How Feng Shui works exactly explained

We warmly welcome you to this introductory page to unfold how Feng Shui works and give you the essential Feng Shui 101 must know basics. Feng (=wind) Shui (=water) is an ancient Chinese scientific study (Wu Shu) based on observation and calculation which reaches back over 2000 years. Initially, it was used for burial purposes to decide which is the best and most auspicious place to have a gravesite for the family’s ancestors.

It is believed in regards to the concept of heaven and earth, that the ancestor’s energy is still affecting the living members of the family. Therefore, an auspicious grave was a must to gain a good family fortune and avoid bad luck.

At some point in age, Grandmaster Guo Pu, started to develop an in-depth guide (basic Feng Shui rules) of how this energy can be used by the living. It was observed that the surrounding energy has a huge influence on people’s life. Therefore, a relaxed and balanced home surrounded by positive energies was important for Chinese people. Any negative producing energies from natural Feng Shui landscape landforms needed to be neutralized at all costs.

Indeed, many astrological formulas had been created that are still in use by today’s scientists to discover the secrets of our universe. Feng Shui was one of the discoveries of how individual stars move around in periods to change the energy pattern on earth. As these are very complex mathematical formulas, the ancients were masters in creating myths. As a farmer was not that educated, it was effortless for them to tell the”Hidden Feng Shui good luck Messages” to their kids.

Read further to gather knowledge (or continue to read below):

How Energy influences our lives

The energy in Feng Shui, we mainly worry about, is the Geocentrism or Earth Energy from the planet’s magnetic north. Magnetism is everywhere, regardless of where one goes. This is one of the reasons why Feng Shui can be applied anywhere on our planet. If you are in London, the same magnetic north directions apply, as if you were in New York.

Now that you know the Feng Shui 101 rules of where the energy comes from, let me explain further: There are 9 Stars with their unique energy patterns that we have to worry about in Feng Shui. Some of these nine stars can have a negative attitude when they are untimely, and the other half are considered very auspicious once timely.

Of course, it is quite evident that we should take advantage of the Feng Shui good luck stars to enhance our lives. On the other hand, we need to intervene and eliminate the influence of the negative energies around us.

The 3-Different Kind of Lucks

The 3 Pillar of the Feng Shui good luck theory is based on the belief that our destiny relies on 3 different kinds of lucks: Earth-luck, Mankind-Luck, and Heaven-Luck.

• Earth-Luck is Feng Shui and our personal decision-making
• Mankind-Luck is our free will to make decsions
• Heaven-Luck is based on your soul destiny and your birth chart (Bazi).

Each luck affects your life by 33%. To conclude, even if one luck of yours is not as favorable (i. e. Heaven-Luck), you still can neutralize the inauspicious influence with the other lucks to reach 66%.

Main Principle of Feng Shui

The main principle of how Feng Shui Works is based on natural star energies affecting our life on earth. Just take for example the low and high tides of the ocean which are caused by the moon and sun’s gravity force.

The Chinese discovered that different landscape forms and elements (Feng Shui 5 Element Theory) affect a person’s life destiny to some part.

For this reason, it is crucial to pay attention and observe the landscape around the house for any auspicious or inauspicious forms (streets, water like rivers streams, mountains, buildings, etc.) which might influence the energy flow of the home.

Yin Yang Principle in Feng Shui

Everything on our planet is built on opposites like day follows night. Ever wonder why “opposite attracts” is so widely acknowledged in relationship situations. We have to face this reality as without Yin there is no Yang, and without Yang, there is no Yin.

In Feng Shui studies the Qi (commonly known as Shi) needs to be always in balance with the opposite. This concept is the crucial foundation of basic Feng Shui rules (classical school) where everything is built on. All the enhancement and cure techniques are based on it. Furthermore, the Bagua Map, 8-Trigram, and everything else follows the Yin and Yang concept. In our “Classical Concept of Yin and Yang in Feng Shui” article a more in-depth look was taken on this subject. Learn more here (or continue to read below)

Dynamic Energy that always moves (Time-Based)

In classical Feng Shui 101, we differentiate between three different kinds of energies: permanent home energy, yearly- and monthly energy. As the cosmic stars always move in certain time frames, none of the energies are stagnant and fixed forever.

Therefore, each home has its own unique energy layout which needs to be calculated in detail. All three types of energy do affect your daily life. First, permanent energy changes every 20 years in a 180-year solar cycle (Yun). In 2024 we are entering Period 9, the last of the nine cycles.

Both, the other yearly and monthly star energies are quite quick moving. Therefore the effects are felt much sooner. As the position of stars changes, some will turn auspicious in a certain time period. Some stars always are inauspicious at all times as some stars change their properties over time.

