Whaddaya Mean There Are Two Types of Feng Shui?

Feng Shui can be super-confusing — even contradictory — when you start to learn about it.

Part of the confusion stems from the fact that today’s Feng Shui grew out of two very different schools, the Form School and the Compass School.

Each approach is completely authentic, with 3,000+ years of history behind it.

Feng Shui consultants including myself typically lean more heavily on one particular school during a consultation, while drawing on important elements from the other.

Feng Shui Form School
The oldest type, called “Form School” Feng Shui, also known as the “Three-Gate Method,” originated in the mountainous regions of China.

Its precepts and theories are based upon the locations of land forms and waterways, resulting in basic principles like having a protective mountain at your back, nourishing water source nearby, and a commanding prospect that welcomes Chi energy into the environment.

This is the type of Feng Shui I practice, because I have found that positive Chi energy is attracted to the welcoming, “embracing” atmosphere we can create with the Form School.

Form School Feng Shui is also called the Three-Gate School because the Bagua Energy Map is oriented from the entrance to the space, where Chi energy enters your environment through one of three sectors at the bottom of the Map.

Compass School
The second type, called “Compass School” Feng Shui, originated in the flat regions of China where distinctive land forms were scarce.

This type of Feng Shui is strictly based upon compass directions and also uses historical numerical and astrological information that can be hard to come by.

Compass School Feng Shui is best used when a new building is being constructed, because it can be designed with compass directions in mind.

Have you been confused by Feng Shui? Does this quick overview help or hinder?