Classical Feng Shui uses the year of construction of a home or office and the compass degree it faces to determine the patterns of energy which form inside the structure when it is built. The energy pattern is called a flying star natal chart. A building is divided into eight different compass sections and a middle section.  These sections are called “palaces”. In each palace there is a mountain star (also called sitting star), a water star (also called facing star) and a time star, each represented by a number. The way the stars interact with each other can have a positive or negative effect on the occupants. There are 9 different cycles or “periods” of time which last 20 years each and repeat every 180 years. We are currently in period 8 which began February 4, 2004 and ends Feb 3, 2024. The occupants dates of birth are also taken into account. Each compass section has one of the five elements associated with it:  water, wood, fire, earth or metal. The compass sections and their elements are analyzed along with the flying stars that occupy each palace. The five elements are used to balance the flying stars.
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Compass School Feng Shui uses a compass to divide a home or office into the eight compass sections.  Each compass section has one of the five elements associated with it:  water, wood, fire, earth or metal.  Each compass section also has a life aspiration associated with it: wealth, fame, relationships, children, helpful people, career, knowledge, and family.  The Eight Mansions Formula uses a person’s year of birth and gender to determine their kua number and best compass directions.  Kua  numbers 1, 3, 4, and 9 belong to the East group and 2, 5, 6 ,7 and 8 are West group.  Building sitting directions determine whether a structure is an East group or West group structure.  Utilizing your best compass directions for sleeping and working is said to help support your life goals.

Western Feng Shui/BTB (Black Hat Sect Tibetan Buddhist).  This is a simplified modern day version of Compass School feng shui and uses the same five elements and life aspirations but does not divide a home or office by the actual compass sections.  Instead, a bagua map is aligned with the main entry door.  This school of feng shui was developed in the mid 1980s and is a combination of Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism, psychology and Compass feng shui and is based on a more spiritual approach. Placing of symbols and intent is emphasized. It is also known as "new age" feng shui. Since actual compass directions and flying stars are not taken into consideration, this is the least accurate kind of feng shui.

Form School Feng Shui uses the shapes and forms of the surrounding landscapes, structures, waterways and roadways and how these shapes will affect people living or working in a structure.  The four cardinal directions of the compass are represented by four animals:  the Green Dragon of the East, the White Tiger of the West, the Red Phoenix of the South and the Black Turtle of the North. Interior forms and the layout of the structure are also analyzed. Forms are usually taken into consideration by practitioners of the other schools of feng shui.