Feng Shui Schools of Thought

In its earliest forms, Feng Shui included two principle schools. The form school, whose theory relates chiefly to landform of property, including mountains, waterways, roads etc., and the compass school of thought whose calculations, is based on the I Ching trigrams of the Bagua and the points of compass directions.  Similar in many ways, you will find that in the form school theory, there is more attention upon where and how to place buildings, and in compass school, how and what you do to those buildings comes more into play. Later, a popular form developed in the western world known as the Black Hat Tantric Buddist Sect. It is interesting and used by many outside the Asian influence.  Although many do not consider it authentic feng shui in spite of its relative popularity. It bases the use of feng shui placement rather than direction and the use of cures more than the meaning of land forms.

The two original schools base much of their teachings upon the directionality of compass points.  

The ancient luo pan, the original feng shui compass, is filled with concentric bands of different information. It is used for both forms. However, you will find many consultants within their practice use a regular directional compass to define the spaces and directions for placement within a home or building. These practitioners, familiar with the meanings of the individual trigrams within the bagua, use the degrees contained in this type of compass, although it contains only 16 true directions compared to the luo pans more precise 24 degrees of direction.

Your original compass reading should be taken from inside your home as you look out of your front door. Next, step outside of your front door about ten feet and take another reading.  Once you have accurately discovered the facing direction of you house, place the bagua over your floor plan and begin the process of

creating a home wonderfully suited to your individual need. You can now begin to make plans for the subtle corrections that come about only through the use of feng shui cures. You are beginning one of the most exciting calculations of you life! Much happiness to you.

East Meets West

Once becoming familiar with the idea that everyone belongs into a specific group (East or West group) we find that each of us owns their own ”magic number”. Determined by using the baqua’s information, provided to it by the “Lo Shu” or the “Magic Square”, you will be able to apply it and find out if you are an East group person or a West group person. The “Magic Square” gets its name because the numbers contained in it add up to the number 15, no matter which column or direction you add them in. One of these numbers is inherently yours, depending on the year of your birth and whether you are male or female. It’s different for each person.

There are a number of charts available for you to discover what your individual number is.  Once you have determined your “magic number” you can then use it to find out your most auspicious direction in which to place your house, or set your desk, or sit in for recreation or even job interviews. You will mentally be able to place yourself in one of these directions for the most favorable possible outcome of nearly any situation you find yourself in. Your most auspicious direction gains you good energy and luck and is most profitable to know and use.

Members of the east group own one of the numbers 1, 3, 4, or 9.  Their directions are north, east, southeast, and south. Members of the west group own one of the numbers 2, 5, 6, 7, or 8.  Their directions are southwest, northwest, west, northeast, or they occupy the center. Remember that your number is decided by your birth year and sex.  Then, the corresponding direction is your best direction for placement.. (i.e.:  born in 1979, a male’s number would be a 3, his most favorable direction would be east) In applying the principle for finding the best direction one should use, take up your compass to find your personal best direction.  It’s amazing to find, that after using a compass for awhile, you can begin to feel which direction is yours, once you know it, without the use of a compass at all.

With that being said, when making a feng shui calculation, it is extremely important to know how to properly read a compass. Good directions can be found on how to use one at many different sites on the Internet. Usually, when purchasing a compass, you will find the directions included, I suggest using a compass with a movable circle to distinguish between north and magnetic north be used, their accuracy is measurably better. Both the Compass Form of feng shui, as well as the Black Hat Form stresses the need of a compass in performing their feng shui calculations. Utilizing your best compass directions is often believed to support your life’s goals. Learn to use your compass well before attempting to discover whether a place is auspicious for itself and the people living there.

Your Kua Number

Your Kua number is derived from the year of your birth. It is made even  more personal depending on whether you are male or female. When you know your Kua Number, not only you will be able to gauge different aspects of your luck but also and your best directions. You can gain great knowledge for placement of items from your bed to your office.

How to Calculate your Kua Number

To find your individual Kua Number begin by using this formula. You will take the last two numbers of the year you were born and add them together. Reduce them to the lowest number that is possible. Use this example, your birth year is 1984, use your numbers 8 and 4 and add together.   8 + 4 = 12; reduce the sum by adding those two digits together, 1+ 2 = 3.

