On Feng Shui | The Landscape

The celestial animals are the pillars of landscape feng shui, each symbolizing an elevated landform and ensuring an auspicious location. 

Ideally situated in the north, the black tortoise is represented behind the home. The landscape here must be elevated relative to the front of the home so as to ensure stability.

The red phoenix is represented in front of the home, ideally situated to the south. The landscape here must be unobstructed to clear the way for good fortune and positive yang energy to enter the home.

Standing at the front door of the home and looking out to the left, the hills are represented by the green dragon. Ideally situated in the east, the elevation of the landscape must be higher than that to the right.

Looking out to the right, the hills are represented by the white tiger. The elevation of the landscape must be lower than the hills of the green dragon to the left and the mountain of the black tortoise behind to ensure the home is not overwhelmed by yin energy.

For the purposes of restoring balance and energizing positive chi, Bagua map application is a fundamental first step from which feng shui analysis and trigram therapy can be performed.

To reveal and demarcate the trigrams within a property or yard, the Bagua map is placed over the landscape diagram, ensuring that south is oriented at the top, the map edges are aligned to cover all corners of the space (multiple maps may be employed for irregularly shaped areas with significant extensions, such as L-shaped lots), and all trigrams are of equal length and width.

Once the Bagua map is placed over the diagram in Figure L., the property is sectioned off by the grid, providing a clear demarcation of its trigrams and a basis upon which to perform feng shui analysis.

Feng shui analysis is the comparison of the Bagua map against feng shui principles to identify energy imbalances and opportunities to energize positive chi flow.

For example, see the Li trigram illustrated in Figure M., outlined in red. The Bagua map reveals this trigram to encompass the center of the backyard to include a large tree. The Li trigram is otherwise bare and has an overwhelming yin energy.

The study of plants and flowers is one consideration in the feng shui analysis of an outdoor space. (Other considerations include property location as well as surrounding features such as neighboring buildings, roads, water, and terrain, to name a few.)

Plants and flowers are selected with care to balance and harmonize yin and yang energies and with regard for the elemental properties and trigram associations in each corner of the Bagua map. 

As it relates to Figure M., examples of plants and flowers that embody the Li trigram include the begonia (associated with fire), calathea (fame and reputation), and hibiscus (south).

For the purposes of energizing positive chi, some plants should be avoided. Plants with pointed leaves or thorns, such as cacti and yucca, present poison arrows. Stunted plants, such as bonsai and some varieties of bamboo, defy principles of growth. And weeping plants, such as the weeping willow, have a downturned stature and exude melancholy.

When selecting plants and flowers, other considerations include the local hardiness zone as well as shade, sun, spacing, and maintenance requirements. A well tended and flourishing garden is essential relative to scale and elaboration, as health lends to energetic vitality.