The Bagua Map: an explanation

There are different methods you can use to begin applying feng shui principles to your house, but the most common method in North America today is the bagua map. The bagua map is a symbolic tool that is sometimes called The Eight Aspirations because it divides living spaces into eight areas. Each area corresponds to different aspirations in life: Family, Abundance, Reputation, Relationships, Creativity, Helpful People, Career and Self Knowledge.

Using the Bagua Map
The first step in this process is to draw the floor plans of the home, including a separate plan for each floor, e.g. the ground floor, the basement, the upstairs. Next, apply the bagua map over the floor plan. The orientation of the bagua map is important. With the bagua map properly aligned over your floor plans, your front door (or entrance door to a room) will be in one of the three orienting bagua areas: Self Knowledge, Career or Helpful People. The bagua map can also be applied to each room, e.g., the living room, the kitchen, each bedroom, etc. Then map out where all the other areas are located on that floor or in that room. Unless your home is square or rectangular shape, you will find the bagua map won’t fit. A part of one or more of the grid will be missing.

Missing Parts of the Grid
Take a look at what is happening in your life in that area. For example, if you have a ‘L’ shaped home and the wealth area is the part missing, consider whether your finances are in good shape. If so, rest easy, especially if things are going very well in the corresponding bagua areas. It means you have extra energy flowing into your home in those areas. On the other hand, if you find yourself continually in the red or struggling financially, the chances are good – from a feng shui perspective – that it has something to do with the missing bagua part of the grid. But don’t panic, this can be easily fixed. It can be as simple as planting a tree in the corner where the walls would meet – if the house were square, or as elaborate as adding a patio or deck to fill in the area. There are countless fixes to suit every situation.

What Story Does the Bagua Map Tell You?
Once the structure of the house is attended to, you can begin taking a good look at what stories each of those eight areas have to say about your life. Are some rooms over-used while others are nearly empty? Do you have rooms used only for storage? Look at where the clutter accumulates in your home. Look in closets, in cupboards, under beds and on top of shelves. Look everywhere and makes notes as you go along. With your bagua map and notes in hand, you are ready to begin to make the feng shui changes that will guide you in rewriting your life story.

© Copyright Deborah Redfern, 2007. All rights reserved.

Tags: Bagua Map, Deborah, Feng Shui, reputation