It is an important part of the formula to remember that females always add a 5 to the final number; males always subtract the number from 10.

If you are female, take the sum of your 1982 birth year that was reduced to a 3, then add the 5 to it. You will find the total 3 + 5 = 8.  Your Kua Number is 8.

If you are male, take the sum of your 1982 birth year that had been reduced to a 3 and subtract this from the number 10.  10 — 6 = 4.  Your Kua Number will come out to be 4.

Your Kua Number explains your individual energy type and will tell you which directions are favorable to you. One step further, you will find in feng shui there are two groups of people.  You have people from the East House and the people from the West House. You find that people from the East Houses are compatible, while similarly those from the West Houses seem to agree more.

If your Kua Number is 1, 3, 4, or 9, you are in the East House.

If your Kua Number is 2, 6, 7, or 8, you are in the West House.

Using this chart to find your most auspicious direction:

 If your Kua Number is:

 1 — your directions are north, south, east, and southeast.

 2  — your directions are west, northwest, southwest, and northeast.

 3 — your directions are north, south, east, and southeast.

 4 — your directions are north, south, east, and southeast.

 5 — your directions are: for men, n.east, n.west, west, and s.west.

                                     for women: s.west, n.west, west, and n.east.

 6 — your directions are west, n.east, s.west, and n.west.

 7 — your directions are n.west, s.west, n.east, and west.

 8 — your directions are s.west, n.west, west, and n.east.

 9 — your directions are east, s.east, north, and south.

Next post, we face the types of good and bad luck and how your Kua Number affects each one.

Using Color Tips

We know that changing certain colors or using the proper color in feng shui can not only correct a multitude of problems, but also that colors can release energy more quickly than many other cures. Each of the five elements we’ve become familiar with (fire, earth, metal, water, and wood) speaks to achieving harmony through the use of color.

Appropriate colors for use in with the fire element would be yellows that are bright, happy and uplifting. Use oranges to free and release emotions and bring joy to your home. Reds are used to revitalize and bring abundance. Purple can help balance your mind and remove fears while it stimulates and inspires. Use purple if creative inspiration is what you seek or if you need to call forth a renewed spirituality.  Using these colors as paint choices, accents, and art objects will raise the energy of fire in the northeast and the southwestern areas of your home.

The feng shui element of earth covers the areas of the Northeast and the Southwest as well as the center of your home.  Primary colors to enhance these earth areas are yellows, browns, beiges, and natural nut colors. These colors bring comfort, enhance stability, and bring the peace to these areas of your home. Brown brings an atmosphere of support and stability and arrives in time to minimize insecurities.

Metal element colors of gold, silver, grays, and whites will bring clarity and light to the west and northwest areas of your home. White is associated with purity and is a great color choice to use for protection. Using white can add the feelings of peace and comfort to your home. Silvers can help calm fragile emotions and soothe those that are sensitive to life’s more difficult moments.

Water, the element we find in the north also brings its harmony to the east and southeast. Primary colors for use here are the deep blues and blacks.  They wash in a wealth of abundance, bringing with it a manner of refreshment and calmness. Blue is a cool, calming color that can inspire us or relax us. Too much blue, however, may be perceived as being cold or unfriendly, but its use on a front door that is facing north will call abundance and wealth right to your door.

You will find Wood element colors of brown and green at home for use in the East, Southeast, and the south. Brown conveys a friendly warm feeling, however too much brown brings an element of drabness or sadness with it.  Be careful not to overdo it. The Southeast, which governs wealth and prosperity, calls out for use of the color green. The greens you find in nature will lessen stress, provide the path to empathy, and beckon prosperity to wind its way to you.

Remember the colors that we find all about us are the very energies that influence the paths to our destiny. They raise or lower our energy, they call us to peacefulness or raise us to anger, effective use of color choice can be one of the most important weapons in our feng shui arsenal.

The Cycles of the Five Elements

Having become familiar with the Five Elements, knowing the distinct cycles concerning them becomes paramount. Previously, it was mentioned that there is a creative cycle to the elements as well as a destructive cycle. What begins to happen is a simple process of continued renewal taking place in a constantly revolving circle.

The unending circle begins with:

           

            The element of wood burning and becoming fuel for the fire.

