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Dear Carrie,

So far, I have found that there are at least 4 ways of interepreting the four symbolic animals concept.

The two most common ones are:

1. What you referred to the north/south where the mountain is at the north/back is based on the "China" concept.

This is where in China, the cold winds blows from the North and most of the houses do not have windows or doors at the north/back of the house. This is also where the dust from the north blows.

Here, in senario 1, the is the reason why north is = back of the house. While South is e.g. the facing direction of the house.

2. In general, if you can forget about Para 1, then:-

- Facing direction should be clear space or bird.

- Back of the house should have a solid backing or protection.

Here, it is incorrect to say that North = back.

3. Under the Four Symbolic Animals concept, you need to take note that the back needs a solid backing. That is, proper fencing or shrubs or even a brick wall behind the house to provide solid `protection.'

4. For the front of the house, it is always good to have `clear space'. It is acceptable to plant some trees but not so that it becomes too large and `darkens' the frontage of the house.

5. I have also mentioned in a few previous messages that besides the above meaning, the Compass School of Feng Shui also relates to the four symbolic animals but taking into account the compass directions.

6. It is always good for you to ask the question so that you have a better understanding of the rationale of how north/back came about. How, it does not apply to every situation or house.

Hope the above helps.

On 2/6/00 7:32:41 PM, Carrie Barker wrote:
>I am confused on the symbolic
>animals article listed on your
>website. Our home has both a
>north and south entrance, we
>consider the south to be the
>"main" entrance since this is
>the one we use dailey but
>actually, it is in the back of
>the lot. Anyways, you say
>that the "mountain" should be
>in the north/back but the
>mountain/trees are in the back
>of our home except they are
>located in the south, not the
>north as you say they should
>be. The front of our
>home--north--is the open space
>that slopes down slightly
>towards the road. I'm
>wondering, do we need to plant
>some trees or put something in
>the front/north of our home to
>represent the "mountain" or
>are things ok the way they are
>now? I am confused.
>Thank you
>Carrie
>