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How To Easy Find Your Best Feng Shui Directions [Free Tutorial + Chart]

August 31st, 2010 in Feng Shui

Determine your favorable and un-favorable directions for working, sleeping and studying.

Feng Shui is based on the Chinese Solar Calendar. The sun influences our seasons and dictates our climates – therefore Feng Shui is not based on the Lunar Calendar which starts each year on January 1^st. The Chinese hold February 4^th as the “Beginning of Spring*” – this is the time when the new solar year begins. If you were born before February 4^th you belong to one of the prior year’s eight trigrams. If you were born on February 4^th or 5^th you should check with Feng Shui At Work for the exact Trigram based on the day of your birth.

Each person aligns with one of the eight directions and can use four of the eight directions to their personal benefit. Find out how best to position yourself at home and at work. Please find out if your Trigram based on your birth year belongs to the East Group or West Group. Use the Chart below to determine your favorable and unfavorable directions.

Example: John, born on 5^th of February 1986 belongs to the K’un Trigram – therefore is a West–Group Person. (K’un/W). On the lower right of the Chart look up the favorable directions associated with the West Group (W). You will see W, SW, NW ,NE as the four best supporting directions. There is no particular ranking.

The Personal Trigram Chart; including the East (E) – West (W) System

Year	Male	Female	Year	Male	Female	Year	Male	Female
1900	K’an/E	Ken/W	1943	Chen/E	Chen/E	1986	K’un/W	K’an/E
1901	Li/E	Chien/W	1944	K’un/W	Sun/E	1987	Sun/E	K’un/W
1902	Ken/W	Tui/W	1945	K’an/E	Ken/W	1988	Chen/E	Chen/E
1903	Tui/W	Ken/W	1946	Li/E	Chien/W	1989	K’un/W	Sun/E
1904	Chien/W	Li/E	1947	Ken/W	Tui/W	1990	K’an/E	Ken/W
1905	K’un/W	K’an/E	1948	Tui/W	Ken/W	1991	Li/E	Chien/W
1906	Sun/E	K’un/W	1949	Chien/W	Li/E	1992	Ken/W	Tui/W
1907	Chen/E	Chen/E	1950	K’un/W	K’an/E	1993	Tui/W	Ken/W
1908	K’un/W	Sun/E	1951	Sun/E	K’un/W	1994	Chien/W	Li/E
1909	K’an/E	Ken/W	1952	Chen/E	Chen/E	1995	K’un/W	K’an/E
1910	Li/E	Chien/W	1953	K’un/W	Sun/E	1996	Sun/E	K’un/W
1911	Ken/W	Tui/W	1954	K’an/E	Ken/W	1997	Chen/E	Chen/E
1912	Tui/W	Ken/W	1955	Li/E	Chien/W	1998	K’un/W	Sun/E
1913	Chien/W	Li/E	1956	Ken/W	Tui/W	1999	K’an/E	Ken/W
1914	K’un/W	K’an/E	1957	Tui/W	Ken/W	2000	Li/E	Chien/W
1915	Sun/E	K’un/W	1958	Chien/W	Li/E	2001	Ken/W	Tui/W
1916	Chen/E	Chen/E	1959	K’un/W	K’an/E	2002	Tui/W	Ken/W
1917	K’un/W	Sun/E	1960	Sun/E	K’un/W	2003	Chien/W	Li/E
1918	K’an/E	Ken/W	1961	Chen/E	Chen/E	2004	K’un/W	K’an/E
1919	Li/E	Chien/W	1962	K’un/W	Sun/E	2005	Sun/E	K’un/W
1920	Ken/W	Tui/W	1963	K’an/E	Ken/W	2006	Chen/E	Chen/E
1921	Tui/W	Ken/W	1964	Li/E	Chien/W	2007	K’un/W	Sun/E
1922	Chien/W	Li/E	1965	Ken/W	Tui/W	2008	K’an/E	Ken/W
1923	K’un/W	K’an/E	1966	Tui/W	Ken/W	2009	Li/E	Chien/W
1924	Sun/E	K’un/W	1967	Chien/W	Li/E	2010	Ken/W	Tui/W
1925	Chen/E	Chen/E	1968	K’un/W	K’an/E	2011	Tui/W	Ken/W
1926	K’un/W	Sun/E	1969	Sun/E	K’un/W	2012	Chien/W	Li/E
1927	K’an/E	Ken/W	1970	Chen/E	Chen/E	2013	K’un/W	K’an/E
1928	Li/E	Chien/W	1971	K’un/W	Sun/E	1014	Sun/E	K’un/W
1929	Ken/W	Tui/W	1972	K’an/E	Ken/W	2015	Chen/E	Chen/E
1930	Tui/W	Ken/W	1973	Li/E	Chien/W	2016	K’un/W	Sun/E
1931	Chien/W	Li/E	1974	Ken/W	Tui/W	2017	K’an/E	Ken/W
1932	K’un/W	K’an/E	1975	Tui/W	Ken/W	2018	Li/E	Chien/W
1933	Sun/E	K’un/W	1976	Chien/W	Li/E	2019	Ken/W	Tui/W
1934	Chen/E	Chen /E	1977	K’un/W	K’an/E	2020	Tui/W	Ken/W
1935	K’un/W	Sun/E	1978	Sun/E	K’un/W	2021	Chien/W	Li/E
1936	K’an/E	Ken/W	1979	Chen/E	Chen/E	2022	K’un/W	K’an/E
1937	Li/E	Chien/W	1980	K’un/W	Sun/E	2023	Sun/E	K’un/W
1938	Ken/W	Tui/W	1981	K’an/E	Ken/W	2024	Chen/E	Chen/E
1939	Tui/W	Ken/W	1982	Li/E	Chien/W	2025	K’un/W	Sun/E
1940	Chien/W	Li/E	1983	Ken/W	Tui/W	*Directions*	*East (E)*	*West (W)*
1941	K’un/W	K’an/E	1984	Tui/W	Ken/W	*Favorable*	*E, SE, S, N*	*W,SW,NW,NE*
1942	Sun/E	K’un/W	1985	Chien/W	Li/E	*Unfavorable.*	*W,SW,NW,NE*	*E, SE, S, N*

