FENG SHUI Chinese Astrology Akashic Records

Healing the Planet, One Living Space at a TimeTM

HOW
TO
TAKE
A
COMPASS
READING
There are five 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

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 the
object 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 flat edge of each style compass helps you align with the edge of the building.

2009 Kelly S. Jones, LLC

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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 floor 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 floor plan to Fax: 305-682-0891 or
email to: workshops@KJFengShui.com. Pictures may also be requested.

2009 Kelly S. Jones, LLC

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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 floor 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.

Yin
(Back of house)

Distance from home

approx. 5 to 10 feet

Yang
(Front of house)

2009 Kelly S. Jones, LLC

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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 aligned
differently.
For a Western Compass you may find an outer dial that rotates. Set this so the arrow points to 0 (zero) degrees
north.
For the Chinese Compass you will find 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 floating magnetic needle. Make sure the round head of the needle rests between the
2 red dots of the circular plate. See images below.
Position yourself facing the building. Ensure the compass is level and needle is still. Adjust the dial as
indicated.

Sitting

Sitting

Facing Side

Facing Side

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.

2009 Kelly S. Jones, LLC

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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 is
actually 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.

Sitting

Facing Side
Read the compass degree on this side

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
confirm the reading you have taken.

2009 Kelly S. Jones, LLC

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3600 Chart

Compass Chart for 8 Directions and 24 Sectors

NORTH
N1
N2
N3
NE1
NE2
NE3
E1
E2
E3
SE1
SE2
SE3

SOUTH

337.5 352.5
352.5 7.5
7.5 22.5
NORTHEAST
22.5 37.5
37.5 52.5
52.5 67.5
EAST
67.5 82.5
82.5 97.5
97.5 112.5
SOUTHEAST
112.5 127.5
127.5 142.5
142.5 157.5

S1
S2
S3
SW1
SW2
SW3
W1
W2
W3
NW1
NW2
NW3

157.5 172.5
172.5 187.5
187.5 202.5
SOUTHWEST
202.5 217.5
217.5 232.5
232.5 247.5
WEST
247.5 262.5
262.5 277.5
277.5 292.5
NORTHWEST
292.5 307.5
307.5 322.5
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, take
additional 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
workshops@KJFengShui.com
Office: 305-682-8985
2009 Kelly S. Jones, LLC

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