Sixth Period: 1784-1804

There were no outside forms that would have given support to the 6 mountain star.  A lack of mountain support would hurt the health of the family, most especially General Washington, since most of his time inside the house was spent in the study wing, either working downstairs or sleeping directly above. The 7 water star coming in the window and door of the office can be used for great speeches, or when combined with the 2 mountain star can cause problems with health of the mouth.  President Washington is famous for his great speeches and for his dental problems

Retirement

The President and Mrs. Washington returned from Philadelphia in 1797 when he completed his second term as President.  The period changed in 1784 to period 6.  Because President Washington would spend six to eight hours a night in bed, and another three hours or more each day in his study, the office side of the house is the most influential on his life in these last two years. 

At Mount Vernon, the 6th period mountain star and the 2 water star are in the Potomac River.   In 1799 the 2 annual is in the river at the rear of the house, and the 5 annual is being carried in with each meal from the kitchen.  Both of these stars are capable of bringing sickness.

President Washington had retired to Mount Vernon, content and determined to live out the rest of his days at home and at peace, away from politics and power, enjoying his family and his beautiful home.  His happy retirement wouldn’t last nearly long enough.

President Washington became ill on the 12th of December 1799 and died two days later on the 14th, at home in his bed of a throat infection, most likely brought on by a chill from exposure to snow and ice.  Perhaps the most interesting part of the chart is the 7 water star.  The 7 represents head and lungs. The 7 defines the sickness that killed President Washington.  With the 5 and 2 combining to cause sickness, the 7 comes into the mix from the window at the front of the house, and President Washington dies from an infection in his throat, the connector of head and lungs. He was 67 years old.

Mount Vernon was perfectly suited to be the home of the young soldier who was appointed as Commander of the Virginia Militia and later promoted to Commander in Chief of the Continental Army.It supported him in his campaign to develop a strong federal government, break from British rule, and even his eventual election as the first President of the United States. There is a time and a season for everything.  That the house supported General Washington’s bravery and determination was appropriate when he was a younger man.  As an elderly statesman this same bravery and determination kept him out in foul weather when he should have headed for home. His resistance was down, and he contracted a fatal throat infection after working outside in the snow and becoming chilled. 

Monica Hess,  Feng Shui Consultant, Instructor and Lecturer, Lexington, KY

www.monicahess.com

member of the Feng Shui Research Center  and  The Feng Shui Network