Align yourself with one your best directions:

For better sleep, position your bed in such a way that your pillow (Pillow Direction) points into one of the good compass directions. In the example shown above this young man would have to have his pillow pointing either towards West, Southwest, Northwest or Northeast. For supportive sitting directions, when positioning a desk according to the four supportive directions make sure that you have one of the four compass directions behind you when sitting and working at your desk.

Use this chart as a “Free Feng Shui Tip” as a guideline to finding your ideal directions, and avoid orienting yourself towards one of the negative directions. If you have questions please feel free to contact us.

*The Chinese New Year or “Spring Festival is the most important Chinese holiday. Commonly it is called the “Lunar New Year” as it is based on the luni-solar Chinese calendar. Chinese ‘New Year’s eve’ is known as chu xi – literally translated it means ‘Year-pass eve’. The ancient ‘Chinese New Year’ is known to be the longest and most important event of festivities in the Chinese Lunar Calendar as it is a reflection on people’s behavior and what they have believed in most.

Would You Stick Needles Into Your Body? Feng Shui

August 25th, 2010 in Feng Shui

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The Eastern Philosophy on how acupuncture works has been explained as life energy flowing through the human body which is called Chi. The Chi energy can be influenced by balancing and stimulating specific points on the body. These points are located along channels of energy which are known as meridians connecting all major organs. According to the Chinese acupuncture medical theory illnesses arise when the cyclical flow of Chi becomes unbalanced or is blocked.For many centuries acupuncture has been used to help cure pain. The reason acupuncture is still being used today is a testament to the fact that it works. There are two main styles of acupuncture: The “Five Element Acupuncture” and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine).

Acupuncture is done by the use of needles in order to heal the human body by increasing the circulation of Chi around the body. Chi (pronounced: chee) is a form of electricity which nourishes every part of the human being: Body, Soul, Spirit and Mind.

Chi moves in a tangible yet invisible circuit around the body delivering substances through the Meridians. These meridians can be compared to the interstate system of large cities moving people to work and back each and every day. On some days it flows smoothly, yet on others there may be problems and breakdowns caused by accidents that cause the system to come to a halt. Same is true when it comes to our bodies. When the Chi is moving around the body productively we are in a state of emotional and spiritual balance as well as feeling mentally and physically healthy. Any disturbances and blockages can be experienced as diseases and symptoms that can occur on an emotional, spiritual, mentally or health level.

The Five Elements

The five elements (Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal) are the five qualities of Chi energy.

Ø Water energy is powerful and fluid

Ø Wood energy is youthful as well as forceful

Ø Fire energy is warming

Ø Earth energy is stabilizing and grounding

Ø Metal energy brings refinement and quality

The “Causative Factors” of Disease and Sickness

In the Chinese Theory of Five Element Acupuncture it is believed that one of the Five Elements is always somewhat weaker than all the others. This is called the “Causative Factor” (CF) or also understood as the weakest link in the system.

The Acupuncturist needs to identify which is the “Causative Factor” (CF) and then strengthen that particular element. By strengthening the CF the acupuncturist then brings the system back into a good state of harmony and operation.

Diagnosing “Causative Factors”

One of the most important skills in regard to the “Five Element Acupuncture” is to be able to diagnose the weakest part within the system. This is accomplished by observing a patient to find out which one of the Five Elements is showing the most distress signals.

Color, Emotion, Odor and Sound

An experienced practitioner has the ability to tune in effectively allowing the “Causative Factors” (CF) to be sensed through sound of the voice, the color of the skin as well as odor or emotional expressions.

