Some Feng Shui thoughts and suggestions

THE PROGRAM
Software for Feng Shui was originally written for myself and my wife, to use for calculating Feng Shui Readings quickly and accurately. It is basically a glorified calculator with all the necessary tables of Years, Animals, Elements, Trigrams etc. etc. ready to hand on the PC.

I then added a range of icons and pictures, some for information - such as the Trigrams and Elements, and some just to make the program more elegant - the various backgrounds which are each linked to one specific I Ching reading (there are 64 pictures altogether)..

Over the years I have carried out a lot of research into Flying Star Feng Shui, the Lo Pan compass and other more esoteric aspects ~ and each of these have been added to the original program, which now comes in two 'flavours' Classic and Expert.

The Classic Edition (originally called the Family Edition) is designed for home use, with family and friends. It has all the 'fun' elements of Feng Shui with astrological readings, personal relationship matching (even with Film and Pop stars!), Pa Kua compasses and Nine Star Ki. Even so, it is a powerful program with most features that you will need when starting out with Feng Shui, and makes a good learning tool.

The Expert Edition, which contains ALL the features found in the Classic Edition, also includes specific functions for the professional user - Flying Star readings and a full 18 ring Lo Pan compass.

Note: Focus Multimedia's "Mark Shackelford's Feng Shui for You and Your Home" is a simpler version of the program (without Essential Oils etc.), and is marketed by a different company.

INSTALLING
Software for Feng Shui is a Microsoft Windows program, running on Windows 95, 98, SE, 2000 or NT. It is installed using a standard Microsoft Installation Wizard, and this will add the 'Feng Shui' program to your Start menu.

The product allows you to store the details of up to 100 different people (family, friends etc.) who you can then recall to view their Horoscopes or Feng Shui aspects.

Once you have started the program you will be prompted to enter your name and birth details, or to select a name from the stored list on subsequent runs of the program. You can select the Elements, Compass directions and Pa Kua Trigrams to be displayed on the screen.

USING THE PROGRAM
It is fairly easy to get started with the program - it is a standard Windows system, with "Point and Click" using the Mouse. Once it is installed, just move the Mouse around the Window and Click on the Icons down the left hand side. 

Almost every picture or icon that you see on the screen is "Live" - which means if you hover the Mouse over it, a caption will be displayed with some useful information, and quite often if you Double Click on it - a new window will 'pop-up' with lots more useful information.

If you get stuck, then:
1. Try the "Help" menu - or just hit the "F1" hot key on the keyboard.
2. Use the "Hints" panel - hit the "F3" key.
3. On any of the dialog boxes, click on the "Help >>" button for hints and tips.
4. If you are still stuck, confused or not sure what to do - email me!

Clicking with the Right Mouse button on the background displays a 'pop-up' menu with some of the commoner functions.

The centre of the screen displays a 'Hints' panel when you first run the product, which explains each of the command buttons found down the left hand side of the screen. You can choose to Hide this panel by clicking on an option button.

FEATURES (both Classic and Expert Editions)
Chinese Horoscope - The Four Pillars from your Year, Month, Day and Time of Birth. The display shows the Element and Animal signs from your birth date, plus readings of various aspects of your character. A summary of the Element and Yin/Yang balances are displayed so that you can work out how best to counteract any imbalance.

Chinese Life Cycle - your Chinese Horoscope Life cycle is displayed with the most Auspicious times for various Life events.

Compass School Feng Shui - using the compass directions and your Lucky Number to determine the favourable and unfavourable locations in your Room, House, Office or even on your Desk. 

Black Hat School Feng Shui - a style of Feng Shui based on the eight Trigrams and the direction of your Front Door. The Black Hat School is very popular in North America.

Horoscope Relationships - Horoscope based readings between you and any of the other people stored in the program. This also includes a pop-up dialog from which you can select a Famous Person to be compared with.

Feng Shui Measurements - A computer based Feng Shui Ruler which you can use to determine the most auspicious sizes for objects in your house or Office. 