            The fire making ashes, which return to the earth and prosper it.

            The earth, in turn, creates metal.

            Metal heats to extreme temperatures evolving into a liquid state like water.

            Finally, water nourishes wood.

When the opposite destructive cycle begins to take place, you find rather than building one another up, the elements work to destroy each another.

            Tools of metal cut down Wood.

            The extreme heat of the fire destroys metal.

            Fire is extinguished by Water.

Water is swallowed by and then evaporated by earth.

Earth becomes populated by the growth of wood products.           

As you begin to apply one the Five Elements to bring about favorable luck, there are three methods from which to choose. Decide which element needs to be in balance and apply your cure by using that particular elements corresponding color, or perhaps its corresponding shape, or put into use its physical representation. An example of which would be:

           

            In using a wood element cure, you would possibly incorporate blue or green  into the cure as

            the color, or use as the shape, different rectangular items, or the use of the physical   representation could  be illustrated through the use of plants, wooden items or even living trees.

As cures for an individual element become necessary, simply change to that particular elements color, shape, or physical representation and as they are used, you have begun to have a basic understanding of how and what choices you have in order to affect a feng shui cure. 

Peace. 

                                   

             

Energy Of the Earth Element

The earth element resides both in the southwestern corner of knowledge and self-cultivation, and in a line completely across the Bagua, in the northeastern corner that represents marriage and partnership. Earth, which is known as the nourishing energy, brings family harmony and happiness with it. The very fine energy it possesses will help you find calming balance when there is an abundance of change going on in you life. There is a certain stability you can expect from the earth energy as it maintains a form of even control over even the most difficult of times.

Natural colors of the earth element include yellow, tans, and beige. Various browns, gold’s, and rust’s can also be considered as key colors as well, though they are not as commonly used. The Chinese consider yellow a fortunate color, as it represents royalty and wisdom. You will want to use this color in moderation though, as it could quickly take over and unbalance your area with too much of the fire element. A correct balance of earth’s energy by using natural colors prevents the overpowering strength of fire energy from taking over. Too much fire energy will destroy opportunities achieved through promoting earths luck. It’s possible to evoke positive earth energy by painting the walls of these directions with one of the natural earth colors, thereby bringing good chi to both your knowledge area and your marriage/partnership area.

Using precious stones of yellow topaz, opal, cat’s eye, or citrine can increase your earth luck. Wear them or display them to summon chi energy. Displaying pictures or paintings, either in the N.E. or S.W. direction, whose subject material is that of mountains, meadows, deserts or landscapes will also increase your good fortune. Squares and rectangles, which are the shapes that signify earth energy, could be used in earth tone colors to represent abstract art forms.  Items of crystal, marble or pottery are good choices to raise the element of earth energy. Hang shining glass or crystal chandeliers to shed good light, bringing about splendid luck and joy to your family. Be aware, though, that too much earth energy will slow you down and cause lack of ambition.  If you become concerned that this may be happening, add wooden elements to strengthen the way out of the low energy being caused by the abundance of earth influence.

Enhancement with stable earth energy is an excellent tool to use when the plan is to increase your need for knowledge and also when your marriage or partnership could use soothing.

Energy of the wood element.

Energy for the element of wood resides in the eastern directional area of the bagua. It is located in the center left with the family/health section of the nine life areas. As with the metal element having a natural space to the west, wood has a natural space is to the east.

The wood element is considered a symbol of expansion and development for your family and for your health. The innovative energy of the wood element can herald new beginnings for both. Correct wood energy is a strong energy and is the one to use when your family harmony is challenged by strife or the quality of the family relationship is in need of repair.

The natural color of the wood element is green. Using green in all shades and hues is a good way to symbolize new growth in your family area. Other than greens, wood colors can also include shades of blues and browns. To recognize the impact of the accurate use of your wood element, think of the strong image a tree makes in its greens and browns against a blue sky.

Placing a green plant in various parts of your room will help you discover what a quick and simple cure it can be. You begin to understand the strength of the wood element almost immediately. Promoting growth and the expansion of wood through the use of water is also an excellent resource in your wood cures. Using a water feature promotes luck in prosperity, when placed in the east; it causes wealth to flow into the home. Another way of promoting the wood element is to place photographs of your family together in groups, or by lighting a green candle near a photo of an individual you need to energize.

