9 Key Areas

Feng Shui – The Bagua and 9 Key Areas in Your Life 

There are many ways to incorporate Feng Shui into our daily lives.  Here, we will explore nine key areas that affect our lives and ways to enhance Ch’i energy. To begin, we need to look at each area and see how it is or is not working for us. Do you find that in some areas you struggle, while in others it feels like everything flows without much input?  This means that the Ch’i energy is stagnant in the areas where you are struggling.  You need to focus on those areas to unblock the Ch’i energy. There are various methods used to unblock Ch’i energy.  You may focus with intention, you can meditate, you can slow down and get in touch with your surroudinging.  All of these steps will help to move stuck Ch’i energy.  Once it is unblocked, things in your life will improve. 

Join me, and let’s look at each of the 9 key areas of our lives.  Let’s work on identifying what is running smoothly or what is not in each area. Remember we will take it an area at a time, no rush, no agendas.  Just us working on improving ourselves and our situations. 

What is a Bagua?

The bagua is a tool used to identify the nine key areas and their location in your home. It is a large square broken into nine smaller squares, each representing a key area in your life. Understanding how to use the bagua will help identify where to apply a Feng Shui enhancement or cure. A cure is an adjustment made to help redirect the Ch’i energy for a positive flow.

How do I use the Bagua?

We will begin on a small scale to make the process easy to understand. Once you understand the process, it may be applied to a larger space.  To begin, draw an outline of a room in your home or place of business on a piece of paper; we will use a bedroom for this example. Then, print out the bagua provided and place it over the bedroom outline using these guidelines. Stand in front of the room, looking in. Use the doorway as your starting point. Place the bagua over the outline with the Prosperity/Abundance area in the left-hand top corner.  If the doorway is in the middle of the wall, then it is in the Career/Journey area, if it is on the left side, it is in the Wisdom/Self-Knowledge area and if on the right it will be in the Guidance/Helpful People area.  From the starting point begin working upwards in the room and each area will fall into place. 

While doing this process, relax and take your time going through each section in each room. Think about how each area feels to you. Identify the areas you are facing difficulties in. Those are the areas to focus on to get the Ch’i energy flowing again.

Identifying the 9 Key Areas of Your Life

The bagua used in Feng Shui is broken into 9 key areas of your life.  Each area impacts a different aspect of who you are. Whichever area of your life you are having issues in is where you need to focus to unblock the Ch’i energy.  Below each of the 9 areas are listed along with its auspicious color and enhancements that may be used to help unblock any stagnated Ch’i energy.  

• Prosperity
• Wealth
• Money

Prosperity, Wealth, Money

Key Area:

This area represents prosperity, abundance, and blessings. It may be an abundance of love, health, family, and money. It all depends on what you would like to have in your life. When there is a lack in your life, it means the Ch’i energy is blocked. Your goal is to unblock and get the Ch’i to flow uninterrupted.

Enhancements:

You may enhance this area by placing an empty pot (size does not matter) or something shaped like a pot in this area.  This symbolizes that you are ready for abundance and have a spot for it. Another option is to take a small dish and add nine coins to it.  Chinese coins are ideal for this because each coin is round with a square hole in the middle. The circle symbolizes heaven and the square earth, a true partnership.  A money tree plant would work beautifully in this area.  You can also add a wind chime or an indoor water fountain because they both have movement, which energizes the ch’i energy.

Color:

Purple signifies vitality, motivation, passion, and intuition.  Add a purple item in this area, such as a pillow, a placemat, a cup, or a plant with purple leaves, etc.  These are examples of cures that can be used in this area.

Look around, find something purple that you love, and use it.  Your intention is what makes this work.  Purple is a good color in bedrooms and spiritual rooms but is not recommended for bathrooms or kitchens.

• Fame
• Reputation
• Accomplishments
• Recognition

Fame, Reputation, Accomplishments, Recognition

Key Area:

This area represents your accomplishments, fame, reputation, and how society views you.  Are you comfortable with the way your family and friends perceive you?  Would you like to change the way people see you?  Are you recognized for your accomplishments?  Remember when we do good without wanting anything in return, good things will come to us.

Enhancements:

Put your certificates, awards, trophies, and plaques in this area.  Don’t be shy, let the world see them!  Be proud of your accomplishments, you have earned them.  On the other hand, is there an award that you want to achieve? Create a mock-up, put it in a red frame, and work towards that goal.  Keep in mind, Feng Shui will not miraculously get you that award, you must go out and work for it.  However, if you have a daily reminder, the ch’i energy will move and help motivate you to achieve it. 

Color:

The color in this area is red. Red is an active and potent color.  Therefore, you may want to use accents of this color; otherwise, it will be overwhelming.  Light red candles (three would be ideal) in this area, or add red flowers such as red carnations, roses, poinsettias to name a few. Anything that has a red color will do fine. Red is not recommended for bedrooms, children’s rooms, dining rooms, or kitchens.

