How to Take a Compass Reading

Here’s how to take a compass reading of your home or office in three easy steps. It’s an essential part of Authentic Classical Feng Shui and when working with the 8 Mansions Pa Qua. Both of these Feng Shui styles are directionally based. As a result, the facing direction of your home or office is of primary importance in interpreting your home’s energetic patterns.

With your compass reading, you can also identify the direction of the four walls of your home.  You can then use Feng Shui principles for the placement of furniture and beds. Also, you can use compass readings to identify the best place to face a desk or TV in your home or office. In classical Feng Shui, compass readings are also used with special formulas to identify the specific elements to best boost and support your particular space.

Whether you choose to use the 8 Mansions Pa Qua on your own, or engage a professional Classical Form Feng Shui practitioner, an accurate compass reading is how it all starts.

Now, let’s get to work and take that compass reading:

1. Get a Compass:

 A basic scouting compass, which you can hold in your hand and turn the face or dial and shows degrees, is a good choice. It can easily be purchased at a local sporting goods store or online. If you have a smartphone, another popular option is to download a free compass app.

2. Find the Facing Direction of Your Home or Business:

The facing direction is defined as the most open view to the most open space. Typically, this is the side that faces the street, which is considered the most yang side of a building. If you’re unsure, here’s another tip to help you. Count the number of windows and doors on each side of the building. Generally, the side with the most doors and windows is the facing direction.

Special Notes:
– Waterfront properties: If you live on waterfront property the facing side is typically the side that faces the water, as the view goes out far and wide.
– Apartment or condo dwellers: If you live in an apartment or condo building on the fifth floor or above, your facing direction will be considered the side of your apartment with the most windows. This will be the side with the most open view to the most open space.

3. Take Your Compass Reading:

For best results, take the compass reading outside your home. This will minimize any metal disturbances that may affect the magnetic needle of your compass or any electromagnetic frequencies affecting your phone.  (Please note: If you live in an apartment or condo, on the 5^th floor or above, you will need to take the reading from inside facing the side with the most windows.)

Walk out the front side of the house away from any cars, as big metal objects that may throw off your compass reading. Stand facing the street with your back to the building and point the compass towards the street or other identified facing direction (e.g., lake for waterfront properties). Look down and note the degree on the compass in front of you at the top 12 o’clock position. This is the direction your residence faces. From there you can see where the other directions fall in your home, and do individual compass readings of rooms.

Tips for an Accurate Reading: 

 – Take a reading at the back of the house to double check the reading you got at the front of the house. At the back of the house, walk out to the back of your property, turn around and again face towards the street and take a reading.

– Take readings with a couple of different compasses. A scouting compass and a smartphone app or another compass should be sufficient.

– Keep your compass or phone away from large metal objects, magnets and electronic devices such as TVs.

As a professional Feng Shui practitioner, I will often use a scouting compass, my phone and a traditional Chinese Lo Pan Compass, which is predominantly used by traditional classical form practitioners. But you don’t need to invest in something so sophisticated to get a good reading.

Keep Your Compass Handy:

Directions play a big part when it comes to changes and shifts in yearly energy and where the animal sign is residing in a given year. This information can help you maximize the energetic patterns in your space and identify the best places to dig, renovate or leave undisturbed in a given year as well.  So, always be ready to take out your compass!

To learn more about Feng Shui, please read our blog:  “What is Feng Shui?”

For a personal Feng Shui consultation,  please email: linda@fengshuiyourworld.biz or  call 716-863-8561.