Q&A Sunday: Laying the Feng Shui Bagua in the Southern Hemisphere

Guest User September 19, 2021

How do I lay the bagua in the Southern Hemisphere?

In feng shui, there is an energy map called the bagua. There are different ways of depicting the bagua map, but really it’s a mandala, with eight areas around a center. My Holistic Spaces bagua map shown below is stylized into a three-by-three grid. You might also see images of the bagua that are pie-shaped.

There are different associations with each bagua area, so most people who are interested in feng shui would know that there’s a wealth area, a relationship area, a career area, and so on. As you go deeper, you start to learn the nuances of each area. There is also an element associated with each area of the bagua, as well as a shape, season, color, and direction. Kan position, for example, is connected to the north direction.

If you’re using the BTB method of laying the bagua map, you always lay it based on the energy and how the energy enters the space. You lay the Kan line of the bagua on the formal front door. If you’re using a different school of feng shui that uses the magnetic compass directions, like the Compass, Classical, of Flying Star school, you lay the bagua according to the geographic north direction. This doesn’t change if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere or the Southern Hemisphere - north is still north.

If you are interested in feng shui, find the school that you resonate with. If you follow me, that would be the BTB school. Based on BTB feng shui, you lay the bagua map based on the front door, where the energy is coming in. It has to do with how the qi is flowing, so it doesn’t really matter which hemisphere you’re in.

by Anjie Cho

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

Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui Mistakes to Avoid, Part 2

Guest User September 12, 2021

What are the most common feng shui mistakes that you see?

I answered this question a couple of weeks ago in this blog post, but there are a few additional topics that I wanted to cover. Here are three more common feng shui mistakes to look out for:

First, avoid keeping gifts that you don’t want anymore. If you don’t love it, and it isn’t adding anything to your home, give it away so that someone else can enjoy it. While clutter isn’t always a bad thing, keeping items that you don’t love can create extra work for you in the form of cleaning, and can even create feelings of stuckness.

Second, I notice that a lot of people hold onto clothing that no longer fits, hoping that they’ll fit into it someday. First, seeing these items can be a source of guilt as you are getting dressed. In addition, a full closet means that you have no room for new things, both literally and metaphorically. To invite in new energy and opportunities, create space by donating any items in your closet that don’t fit you anymore.

Lastly, a lot of people store things under the bed that don’t need to be there. Ideally, it’s best to have nothing under your bed, so that qi can flow freely around you as you sleep. If you need to use the space under your bed for storage, stick to soft, relaxing items like extra pillows and bed linens. Be sure to avoid storing sharp objects here, as well as anything emotionally charged, like items from an ex!

As you’re noticing feng shui “mistakes” in your home, remember to approach them with curiosity and compassion, rather than fear. If you do feel like you are in “fear shui” mode, I would encourage you to work one-on-one with a consultant!

by Anjie Cho

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

Q&A Sunday: My Favorite Feng Shui Plants

Guest User September 5, 2021

Do you have any recommendations for which plants to put in your home for good feng shui?

I get asked a lot about which plants to bring into a space for good feng shui. There are so many options, and the best plant for you really depends on the conditions of your space, your intentions, and what you’re drawn to. Here are a few of my favorite plants to get you started:

One plant that I really love is the fiddle leaf fig. It has soft, round leaves that promote a healthy flow of qi, or life force energy, through your space. They are really beautiful plants, and can grow to be quite big!

I also love monstera, with its beautiful heart-shaped leaves. This makes it a great plant to incorporate into your space if you want to invite more love and compassion into your life. If you are looking for more love in a partnership, or if you want to focus on self-love, you can place monstera in the Kun area of the feng shui bagua, which is related to relationships, including your relationship to yourself.

The Chinese money plant, or pilea peperomioides, is also a wonderful feng shui plant. Its coin-shaped leaves can help to attract wealth and abundance. If you would like to invite more prosperity and abundance into your life, you might want to try placing a Chinese money plant in Xun position of your home or bedroom with that intention.

I hope this gives you a few ideas when choosing a feng shui plant for your home. Remember to also trust your intuition, and select a plant that you love!

by Anjie Cho