The Bagua - Feng Shui
by Donna Thomson
Feng Shui practitioners use the bagua (or ba gua) as a tool to analyse a home, individual rooms or land. The bagua is divided into 9 sectors which correlate to different aspects of your life. It's all about the energy of your living space (or work space) and how you can arrange things to improve not only the area itself but the aspect of your life that it relates to.
It's also important to note that the front entrance of your home is known as the "mouth of ch'i", the place that energy or life force flows into your home.
How to use the Bagua
Obtain a copy of, or draw, your house plan (same goes for a room or block of land). You will recreate the bagua by drawing the layout over your chosen area. For a house, align the bottom edge of the bagua with the wall your front door is in. Stretch the bagua sideways or lengthwise to cover the entire space. So your front foor will always be in the Wisdom, Career or Helpful People sector and may overlap two of these sectors.
For an individual room you align the bagua with the doorway as you face into the room, the same as for a whole house.
Overview of the Bagua sectors
Each bagua area has related colours, elements and keywords that can help you create harmony on each space.
Wealth
Keywords: prosperity, abundance, contentment, ability to receive, blessings
Best Color Choice: Purple
Other Good Color Choices: Red, Green and Gold
Good Element Choices: Wood and Water
Fame
Keywords: reputation, honesty, credit, respect, courage
Best Color Choice: Red
Other Good Color Choice: Green
Best Element Choice: Fire
Other Good Element Choice: Wood
Love & Relationships
Keywords: partnership, marriage, love, feminine/mother
Best Color Choice: Pink
Other Good Color Choices: Red and White
Good Element Choices: Earth and Fire
Family
Key issues: family relationships, security, new beginnings, ability to initiate
Best Color Choice: Green
Other Good Color Choices: Black and Blue
Best Element Choice: Wood
Other Good Element Choice: Water
Health & Balance
Key issue: overall health - what happens here affects the whole house
Best Color Choice: Yellow
Other Good Color Choices: Brown and Orange
Best Element Choice: Earth
Other Good Element Choice: Fire
Children & Creativity
Key issues: children, conception, ability to complete things
Best Color Choice : White
Best Element : Metal
Other Good Element Choice: Earth
Wisdom & Self-Understanding
Key issues: knowledge, skills, learning, spiritual life
Best Color Choice: Blue
Other Good Color Choices: Black and Green
Best Element Choice: Earth
Career
Key Issues: life path, social connection, communication, business/job
Best Color Choice: Black
Other Good Element Choices: Blue and White
Best Element Choice: Water
Other Good Element Choice: Metal
Helpful People & Travel
Key issues: support network, masculine/father
Best Color Choices: Silver and Gray
Other Good Color Choices: White and Black
Good Element Choices: Metal and Water
This information is a basic introductory guide to the Feng Shui Bagua. Applying the Bagua map to your home can be complex due to unusual house design and placement of the front door. We advise you to contact a Feng Shui consultant for advice relating to your individual circumstances.