how to take a compass reading

8/12/2019 How to Take a Compass Reading

1/7

HOWTO

TAKEA

COMPASSREADING

FENG SHUI Chinese Astrology Akashic RecorHealing the Planet, One Living Space at a TimeTM

There are ve easy steps required to take an accurate compass reading of the front

(facing direction) of your home or building. In order to do so, you need to identify the facing

direction of the building and have a good compass. Included are simple guidelines to follow.

2009 Kelly S. Jones, LLC


2/7

Step 1.

Get a good quality compass

Your compass should have all 360 degrees clearly marked (at minimum every 2 degrees

should be marked). You must be able to determine the exact degree the building faces. The

compass should also feature a line of sight, allowing you to line your compass up with theobject you are measuring. In this case, the front of your home. There are two main types of compasses

Chinese Compass called a Luopan.

Western Compass with a minimum of 2-degree markings. These can easily be found at your local Sports

Authority or camping and hiking equipment store. (This compass is by Silva Explorer found at Sports

Authority.)

Note: The at edge of each style compass helps you align with the edge of the building.

2009 Kelly S. Jones, LLC Page 2 www.KJFengShui.com


3/7

Step 2.

Determine the facing of the building, home or condo

Note: The facing side of a building is the front of the building while the sitting side of a building is

the back of the building.

The more yang side of a structure is considered the facing direction while the yin side is considered

the sitting direction.

To determine the facing or more yang side of your home consider these guidelines:

Most active side such as the street side or ocean side

Most expansive views, best view or only view in the home

Unblocked view or farthest view of the horizon from inside the home

Brightest side, the most windows and open spaces

Biggest rooms, most active space in the home

Side where the land is low or lower Note: Architecturally, things are not always as them seem. Although the main entrance and address often

indicate the facing side of a home, sometimes this isnt the case.

To provide contrast, the sitting or more yin side of your home often has these features:

Most quiet side such as back yard, other homes, an actual mountain

Least view or no view, solid wall

Darkest side of the home, few or no windows

Smallest rooms such as bathrooms, laundry rooms

Side where land is high or higher

Note: In condos and apartments, often times the main entrance is the sitting side, while the balcony is the

facing direction.

If you feel like two different directions could be the facing direction, use the outside environment

and the overall oor plan as your guide. Often, one direction will jump out as the facing direction

In some cases you may need assistance. If so, please fax your 8.5 x 11 oor plan to Fax: 305-682-0891 or

email to: [email protected]. Pictures may also be requested.



4/7

Step 3.

Accurately position yourself and your compass

To take an accurate compass reading it is important to avoid magnetic interference, properly orient yourself with

the building and hold the compass steady and parallel to the ground. See details below.

Avoid magnetic interference to ensure an accurate reading.

o Avoid standing near electrical equipment, cars, parking meters and cell phones.

o Remove metal objects from yourself such as watches, belts and chains.

Stand facing the front (facing direction) of the building, square your body with both feet even and

slightly apart for stability. You may need to lean over your compass to read the exact degree.

o Why face the building? Because you can only determine you are parallel with the building if you are

facing it! You cannot determine this if your back is to the building.

Center yourself along the facing side of the building.

o Stand 5 to 10 feet away from the building (to avoid the structures magnetic interference). o Position yourself and your compass to be parallel with the facing of the building. This is extremely

important you must be parallel to the building to get an accurate reading.

o You may want to take 3 different readings to verify accuracy; these positions can be different locations

along the facing side of the building and between 5 to 10 feet from the building.

o If you live in a condo, you may have to go outside to the ground oor and take a measurement of the

balcony side or you may have to take a measurement from the balcony or even within the apartment.

You will need to determine the best way to take your measurement.

Hold the compass at waist level and parallel to the ground.


Yang

(Front of house)

Yin

(Back of house)

Distance from home

approx. 5 to 10 feet


5/7

Step 4.

