The North/South Debate

SHOULD THE COMPASS SCHOOL BE CHANGED FOR THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE? by Ray Harris

FORWARD

These articles are the result of my inquiries into the nature of proposed changes to Compass School Feng Shui for the Southern Hemisphere. As a student and practitioner I had heard of the need to make changes yet a detailed explanation of why seemed to elude everyone I spoke to. The idea that there should be a change is initially quite seductive and many people have considered the issue. However, in the course of writing the initial paper and discussing the issue with many people in Australia and Internationally I found that very few people actually advocate such changes.

The principal advocates of change are Roger Green and Lindy Baxter. They have collaborated in creating a system that alters the Lo P'an and the system of Stems and Branches. Hermann von Essen of Adelaide advocates a change to the Dragon Gate or Black Hat method. Other advocates seem to be students or associates of these three people.

At this stage the belief that Feng Shui should change in the SH is in decline. Roger Green says he has practiced this system for over ten years. Yet I have not found one other practitioner/teacher (apart from his or Lindy's students) who accepts and uses his ideas. One would think that if the idea had any merit that he and Lindy would have been far more successful in persuading others. At this stage I have spoken to three of Roger and Lindy's ex-students and they have all since rejected the SH argument. It seems that when presented with all the arguments and facts people are persuaded by the traditional method.

The list of authentic masters that publicly reject the SH model is growing. It includes such well-known names as Raymond Lo, Joseph Yu, Larry Sang, Yap Cheng Hai, Chan Kun Wah, Professor Chen and Henry Lui. I have yet to encounter an authentic master who supports the SH model. The authors Lillian Too, Derek Walters and Jon Sandifer also reject the SH model.

When I first wrote my original argument I made a deliberate point of sending it to those advocates of the SH changes that I was aware of before sending it to others. I wanted to give them the opportunity to correct and comment. This included Roger Green and Lindy Baxter. Roger Green declined to comment. Lindy Baxter was initially keen and sent me the reply contained herein. I then sent the detailed response also contained herein. Her response was to send a short email saying she was sorry I disagreed and wishing me well in my endeavours. I have since had no further word. In another email Roger Green said that he and Lindy did not wish to respond because they found my manner 'overly aggressive'. I will let others decide if this is so.

The final reply is a combination of several emails sent to Lindy Baxter. As I have found more information I have let Lindy know in case she wishes to comment or correct anything I have said. She has chosen not to respond.

Hermann von Essen has also received a copy of the original paper but has not responded.

I would like to thank Cate Bramble for her help. Some of the material contained in my final response comes from her own reply to Lindy Baxter. Cate has kindly placed some of this material on her web page 'The Ultimate Feng Shui Resource' at http://www.qi-whiz.com/

Copies of these documents are lodged with the various Feng Shui Societies around the world.