You will also find a good illustration for the use of the wood element as you choose paintings that include forests, trees, plants, and floral arrangements. Display your art in the eastern zone of any of the nine life areas you want to bring harmony to.

Take time to regard the successes of your family’s interpersonal relationships and their communications. Theirs, and those of your extended family, such as a business partner or significant other, will benefit when this element comes into balance with the other elements. From the element chart we previously learned that wood fuels fire, properly balanced the two elements work in harmony to produce good family luck. When too much of the fire element is present, any good rendered by your wood element is now depleted. Fires energy will, in essence, have burned away the strength found in the wood. Learn how to evaluate all of the elements and how they react with each other as you strive to maintain a good balance in the family luck area of the bagua.

Remember, success is determined by how determined you are to succeed.

The Energy of the Metal Element

The metal element resides in the western directional area of the Bagua located in the center right, in the children’s section of the nine life areas. As with the fire element to the south, the west is metals natural space. Its creative and communicative energy, when correct, will bring splendid benefit to your whole home, not just to the children represented by this area.

The metal element brings increased goodness and inspiration to your children, providing a path of illumination in their lives and for their future. Not only is it the source of great provision for them, it can also bring about the ability of improved communications for others and bless and make fruitful all of your undertakings. The use of enhanced metal energy and corrections will ensure descendent luck for all those in your family.

Applying a metal cure by hanging wind chimes or bells, or choosing to use it’s natural colors of white, silver, or grays in their natural western position will enhance not only family and children, but metal also controls wealth and financial well being as well. To increase your metal luck is to increase your fortunes at the same time.

The shapes primarily associated with metal cures are spherical, round, or even dome shaped.  To have your metal energy contained in a circle is to provide constantly moving energy as it spirals around consistently. Art or photos containing snow covered mountains or elements that soar skyward such as modern buildings, all apply metal energy. Mirrors also can increase the metal element with its clear and clean silver reflection of light; they’re particularly helpful when reflecting a true metal art object or an item containing one of the colors of the metal element.

The precious metals of gold and silver, the prized stones of diamonds and pearls are all associated with the metal element. Incorporate jewelry made from these items into your life to constantly display your desire to call forth metal energy. Display objects made of silver, such as a tea service or place gold ingots on mirrors set on tables in the western area of your room. The hardness and strength of a properly balanced metal element will protect all that is need of protection within your realm.

Energy and persistence conquer all things.

Energy of the Fire Element

The fire element resides in the southern directional area of the Bagua located near the center back, in the fame section of the nine life areas. As with the water element to the north, the fire element has a natural space in the south letting its high energy bring great enlightenment to the Fame area.

The fire element brings increased recognition and illumination to the goal you’re trying to accomplish, signifying growth and expansion as you activate a fire cure. It realizes what you are passionate about and directs its inspiration towards the answer. Look to the fame area as you plan your future if the need is to draw attention or acclaim to yourself. Remember, enhancing this area will make you and your reputation sparkle; this sparkle is achieved by the activation of a fire element.

Applying a fire cure by adding candles, or choosing to use colors in reds, purples, or pinks, or by placing symbolic shapes of the symbols of fire in their natural southern position will bring great inspiration to the area you are trying enhance. Symbols for fire include pyramids, diamonds, and other angular shapes like that of a triangle. For instance, placing a fire element in the center back of the Career Area would be helpful if you are trying to create energy for a new job or expand the one you already have. Perhaps you are trying to move from team leader to upper management, then this would be where the proper cure and intention should be placed. A wooden item would be a great idea, as wood will be symbolic of fuel needed to make the fire to produce the high energy necessary for your cure. Placing a triangular wooden platter on a tabletop in the southern area of your space would be an excellent choice to use.

Certain gemstones are associated with the fire element. Wearing jewelry fashioned from rubies or garnets can increase that aspect; their deep red colors stimulating fire energy. Using artful positioning of light fixtures and candles in the southern corner will bring intensity to the chi energy you are summoning. Animal sculptures, pictures of animals, artwork or paintings containing people, sunshine, or natural lights placed in the southern corner of the life area needing enhancement would be highly beneficial.

