feng shui

Th e color chart below is a simplified illustration of a bagua (pronounced Ba-gwa). It is used in feng shui to find out which part of your home or office correlates with a particular situation in your life. Once you understand how to use this "map of feng shui," you will be able to quickly evaluate and adjust your environment to maximize greater health and productivity while improving your quality of life. In the bagua diagram below, there are eight areas, or "guas," encircling the center. As shown, these nine different zones correspond to nine major areas of life - prosperity, fame and reputation, relationships, family, health, creativity and children, skills and knowledge, career, and helpful people. To overlay the bagua on your home or work floor plan, stand at the threshold of the door facing in and hold the diagram so that the blue, black, and gray guas are closest to you. Pretend you can draw a line straight across the front of the home where the door is: that would be the line at the bottom of this color chart.

Practitioners who use the bagua map will overlay this diagram on a room or house to determine what should be placed in each area, aligning the bottom of the chart (black) with the entrance wall. The following would promote each area:

Black (career): Mirrors, fountains Blue (skills and wisdom): Books, computers Green (family): Plants, family photos Purple (prosperity): Sailing ships and related materials, healthy plants Red (fame and reputation): Awards, animal-related items Pink (love and relationships): Paired items, pictures of loved ones White (creativity and children): Artwork, children's photos (according to feng shui practitioners, this area must be kept neat if you want happy, well-behaved children) Gray (helpful people, travel): Religious items, travel souvenirs Yellow (health): Pottery, stone objects

Rat Born in the year 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008.... IN GENERAL Creative, problem solver, imaginative, hyperactive worker and respected for its resourcefulness. Intuitive with ability in acquiring and holding on to things it values. Outward personality is certainly appealing, but below the surface there often abides a crafty and opportunist character. In financial matters, they are erratic, scrimping, cutting corners and budgeting carefully when money is scarce, but spending lavishly instead of saving in times of plenty. FIVE ELEMENT RAT TYPES Metal Self-confident, hardworking, helpful, problem solver, prefers to work alone, and difficult to express their good points.

Wood

Freedom lover, imaginative, highly principled and not many close friends.

Water Introvert, creative, adventurous until a safe haven found, systematic and believes in justice. Fire Warm-hearted, aggressive, without caring about the consequences to follow after badtempered action. "Control" will gain more friends. Earth Materialistic, hard-worker and hates the routine life. Not giving up when facing defeat will lead to success.

Ox Born in the year 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Gentle, peace loving, possesses great physical strength that makes it dangerous if angered. Conservative, independent, trusting and accepts others for what they are. They may be unromantic, but there is no lack of affection for a few select friends. In business, they often bring prosperity - not through entrepreneurial imagination and risk, but as a result of logical thought, resolute practicality and honest endurance. FIVE ELEMENT OX TYPES Metal Honest, hard working, opinionated, inflexible, trusting others, relaxation will lead to success. Wood Bad-tempered, conservative, without caring about consequences to follow after volcanic temper, "cool head" will lead to gaining more friends.

Water Peace-lover, good-listener, perfect lover, no ambition for self-advancement and unromantic. Fire Kind-hearted, sociable, energetic; relaxing and accepting changes will lead to success. Earth Prefers stable and peaceful life. No ambitions but hard-worker.

Tiger Born in the year 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010.... IN GENERAL Strong, noble, aggressive, independent and courageous. Also tends to be selfish and short tempered. Tiger characteristics are considered unfeminine. Aggressive business will bring more favorable returns. Tigers are likely to succeed in sales, personnel management and uniformed careers. FIVE ELEMENT TIGER TYPES Metal Energetic, difficult to express their own opinion, ambitious and not a good diplomat. Relaxing and enjoying life will bring more enjoyment. Wood Gentle, warm-hearted, relaxation will lead to having more close friends; express your talent when opportunity arises. Water Hard-worker, responsible, ambitious, self-assured, expressing their talent will lead to success. Fire Outgoing, energetic and observant. Slowing down and relaxing will lead to further advancement.

Earth Self-indulgent, not ambitious, takes things as they come, a little aggressiveness will lead to success.

