How to Read a Feng Shui Bagua Map

Last Updated: September 15, 2021

The bagua map (BAH-gwa) is a very basic tool used in feng shui to learn which parts of a space–-such as a home, office building, room or yard–-correlate with particular areas of life. Once we know which area of a space corresponds to which life aspiration, we can enhance our environment in such a way that our environment helps us achieve our goals (for example, using color psychology to make a room more conducive to relaxation). There are multiple ways use feng shui analysis and the bagua map, including the Form, Compass, and Black Hat Sect schools of thought. Since the Black Hat Sect method is the simplest, relies heavily on intuition rather than specific compass directions, and the bagua is their only tool, we'll use the Black Hat method to learn how to read a bagua.

Steps

1
Choose the space you want to analyze: the entire home, a room, or a smaller space such as a desk.
2
Stand in the main entryway facing into the room. In the Black Hat Sect method, the main entryway of a space is always the mouth of chi.

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3
Hold the bagua with the Wisdom/Career/Helpful people sections facing you and parallel to the main entryway wall. The main entryway always falls in the wisdom, career or helpful people areas.
4
Determine which section you are standing in. For example, if you are analyzing a room, is the entryway in which you're standing in the left, center, or right? The left corner/area is the Wisdom area, as shown on the bagua map. The middle area is the Career area. The right corner/area is the Helpful People area.
5
Use the bagua map in the same way to determine where the other sections of the bagua map are located. Once you've identified each area of the bagua, go on to the next step.
6
Place elements of an area's corresponding element to enhance that area's aspiration. Each area of the bagua has a corresponding color and element which are usually (but not always) listed on the bagua map. Example 1: Place a yellow clay (earth) pot in the Health area of a room to enhance your or your family's health. Example 2: Paint the far wall (in the Fame area) a shade of red to attract a more positive reputation or gain recognition.

Community Q&A

Question

I was advised that you need to use a compass to determine where to position the bagua. Following that suggestion, if my door is facing east, the Wisdom, Career and Travel parts of the bagua will be aligned differently from the way you suggest. Which of these is accurate?

Adam Corder

Community Answer

You must ROTATE the map, and not keep it stationary as it appears on the page. Draw your floor plan and mark the front door's position on the plan. Then take your compass to the door, and, while facing the door take the compass reading to get the direction you are facing. At that point, take the bagua map above, and rotate it so that the three squares for Growth, Career and Travel are lined up against the wall where your door is located.
Question

Is there any feng shui for a successful love?

Community Answer

Yes. This can be focused on in the the "relationships/marriage" corner of the bagua map
Question

I have two doors, one to go out to the front, and a sliding door that goes out to the back. I use both doors, which door would I stand at to get my wealth corner right? Is it possible to have two wealth corners?

Community Answer

Actually, there is no type of such phenomenon. We should never believe in superstitious things. You can use any door.

Warnings

Don't limit yourself or feel frustrated with feng shui if all you know of it is the bagua--the bagua's colors and elements are not the only way to use feng shui to enhance an area in your life. Each color, including those not in the bagua, has a psychological effect on our subconscious, and different types of gems and other items have other symbolic meanings associated with them.

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