Western (Black Hat) vs. Classical Feng Shui Practice

The Western version of Feng Shui for positive energy at home was made public at the beginning of the ’70s. It is a very simplified version with very basic Feng Shui rules which just scratches the surface of real classical Feng Shui. Here are some examples of what the simplified Western Feng Shui Practice is about:

• The Feng Shui 101 in Black Hat is to use lucky enhancers for placements. Surely, in the Classical version, the existing home decor is arranged. Consequently, you can either buy suitable decor items at the local department stores for each. Of course, you can buy lucky enhancers for placements if they fit the principles of form and material.
• The Black Hat school advises that the South is Fire and always your Fame Area, or that the South-East corner is your Feng Shui wealth area! Unquestionable, beware as this is totally WRONG. You should always take a compass reading regardless of what Bagua Map you do apply to the home.
• In Black Hat, no Feng Shui compass reading is done to determine the house facing. Black Hat practitioners are pointing out that the front door is always in the South area of the Bagua Map. It doesn’t matter what the actual compass direction of the house facing is displaying. In summary, the New Age Feng Shui might be very easy to apply, but does it help? What do you believe more, a study that is over 2000 years old or some form of Feng Shui that was just developed and marketed beginning of the ’70s?

San Yuan School of Flying Star (Time Based)

The Flying Star school concentrates mainly on the home’s interior energy. In addition, it is dynamic as time changes over time. Mostly, the practice worries about the different qualities of Qi (Shi) residing in each sector (eight Mansion /Bagua Map) of the house.

There are 8 mansions or sections inside the house. In each of these sections, specific energy is present. Once you know what exact energy is present (81 Combination), you can adjust these for more prosperity in life.

San He School of Landscape Formation

The San He school practice is based on external land-forms and how it influences the house energy. It worries only about the natural impact without considering interior features. To illustrate better, a practitioner will look at how the shapes of a mountain or a river impact the energy flows.

However, simply focusing on natural landscapes will not work anymore, today. With our current lifestyle, a closer look at building structures and their features is necessary, too.

Feng Shui 101 For the Three Most Important Rooms

Without a doubt, there are thousands of basic Feng Shui rules that one needs to study for at least 5 years up to a lifetime. There are so many exemptions to the rules of how Feng Shui works and is applied correctly.

As there is no universal one fit for all rules, each house or office needs to be addressed individually. To illustrate better, it is the same when going to the doctor about a bothersome health issue; every case is different.The doctor needs to examine the body and pinpoint the cause; the same goes to apply the Feng Shui 101 rules to the home. Another great example is a person’s fingerprint as nobody has the exact same one.

I am sure you like to hear more about useful Feng Shui Tips, right? If you are really interested, I would suggest taking some time to browse around the various Feng Shui topics and blog posts on our site.

Unfortunately, there is so much misinformation out on the internet that makes a person even more confused. In addition, applying the wrong basic Feng Shui rules and techniques can be dangerous for your overall health and finances. Let’s take a look at some basic rules for the three most important areas of the home:

The Front Door in Feng Shui

The Front Door is by far the most important element in Feng Shui. It is the so-called “Energy-Mouth” where the majority of energy enters the home. Other doors or windows are also important but do not have such importance as the main door.

• The front yard leading to the front door should be a free and open space with no obstacle blocking it. Avoid any clutter or pole-like shaped objects such as a tree, street pole facing the door. The reason we do not like these objects in Feng Shui is that they cut the energy literally in half and bring bad luck into the home.
• On the interior side, the entrance hall should be wide and open. Avoid any staircase leading to the basement or the second floor facing the main door.
• The door color does NOT play any significant role but choosing a neutral color such as black or wood tones is preferred.
• Avoid that the main door and window/door on the backside of the room is in a straight line. This layout causes the energy to enter the home but rushes out right away. It has a “Money In, Money out effect” on the residents of the house. A simple solution is to block the path with a screen or piece of tall furniture.

The Kitchen in Feng Shui

The kitchen is also one of the three main areas of the home, which has a very high priority. The Feng Shui for good health of the entire family depends on the kitchen. Here, we cook and prepare the food the family members eat.

• The kitchen should never be in the North-West Corner of the home. This is the so-called Devil’s Gate and brings very bad luck to the oldest father figure of the home. The primary income earner will struggle in his job, in his private life, and will have many health issues. Unfortunately, there is no cure as to moving the kitchen to a different section.
• The kitchen (Fire Element) should also never be in the center of the home. Too much of the Fire Element in the home’s center creates bad luck and health for ALL family members. Again, no cure can be implemented as to move the kitchen out of the center
• The location of the kitchen should be preferably on the backside of the home
• If possible, avoid having the kitchen right next to the door
• Also, the bedroom should not be above the kitchen.
• Lastly, a correct arrangement of stove and fridge is necessary to avoid a clash of the Fire and Water Element (Read more 5 Elements)
  

The Bedroom in Feng Shui

Lastly, the bedroom is a place to relax and to have a good night’s sleep for at least 8 hours per night. If we sleep less, the body feels edgy and not relaxed to function the next day properly. Here, we also use Feng Shui for love and marriage:

• The bedroom’s location should be toward the quieter side of the home. Avoid any room that faces a busy and noisy road
• Inside the bedroom, the bed should never sit underneath a beam.
• Also, the bed should not face the bedroom door right away, as too much energy rushes right into the bed area. This energy rush creates restless nights and health issues
• No mirror or TV should face the bed. If you cannot avoid or remove it, hang a towel or sheet over it while sleeping.
• The toilet bowl should also not face the bed as this creates health issues for the person who sleeps there.
• Also, the bedroom should not be above the kitchen.
• The bedroom should always be in an auspicious area in regards of the Mountain Dragon (Flying Star)
• The bed position placement also depends on the micro view of the Flying Star map for the bedroom. Here, the chart tells us how to fine-tune all the furniture.