Western feng shui, also known as black hat feng shui, is a concept of geomancy that originated in the last century. While it may seem like a relatively short period, it pales in comparison to the origins of classical feng shui, which can be traced back thousands of years. Western feng shui shares similarities with traditional, cultural, and religious practices of feng shui, but there is one key difference.
In classical feng shui, the compass is used to determine exact readings of facing directions in order to calculate the energy map of a property. However, in western feng shui, the main door's location is the determining factor in mapping the energy of a house. This distinction sets it apart from its eastern counterpart.
When I first delved into the world of Chinese metaphysics, I had never heard of western school feng shui. It was through online research on feng shui topics that I stumbled upon it. Western feng shui goes by various aliases, including black hat feng shui, black hat sect feng shui, and BTB feng shui (Black Sect Tibetan Tantric).
The fundamental bagua map of the western bagua consists of nine aspects of life, each associated with a specific energy:
- Wealth and money (wood)
- Fame and status (fire)
- Love and relationships (earth)
- Health and family (wood)
- Spirituality and well-being (earth)
- Children and creativity (metal)
- Knowledge and self-improvement (earth)
- Career and work (water)
- Mentors and travel (metal)
If you're familiar with feng shui, you'll notice that this is similar to a regular bagua with the north direction aligned to the bottom center grid. However, the application of the BTB bagua disregards directions. Instead, this energy map is imposed on a floor plan based on the main door's location.
Once the main door is identified on the floor plan, the plan is rotated so that the main door is at the bottom, and the western bagua map is superimposed on it. This allows for the determination of the different sectors of the house.
Public Opinion of Western Feng Shui
Many feng shui practitioners have openly expressed their negative opinions of black hat feng shui. This is often because they were initially taught eastern feng shui, and the introduction of western feng shui challenges their established beliefs. It can be difficult to accept that there is another approach that starkly contrasts their expertise.
Since western feng shui originates from classical feng shui, some argue that it is merely a spin-off without a substantial foundation. However, it is worth noting that critics of western feng shui tend to criticize all feng shui concepts that differ from their own practice, rather than focusing solely on black hat feng shui.
In my case, I do not practice western feng shui, so I refrain from championing or criticizing it. It is essential to recognize that there are various perspectives within the feng shui community, and practitioners should approach different approaches with an open mind to understand their unique insights.
The fundamental bagua map of the western bagua
By embracing the diversity of feng shui practices, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of this ancient art and adapt it to our modern lives. Whether you follow classical feng shui or explore the principles of black hat feng shui, the ultimate goal is to create harmony and balance in your living environment.