I Ching Divination - an on-screen I Ching casting system, using the PC to randomly select the hexagrams. The I Ching reading includes the Chinese characters, the Keywords, Judgement and Image. It also shows the trigrams that make up the Hexagram. 

Feng Shui 'Tip of the Day' - a wide range of simple Hints and Tips to improve your Home and Life style using Feng Shui remedies. 

Nine Star Ki Astrology - based on the Lo Shu 'Magic Square', this gives an alternative view of your Horoscope. It also includes a relationship comparison for both your friends and family, and also the Famous Names included with the system. 

Monthly Calendar - displays the auspicious and inauspicious days for the month ahead, including Travel, Romance, Finance and Relaxation. 

Daily Fortune - a fortune 'Cookie' showing your lucky readings for the current Day, Year and Hour. 

Chinese Games - a selection of traditional Oriental games which can be played solo or against the computer. 

Information Browser - a wide range of Chinese Astrology and Feng Shui topics are available on-line for you to learn a little bit more about the various aspects of your character and life determined by using the program. 

PRINTING
The print outs were originally designed so that I could build up files about each client, with a summary of the details from each screen, so that I could then refer to the data when making the specific reports for the client.

In particular, the Pa Kua and Ba Guas are designed as large black and white diagrams which I use when checking out rooms to make notes on.

The reports are supposed to be helpful to you as the consultant - and not really final reports to the Customer - otherwise every consultant using the software would be producing the same reports. I believe that the program is a powerful tool to speed up the process of calculating, reading and interpreting Feng Shui, but should not replace the individual consultant's personal experience - this is what your clients are paying for - the personal touch, not just a pre-formatted standard report.

So the reports do NOT have any interpretation on them - as this is dependent on the theories, ideas, experience and training of the individual consultant - each Master has slightly different ideas as to what the readings mean. Any interpretations that I would have are unlikely to match what you would interpret from your experience, or indeed from your understanding of the individual client.

ESSENTIAL OILS
A new feature in the latest versions (Classic and Expert) is the Feng Shui and Essential Oil mappings. The program allows you to select an Element, or a Colour and then displays a list of the appropriate Essential Oils, with information about the Oil. 

It also shows the Oils that will ENHANCE the particular element, or COUNTERACT the element so that they can be used as Enhancers or Cures.2. You can use the Oils and Elements to enhance or cure specific locations (or people) and you use the Oils and Colours to enhance or cure items or locations that already have a chosen colour.

The program allows you to map the Essential Oils to the Elements - you can then use your traditional Chinese theories to apply the Oils.

Bibliography : A list of suggested further readings

"The Living Earth Manual of Feng Shui", Stephen Skinner, Penguin Arcana, 1982

"Feng Shui", Stephen Skinner, Dempsey Parr, 1997

"The Feng Shui Handbook", Lam Kam Chuen, Gaia Books, 1995

"Feng Shui, or the Rudiment of Natural Science in China", Ernest Eitel, Cokaygne, 1973

"Chinese Geomancy", Evelyn Lip, Times Books International, 1979

"Interior Design with Feng Shui", Sarah Rossbach, Rider, 1987

"Applied Pa Kua and Lo Shu Feng Shui", Lillian Too, Konsep, 1993

"The Complete Illustrated Guide to Feng Shui", Lillian Too, Element, 1996

"Feng Shui Handbook : A Practical Guide to Chinese Geomancy and Environmental Harmony", Derek Walters, Aquarian Press, 1991

"Feng Shui: The Ancient Wisdom of Harmonious Living for Modern Times", Eva Wong, Shambhala, 1996

FENG SHUI and CHINESE ASTROLOGY
Remember that Chinese Astrology is based on thousands of years of use, and although many of the readings may appear vague, obscure or irrelevant, this is because they are designed to let you get into your subconscious. They are valuable because you need to interpret the Feng Shui readings to match your current situation. 

You need not take any of the readings too seriously, and you should apply common sense to any actions you take as a result.