Q&A Sunday: Laying the Bagua Map on a South-Facing House

Anjie Cho January 19, 2020

Hi! I have been a listener of your podcast since the beginning and I really enjoy your practical approach! I am reaching to you with a question: What to do when the entrance of your house faces south? Is it possible to successfully apply the bagua to a space without getting it all wrong/opposite of where it is supposed to be?

Eight years ago, I had a consultant come to our house and help me map the bagua and cures. It worked wonderfully! We moved out of state almost five years ago to our current house, and our lives are completely different. I am mostly concerned with my husband's career. We went from having a lot of support and growth in our careers, to being overlooked and feeling completely stuck where we are now. Just yesterday he found out that he lost a big part of the compensation package that was the incentive that moved us to where we live now. How do I activate the career and helpful people areas without feeling like maybe I am doing it in the wrong place?

Veronica H., Forest City, NC

Hi Veronica,

Thanks so much for listening to the podcast since the beginning! Your first question is: what to do when the entrance of your house faces south. There are dozens of schools of feng shui, and the one that I practice is called BTB feng shui. In BTB, we don’t use the cardinal or compass directions to place the feng shui bagua map. So, from my perspective, it makes no difference whether your house faces south in successfully applying the bagua to your space.

As far as the layout of the bagua on your current home, I do think the “nagging feeling” is important to pay attention to. However it’s also useful to have trust in the feng shui consultant you worked with, because that’s what the universe has presented to you.

From a BTB perspective, I think the best way for you to activate the Career and Benefactors areas would be to focus on the bedroom. It’s beneficial to start closest to you, and it’s also going to be easier for you to lay the bagua map in a room as opposed to the entire house. You would stand in the doorway of your bedroom, looking in, then divide the room into a three-by-three grid. If you’re interested in the helpful people (Benefactors) area, that would be on the nearest right corner, while the career (Path in Life) would be the center of that wall that the entry is located on. I think that career as well as Benefactors - helpful people definitely need activation, but also maybe consider the Recognition - Fame area. You said that you were being overlooked, and the Recognition area can help to improve being seen.

When I do consultations, I always ask clients to choose three things to focus on, so this might be a great trio for you to look to in making adjustments. I encourage you to re-listen to the earlier podcasts on these bagua areas and check the blog for suggestions on how to improve the Path in Life, Benefactors and Fame areas. There are many ways to make adjustments here, and I'm certain one will be fitting for you!

by Anjie Cho

Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday". We will be answering questions submitted by our readers. Click here to submit any Feng Shui or Green Design questions!

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Q&A Sunday: Placing a Vision Board in the Bedroom

Anjie Cho December 29, 2019

image credit: Marissa Bracke — *image credit:* *Marissa Bracke*

Thanks so much for taking a look at my space. This is my bedroom. My boyfriend and I share it. He's Kua 3, I'm Kua 1, so I know we are supposed to have the crown of our heads facing EAST when we sleep. Currently the best wall to have the bed on is SOUTHEAST. I'm an entrepreneur; Will and I own a video production company together, and it's doing well but I'm still looking to enhance success in work. When sitting in bed I face NORTHWEST and I have a little vision board on that wall. Wondering if that's where I should have it and what I can put in my 'bad directions'?

Alli Saunders, New York, NY

Hi Alli

You’re very welcome, thank you for submitting your question and floor plan.

First of all, I practice BTB feng shui. There are countless schools of feng shui, all are valid and work, however in BTB we don’t use Kua numbers to determine the direction our crowns face while sleeping. This is often why there is a lot of confusion and even some conflicts when consulting with different schools of feng shui. Ideally it’s best to find a consultant that you really resonate with and go with their recommendations.

Interestingly enough, the school that directed you in this way seems to coincidentally work out with how we place beds in BTB feng shui. One of the main philosophies in BTB is called the commanding position. Using this concept, we aim to place our beds, as well as other important pieces of furniture and appliances like a desk or stove, facing the door, but not directly in line with it. This comes from an ancient style of building homes so that you can see what is coming towards you at all times. It actually helps to reduce your stress level as well, even if you didn't know it was affecting it! The location of your bed is ideal in the BTB school! Yay!

Since we don’t use Kua numbers, I cannot advise to any “bad directions”. But if we look at this from a BTB perspective, let’s look at what would be a great place for your vision board. I actually have a podcast about vision boards and feng shui placement. Be sure to check it out.

I know that you are an entrepreneur and you live here with your boyfriend. I overlaid the feng shui bagua map (BTB style) over your floor plan. I think the Path in Life (career) area of your bedroom is a great place for your vision board to enhance your career and the steps you will take to move forward in life. Perhaps your boyfriend can do the same. Looking at the photo, I would suggest that as long as it’s not too distracting for your sleep, maybe you get an even bigger board and share one board with both your visions. That little board looks so small on the wall. And your dreams need more space!

A final note, I also noticed that you’re not able to open the door a full 90 degrees because of all the things hanging behind it. I recommend you move all of that off the back of the door so it can open all the way. The door here represents how opportunities come to you. And you’ve only allowed in a portion of what’s out there! Open it up so you can have all the wonderful possibilities for clients, ideas, passion, and people to come into your life!

by Anjie Cho

Mindful Design is a new way to learn feng shui. Our a unique training program takes an holistic approach to learning the art of feng shui design. Mindful design is about becoming aware, and attentive, to the energy around you: both inner and outer qi. It is about promoting a better way of living and creating sacred spaces that support, and nourish. Visit us at mindfuldesignschool.com.

Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday". We will be answering questions submitted by our readers. Click here to submit any Feng Shui or Green Design questions!

The Meaning of Moonstone and How to Use It With Feng Shui

Anjie Cho December 25, 2019

featured on The Spruce

The opalescent moonstone is a natural crystal mineral with the energy of the moon. The moon embodies yin feminine energy. Similarly, this stone promotes healing, balance and enhances your intuition.

Properties

Colors: Opalescent, milky whites with variants of blue, gray, pink or green
Chakra: Soma, Third eye, Solar plexus
Number: Vibrates to 4
Planet: Moon
Zodiac: Rabbit, Cancer, Libra, and Scorpio
Bagua areas: Relationships (Kun), Completion/Children (Dui)
Elements: Water, Metal, Earth
Origin: Sri Lanka, India, and Australia

…read full article

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui check out the Mindful Design Feng Shui certification program. Laura Morris and I launched our program in September 2018. To get on the list about it, sign up at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com.