Working with the compass

The direction the needle actually points depends on the type of compass you have. If you

have a Western Compass, the needle will point to 0 degrees north. For the Chinese Compass

(Luopan), the needle will line up with 180 degrees south. Both are accurate, just magnetically aligneddifferently.

For a Western Compass you may nd an outer dial that rotates. Set this so the arrow points to 0 (zero) degrees

north.

For the Chinese Compass you will nd a circular plate with a red line and 2 red dots in the

center, also known as Heavens Pool. Rotate this plate until these markings are perfectly aligned

with the oating magnetic needle. Make sure the round head of the needle rests between the

2 red dotsof the circular plate. See images below.

Position yourself facing the building. Ensure the compass is level and needle is still. Adjust the dial asindicated.


Rotate plate to line up needle with red line and two dots.

Once aligned read the degree at the red string closest to your

body. This degree is the facing direction of your property.

Sitting

Facing Side

Sitting

Facing Side


6/7

Step 5.

Determine the facing degree

Now you need to read the compass to determine which degree is the exact facing degree of the building.

IMPORTANT: Since you are facing the building, you are facing the direction the building isactually sitting. Since you want the degree of the facing direction, you will need to read the

degree closest to you.

For the Western Compass:

For compasses with a rotating dial, read the degree that is closest to your body or

at your bellybutton (because this matches the facing orientation of the building)

For compasses without rotating dials, youll read the smaller number since this

indicates the opposite direction you are currently facing (and therefore the facing direction of

the building).

For the Chinese Compass:

There are 2 nylon strings squaring the compass. Look at the string that points towards the

building. This line will cover two different degrees the one opposite you (closest to the

building) will give you the sitting degree of the building and the one closest

to your body (near your bellybutton) will give you the facing degree of the building

The degree closest to your body/bellybutton is the degree you need. This is the degree of the

facing direction of your property. Record this degree. See image below.

Note: Since you are taking a magnetic reading with your compass, you do not need to make any

adjustments to determine true north. Magnetic north is used for Feng Shui purposes.

Below is a chart of the corresponding degrees for each direction. Most people have a general idea of the

direction their property faces. Use this knowledge and the chart on the next page to guide you and help

conrm the reading you have taken.


Sitting

Facing Side

Read the compass degree on this side


7/7

Compass Chart for 8 Directions and 24 Sectors

NORTH SOUTHN1 337.5 352.5 S1 157.5 172.5

N2 352.5 7.5 S2 172.5 187.5

N3 7.5 22.5 S3 187.5 202.5

NORTHEAST SOUTHWEST

NE1 22.5 37.5 SW1 202.5 217.5

NE2 37.5 52.5 SW2 217.5 232.5

NE3 52.5 67.5 SW3 232.5 247.5

EAST WEST

E1 67.5 82.5 W1 247.5 262.5

E2 82.5 97.5 W2 262.5 277.5

E3 97.5 112.5 W3 277.5 292.5

SOUTHEAST NORTHWEST

SE1 112.5 127.5 NW1 292.5 307.5

SE2 127.5 142.5 NW2 307.5 322.5

SE3 142.5 157.5 NW3 322.5 337.5

Important Note about your Compass Reading:

IF you have a compass degree reading that is EXACTLY the same as one of the degrees listed above, takeadditional compass readings at varying distances from the home (and on all four sides of the home if

necessary) to obtain a degree that is not exactly the same but has repeatability. These exact degrees

are consider cut-off points and will not render an energy chart for Feng Shui calculations.

Use these additional compass readings to determine a new degree. For example, if you

get 262.5 degrees, this is a cut-off point between W1 and W2. You must take

additional measurements to determine if your accurate direction is closer to 260

degrees or 265 degrees. If your next couple of readings give you 263 degrees and 264 degrees, then

you can be sure the front (facing direction) of your home is W2.

Kelly S. Jones, LLC

www.KJFengShui.com

[email protected]

Ofce: 305-682-8985

3600Chart


how to take a compass reading

Documents