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Richard Ashworth's work has frequently been featured in the media, but he is best known for bringing authentic Chinese Imperial Feng Shui to BBC TV's Housebusters and for his book, The Feng Shui Diaries. Internationally recognized for his pioneering work with the ba zi or Four Pillars of Destiny—often mistakenly referred to as the Chinese Horoscope—his work has been covered in publications such as The Guardian Diary, Spirit and Destiny, Art and Architecture, and 25 Beautiful Homes. He has collaborated with celebrities like Gillian Anderson of The X-Files, who described him as someone who "commands both confidence and awe," as well as professionals like Britain’s renowned interior designer Kelly Hoppen. He was also featured in the Sunday Times’ 'A Life in the Day.' His diaries are available on the Feng Shui Society’s website.
Richard acquired authentic feng shui knowledge by studying with various masters over several decades. "Some masters call feng shui a science. For me, there's some of that—I aim to repeat procedures for consistent outcomes like health, wealth, or wisdom. But whether it’s placing water or carefully listening and reflecting, feng shui is part magic, part ritual, and part love. Yet what do I know? It all stems from the Tao (or Way), and by its nature, the Tao cannot be fully captured—except when it can." Throughout the 1990s, Richard sifted through information to distinguish genuine feng shui from folklore, superstition, and invention. Realizing the need to learn from a true Chinese Master, he was fortunate to meet Master Chan Kun Wah. Although born and trained in Hong Kong, Master (now GrandMaster) Chan was based in Edinburgh. Before and after this, Richard studied with or attended workshops by Raymond Lo, Joey Yap, Derek Walters, Howard Choy, Lillian Too, and many others. He also completed the first ever feng shui course certified by a Chinese university at Huazhong University in Hubei Province, Central China, under Professor Wang Yude.
Richard has worked with corporations, architectural firms, entrepreneurs, and government departments, but his daily work remains "going in and out of people’s houses being enigmatic." His main interest lies in "leaving people happier than I found them." Typically, a consultation begins with analyzing the ba zi (personal feng shui), often revealing surprising insights about the individual. This is followed by an examination of the building’s interior and surroundings as Richard interprets what they are "saying." He then creates a chi map of the premises, serving as a kind of biography of the building. This process can take some time, but when he begins to suggest changes, there is usually a rapid transformation in the property's overall atmosphere. Sessions are recorded for clients, and a full survey includes written bullet points. People often seek him out when their lives are stuck or at a crossroads. His direct, authoritative, and humorous style has positively impacted lives worldwide, from Poland to New Zealand. "I always aim for health, wealth, and wisdom."
Richard is the immediate past editor of Feng Shui News, the journal of the Feng Shui Society. In October 2006, he was one of the few Westerners to speak at the 2nd International Conference on Scientific Feng Shui in Hong Kong. In 2008, he co-chaired and organized the 1st International Congress on Scientific Feng Shui and the Built Environment in Turin. He co-founded World Feng Shui Day, an expanding international event held annually on February 4th. A regular student of The Course in Miracles and a long-term student of the Book of Changes, Richard is happily married with six children aged between 15 and 33. Despite frequent media requests, his full-time work remains surveying buildings and creating ba zis to promote health, happiness, and abundance.
