First let’s define what Astro-cartography is and then I’ll go over why it is related to Feng Shui. Most forms of astrology, such as Western, Vedic, and Chinese Astrology have been in practice for thousands of years. One branch of Western Astrology, however, is relatively new on the block (in terms of popular accessibility) and that is a branch called Astro-cartography.
While many modern-day astrologers do not take Astro-cartography seriously, the real origins date back to ancient Mesopotamia, referred to then as geographical astrology. Over the centuries, this technique has continued to be refined, leading up to an American named Jim Lewis, who used computer technology back in the 1970’s to create a speedier mapping system used today. Prior to that, the hand-drawn calculations were quite tedious.
It is a system where the birth data of a person is compared with the “birth” data of a city, to see if the two are compatible. What is not new to astrology is the notion that virtual identities or real places possess a natal chart which can determine its influence on people. For example, the incorporation of a business and the date that happens can set the tone for the business’ success or failure. Another example is the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, as the official birth date of the United States of America.
When a city or state has been chartered, or founded, it can have a good impact on some people and not others. Let’s use a specific example to illustrate: Sally lived in Los Angeles for most of her life and struggled to find a romantic partner in her prime years. After consulting with an Astro-cartographer, she learned that Los Angeles is not compatible with her for relationships. It was just fine for career luck, but not for health or marriage. She took the advice of the astro-cartographer and moved to Austin, Texas. Based on the astro-cartography of Austin and her personal natal chart, it could be an easy place for her find a life partner. Shortly after moving there, Sally noticed that friendly men approached her for conversation on a near daily basis and within a month she was dating the man that would become her husband.
The essence of Feng Shui is about timing and direction, with location being a part of the influences as well. When it comes to some aspects of a location, we can say the influence will be negative on just about anyone, regardless of their birth data. A couple of extreme examples would be living just a few yards away from a freeway (too yang) or across the street from a cemetery (too yin).
But another personalized level of Feng Shui looks into the relationship between the individual and their location (or direction). For instance, a person born in 1970 would not feel as comfortable in a house that sits (back) to West, compared to a person born in 1974. This cross-references the personal astrology of the person with the directional orientation of the house. This comes from several schools of Feng shui including Ba Zhai.
Another technique uses Chinese astrology, where a person born in the year of the Rat may not do so well in a house that “sits” to the South-Horse direction. The Rat person could feel drained, physically or financially, from a house with that oppositional orientation.
Delving deeper into the blending of Feng Shui with Chinese astrology, a house built in 1973 will express some of its character through the Ox since that was the Year of the Ox. For a person who is born in the Year of the Sheep, they may also find some incompatibility with that pairing. Further, each year in Chinese Astrology has two elements associated with it. The Day a person is born also has two elements associated with it. When an influential element in your own chart clashes with a defining element for the house, there can be a layer of conflict, not obvious in any way, but revealed through this type of time-space matrix. An example could be a Wood type person struggling in a Metal type house because Metal destroys Wood in the cycle of the Elements.
Perhaps the inventors of conventional Astro-cartography took their inspiration from Feng Shui and its long-established tradition of optimizing the person with the place. In fact, some historians have traced the inception of Feng Shui further back than ancient China and into older Mesopotamia.
Going back hundreds of years, popular applications of Feng Shui Date Selection have included the best timing for moving into a home or best timing to break ground and begin construction. This is absolutely a demonstration of the ancient Eastern world acknowledging how a physical place and how land can affect the individual. The outcome of travel plans can also be determined through Astro-cartography, which is a nod to Feng Shui’s sister science known as Nine Star Ki.
Taken to another level is the ancient Yin House practice of Feng Shui. This system calculates the influence of the burial spot on descendants. Feng Shui, Astrology, and Astro-cartography all resonate with the predictable premise of “right place-right time” vs. “wrong place-wrong time.”
Author: Kartar Diamond
Company: Feng Shui Solutions ®
From the Feng Shui Theory Blog Series
