Feng Shui Master Andrew Chan — Home Feng Shui: Case 3 Kitchen in the North

In traditional Bagua feng shui, each direction of a residence corresponds to specific five-element attributes and family members. Specifically, the true north is known as the 'Kan trigram' in Bagua, with its five-element attribute being 'water'. The kitchen, as a place where fire is used daily for cooking, inherently possesses a 'fierce fire' attribute. If a kitchen is located in the true north of a residence, it creates a persistent and intense 'water-fire clash' within the home's internal magnetic field.

When the fire-representing kitchen enters the water-representing true north, the two do not coexist peacefully; instead, they engage in fierce confrontation. The water of the north attempts to extinguish the kitchen's fire, while the kitchen's fire continuously tries to scorch and evaporate the northern water. Hong Kong Feng Shui Master Andrew Chan emphasizes that this directional water-fire conflict leads to a long-term unstable magnetic field within the home. Feng shui values 'harmony and unity'; directional opposition directly projects onto the psychological and physiological levels of the residents, triggering a series of inauspicious chain reactions.

• Triggers Family Discord and Arguments

  The 'water-fire clash' pattern most easily leads to extreme emotions among residents. Family members living in such an environment often lack tolerance and are prone to intense verbal disputes over trivial matters. Marital relationships can suffer, and the family may lack cohesion.

• Health Risks (Urinary and Cardiovascular)

  The northern Kan trigram corresponds to the kidneys, bladder, reproductive system, and blood circulation in the human body. When the northern water is subjected to years of scorching by the kitchen's fire qi, family members (especially the male head of the household or young sons) may be prone to chronic illnesses such as poor urinary system function, kidney issues, or cardiovascular problems like high blood pressure.

• Fluctuating Wealth, Difficulty Retaining Money

  In feng shui, 'water governs wealth,' and the northern water represents the hidden wealth and savings of the household. Water being evaporated by fire metaphorically suggests that wealth can subtly drain away due to external factors, leading to a cycle of earning and losing money, investment losses, and difficulty saving.

The core essence of feng shui lies in 'circulation.' Since water and fire directly clash, introducing an element that can 'circulate' between them can resolve the conflict. Ideally, the kitchen should be located in the east or southeast, following the five-element generative cycle where wood generates fire. If the kitchen is already in the north, Feng Shui Master Andrew Chan suggests:

• Introduce the 'Wood' Element for Circulation

  You can extensively use green and blue-green decorative elements in the kitchen, such as green floor mats, blue-green cabinets, or place tall evergreen potted plants near the kitchen entrance. By utilizing the principle of 'water generates wood, wood generates fire,' the clashing elements are transformed into a generative cycle.

• Adjust Stove Colors

  Avoid using bright red or pure black kitchenware and countertops in a northern kitchen. It is recommended to choose wood-grain, beige, or yellow tones to visually and energetically buffer the water-fire opposition.