Remember it’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness!

Energy of the Water Element

Inside the Ba Gua, we learned that each of the nine Life Areas occupy their own individual placement space. In much the same way, each of the Five Elements inhabits their own directional space as well. The water element is located in the north and placed in the career area of the Ba Gua. This is not the only place that a water element cure can be used, however, it is the natural space that it inhabits.

Signifying wealth and abundance, using the water element’s energy can bring enormous prosperity with the proper placement of your Feng Shui cures. Envision the wealth area in the upper back corner of the Ba Gua. If the compass points are centrally placed in this area, a water cure could successfully be used along its northern side. The same holds true for any of the life areas. The northern part of each life area is where you could effectively place a water cure.

When activating a water cure, a large variety of elements are at your disposal. Pictures containing moving bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, oceans, or waterfalls can be used. Wavy lines in your artwork suggest a water element cure; the key is to use a flowing motion to indicate that the water is carrying your desire forward in your cure. You can use the placement of a fountain, or use a beautiful bowl filled with water, floating a flower in it or place a simple gold fish inside. Gemstones with the suggestion of sapphires, aquamarines, or amethysts and clear quartz crystals can create an environment that will achieve the energy you’re seeking. Stack them or place them in shallow bowls in the proper direction of your room. The stones you use need not be real, representative stones will do. The universe understands symbolism.

The colors predominately associated with the Water Element are the darker blues or black.  They symbolize depth of water and are bold color choices when you need a rapid activation. When using Feng Shui, traditionally a front door that is painted red is among the strongest of elements for activation of luck. However, if you have a home whose front door is facing north, the best color choice changes to a shade of deeper blue.  With this color choice, you have activated a true water element cure for the entry of your home.

A powerful cure is the proper placement of a mirror as a prospective water cure. It has the power to expand your space and draw good chi in.  Good energy is reflected when bad chi is deflected!

Next post, we move from water to fire. May your day be productive.

The Five Elements of Feng Shui.

It is believed  in Feng Shui that everything in our universe is comprised of one of the five elements. These five elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water and each has a corresponding location on the Ba Gua  Octagon relating to one another productively or destructively in energetic cycles. It is believed that in the productive cycle, fire nourishes earth (fire will recycle its ashes to feed the earth), earth nourishes metal (earth incubates all metal), metal nourishes water (one, it enriches water and two, as it becomes super heated, it liquefies like water.), water nourishes wood (it gives the tree its growth.), and wood,  as it is burned gives birth to fire.

In the destructive cycle Fire destroys Metal (metal is melted by fire), metal destroys wood (As it is honed and sharped metal can chop and destroy wood.), wood destroys earth (The earth is speared by the growing roots of the trees.), earth destroys water (By absorbing and then destroys by evaporation), and water destroys fire (fire is extinguished by water.)

Each element has their own representative color which may be used as one very basic way of balancing  harmony in the area of the ba gua that you are trying to enhance.

Career:                    Element:  Water       Color:   Black and Blue
Marriage:                 Element:  Earth        Color:   Brown and Yellow
Family:                    Element:  Wood       Color:   Green
Wealth:                   Element:  Wood       Color:   Green
Helpful Friends:       Element: Metal         Color:   Silver, Golds, White
Children:                 Element:  Metal        Color:  Silver, Golds, White
Knowledge:            Element:  Earth         Color:  Brown, Yellow
Fame:                     Element:  Fire           Color:  Red, Purple, Pink

The next blog will continue the use of the five elements and how they can affect Feng Shui cures in our environment.

The Ba Gua - The Eight-sided Energy Map

The Feng Shui energy chart known as the Ba Gua is what we sometimes call a Feng Shui Octagon.  Either choice is acceptable, interchangeable and totally correct. Many find it easier to refer to as an Octagon because Ba Gua (Bah-gwah) is not only an unfamiliar term, but they are typically unsure of the correct pronunciation. The important thing to know, whichever term we choose to use, is its use in defining the space of the nine life areas and the energies contained in each.

A traditional Ba Gua is octagon shaped and is used to lay over your homes floor plan.  You can bring the elements of  Feng Shui to your garden, your office or even your desktop. As you begin to use the Ba Gua for positive energy changes, always place the center front Career Area at the entrance of your space. That will set the beginning of order for everything else you need to know.

