Finding your Best Directions

In Feng Shui we use many tools to analyze and improve an environment; from Yin/Yang theory, to Form School , to clutter control. Another very important tool is the eight trigrams (see above). These trigrams come from the ancient Chinese text called the I’Ching or Book of Changes. Each trigram is associated with, among other things, one of the eight compass directions (North, Northeast, East, Southeast, South, Southwest, West and Northwest).

One way in which we can use these eight Trigrams is by finding which one is a clients personal Trigram. When you know someones personal Trigram you can determine which are their most supportive directions. For instance, orientating your bed or desk while being mindful of your supportive directions will create a favorable environment.

There are mathematical equations used to find your personal trigram based on your gender and the year you were born. I thought it might be easier though for you to find your personal trigram on the Asheville Feng Shui Trigram Finder. Now that you know with which Trigram you are associate, here are your four supportive directions.


The Kan Trigram. (Pronounced kan) The Kan Trigram is the water trigram. It is a persistent force that ultimately gets to its destination. You may be characterized as flexible, focused, or determined.
Complementary directions - with your back or head of the bed to these directions.
Southeast - Good Fortune & Great Fame
East - Good Wealth & Helpful Friendships
South - Family Harmony & Good Public Relationship
North- Peace & Good Management

The Qian Trigram. (Pronounced ch’ien) The Qian trigram represents the heaven, head of the house or head of a company. This trigram is the most Yang. You may be characterized as a leader, authoritative, or headstrong.
Complementary directions - with your back or head of the bed to these directions.
West - Good Fortune & Great Fame
Northeast - Good Wealth & Helpful Friendships
Southwest - Family Harmony & Good Public Relationship
Northwest - Peace & Good Management

The Gen Trigram. (Pronounced ken) The Gen Trigram is the mountain trigram it is immovable. Gen people tend to be like a mountain, they might be slow to move or change. It also relates to children, so a youthful nature can also be present. You may be characterized as stable, youthful or stubborn.
Complementary directions - with your back or head of the bed to these directions.
Southwest - Good Fortune & Great Fame
Northwest - Good Wealth & Helpful Friendships
West - Family Harmony & Good Public Relationship
Northeast - Peace & Good Management

The Xun Trigram. (Pronounced s’un) The Xun trigram is often known as the wind or the traveler. People of this trigram tend to never stay in one place. You may be characterized as restless, unpredictable or unsettled.
Complementary directions - with your back or head of the bed to these directions.
North - Good Fortune & Great Fame
South - Good Wealth & Helpful Friendships
East - Family Harmony & Good Public Relationship
Southeast - Peace & Good Management

The Li Trigram. (Pronounced lee) Li people are typically very active. You may be characterized as passionate or hot tempered. A Li person sometimes has the tendency to burn out.
Complementary directions - with your back or head of the bed to these directions.
East - Good Fortune & Great Fame
Southeast - Good Wealth & Helpful Friendships
North - Family Harmony & Good Public Relationship
South - Peace & Good Management

The Kun Trigram. (Pronounced k’un) Kun Trigram is like mother earth and is a very powerful Yin trigram. Kun people can be successful leaders, but gain authority from their caring. You may be characterized as nurturing, gracious or caring.
Complementary directions - with your back or head of the bed to these directions.
Northeast - Good Fortune & Great Fame
West- Good Wealth & Helpful Friendships
Northwest- Family Harmony & Good Public Relationship
Southwest- Peace & Good Management

The Zhen Trigram. (Pronounced ch’en) The Zhen Trigram is the thunder Trigram. The personality of this Trigram is a person who is usually even keel, but can be explosive, like thunder, at times.
Complementary directions - with your back or head of the bed to these directions.
South - Good Fortune & Great Fame
North - Good Wealth & Helpful Friendships
Southeast - Family Harmony & Good Public Relationship
East- Peace & Good Management

The Dui Trigram. (Pronounced T’ui) The Dui Trigram is the social trigram. People belonging to this love to talk and communicate, they are usually social and artistic.
Complementary directions - with your back or head of the bed to these directions.
Northwest - Good Fortune & Great Fame
Southwest - Good Wealth & Helpful Friendships
Northeast - Family Harmony & Good Public Relationship
West - Peace & Good Management


Now I would suggest that before you start moving furniture around you make sure to get a good compass reading of your home or office. Stand with your back flat against the building with your compass at your waist. If your not sure which direction the building is facing keep the following guidelines handy.

North is between 337.5 and 22.5 degrees.
Northeast is between 22.5 and 67.5 degrees.
East is between 67.5 and 112.5 degrees.
Southeast is between 112.5 and 157.5 degrees.
South is between 157.5 and 202.5 degrees.
Southwest is between 202.5 and 247.5 degrees.
West is between 247.5 and 292.5 degrees.
Northwest is between 292.5 and 337.5 degrees.

Lose the Kitchen Paper

After reading (no I haven’t seen the movie) An Inconvenient Truth I decided to find as many changes that I could make in my household immediately to help become more “green”. The first thing we did was to quit using paper napkins and paper towels and, you know what, it wasn’t that difficult.

Did you know that if every household in the United States replaced one roll of virgin-fiber paper towels with 100% recycled paper towels; we could save 1.4 million trees. If every household in the United States replaced just one package of virgin fiber napkins with 100 percent recycled ones, we could save 1 million trees. Now imagine the numbers of trees saved if you switched to cloth all together. With those numbers in mind, using virgin fiber for single use items seems simply outrageous.

Here’s what I did to keep my kitchen for 4 messy children and 2 “work from home” adults moving along smoothly. Have a basket of napkins near or on the table ready to use when needed. You’d be surprised but adults don’t always need a new napkin for every meal. My mother even found these small napkins that are just the perfect size for kid use. I also keep a bowl full of washcloths next to the sink for extra messy clean up of face and hands or wiping up a spill. These, in conjunction with our usual dish towels has kept paper usage down to a minimum. I can’t say that we’ve wiped out our use of paper towels all together. I do sometimes use them for the dirtiest of jobs but a roll of paper towel can last us for a month or even two! Now that is amazing.

To be certain the dirty cloths stay out of the way I have a small laundry receptacle in the kitchen as well. Now I don't need to bring dirty napkins or wash cloths to another room each time I need to put them in a hamper. This also presorts the laundry. You can plan on everything coming from the kitchen needing to be washed in hot so that it is sanitized.

I thought this switch would be much more labor intensive but once you have the system set up not only are you buying and storing less paper products but you are also producing less garbage. Less clutter to control and fewer trips to the trash have to be good. Try it and see if you can green up your kitchen a little more.