METHODS USED IN FENG SHUI

One method of analysis commonly used is based upon the octagonal structure the Pah Kwa. There are 2 techniques based upon this basic configuration, one called the8 point method and the other, the 8 enrichment or endowment method. 

The latter consists the laying over the plan of the house in question the octagonal grid and this enables the problem areas to be determined and improvements to be suggested. The 8 point method involves placing a star made up of 8 lines over the plan of house or individual rooms to see where the line impinge upon the walls.

THE ENDOWMENT METHOD

This derives its name from the aspect of a person’s house. The direction in which it faces enriches the house in particular way, thus north represent harmonious relationships and east understanding.

The grid should always be placed facing south even if the main door to the house does not.

THE 8 POINT METHOD

In this case the 8 point-folf grid comprises 8 points or areas covering such aspects as finance, eminence (reputation), wisdom (knowledge), career and so on. Once again the grid is placed over the ground plan of the house in question and the wall that contains the main door should also contain the point of wisdom, career and friends.

The placing of the 8 points is achieved by standing at the door and imagining that you are looking in, thus eminence is furthest away and finance is away in the left-hand corner. Where the outline of a room does not readily fit with the regular arrangement of points and many rooms will fall into this category, there are number of procedures suggested to obtain the best possible placing of points:

 

• The boundary of the room can be projected until a more regular shape is created upon which the points can be placed. However this does not necessarily clarify the placing of points.
• Where spaces, say in 2 adjoining rooms, clearly do not accommodate the 8 points, it is better to treat them as separate rooms, applying the same principles and standing in each doorway, looking in, to place the points. In this case there is no place for finance and wisdom because they are outside the room boundary. However, if the smaller extension is treated as a separate room then all the points can be applied quite easily.  

 

 

• Other room may have an irregular shape, which presents you with more than 1 option for placing the 8 points. In this case the points can either be placed to include as much of the space of the room as possible or the room can be divided as described, to create more manageable shapes. If necessary, walls can temporarily be created by use of partition thus enabling the points to be placed.

 

The 8 points method and the endowment method are just the 2 ways in which the Feng Shui of a building can be analyzed. They are also among the easiest. With some relatively straightforward preparation, you can use 1 of these methods as the starting point for practicing Feng Shui in your own home.

INSIDE YOUR HOME : WINDOW

Windows should be considered in much the same light as doors and we can covering the window with a curtain to prevent the rapid loss of chi. Cross ventilation, where two windows are directly opposite one another, means a room cannot hold chi and this can lead to a corresponding loss of money and health. Too many windows or openings that are too large, meanwhile, result in the benefits of chi being dissipated. It is also believe that too many windows will lead to family conflict. A room with more than 2 walls of windows has too much ventilation and this can lead to excessive energy if the window on the sunny side of the house (stained glass, small panes, crystal or wind chimes can help to slow down the flow of chi).

Windows facing east will bring the chi energy of sunrise into the home, promoting energy and positive thinking. Windows facing west bring the chi energy of sunset into the home, helping you relax and wind down.

As with doors, some window shapes are more favorable than others for different areas of the house. A square or wide rectangular shaped windows represents the earth element and promotes stability, while a round window represents the metal element and promotes focus and determination. A tall, narrow window represents the tree energy, promoting communication and harmony. Whatever the shape or size of the window, it is inadvisable to place a bed or stove beneath it, or to relax/study with your back to the window. Windows are best opening outwards and fully, it is believed brings good fortune and enhanced opportunities to the occupants. In Feng Shui windows that open inwards will have adverse effects on health, finance and career. Sha chi (negative chi) can be diverted or blocked by the use of a vase of flowers at the window, hanging wind chimes or a strategically placed mirror if the configuration of the room permits this.

