We have discussed in a previous article that, in the Northern Hemisphere, the annual seasonal variations in the solar shadow form the Yin Yang, and also the 8 trigrams of the Early Heaven Bagua. The evolution of the Tai Chi into the Yin Yang and then 8 trigrams of the Early Heaven Bagua is actually a scientific flow chart of the transformation of the solar energy through the year. The so-called Wu Chi is nothing more than the Sun! This means that, for the Southern Hemisphere, the pattern of the Early Heaven Bagua needs to be changed for the Southern Hemisphere.

Surprisingly, there are scientific evidence of a medical nature that Feng Shui and astrology effects have to be reversed for the Southern Hemisphere. My book "Scientific and Statistical Proof of Chinese Astrology" discussed one such medical phenomenon is that of schizophrenia, as discussed again below.

Schizophrenia Associated with Months of Birth

The above Figure shows that the incidence of schizophrenia was highest among those born in March and lowest in those born in September. Statistical analysis of the birth data with the prevailing air temperatures and daylength shows that the incidence of schizophrenia was significantly associated with lower temperatures and shorter daylength, especially in the few months before birth. In fact, the coefficient of 0.916 means that, more than 84% of the variations in schizophrenia could be accounted for by daylength at 2 months before birth.

The statistical analysis supports the suggestion that the association between winter/spring births and schizophrenia may be related to sunlight exposure. The shorter days of winter will lead to a lack of sunlight, and in turn, can lead to vitamin D deficiency, which scientists believe could alter the development of a child's brain in the mother's womb and after birth.

• A couple planning children may try to schedule the birth for a time outside the "winter and spring" time frame. As the research suggests that the birth months that have the highest risk of schizophrenia are February through April, conception should be avoided nine months before, during May to July.

• It may not coincidence that the Chinese traditions identified the best months for marriage as in the 2nd Moon (around March) and 8th Moon (around September). The conception avoids the May to July period and this can reduce the risk of schizophrenia.

• To further reduce risk of schizophrenia in the to be born child, a mother should get the recommended dose of vitamin D on a regular basis before and during pregnancy.

• Chinese traditions recommend that during winter, people should eat food produced from seeds. These seed have very high levels of vitamins and can correct for the potential Vitamin D deficiency.

Some of the folklore therefore originated from wise observations of Nature. One laughs at the old mother's tales at one risk!

The association of schizophrenia with the spring months in the Northern Hemisphere is reversed for the Southern Hemisphere:

• A sample of 2514 adolescents and young adults presenting to general practitioners completed measures of depressive and suicidal symptoms. Patients' date and country of birth were recorded. Those born in the Southern hemisphere in September–November showed the highest suicidal and depressive symptoms, as did those born in the Northern hemisphere in March–May. Season of birth may be a risk factor for depressive and suicidal symptoms. (Joiner et al, 2002)

• A review by Torrey et al. [19] consists of more than 250 studies covering 29 countries in the northern and 5 in the southern hemisphere. For the northern hemisphere most of these studies find a significant excess of births in winter and spring (December to May) for schizophrenia. A study on schizophrenia in Queensland, Australia, suggests for those born in the southern Hemisphere an excess birth in their winter (July to September), while those born in the northern Hemisphere had a March–April birth excess [13] . A recent study in Denmark on the effects of family history and place and season of birth on the risk of schizophrenia [16] found an excess of spring-births. The authors come to the conclusion that, although in most or all cases genetic factors are a necessary cause of schizophrenia, they are modulated by environmental factors such as the season of birth. (Doblhammer, Gabrielle. 1999 - 2000)

Reversals of association of diseases with months are also seen in other diseases like multiple sclerosis, suicides patterns and life span.

Figure.
Astrological and Feng Shui Effects are Reversed for Southern Hemisphere!

What is interesting about these reversals in schizophrenia is that the reversal was not seen in a Singapore study, where there are no seasons due to the nearness to the equator:

• 9,655 patients discharged from Singapore's national psychiatric hospital with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were included (year of birth range 1930-1984) (Gordon Parker et al. 2000.). The aggregated data was analysed, as well as the data of subsamples grouped according to birth-year periods, in order to examine secular trends. One patient subsample (those born 1960-84) allowed exact matching against the general population data set and close testing of any seasonal influence.

• Monthly variation in births was evident for both patients and controls. The patterns were very similar, apart from the patient sample showing a trough in March-April. It was concluded that in an equatorial region, where there were no seasons, no seasonal excess in births of those later developing schizophrenia was evident.

Conclusion

It is quite clear that these associations of health parameters with the months of birth were influenced by seasonal factors impacting on foetal development during pregnancy. Thus, the seasonal reversal between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres causes similar reversals in the associations of health parameters with the months of birth.

This discussion confirms that Feng Shui and astrology effects would be reversed for the different hemispheres. It does also indicate that the Feng Shui and astrology effects may not be so pronounced at the equator.

Whatever it is, it is time to use scientific reasoning to unravel the true principles of Feng Shui and astrology. Most Feng Shui and astrology practitioners are rather unscientific and have much to catch up.

Other related articles:

• 1. Issue of Precession of the Equinoxes. 2008 is not Year of Rat but Ox!
• 2. Issue of 20 Years Yun and Saturn Jupiter Conjunction. 2004 is not Period 8 but Period 1!
• 3. Riddle of Lai Bu Yi's Ren Pan: Towards Scientific Understanding of Luopan.
• 4. Southern Hemisphere and Magnetic North: Scientific Insights.
• 5. Southern Hemisphere and Magnetic North: Scientific Insights: Medical Evidence of Schizophrenia.
• 6. Southern Hemisphere and Magnetic North: Scientific Insights: What is Bagua at Equator?