Feng Shui & Geomancy for homes, businesses & you

Glossary of Feng Shui and related terms

Feng Shui works on many levels and the explanations I've provided below are purely surface level but I hope they give you some idea of the thinking behind the name.

If I've used a term that's not explained please contact me for clarification.

Chi

The Chinese name for energy – the substance that flows around us and through us.  It is external to us but, at the same time, part of us too and constantly changing.

Dowsing

The process of using our bodies as an antenna to receive information from many sources.  Some people use instruments such as pendulums or L rods to tune in.  Others feel the information in their bodies.  We are all able to tune ourselves in and pick up information.  It’s just a question of clearing the channels, practise and confidence.

Early Heaven Sequence Trigrams

Chi is by nature either Yin or Yang.  Yin Chi is represented by a broken line and Yang Chi by an unbroken line.  Each trigram is made up of three lines of either Yin or Yang.  The bottom line represents earth's influence.  The middle line represents humanity and the top line represents heaven's influence.

There are eight combinations of trigram, each with their own unique characteristics and attributes.  The Early Heaven Sequence relates to different areas of the plot that your building stands on and so takes account of the Chi in your external environment.  By doing this we can understand the characteristics of the Chi in different areas of your plot and recognise where certain types of Chi may be missing if your plot is an irregular shape.

Electrosmog

We are surrounded by electrical frequencies emitted by our gadgets, power lines and wireless networks.  These all vibrate together at frequencies far higher than our physical bodies are used too.  The combined frequencies surround us like a fog that we can't see but can have a detrimental effect on our health.  Collectively this is known as electrosmog.

Electrosmog is measured with devices that read frequencies and translate the frequencies into sound so we can actually hear the congestion that is in our houses.

Fate and Flying Stars

The Stars relate to the characteristics of the Chi. Once I have the compass orientation of your property, I 'fly the stars' to their relevant areas in the building.

Some stars are set in a specific pattern and other change with time or Fate periods.  The Flying Star system I use is the 'Yuen Hom' system which is a 180 year cycle and has eight Fate periods. This demonstrates how Chi is continually changing - from day to day, year to year and century to century.

Form School

Form School studies the supportive elements of your environment. Externally this will be where your property sits in the landscape. Internally it studies the placement of furniture.

 There are four supportive elements. At the back of your property is the Tortoise or Mountain. A strong Mountain ensures that nobody can sneak up on you. You can place your back to the mountain and feel safe.

At the front of your property is the Phoenix which brings Chi to you. This should be open to ensure a good flow of Chi.

Looking out from your property on your left is the Dragon which is the Yang or male element. To the right is the Tiger which is the Yin or female element.

Form school can be applied both internally and externally. Although there are basic rules about what constitutes good Form, it's important to take into account your objectives for the property and assess Form accordingly.

Five Elements

On a simple level the Five Elements make up our physical world. They are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood.

On a more subtle level, the Five Elements represent a natural cycle and each element either supports or controls the other elements. It is this cycle of interactions that is used in Feng Shui to balance, enhance or minimise the Chi in our environment.

Geopathic stress

The earth produces its own natural electrical frequency which, as humans, we resonate with. However, geopathic stress occurs when natural phenomena such as fault lines, underground streams or caverns can distort these frequencies and have a detrimental effect on our health. 

It is particularly important to avoid sleeping or spending too much time in areas of geopathic stress. The good news is that it can be addressed but the key is knowing where it is. I use dowsing to identify any harmful energies caused by geopathic stress and advise on the best way to deal with it.

I Ching

You would have to go back into antiquity to find the source of the I Ching. Also known as the Book of Changes it is an oracle based on the eight Trigrams (as previously described in the Early Heaven Sequence Trigrams).

Originally yarrow stalks were used to cast each line that make up the trigram but, nowadays, coins are more commonly used. In casting, two trigrams are built and combined to make a hexagram. As there are eight trigrams there are a possible sixty-four hexagrams. It is the diviner's job to interpret these hexagrams for the person seeking advice.

Kua number

Your Kua number is a personal number based on your Chinese year of birth (using the beginning of February as the beginning of the year).

Your Kua number will define your auspicious directions, your personal trigram and element. In Feng Shui, your Kua number gives me an insight into how well you blend with the energy of your environment.

Later Heaven Sequence Trigrams

The Later Heaven Sequence Trigrams are similar to the Early Heaven Sequence Trigrams but carry different attributes and are applied to your internal environment - inside your property.

Lo Pan compass

The Lo Pan compass is the Feng Shui Consultant's key tool. The centre contains a magnetic needle and is known as Heaven's Pool (in original Lo Pans the needle used to float free in water).

Around the centre are a number of rings that give a variety of information relating to the directions of the compass. Each Lo Pan will hold different information dependent on the school of the person who devised it.

Lo Shu

The Lo Shu is a 3 x 3 square that shows the numbers 1 - 9. It is also known as a Magic Square because the numbers in each row of three add up to 15 in every direction.

According to Chinese tradition the Lo Shu represents markings on the shell of a tortoise that emerged from the river Lo about 4000 years ago. However, the same number sequence is also known in the west and sometimes known as the Square of Saturn.

Each square  is related to one of the eight trigrams except for the central square which has no trigram association but is known as the T'ai Chi. Each square also has other associations with compass directions and the Five Elements.

The Lo Shu is applied to the floor plan of your property but can also be related to you and your birth numbers or horoscope.

Nine Star (9*) Ki

9* Ki is one of the forms of astrology used to identify your character and motivation.  By studying these I can place you within b0th your environment and the present time during a consultation.

It's also a fascinating way to understand how people react to each other so the 9* Ki stars are calculated for each adult who lives in the house being assessed or for each key person in a business.

Space Clearing

Although we often advise on clearing clutter during a Feng Shui consultation, the term Space Clearing refers to clearing energy.

Many buildings soak up energy if it's powerful and has been in the building for a long time. For example, a couple who are constantly arguing will affect the energy of their house. They then divorce and the house is sold and suddenly the new owners find they have started arguing with each other.

Chi can also become stuck in corners or where the layout of the rooms is not ideal. Once Chi becomes stuck it gets very heavy and congested. Space clearing gets the Chi moving again and neutralises it.

Space Clearing can be used to bless a new building or one that is being used for a specific purpose. It can be used where there is a constant flow of people in a public place.

I would suggest that Space Clearing is essential if you are moving into a new home. Just as you would physically clean the house it is important to clear the Chi too.

T'ai Chi

In Feng Shui the T'ai Chi describes the centre of the systems used to assess us and our environment. It is the pivotal point around which these systems work.

For example, it is the centre of the Lo Shu and the centre of our home and each room. In astrology it is the leader - the one around whom everyone else pivots. The T'ai Chi is a keen area of focus during a Feng Shui consultation.

Yin & Yang

Yin and Yang represent the two elements of Chi. These are usually called the male (Yang) and the female (Yin). However it is difficult to label something that is really an experience. Yang is hard, light, warm, physical and many other things whereas Yin is soft, dark and intuitive. The image of Yin and Yang is widely recognised and can be seen on the FAQs page of this web site.

This image defines Yin and Yang by showing that nothing is completely Yin or completely Yang. They are constantly interacting with each other, trying to achieve harmony but not succeeding.

If you think of life, it is only change and interaction that moves us forward. The journey to achieve something is our motivation. When Yin and Yang harmonise and stop interacting, death occurs. And so it is with our lives.