Flying Star Calculator
Compute the annual flying star chart for any year. This is the nine-star chart that rotates through the nine palaces of a home every year, and it is where most published feng shui charts get their arithmetic wrong.
Annual flying star chart
How to use it
- Enter the Gregorian year you want to chart.
- Read the nine-palace grid: each palace shows its star for that year.
- Use the star table below the grid to see what each star governs before you move anything.
How the annual flying star chart is calculated
One star enters the centre palace each year and the other eight fly out along the fixed Lo Shu path. The centre star is pure arithmetic: add the year's digits together until you have a single digit, then subtract that from eleven. If the answer is above nine, subtract nine again.
For 2026 the digits sum to ten, and eleven minus ten gives one, so One White enters the centre. You can verify the whole series backwards: 2024 gives three, 2025 gives two, 2026 gives one, 2027 gives nine. The numbers retreat by exactly one each year and cycle from one back to nine.
From the centre the stars fly in this fixed order: centre, northwest, west, northeast, south, north, southwest, east, southeast — with each star stepping down by one position as it goes. That is why the chart looks the way it does, and why two different websites can produce completely different charts for the same year if one of them reverses the fly order.
The two stars to handle first
Five Yellow is the year's most inauspicious star. It is the one most feng shui sources agree on: do not renovate, do not drill, do not hang heavy objects there, and do not spend much time sitting or sleeping in that part of the home. In 2026 it sits in the south.
Two Black is the health star, traditionally associated with illness in older family members. The traditional instruction is to keep that corner quiet and well ventilated rather than to fill it with remedies. In 2026 it sits in the northwest.
Everything else is a matter of degree. One, eight, nine, six and four are the working auspicious stars; three and seven are the ones to keep clear of argument and loss.
The star table
Every star belongs to one of the five elements and carries a fixed character. This is the reference table for the whole nine-star system, and it does not change from year to year — only the palace each star occupies changes.
| Star | Element | Colours | Governs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 One White | Water | White, black, blue | Peach blossom, popularity, creativity |
| 2 Two Black | Earth | Black, dark blue | Health and illness — the health star |
| 3 Three Jade | Wood | Green | Argument, conflict, litigation |
| 4 Four Green | Wood | Green, teal | Scholarship, writing, promotion |
| 5 Five Yellow | Earth | Yellow, brown | Caution, accidents — the year's worst position |
| 6 Six White | Metal | White, gold, silver | Authority, promotion, wealth |
| 7 Seven Red | Metal | Red, purple | Fire, passion, robbery, gossip |
| 8 Eight White | Earth | White, yellow, earth tones | Wealth, prosperity, present-period fortune |
| 9 Nine Purple | Fire | Purple, magenta, deep red | Celebration, marriage, children, long-term fortune |
What the annual chart does and does not tell you
The annual chart is the same for every building on earth in a given year. It is not specific to your home. To make it specific you need a sitting chart, which is calculated from your house's facing direction and the period in which it was built — and that is a layer that needs a compass reading and a build year.
What the annual chart is genuinely good for is deciding where to spend time and where not to renovate. If you are redecorating, this tells you which corner to leave alone. If you are choosing where to put a desk or a bed for the year ahead, this tells you which direction of the house is working for you right now.
For the full picture, read our flying star guide and the 2026 annual chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year does the flying star chart change?
The annual chart changes at the start of spring (Li Chun), which falls around 3-5 February — not at Chinese New Year and not on 1 January. For 2026 that falls on 4 February. Between Chinese New Year and Li Chun, most published charts are still showing the previous year's stars.
Why do different feng shui websites show different charts for 2026?
Almost always because of the fly order. The Lo Shu path is fixed, but some charts fly the stars forward from the centre and some fly them backward, which produces a mirrored result. The centre star calculation is identical in both — eleven minus the digit sum — so if two sources disagree on which star sits in the south for 2026, one of them has the fly order reversed.
Do I need a compass to use the annual chart?
No. The annual chart is the same everywhere. You only need a compass for the sitting chart, which layers your house's facing direction on top.
How often should I check the annual chart?
Once a year, in late January or early February, before you plan any decorating. Many people also re-check in the middle of the year if a big move or renovation is planned.