BAGUA 101: You likely have heard of Money Corners and Relationship Corners and all sorts of “corners” in feng shui, some great and some verging on superstitious information about these “corners” is swirling around the Internet. I thought it was about time after receiving handfuls of questions (!) to show you the diagram called a BAGUA MAP and explain a bit about how to use it to learn more about your home and its relationship to the state of your life. Exciting stuff!!!
The nine-sector map known as THE BAGUA in feng shui practice was developed over thousands of years and is based upon where and how people had to live in their homes in order to increase their prospects for survival. How we experience spaces in the modern world have much to do with how well we will survive and thrive as well. The bagua is a perplexing, much-debated tool in various schools of feng shui. Rather than give you a blanket overview, I thought I would give you some helpful hints to using this map to understand yourself and your home a bit better.
Let’s get down to business! First, position the grid (shown above) over a room or the layout of a whole space. Align it so that the FRONT DOOR or ENTRANCEWAY is in line with the bottom of this map (in essence, you will always enter through Career, Knowledge, or Helpful People). To do this, draw a floor plan as closely as you can to accurate, then divide it into the nine sectors as shown above. You can then see what areas of your home correlate with parts of your life from this starting point.
A few special tips about using the feng shui bagua map:
1. The bagua map is excellent to use as a diagnostic tool. For example, when I enter someone’s home I can generally tell them what is going on in their lives fairly quickly by looking at the bagua map and how each area is being utilized (or abandoned! or trashed!) in their home or office. If you use the map as a guideline you can see what is happening in your life based on how the area looks in your home. (*Please note: just because your house was decorated by a designer (even a famous designer), this does not mean that your feng shui is fabulous. If it was, you probably would not be reading this!)
*I send my ladies (and men, too!) who are looking for relationships and lacking WISDOM to Dr. Pat Allen and her books.
2. The bagua is not to be used as the absolute law; the bagua is more fluid than it is rigid. For example, if you can’t “decorate” your Relationship area because it contains a radiator, you are not doomed to be alone for the rest of your life unless you move! More than likely if you have chosen a place with obstacles such as these in one area of the bagua, there are surrounding areas (and issues) to work out that will reinforce that area. I like to look at the bagua in diagonal pairs as Wisdom & Relationships, Self-Empowerment & Compassion, Self & Fame work in tandem across the map. So, to go back to the example I started with, if you selected a home with a radiator in the Relationship area, you may actually be best served by gaining wisdom (and fortifying your Wisdom area) to get your relationship dynamics more solid.
3. If an area of the map is “missing” in your home floor plan, make the spaces beside the “missing” areas totally and completely fantastic!
4. The bagua map can be applied to a DESK TOP, a ROOM, a HOME, a CAR, an OFFICE, a CITY… and on and on. I prefer to use the bagua room-by-room with clients because I can get a better picture of how they are experiencing space and can keep track of how my adjustments affect that overall floor plan. If you are just getting started with the bagua, the best way to start is with your whole floor plan so you have a good overview and can see where a few repairs or sparkle and polish could make a major change in your home (and, hopefully, your life! ) overall.
With all of that said, please remember that the bagua is just one of about 20 major tools and philosophies at play in creating your feng shui. You can learn a ton from the bagua, but it would be best if you don’t get too literal and fixated about “corners” and your future. What WOULD BE GREAT is if this information could motivate you to shape up some lacking areas in your house, dump critical clutter and intentionally decorate (with retrain, fun and personality, of course…) any of the spaces you have left sit empty and plain.
xoxo Dana
Hi Dana!
I realize that I’m probably asking the obvious (especially since you explained further in the article) but I wanted to make sure I understand:
I put the map ON THE FLOOR (so to speak) of my ‘area’ with the black square being what you’d walk ON if you came in the door (of whatever area you want to define) correct?
I’m not really sure what to DO with the areas though. Keep it clean?
Like right now, I’d like to work on my: Career and Love Life and to a lesser degree Wealth.
Ah, ok, to start with… you line up the bottom of the map with the wall that contains the entrance door, so you will walk into either the blue, black or grey areas depending on where the door is on the wall.
xx Dana
Now, as for what to do, start by seeing what’s going on in those three areas and ix anything obvious (broken stuff, messes, stuff you hate to look at, etc) then… check back for more. Each area has specific “positive symbolism” and elements, but then, you also have things specifically that you need… So, get your basics done & you;ll be ready for future posts
Gotcha, thank you!
