Q&A Sunday: The Feng Shui Energy Map

I’ve heard a lot about the bagua in feng shui, but I’m a little bit confused about what it is and how to use it!

Thanks for your question! Feng shui practitioners do talk a lot about the bagua, and it’s a really important and foundational concept. Here are a few things to know:

Quick overview

The bagua is one of the tools we use in feng shui. It’s a conceptual energy map that you can overlay on your home, a room, even your desk or bed. If you’re not working with a consultant, the easiest way to start is with your bedroom. Or, if you want to focus on your career, you can lay it on your desk. Bagua is a Chinese word meaning eight areas (gua means area and ba means eight), and it’s made up of eight areas around a center.

How to lay the bagua

To lay the bagua map, align the bottom of the map with the entry wall of your space. Say you are laying the bagua on your bedroom. The entry to your bedroom will always be along the bottom row, so it will be in knowledge, path in life, or benefactors. Another easy way is to stand in the door of your bedroom looking in, and divide it into a three-by-three grid that way. If you’re looking into your bedroom from the entrance, the far left corner is the abundance (purple) area and the far right corner is the relationships (pink) area.

The image above is a really simplified version of the bagua because as we know, life doesn’t fit into perfect squares. It’s a conceptual layout that can stretch or contract to adapt to the size and shape of any space. 

Areas of the bagua

Let’s start with the green gua (area) called zhen, which is related to new beginnings and family. I always teach my students the Chinese names because the English translations don’t fully express the many layers of each gua. Each gua is also related to a color, number, body part, and so much more. 

Going around clockwise, the next area is the purple abundance area. This area is called xun and is related to wealth and self-worth. Next is li, which is connected to fame, recognition, and the color red. In the far right corner is kun, the pink area, which represents relationships, kun, partnerships, the mother element, and self care. As you can imagine, these three areas in the back of the bagua (abundance, fame, and relationships) are generally very popular! It makes sense intuitively that the guas at the back of your home are related to the deeper aspects of your life, while the guas at the front of your home have more to do with your connection to the world.

After kun we have dui, the white area. This area is sometimes misnamed creativity, but it’s really about completion. The inspiration of creativity is more related to the new beginnings area. Dui is about output and projects, which can be creative projects, as well as children, offspring, and joy. Next to dui is qian, or benefactors. This area is also related to the color grey, helpful people, the father element, and travel. 

The black area is kan, related to path in life and career. You career doesn’t have to be your path in life, though they are often related. This area is about your reason for being in the world, and it’s also related to your ancestors. The dark blue area is gen, which has to do with self-cultivation, self-knowledge, and skillfulness. 

Finally, the center of the bagua is called the tai chi, and it’s related to overall wellness because it touches all other guas, and all other areas of your life. The center of anything, including a home, body, or even face (yes, you can lay the bagua on your face!) has a lot to do the overall health of the space or person. 

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 questions!

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, check out Mindful Design Feng Shui School at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com

Five Wallpapers for the Five elements

Here’s some of my new favorite wall papers that express the five elements!

FIRE ELEMENT

The Fire element is represented by the color red, and this is definitely a fiery wall paper.

This leaves form triangular shapes, which also represent the Fire element. Fire element is about inspiration, passion, and being recognized in the world.

Not only is this a statement piece for your home, it’s impressive how easy it is this put up this wallpaper. They take the headache out of a DIY wallpaper installation.

Available at: PHOTOWALL

special code: anjiecho25

for 25% discount on any product at PHOTOWALL good through May 29, 2020

WOOD ELEMENT

Wood element is all about new beginnings and is related the colors blue and green. This is a beautiful wallpaper, the blue is perfect to inspire the wood element in your home.

Also, Feldspar is a group of rock-forming minerals, one of which is my favorite Labradorite, which has a green/blue iridescence.

Gorgeous!

Available at: flatvernacular.com

WATER ELEMENT

Wavy patterns and very dark colors like black and charcoal invoke the Water element. This is an elegant example of both.

I also love that you can install it vertically or horizontally! Vertically it’s like a waterfall, and horizontally it feels more placid and still like a deep ocean.

Available at: Studioprintworks.com

EARTH ELEMENT

Earthy colors and neutrals are very supportive and stable. The square shapes in this wallpaper quiet and subtle wall paper also welcome the earth element.

It’s also good for your self-care because this “peel-and-stick” wall paper is forgiving and easy to install!

Available at: timberleaMineral-Etsy

METAL ELEMENT

We fell in love with this charming wallpaper. The cool and metallic colors as well as the circular shapes beckon the Metal element in your space. The metal element invites in beauty, joy and precision.

It’s lovely design is versatile and can be hung in a variety of rooms such as a nursery or foyer.

Available at: Aimee Wilder

by Anjie Cho

this is the alt text

Q&A Sunday: Improving a Bedroom

Is it ok to place the bed where the headboard is on the same side of bedroom door? Opposite the door is a 2-door built-in closet, and the window is in the corner on the on the same side of the closet. Also, the centralized air conditioning outlet is on the same side as the entrance, and the air is blowing right on our heads when we sleep. I'd like to do a complete make over of the room to create more space and am thinking of getting rid of our TV stand with cupboards and our dresser. What is the best color for a bedroom? Is pink relaxing? I am a widow, so only my daughter and I are sleeping in the room.

Carina T., Salmiya, Kuwait

 

Hi Carina

Hello to Kuwait! Thank you for your email, floor plan and questions.

First question: Headboard on same side of bedroom door

According to the basic feng shui principle of the commanding position, you do not want locate your headboard on the same wall as your bedroom door. In your floor plan it looks like your headboard is not on the same wall. So that would be good, and you would be in command.

When you arrange your bed so that you cannot see the door from your sleeping position, you are unable to see what is coming at you, both physically and metaphorically. In feng shui philosophy, it's best to be able to see what may be approaching you so that you can seize opportunities and prepare for other circumstances. Physiologically, having your back to the door produces a stress response, and even though you may not feel it directly, it wears down over time and can create health issues. 

However your bed is right next to the wall. It would be better if you could have some space between the bed and the wall. Perhaps because you are a widow, you need that extra support on the side wall. But overall it’s better to move that bed away from the wall if you can. Ideally 18”, but as much as you can.

Second question: Air conditioning blowing on your heads

This is not very comfortable to have the air conditioning blowing on your head, however I don’t think you have enough room to place the bed in any other location. Is there a way to change the direction of the air so it’s more comfortable? This is more of a mundane issue, as the bed location is more important.

Third question: Making more space, removing TV stand and dresser

It would be great if you could eliminate the TV in the bedroom, as it creates a more peaceful and EMF-free environment. This is especially important if you have sleeping problems. The dresser can go, if it’s not necessary. Then that gives you some space to move your bed over more into command and off the wall.

Final question: Color for room

In general, I always ask what color YOU like. But as a guideline, blues and greens, as well as earth tones can be healing, relaxing and supportive. Pink is not necessarily relaxing… but if it’s a color you like, listen to your intuition. Pink relates to relationships and the mother in feng shui philosophy. It’s also feminine and yin. So maybe you’re drawn to pink because you need some support!

by Anjie Cho

Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday" (formerly “Question of the Month”).  We will be answering questions submitted by our readers.  Click here to submit any Feng Shui or Green Design questions!