Rabbit Born in the year 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011.... IN GENERAL Uncomplicated, affectionate, attractive to the opposite sex, talented and ambitious. Realistic about its characteristics it leaves leadership roles to the stronger. Traditionally associated with clear-sightedness and is an excellent judge of character, with an instinct for recognizing sincerity in others and an almost uncanny ability for sensing falsehood. In personal relationships, even the most innocent deceptions will be identified almost at the moment they are perpetrated. FIVE ELEMENT RABBIT TYPES Metal Hard-worker, ambitious, good planner, loves to help others, confident; needs to relax to avoid nervous break down. Wood Gentle, kind-hearted, less ambitious, peace and naturalist lover. Develop the artistic field to lead to success. Water Lack of ambition, self-contented, tends to escape from reality if matter is not according to their wishes. Fire Passionate, sociable, smile always on their faces; not good planners. Earth Peace loving, hard-worker, realistic and no ambition.

Dragon Born in the year 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000.... IN GENERAL Powerful, gifted, full of vitality, possesses outstanding leadership capabilities, quicktempered, prone to worry, and is perhaps too fastidious. Strong and decisively resolute in a determination to follow interesting tracks which may lead nowhere. Dragons could become wealthy were it not for the fact that spectacular gains are as often as not offset by money wasted elsewhere. FIVE ELEMENT DRAGON TYPES Metal Brave, arrogant, frank, bad-tempered, opinionated, few close friends. Wood Peace loving, elegant with a good eye for spotting the latest trends, impetuous and lacking judgment. Water Kind-hearted, caring, ambitious, withstands pressure, loves challenge, and uses their good-relationships to succeed when opportunities are recognized. Fire Warm hearted, lack of organization in decision-making and detailed planning. Earth Introvert, hard-working, meticulous planner, puts work ahead of family and friends. Snake Born in the year 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001.... IN GENERAL Intellectual, quick-witted, passionate and sometimes feared. Females are noted for their brains and beauty.

Snake-types are also adept at giving the impression they know far more about a subject than they intend to divulge, and while a strict sense of propriety prevents them from telling lies, they are not averse to double-dealing when it suits them. Their ability to gather up information suggests an aptitude for research, detection or academia, all areas that should satisfy their analytical brain. Social or domestic activities will generally need to be tailored to allow for powerful sensuality. FIVE ELEMENT SNAKE TYPES Metal Self-opinionated, egotistic, hard working, difficulty to accept criticism, strong will-power and will take any measures to achieve ambition. Wood Imaginative, creative, friendly, uses their relationship with others to achieve their goal; "patience" will lead to success. Water Introvert, good-tempered, cool, gentle and honorable, but lack of ambition and enthusiasm, result in being unaware of how to make the most of opportunities. Fire Strong character with bad temper, without caring about the consequences to follow after bad-tempered action. "Slow down and Rethink" will gain more friends. Earth Friendly, conservative, dreamer but has difficulty in accepting change.

Horse Born in the year 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002 IN GENERAL The Horse loves life, has plenty of sex appeal, charming, smart, popular and moody. On the serious side, they are hardworking, tenacious, and loyal. Horse-types are good talkers, never short of conversation, though less quick with ready ideas. The latest news is always a good opening gambit, and the Horse is always keen to hear other peoples' opinions. Deep-seated prejudices however are hard to dislodge.

Love of social contact remains the most important force in the Horse's life, and whatever career is chosen, ideally it will involve close liaison with others. FIVE ELEMENT HORSE TYPES Metal Trustworthy, wide range of interests, hard working, good leader and able to make the most of opportunities offered. Wood Introvert, lack of confidence, imaginative, openness and communicating with others will lead to a better life. Water Knows how to grasp the most of opportunities, charming, confident. Systematic approach together with willingness to accept advice will lead to success. Fire Energetic, will sacrifice anything to realize their ambition. Earth Down to earth, un-ambitious, loves the good life. If long-term plan applied will lead to success.

Goat (Sheep) Born in the year 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003.... IN GENERAL The Goat (Sheep) with its strong forehead and horns represents strength and fortitude. It is confident, persevering, and protective of the weak. Non-judgmental of others, it is comfortable to be with the Goat and its cousin, the sheep. Their nature is best seen in its artistic talent. They can also be a touch too fastidious, which in many respects explains why their creative natures are not normally fully explored. The Goat may be involved, either professionally or voluntarily, in social work of some description, while a sensitivity for the arts may well lead to a career in music or a craft.

FIVE ELEMENT GOAT (Sheep) TYPES Metal Opinionated, difficult to accepting reality, systematic, believes in justice and will argue a case to the very end. Easily upset by strangers, should learn to relax. Wood Kind-hearted, generous, always looks on the bright side when crisis arises, always think of others first. Water Kind-hearted, self-controlled, values friendship, puts others first, self-confident, never afraid to face difficulties and will always complete a task. Fire Aggressive, ambitious, courageous, will always claim credit, unwilling to recognize selffaults. Earth Careful but suspicious and mistrustful of others' abilities; works hard to improve material needs, with no ambition for self-advancement.