Hi Dana, I’m really enjoying your posts. Just wondering, what if everyone uses the back door as a main entrance (both the family & guests)? We live in a remote rural area & no one uses front doors, including us, unless we want to go out onto the front deck & look out over the river & mountains. Or I’ll go out the front door to practise yoga on the deck, so it’s almost like an extra living space. The back door everyone uses opens into a laundry, then the kitchen. So is my front door really my back door and vice versa? Thanks for all the great posts & your lovely writing style
Thank you for the compliments! And yes, in your case your experience of space happens from the technical back door of the home. That said, if you were to sell the place, I would orient things in staging the home so that people enter from the front & they can choose on their own if they want to have the alternate experience. But you aren’t there now, so yes: your back door is your front door! xx Dana
Thank you so much!
Hi Dana
I was wondering if I can apply the feng shui colour map having in mind just my room
because I’m sharing the flat with two other friend.
Basically can I figure out the blue/black/grey side with the entrance of my room?
by the way, I love your blog!!
thanks
Yes, yes, yes : you can directly apply the map to just your room in the flat! Often it works best this way!!! xx Dana
hi , all my bedroom in my house is in the help corner please help me and the dustbin is inthe knowledge corner of the walll of my house. io want to know what to do thanks
Don’t worry about where everything is, just focus on everything being solid, beautiful & whole.
Hi Dana,
I never knew about the bagua map until now.
As it happens in the Wealth and Money corner we have a Sauna, bathroom and a small room with a wooden stove in it..it’s very simple, clean and is made of wood and sauna has a little stove in it too- warm earthy colors of stone, terracotta and dark brown.
In the Relationships and Love corner we have our light green, gold and cream colored bedroom. I have hung small golden hearts all along the walls.
In Accomplishment, Fame and Power room my husband has a music room where he creates his own music.
I went by instinct when decorating this house..
Wisdom and self knowledge corner..kitchen and dining room dark turquoise and gold colors, crystal, with deep golden colored wooden furniture.
Helpful People, Compassion, Clients corner we have a cream and blue living room with green/white curtains and lots of large green houseplants
Is there anything you would change? We are very happy here and have lots of free space and a good flow from room to room.
Lovely! If it’s not broke, no need to fix! Xoxo Dana
What is the best area to put my trash can in?
There’s no “one size fits all” answer for this one. But, keep it empty!
Hi Dana have question pls can u tel me wen u put bagua map in the second floor Wer u start wit the front door ori wit the top of the stairs ? Thxs
Try Room-By-Room to start, much easier to figure out!
Hi Dana, I was wondering, where should i put my bed if i have a window in the abundance and prosperity area, another window in the creative and children’s area and the door way is at inner knowledge area. I’m so confused
Put it on a solid wall if possible. And away from the wall with the door, preferable across from it but without your feet out the door…. There are lotsa bedroom posts on the blog & more to come, too! Don;t worry about bagua too much, it will just confuse you. xoxo Dana
Hi, i’m interested to learn the feng shui, but it confusses me…I don’t know what to follow. My front door faces east, the sun is there every morning acoordingly with the compass , but accordingly to the bagua, i have to put the carreer square, the black square right on my front entrance. then everything changes in what position is for what.? I did use a compass once, and kinf the follow the compass. But when i read about the bagua i get confused. Please help me…Thank you. Ray
Hi Dana! I have a question. I’ve got a small house. My main entrance opens to my kitchen and there’s another door leading to my bedroom. So, basically, if you imagine, the main door and to its left is the bedroom door. How do I use the bagua map? Per door? So the kitchen area would have its own map and so is my bedroom? or the basis will be the main door to cover up the whole house? Thanks!
For beginners say that looking at the bagua room by room is key. It’s how we actually experience spaces, room by room!