There are Nine Life Areas:

Career Area:  Located at the center front.

Helpful People Area:  Located in the right front area of your space.

Knowledge Area:  Located in the left front area of your space.

Fame/Reputation Area:  Located in the center back.

Marriage /Partnership Area:  Located in the back right area of your space.

Wealth / Money Area:  Located in the back left of your space.

Health Area:  Located in the Center of your space

Children Area:  Located in the center right of your area.

Family Area:  Located in the center left of your space.

The Career Area is the area to enhance when you need corrections concerning your work, job, employment etc. Connections to the outside world can be enhanced through working on the elements contained in this area as well.

The Helpful People Area is the area you go to when you have concerns about others who can positively influence your life. In enhancing this area, you can achieve the harmony needed to improve your life. It can help draw those that you need help from the most to you.

The Knowledge Area is the area to turn to for insight and information. Your mental, spiritual, or any aspect of personal growth starts here. If you feel the need to be a wiser more able person, to be smarter in your business dealings, to acquire ability and success over any aspect of your life where insight could be the key to positive change, this is the area that would benefit by using Feng Shui.

The Fame Area is where to look as you plan your future if that future includes a life where you want to draw public attention or acclaim to yourself. Enhancement of this area can bring harmony to your reputation and great things to many areas of your life including family, business dealings, and public relations. Enhancing this area can help you sparkle!

The Marriage/Partnership Area relates to your marriage, your marriage partner, a significant other or even possibly a business partner. Look here to affect quality in your existing relationships or as you seek new ones.

The Wealth/Money Area is the area to enhance as you work on the issues of prosperity and abundance. For financial improvement, focus your attention here.

The Health Area is where you turn to for any questions or needs concerning your physical health.

The Children Area is the area to enhance as you choose to bring well-being and success upon your children.  All goodness and blessings can start here when you choose to use the elements of Feng Shui in this area.

The Family Area is the area to enhance in issues, hopes, dreams concerning all of your family and relatives. To enhance this part of the Octagon will influence the positive ambitions you have in all your familial desires.

As we continue to understand the Ba Gua, in my next posting we will begin to use some of the simple elements that will allow us to start making the changes we dream of. Remember, the things you dream of never can or will be, in the world unless you put it there.

Fundamental Feng Shui Terminology

Feng Shui is the art of bringing harmony to your life through the balancing of chi (energy). Chi is the invisible life force connecting each of us to our surroundings. For centuries the Chinese have used Feng Shui to correct imbalances in their  lives to correct disharmony, not only in the physical environment, but in  relationships as well.  In order to more fully understand the basic principles of Feng Shui, a good knowledge of  the terminology used in this practice is important. Today I will begin to introduce you to a some of the terms necessary to begin a journey to a once mystical and little understood method of obtaining direct, tangible results by applying  these ancient techniques in your own life. In this post, we will review a few basic terms that will provide a beginning basis of understanding the centuries old traditions of Feng Shui.

1. Feng Shui -  The literal translation of Feng Shui  is a combination of two Chinese words meaning   wind (feng) and water (shui). Two naturally flowing elements without which we would have no life. Wind symbolizes our use of air. Water is the element without which we would perish. The use of  Feng Shui can enhance your surroundings by using the principles of harmony and balance through the correct placement of objects and by activating proper intentions to affect a cure.What one seeks through the use of Feng Shui principles is the successful feeling attained by a properly accomplished cure.
2. Chi - The constantly flowing, invisible energy force found flowing in all things.
3. Intention - This is the unseen  force that accomplishes the result you require by using your personal reasons and desires to synergistically create the Feng Shui cure.
4. Ba Gua - An eight sided tool used to divide your home into the nine life areas: Helpful People, Career, Knowledge, Family, Wealth, Fame, Marriage/Partnership, Children, and Health. Each area possesses different energies and corresponds to specific areas of your life. No one area is more important than another, your focus should begin by applying its use to the area you wish to remedy. This tool is so important that in the next blog, I will list each area along with an explanation of how it correlates into the uses of Feng Shui.

It takes many years of study to fully understand the art of Feng Shui, it only takes a moment to begin enjoying the possibilities.