Ba Zhai is a complex subject, with many different ways of applying it. In more recent times it has been used as the staple fall back of directional Feng Shui, sleep facing your good direction, sleep in your good area, etc.

What an absolute waste of this crucial San Yuan formula!

Ba Zhai literally means 8 Mansions. Mansions are houses. So why have we been so hung up on using only our life Gua, which is just plagiarizing, if you like, of a powerful Feng Shui tool. It is only relatively recent that this aspect has been brought into the equation. The classic Ba Zi Ming Jing (Eight Mansions Bright Mirror) makes no mention of the life Gua, just the house Gua.

So let's break it down: 8 Mansions are 8 types of houses; the type of house is decided by its Sitting; this then tells us the information we need; where is the Sheng Qi; the Tian Yi, Yan Nian, the Fu Wei; and also where the not so nice areas are: Jue Ming, Liu Sha, Wu Gwei, and Huo Hai.

So is that it? Is that all we need to know?

If that was it, we'd all be Masters after reading one book! You know better by now!

Each of the above types of Qi exerts its own elemental influence and the interaction of these elements is what either makes or breaks the area.

It is good if we can sleep in the Sheng Qi, the Tian Yi, or any of the good sectors. Utilising the most recent usage of the formula, we would also like to sleep facing one of our good directions. But there is more to it.

Let's have a look at some examples:

If I were sleeping in the Jue Ming of an East sitting house (West), is that as bad as sleeping at the Jue Ming of a West sitting house (East)?

Jue Ming has the element of Metal: in the Zhen Gua house (East sitting) the Jue Ming is at the West area, Metal; in the Dui Gua house (West sitting) the Jue Ming is at the East area, Wood.

Which is less desirable?

Well, Metal and Metal is harmonious, whereas Metal and Wood….? I think we have a problem!

So what if I were sleeping at the Yan Nian, and facing my Sheng Qi? Both good types of Qi, both beneficial. But Yan Nian is also of the Metal element, and Sheng Qi is wood. Is this really desirable?

Whilst using the basic knowledge of the formula says these two are OK, it is only when we dissect the formula and look a little deeper that we can see the flaws in going only for good this, good that, good the other.

And then again, there is the element of the palace itself…..…!