Hi Dana! Thank you for being there for commentators! I am looking so badly to get in a romantic relationship and I was just wondering if you could help mr remap my bedroom. I also have to add that my bedroom is located in the Relationships area of my flat ( according to the Bagua ). So my main problem is where to set my bed, my desk, my Huge wooden bookshelf and my drawer on which I’ve put a large mirror! I got lots of plants too, but since my window is in the right side of my room, I won’t have much chance to change their place.
Thank U in advance.
Your bedroom is in a great place. Perhaps think of moving desk & bookshelf out of it… and the rest is very case-specific so I don’t want to give you bad/wrong advice. The actual mapping of rooms accurately requires consultation unless its super simple (ie- which wall for my bed) and even that gets complicated. My best advice is to read the bedroom posts in feng shui 101 and the love posts to get ideas…and I have a book of DIY feng shui coming out very very very soon that is second-best to consulting with me (or for some, way better!) so that you can get 100% spot-on feng shui. xoxo Dana
Hi.Can I make a wish card with my husband together?
What is a wish card?!
Sorry.Bagua map
Hi, Dana.
I’ve been looking into the bagua for a while but have never decided the best way to use it. I live in a two story house, which I am renting to own. Most of the things in the house are mine, but I also share common spaces with others, and they have their own bedrooms (two of them) as well.
My question is: would it make more sense for me to do an overall bagua map, or room by room?
Thank you in advance!
Room by room is how we experience space, so try that first! It’s the easiest way to start… But don’t get too hung up in bagua- there are many other ways- like usefulness- to have a space that works for you! Good luck!
Hello, I just started reading up on “Feng Shui” and I love everything about it. I just moved into my townhome and I am having a hard time decorating it. I havent really started. I only got my t.v. and a ottomon for now. I want my home to have the “Feng Shui” feel. I guess what I am asking is, if i stand at my front door (inside) do I use the bagua map from there? or should I do each room separate. I also have a 1/2 restroom in the entry way. is this bad? what can I do? also can you help me to find what element I am? if that makes sense. i was born 9/24/81 . Thank you.
Hi there & welcome! My advce for you… start with the bagua room by room (less confusing)… and I have a new e-book coming soon that can answer even more of your questions more specifically (you learn to answer some questions for yourself!) and help you through an 8 week feng shui makeover so stay tuned!!! xxx
Hi!
So I have some missing parts in my apartment. My Wealth & Relationship sections are missing. Should I just share these areas with the adjacent sections? Also, what do you mean by “room by room”?
yes, you are on the right track! and room by room is what it is: using the bagua on individual rooms!
Hello,
I am also a starter, and I do try to do room by room, but at the same time I have read the traditional bagua, which my from door (standing inside the house facing in with the compass reading) the far area (straight across from front door) is the North. which makes everything complicated when I read the bagua where the north area is where the front door is…. anyway… I have a fish tank and according to many articles reading, the tank should be in the north or north east, correct? , well my fish tank is in the north area if I read the compass from my front door, then its in the south area if I read the western bagua. the fish tank is located in my living room, which is the north east area (there is: if I read the living room based on the western bagua – as described in your collumn above)……. .I really love my fish tank… please help!! Many thanks and happy year of the Snake
It does not matter where your fish tank is (except bedroom its too active for!), it matters that its in a place that makes you feel great. North south east west makes no difference
OKAY!! I am really trusting you on that
thanks SO much for your reply….Actually the tank is on the SE of my home (following the western bagua)… oh good!! and to make it better…..it’s on the WEALTH area <3 and I am happy where it is 
I am trying to figure our the bagua map. our home is not perfectly square like the bagua map. the entreance is not in the center of the home. there is a bathroom and laundry room in the front of the house and steps leading down to the basement. i have no idea where to place this. is the laundry room and bathroom in the career and helpful people. our home is long more rectangular than square. so confused! I really need to get this figured out! so many issues need to be corrected in our lives and i’m looking to do what it takes.
start room by room, lining up with entrance door to each room! xoxo
Hey,
My southeast area (wealth area) is the first line of bagua map which is blue area so I’m really confused as I thought it is southeast area for wealth?
thanks so much
Sylwia
1. Please don’t worry about colors on a map 2. Diectional feng shui is antiquated and unworkable… check out my article on feng shui & supestition http://www.fengshuidana.com/2013/03/15/feng-shui-woo-woo-superstition/ xoxo Dana