Measuring Earth Magnetic Field
http://ees-www.lanl.gov/IGPP/EarthsMagneticField.html
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Planet earth has two most important poles at the South and North poles. Feng Shui measures magnetic north by means of a magnetic needle. The source of this magnetic field is at the magnetic North Pole, produced by the planet earth.

We have to distinguish between magnetic North and astronomical or true North. Geographic North is a geographical location on earth, not involved in our determination of energetic fields.

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This illustration shows magnetic fields entering and coming out of the magnetic poles of our planet. Before the needle came into use, the Sun and the Pole Star were used to determine direction. From a bird’s eye view, planet earth ‘wobbles’ as it rotates causing the earth axis to change position. The crown of the planet is directed towards or away from the centre of our galaxy bringing about huge planetary changes and giving earth a different North Star each time.

Feng Shui studies the interactive relationship between magnetic fields of our living and working spaces with the ever-changing magnetic fields of our planet. Geographic North is not the source of magnetism, instead it is a changing geographical location. The cardinal direction of North is an astronomical direction linked to true North. Feng Shui ‘North’ or compass North is not the astronomical North, but magnetic North. Magnetic North is the same for the whole universe. Magnetic North is used in Feng Shui. A house chart is determined due to magnetic orientation hence we do not measure True North.

Magnetism and the Chinese compass

The Chinese discovered magnetism and invented the compass. The Luo Pan includes three rings (called “Needles”), each differing 7,5 degrees from the other. To the ancients the sky is like water, always moving so the Tien Pan (Heaven Ring) is used to measure water.



24 Mountains of the Luopan

The system of Kan Zi is used extensively in the practical applications of Feng Shui. 8 Heavenly Stems, 12 Earthly Branches and 4 Trigrams are featured in the 24 Mountains. North sector is shown below. The 24 mountains represent trigrams as well as directions. Each mountain comprises of 3 sectors, each sector is 45 degrees and each subsector is 15 degrees. Xuan Kong Flying star charts are drawn up based on these measurements. If the compass reads 342 degrees it is North 1 facing Ren. If a compass reads North how is it possible to switch it to South?

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For both Northern and Southern hemisphere, any western type compass can be used to measure magnetic influences. We measure the Feng Shui of a built structure by means of a magnetic needle. The source of this magnetic field is the magnetic north, not South on the Northern Hemisphere just because the sun is found there at noon, not North on the Southern Hemisphere just because the sun is found there at noon. The compass needle does not measure the sun or the stars, it measures earth magnetic field.

Table of 24 mountains
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THE LUOPAN
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The Yin and Yang of each mountain has an affinity with each other. The difference in the polarity of each mountain lies in the roots of Feng Shui principles and foundation. The Luopan is the pivot of a Chinese metaphysical practice. Handling a tool and knowing formulas is essential. However, holding an impressive tool but having incomplete knowledge of Feng Shui principles is just as bad as trying out advanced formulas on clients without fully understanding them or receiving guidance to their applications. However, mastering intricate and complex classical theories and applications can bring huge benefits to one’s practice.

The revolutionary Southern Hemisphere compass

Changing the Ba Gua from north to south and south to north theoretically on paper by the “Southern” exponents is not a problem. But applying the theory in its context of north versus south on a magnetic compass will be a big feat. Such a compass for the Southern hemisphere will be revolutionary!
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The traditional relationship with the south at the top

The proposed change

The compass directions as proposed by the southern school are out of sequence with each other. The east west axis needs to rotate to maintain the relative relationship with each other too.