Read the book: «Dynamic Feng Shui. Algorithmization of Harmonization spaces in conditions of changing energies»

© Vladislav Staravoytov, 2026

ISBN 978-5-0069-3892-2

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

Introduction

Feng Shui is not a superstition, but a science of harmony with the environment.

The modern world requires new approaches, but the essence remains the same: energy should flow freely and in a balanced manner.

– Master Yang Yizhun

(1866—1936)

An outstanding master of the late Qing Dynasty – early Republic of China, systematizer of the theory of Flying Stars (Xuan Kun Fei Xing)

Harmonizing living spaces, going beyond purely aesthetic and functional design, is an interdisciplinary task at the intersection of design, environmental psychology, and traditional environmental theories. One of the most developed and systematized concepts in this field is the Chinese art of feng shui, which offers a comprehensive language for describing human interaction with energy flows (qi) in space. However, its practical application in the modern world faces a number of methodological challenges: the subjectivity of interpretations, the difficulty of synthesizing multi-level information (individual, spatial, and temporal), and, consequently, the low reproducibility of recommendations.

The goal of this work is to develop a formalized, algorithmic methodology for dynamic feng shui that can overcome these challenges. The work aims to create a transparent, reproducible, and adaptive system for analyzing and adjusting space, taking into account both static and dynamic factors, as well as the interests of multiple users. The proposed approach is based on a critical analysis of existing practices, a synthesis of classical knowledge, and its formalization in the form of hierarchical algorithms tested using analytical prototype cases. This methodology potentially lays the foundation for the creation of expert systems and the integration of feng shui principles into modern digital environmental design technologies.

Chapter 1.
Theoretical and methodological foundations of Feng Shui in the context of modern environmental design

“The five elements are the language of the Universe. Understanding their interaction allows we speak with space and transform it.”

– Master Lillian Too (born 1945)

A modern popularizer of Feng Shui, author of numerous international bestsellers. Her works made complex concepts accessible to the global audience.

1.1. The Five Elements (Wu Xing) as a language for describing energy interactions in space

The five elements – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water – form the fundamental language of feng shui for describing all energetic interactions. They are not literal substances, but rather categories of energy quality that exist in a relationship of generation (the Sheng cycle) and destruction (the Ke cycle). Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water, and Water generates Wood. At the same time, Wood controls Earth, Earth controls Water, Water controls Fire, Fire controls Metal, and Metal – Tree.

In the practice of space harmonization, each element is associated with specific colors, shapes, materials, and symbols. Understanding and utilizing these connections allows one to consciously influence the energetic climate of a space: enhancing favorable aspects and weakening or transforming negative ones. The five elements serve as a universal code that can describe both the characteristics of a person (through the Gua number), the characteristics of a place (cardinal direction, room type), and time (Flying Stars). Thus, the Wu Xing represents a key coordinate system for the multidimensional analysis of space.

1.2. Gua numbers and cardinal directions: individual and locational aspects of qi

A person’s individual energy in feng shui is described by a Gua number, calculated based on their date of birth. This number, which relates to one of the five elements, determines favorable and unfavorable directions for a specific person, as well as their personal element requiring support. For example, Gua numbers 1 are associated with Water, 9 with Fire, 3 and 4 with Wood, and 6 and 7 – with Metal, 2 and 8 – with Earth. Taking into account the Gua number is essential for personalizing a space, especially in private areas (bedrooms, offices), where the goal is to enhance the resident’s personal luck and potential.

The locational aspect is determined by the compass direction (cardinal direction) of a room’s sector. Each direction has an inherent, unchanging element: East and Southeast – Wood; South – Fire; Southwest and Center – Earth; West and Northwest— Metal; North – Water; Northeast – Wood. This static characteristic creates the basic energetic background of the room.

The conflict or harmony between the cardinal direction element and the user’s personal Gua element constitutes the first layer of complexity in analysis. Ideally, these energies should support each other: for example, a Metal person (Gua 6 or 7) benefits from being in the west or northwest sector (Metal element), which enhances their own energy. Otherwise, balancing through other factors or corrective tools is required.

1.3. Flying Stars (Xuan Kun Fei Xing) as a dynamic model of temporal influences

The most complex and dynamic aspect of classical feng shui is the theory of Flying Stars. It introduces the variable of time into the analysis, positing that the energy map of a room changes annually, monthly, and even daily. During each time period, stars numbered 1 through 9 “fly” into the room’s sectors, each carrying positive, negative, or neutral energy and associated with a specific element.

For example, stars 1, 4, 6, 8, and 9 are considered positive (bringing good fortune in various areas), while stars 2, 3, 5, and 7 are considered negative (bringing illness, quarrels, and losses). The influence of a flying star can either enhance or completely negate a static room profile based on the cardinal direction and room type. Ignoring this factor, especially negative stars, can negate all other harmonization efforts. It is the Flying Stars that demonstrate the impossibility of creating these recommendations once and for all and confirm the need for a dynamic approach.

1.4. The Problem of Synthesis: The Conflict of Static and Dynamic Factors in Feng Shui Practice

The key methodological challenge of modern feng shui is the synthesis of multi-level, and sometimes contradictory, information. Within a single room, the following operate simultaneously:

1. Static factor of the cardinal direction (element A).

2. Static factor of the room type (element B).

3. Individual factor of the resident/residents (elements Gua B, G, D…).

4. Dynamic factor of the Flying Star (element for correction E).

What’s more important: a negative star in the living room or the favorable element of the head of the family’s Gua? How to choose one key element for correction if several people with different Gua elements live in the same room? Traditional practice, relying on the master’s intuition and experience, often provides subjective and opaque answers to these questions. The lack of a clear, formal hierarchy of factors leads to low reproducibility of results and hinders learning. This work offers resolve this contradiction by developing a formalized algorithm with explicit priority rules, which transfers feng shui from the realm of art to the realm of reproducible technology.