Comparing Acupuncture with Feng Shui

Feng Shui is based on the same principles of the “Five Elements” (Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal). Based on a mathematical calculation an experienced Feng Shui Consultant can determine the interactions of these elements within any enclosed structure like a home or a business. As a building is divided into magnetic Chi fields (Feng Shui Bagua) based on the Sitting and a Facing of a home and an exact 15 degree LoPan compass reading, and by knowing the age of a building (construction cycle) it can be determined if the elements are either in a “Productive Cycle”, “Reductive Cycle” or “Domination Cycle”.

Each one of the magnetic Chi fields will have two of the “Five Elements“ in interaction with each other present. As these elements are known as the manifestation of the Chi energies one may finds a combination of:

Water and Wood: Water bringing Money, Fame and a good Name Wood bringing the creativity (This is called Peach Blossom in Chinese and as the Water feeds the Wood it is known to bring the best for people being in a “Productive Cycle“).

Water and Metal: Water in this case is in a “Reductive Cycle” with Metal. Water corrodes the Metal which under normal circumstances would bring Wealth. It can be compared and it easier to understand when water corrodes metal.

Fire and Metal: This is the worst cycle called the “Domination Cycle” when the Fire element destroys the metal element. The domination cycle has to be avoided at all cost and this is one cycle even most so-called Feng Shui Practitioners have no clue about.

The difference between Feng Shui and Acupuncture

The biggest question coming to mind is: Would you buy a book called “Acupuncture for Dummies” or “A Quick Guide to Acupuncture“? Would you really feel comfortable to stick needles into your body to achieve better health?

Yet at the same time this is what most people do when it comes to the Chinese Art and Science of Feng Shui. They buy all sorts of Feng Shui books and people believe they can do it themselves. Often enough they create more harm than good.

Many so-called “Feng Shui Consultants” learned their knowledge from the same books or visited work shops or seminars learning about “New Age Feng Shui” or “Black Sect Feng Shui” all based on some 1980^th money making schemes. This kind of “Feng Shui” has nothing to do with the ancient Chinese knowledge of traditional Feng Shui as it would be approached by an experienced Feng Shui Consultant. This approach to Feng Shui is all about marketing and making a dime.

Consult with an experienced Feng Shui Master as you would only use an experienced Acupuncturist when getting an on-site or an on-line Feng Shui Consultation.

Choosing an Air-Conditioning for your Green Home

August 1st, 2010 in home design

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Part 3:  How to design and build your "Ultimate Dream Home"

Deciding on the right air-conditioning is an important decision and can prove itself as a big money saver in the long run

When choosing an Air-Conditioning for your Green Home here are some ideas:

Geothermal Air-Conditioning – sounds like something that works from the steam in the ground like the Old Faithful geyser, doesn’t it? Well, it might sound that way, but a Geothermal Heat Pump works like any other heat pump.

Green House

For many of us that have central air conditioning our system is a heat pump – in fact, if you have gas heating and “normal” air conditioning, your air conditioning system is a “cool only” heat pump. They all work the same: in the cooling season they take heat out of the house; in the heating season they put heat into the house.

What makes a geothermal heat pump different?

Let’s think about the A/C unit you have outside with a big fan making quite a bit of noise when it is running. During the summer, its job is to take heat out by blowing air at high speed over some coils. The question then becomes how efficient is it? Well, think about it – when it’s 100° outside and you blow 100° air over a coil to cool it down can that be really efficient? That is what a normal A/C system is doing.

With a Geothermal A/C unit, instead of trying to cool off some- th Geothermal-heat-pump ing with 100° air, we use the ground itself to do the job. The Geothermal unit pumps water some 250-ft. down into the ground using a pipe where the temperature is about 55°. Think about it – trying to cool off something with 100° vs. 55° – the answer is clear. A Geothermal Heat Pump works just like the one you’re used to – a compressor, a fan inside to distribute the air, etc. – except now it uses the ground to exchange heat while the unit you’re used to uses air. That is why a Geothermal Heat Pump is referred to as a “ground-source heat pump” and the unit you’re used to seeing is referred to as an “air source heat pump.”

The Geothermal unit is MUCH more efficient, it heats and cools, and is a big electricity ($$$) saver. It is so efficient that it is connected to the hot water heater in the home because it produces enough extra hot water to supply your home with much of the needs it has for hot water (showers, baths, dish-washing, etc.). The pay-back for a Geothermal system is about 3-4 years. On top of that, many utility companies offer rebate programs that may the pay-back even shorter.

Meeting with the Feng Shui Consultant

Based on previous decisions you made as far as “passive solar” and the various types of air-conditioning technology available you are now ready to finish your draft of the interior design lay-out.

Based on the Feng Shui Bagua you can start thinking about where to put the bedrooms, your home office, your dining area, the kitchen as well as bathrooms and closets based on the initial advice by your Feng Shui Consultant.

Now you are prepared to talk to architects and home builders, and will help you to figure out which architect and builder to use. The more information you have on hand the easier it is for you to make a smart decision. If you have any questions to your sketch your Feng Shui Advisor can most likely be of help.

Please keep in mind that it is always helpful to measure the furniture you want to move into your new home.

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