Monkey Born in the year 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004.... IN GENERAL The Monkey is intelligent with a sense of humor, original thinker, practical, carries out plans successfully, curious, observant, friendly and introvert. In general, they are extremely versatile and can do well at almost anything. Success however can easily go to their head, bringing out a latent arrogance that often alienates friends. But it is rarely long before the Monkey's agreeable humor and other engaging sociable qualities win them back. Older and wiser Monkeys are able to channel their energetic and fertile imaginations into the solving of extremely complex problems. FIVE ELEMENT MONKEY TYPES Metal Risk taker, hard worker in order to achieve target, independent and freedom lover.

Wood Talented, creative, warm-hearted, if confident will lead to further success. Water Patient, quick thinking, adventurer, popular in social circle and recognizes opportunities. Fire Charming, aggressive, impetuous, ambitious, recognizing self-faults and accepting advice will lead to success. Earth Funny, new invention lover, not an adventurer, no initiative with opposite sex when relationships arise.

Rooster Born in the year 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981,1993, 2005... IN GENERAL The Rooster carries out the assignments conscientiously and when faced with an adversary it fights boldly. Always busy, seemingly self-centered, sensitive and attentive to its friends. The Rooster is alert, joining a fundamental punctiliousness with precise attention to detail. The problems arrive when so many projects are taken on that, inevitably, the less troublesome get lost in the sheer volume. In business and personal relationships the quieter more reserved members of the Rooster's social circle or family may be neglected or forgotten. FIVE ELEMENT ROOSTER TYPES Metal Self-opinionated, inflexible, highly principled, relaxing will lead to success. Wood Kind-hearted, enthusiastic, lacks in confidence, over consideration for consequences, difficulties in taking up challenges.

Water Ambitious, frank, self-confident, adventurous, caring, without consideration for other consequences when achieving their own target. Fire Welcomes praise from others, enjoys a luxurious life, hard-worker, seldom stays at home, not many close friends. Earth Conservative, moody, lacks in ambition. Dog Born in the year 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006.... IN GENERAL Loyal, trusted, compassionate, protector and is always ready to give aid. Intensely defensive where friends and family are concerned, they will not stand by while others are maligned, but sometimes a refusal to listen to warnings regarding the behavior of children or other loved ones can lead to severe domestic problems. They have a sympathetic ear for other people's woes and are always ready with a shoulder to cry on. Rare displays of violent anger are almost always justified, but wrongs are quickly forgotten, and resentment only borne against those outside the intimate circle of family and friends. FIVE ELEMENT DOG TYPES Metal Loyal, work with their intuition, calm will lead to success, know how to control outgoings. Wood Independent, creative, protective, if confidence is increased will lead to success. Water Active, charming, sociable, systematic, accept advice from friends and will have numbers of close friends.

Fire Intractable, kind-hearted, patient, controlling temper will lead to success. Earth Materialistic ambitious, hard-worker, uses the relationship with friends to gain success, not many close friends. Pig Born in the year 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007.... IN GENERAL They are courageous, independent, quick-tempered, do not like to compromise, loners and have few friends that will keep for life. They possess great inner strength and fortitude. In business, they are the finishers who put the last necessary touches to a project, and in this respect they may become extremely successful financially. On the debit side, they are naive and trusting, falling easy prey to the confidence trickster. For a career, caring professions such as nursing or counseling. Otherwise the Pig's genuine concern for others will become apparent through voluntary work and being a good neighbor.

FIVE ELEMENT PIG TYPES Metal Ambitious, calm, materialistic, sociable, will take any measures to achieve their goals. If less aggressive will lead to having more friends. Wood Quick-tempered, hard-worker, live in a world on their own, use their relationship with friends to gain success. Water Kind-hearted, peace-lover, lack of ambition, hard-worker, helps others and has lots of friends.

Fire Complicated temper, adventurous, hard-worker, difficult to accept criticism and will take any measures to achieve their goal.

Earth Home loving, hard-working, materialistic and realistic.

