To determine with a good degree of accuracy the various areas of your home, you will first want to take an accurate compass reading. There are plenty of complicated instructions available on how to do this, but to take a basic reading, you simply need a compass and a little bit of time and patience. Remember that for the purposes of Feng Shui, we are concerned with magnetic north, and not the geographic north that is commonly used on architectural drawings.
Taking the Compass Reading
You can use a simple magnetic needle or digital compass, but make sure it is a magnetic compass, and not a GPS. Before using the compass to take the reading, remove anything metallic, such as jewelry, watches, or belt buckles. You will start with your back to the front door of your home, so that you can determine the basic orientation of the house. In this position, hold the compass at waist level, and make note of your first compass reading. Then, take a few steps forward, and repeat, doing this a couple of times, to make sure your reading is accurate, and isn’t being affected by any magnetic or electrical field influences in the area. If you do this three times, you can average the degree measurements together to get the final measurement for the facing direction. The sitting direction is the exact opposite reading.
Using the Compass Reading
Most people who do a compass reading will need to enlist the help of an expert. In fact, in some cases you can get somebody who has experience in taking a compass reading to do the entire process. However, once you take these basic measurements, you can turn the specifics over to an expert for help with the actual calculations. Once you have the results of these calculations, you will have the information you need to determine the specifics of the various areas of your home.
Using a Bagua
Another measuring method used in Feng Shui is the bagua, which is often considered the “map of feng shui.” It is used to help divide your home up into the nine separate guas, or areas of your home, that correspond with the various life areas. A bagua is used by standing in front the main entranceway of the home, and aligning the bagua in the proper position. After this is done, it is easy to mentally divide your home up according the nine squares that correspond in each of the various directions.
The Nine Areas
At the front of your home, when facing it, the areas from left to right are skills and knowledge, career, and helpful people and travel. The front entrance to your home will always be located in one of these areas. The center row of areas, from left to right, are family, health is in the center of the home, and children and creativity. At the back of your home, from left to right, the areas are prosperity, fame and reputation, and relationships.