• Love
• Intimate Relationships
• Marriage
• Partnerships

Love, Intimate Relationships, Marriage, Partnerships

Key Area:

This area deals with your relationship with a significant other, friendships, and business partnerships.  Here is where you want to support your present relationship or work on new friendships and/or relationships.  If you are in a business partnership, here is where you work on improving it. Getting along and having your significant other/friends/business partner’s support is a key ingredient to a happy life.

Enhancements:

Here are a few items you may choose to put in this love, relationship area.  A picture of you and your significant other, a pair of love ducks, a pair of pink candles, a pair of figurines that depict a happy couple or happy relationship.  You can also add pink flowers here, but make sure that the enhancements used are always in pairs.

Color:

Pink symbolizes purity of thought and love.  You may want to use pink sheets on your bed to enhance love in your life.  Add pink roses, carnations, candles, or anything that evokes the feeling of love and harmony. Pink is a beautiful color for adult and children’s bedrooms but is not recommended for kitchens or bathrooms.

• Family
• Community 
• Elder
• Ancestors

Family, Community, Elder, Ancestors

Key Area:

This area deals with your relationship with a significant other, friendships, and business partnerships.  Here is where you want to support your present relationship or work on new friendships and/or relationships.  If you are in a business partnership, here is where you work on improving it. Getting along and having your significant other/friends/business partner’s support is a key ingredient to a happy life.

Enhancements:

Place a family tree here with pictures of family and friends or items that belonged to your ancestors. A bamboo plant would be ideal since it symbolizes a solid foundation.  Use item(s) here that honor your heritage.

Color:

Green is an incredibly special color because it symbolizes fertility, growth, and expansion.  You may want to add items such as plants, flowers, gardens, trees, or a picture to represent these items.  It is an excellent color to use in bedrooms, bathrooms, therapy rooms, and spas, but is not recommended for family rooms or playrooms.

• Health
• Heart 
• Center of it All 

Health – Center of the Bagua

Key Area:

Located in the “heart” of it all is Health.  This is a major area because it relates to your health, to your center. Here is where peace and harmony reside. That off-centered feeling that you at times get is a red flag letting you know that the ch’i energy is not flowing.  Our daily aim is to feel centered and in harmony with our surroundings. 

While working in this area, think about these questions.  Are you taking care of your mental, physical, and spiritual needs?  Are you eating nutritious foods? Are you getting the necessary rest?  Do you remember to stop for a few minutes after an intense work period?  Do you give your head a break by daydreaming about happy times or a vacation you would love to take?  If not, begin taking the necessary steps to take care of your needs.

Enhancements:

The center of the bagua is a place of peace, where everything comes together and works in harmony. Therefore, everything here should be clean, tidy, uncluttered, bright, and inviting.  Here are items that may be used, a wind chime, crystals, pictures, statues, a water fountain, a fish tank, anything that makes you smile and feel happy.

Color:

Yellow is an auspicious color in Feng Shui.  Yellow signifies energy, brightness, and lightness. When surrounded by this color, you feel in harmony with your surroundings.  Add this color to the walls or as accents to any room that you would like to bring energy and lightness to.  

• Creativity
• Children
• Inner Peace 

Creativity, Children, Inner Peace

Key Area:

This is the creative area in your life. That could mean the creation of a project, creative abilities, or the creation of a new life. If you are looking to start or add to your family, this is the area. If you are working on a project or if you are the creative type, such as a musician, artist, painter, etc., focus here. If the Qi is flowing without blockages, your creative juices will flow!

Enhancements:

In this area, add pictures of projects that you have nurtured, a project plan, a drawing, or anything you have created or achieved. When you add your creations to this area, you are calling for more inspiration.  White flowers may be added here too. If you are looking to start a family, add a picture of a child, or if you are looking to grow your family, add pictures of your children. Do keep this area clean and tidy.

Color:

White is the color for creativity because it symbolizes purity and a fresh start.  This is a good color for a kitchen or bathroom, but not recommended for a child’s room.

• Wisdom
• Self-Knowledge
• Education 
• Self-Cultivation

Wisdom, Self-Knowledge, Education, Self-Cultivation

Key Area:

This area represents the ability to acquire and understand new knowledge. This relates to self-improvement, gaining wisdom, intelligence, personal growth, and spiritual awareness.  It is helping you to become the best person possible by incorporating everything you are and have experienced.

Enhancements:

This would be an ideal place to meditate, if possible.  If not, then add a statue or a picture of a Buddha, a sacred book, a candle, etc.  Place in this area your books, framed inspirational quotes, pictures of people who inspire you to grow mentally and spiritually, or who have made an impact on your life.

Color:

Blue is a color that brings about feelings of peace and tranquility. You feel at ease when surrounded by this color.  It is an excellent color for bedrooms, bathrooms, therapy rooms, and doctor’s offices but not recommended for family rooms, playrooms, or studies.

• Career
• Journey
• Passions 
• Life Path
• Abundance

Career, Journey, Passions, Life Path, Abundance 

Key Area:

This is the section of career, job, education, anything related to our ability to make a living. Here is where we can create the career we want. