wonderful integration of heaven, earth, and humanity. Deities and Taoist monks even use the Wu Lou to attract evil spirits and imprison them. Therefore, the Wu Lou has the ability to absorb bad Qi and negative energy.
Wu Lou in its natural gourd form is superior to versions made with other materials, unless it is produced in metal or crystal, materials that play a significant role in renewing the Qi of our environment. To activate a Wu Lou for Feng Shui purposes, it is essential to tie either a red thread or a red ribbon around its “waist.” Some natural gourds are even painted in gold or integrated with special coins to absorb good fortune. The gourd becomes even more powerful if tied with a red string and a Chinese coin around it. Furthermore, some Taoist masters inscribe talismans and Ba Gua on the gourd for greater protection and to attract particular fortunes.
The Wu Lou has many uses as a cure and catalyst:
- Displaying a Wu Lou not only in the East but in any part of the house (as many as one can afford) to create good health, bring good fortune, and dispel negative energy (Sha Qi).
- Hanging two sacred gourds (in their natural form or made of metal) on either side of the bed to cure ailments/illnesses and rejuvenate the energy of sick individuals.