Advices for doors or windows:

• A main door that is too small can be remedied by the careful use of mirrors.
• A wind chime may be placed by a main door which is too large to prevent chi escaping
• The main door should be hinged at the side of the nearest wall
• Furniture should not hinder the easy opening of doors
• If the back door/window can bee seen from the front, obstacles such as mirrors, screens, plants and curtains must be used to prevent chi flowing straight in one way and out of the other
• Doors and windows should not be sited near the corner of the room or chi will be lost too rapidly
• When windows do not open completely, it is helpful to place flowers at the closed section
• A room situated at the end of a hallway is likely to suffer from sha chi, which can be corrected by placing a long mirror to the side of this door

 

INSIDE YOUR HOME : DOOR

The door is the portal, the focus of any building whether a home or an office. Since this is the point where chi enters and is distributed through the building, it is vital to the well-being of the occupants that the front door is located favorably on the house plan and in relation to the outside environment.

Doors:

External Doors

Perhaps the most important door is the front door and although it may not be feasible to relocate it to a more beneficial position, it is possible to lessen any deficits. 

A door that is too large may allow a lot of chi to escape while a door that is too small may need to appear to be larger. To prevent chi escaping, wind chimes, a banner or something similar can be hung by the door to slow down the chi and direct it back into the building. The front door should be larger than the back door to prevent chi leaving the house too quickly and both doors should be proportional to the size of the house. A doorway can easily be made to appear larger by the careful placing of mirrors. This will also help by reflecting pleasant outside views into the entrance hall (assuming there is a pleasant view to be reflected), porch or room and it should facilitate the escape of bad chi and may enlighten a darker corner in the entrance area in shadow behind the door. It is unfavorable for the door to be reached by means of a narrow passageway or for it to be enclosed on three sides.

A fully or semi glazed front or back door allows both light and chi into the home in a favorable position. This is especially helpful if the porch or hallway is dark and cramped as the chi may otherwise stagnate. However, it is important that the main door looks like a main door. Hinges and locks should be well-oiled and paintwork should not be permitted to flake or fade, nor should dustbins or refuse be placed outside the entrance. Its unfavorable for the front of the house to have 2 or more doors or gates, as this can cause conflict between occupants. Too many openings to the house can result in the benefit of chi being dissipated. This applies to windows, French windows, rear and side doors, skylights and atriums. Conversely, a house with too little natural light and ventilation allows the chi to stagnate, causing health problems.

The direction in which the door faces is also important and the most auspicious position is south facing. Front door facing east and southeast are also favorable positions, the former ideal for young people at the start of a career or marriage, the latter representing communication and harmony.

There are many measures that can be taken to improve a less propitious direction of facing, such as north which can be too isolating. Painting the front door a bright color, especially red, may stimulate chi in the north. An outside light would be helpful. Sharp objects pointed towards the door also generate harmful sha chi. Other unfavorable positions for the main door are opposite a neighbor’s gate, main door or driveway and facing a T-junction, a church or police station.

When entering a building, be it home or office, it is preferable to be faced with a balanced interior. If this is not the case, for example, on entering you immediately face the corner of a wall or the edge of a large cupboard this can be counter-balanced by the use of a mirror, screen or a plant or decorative ornament.

Your home will suffer if the main entrance:

• Faces a staircase
• Faces a corner
• Faces a column/post
• Is visible from the back door
• Has a view of a washbasin/toilet
• Has a view of a stove or fireplace
• Faces the door of a bedroom
• Faces the door of a sitting room
• Is situated below a toilet

Internal Doors

Many buildings, particularly offices, have quite long corridors containing a number of doors into rooms. Too many doors in a corridor or hallway can lead to confusion and ideally doors should be placed at regular intervals. Some advocate door facing each other while others regard this a potential source of disharmony and in any event too public an arrangement.

Doors should certainly not overlap each other a little as this indicates antagonism and probably the best arrangement, if a number of doors are necessary, is to have them regularly spaced. Where this ideal arrangement is not possible, the remedy is to use mirrors opposite the doors which conflict or possibly strategically placed attractive plants. In addition, the immediate area can be improved through the use of suitable lighting and internal décor. A room situated at the end of hallway or corridor, particularly if the corridor is long, is likely to suffer from sha chi and this can be corrected by fastening a long mirror to the side of the door facing the corridor. Another situation that creates conflict is when 3 doors facing each other from 3 different directions. In this case, a wind chime should be hung from the ceiling between the 3 doors.

Leaving doors open will encourage the free flow of chi, but in the bathroom the door should kept shut.