What is a “Ming Gua”? Simply stated it is the type of qi that surrounds you. This qi is not you but it is that which helps protect you in your environment. This is important when assessing what areas are healthy for you. The Ming Gua can be equated with its trigram counterpart. The 8 trigrams are located in their corresponding “palaces” or “guas” and in addition to having names, family relationship, element designation, physical areas (example: eyes, feet, hands) they are responsible for, and personalities, they have a numerical designation. In Feng Shui we work with 9 numbers. There are eight trigrams. The number that is not assigned a trigram is the number 5. He is the emperor and actually resides in the center of the ba gua. If you are a male and your Ming Gua calculations add up to 5, then your Ming Gua will be assigned the number 2. If you are a female and your Ming Gua calculations add up to 5, then your Ming Gua will be the number 8. When you are calculating your Ming Gua consider whether your birthday is before or after February 4. The Chinese Solar year uses 15 degrees Aquarius as the first day of the new year, which is on or around February 4. If you were born February 3-5 be sure to check your ephemeris for the exact date and time of 15 degrees Aquarius as it may vary. The formula for calculating your Ming Gua is as follows: Male

1. Add the numbers in your birth year. For example a male born in 1946 is 1 + 9 + 4 + 6 = 20 2. Add the total until you get a single number. 2 + 0 = 2 3. Subtract the number from 11. 11 – 2 = 9 (Note: if the number you get is 10 then add until you get a single digit number.) (Note 2: if the number you get is 5 then use number 2 as your Ming Gua.) Female 1. Add the numbers in your birth year. For example a female born in 1946 is 1 + 9 + 4 + 6 = 20 2. Add the total until you get a single number 2 + 0 = 2 3. Add 4 to the total. 2 + 4 = 6 (Note: If you get a two-digit number, add them until you get a single-digit number.) (Note 2: If you get a 5 use 8 as your Ming Gua.) Great! Now you have your Ming Gua number. What does it mean? As I stated earlier, your Ming Gua is the type of qi that surrounds you. It is not “you”, however. Your Ming Gua will tell you which trigram and its associations you relate to the best, how each of the eight magnetic directions impact you, and help you understand interactions with others based on the five element interactions. Although the information below is not exhaustive, it will get you started in the correct manner to best utilize your space. The Best Directions are listed from most effective to next best effective.

Ming Trigram Gua

Physical

Element

Color

Shape

Ears, Blood, Water Black, Dark Blue Wavy Kidneys, Liver Best Personal Direction for Sleeping is with your head to the North. Other good directions are East, South or Southeast. Best Personal Directions for Working is to face Southeast, South, or East. 1

Kan

Ming Trigram Gua

Physical

Element

Color

Shape

Abdomen, Belly, Womb, 2 Kun Earth Brown,Yellow, Tan Square Reproductive Organs Best Personal Directions for Sleeping is with your head to the Southwest, West, Northwest, or Northeast.

Best Personal Directions for Working is to face Northeast, Northwest, West, or Southwest.

Ming Trigram Gua

Physical

Element

Color

Shape

3 Chen Feet, Throat Wood Green Rectangle Best Personal Directions for Sleeping is with your head to the East, North, Southeast, or South. Best Personal Directions for Working is to face South, Southeast, North, or East.

Ming Trigram Gua 4

Xun

Physical Thighs, Hips Buttocks

Element Wood

Color Dark Green

Shape Rectangle

Best Personal Directions for Sleeping is with your head to the Southeast, South, East, or North. Best Personal Directions for Working is to face North, East, South, or Southeast.

Ming Trigram Gua

Physical

Element

Color

Shape

Head, Mind, Gold, Silver White, Metal Round Lungs Bronze Best Personal Directions for Sleeping are Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, or West. Best Personal Directions for Working are to face West, Southwest, Northeast, or Northwest. 6

Chien

Ming Trigram Gua 7

Tui

Physical Mouth

Element Metal

Color Gold, Silver White, Bronze

Shape Round

Best Personal Directions for Sleeping are West, Southwest, Northeast, or Northwest. Best Personal Directions for Working are to face Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, or West.

Ming Trigram Gua

Physical

Element

Color

Shape

Hands, Spine, Earth Brown, Yellow, Tan Square Small Bones Best Personal Directions for Sleeping are Northeast, Northwest, West, or Southwest. Best Personal Directions for Working are to face Southwest, West, Northwest, or Northeast. 8

Gen

Ming Trigram Gua

Physical

Element

Color

Shape

9 Li Eyes, Heart Fire Red, Purple Triangle Best Personal Directions for Sleeping are South, Southeast, North, or East. Best Personal Directions for Working are to face East, North, Southeast, or South.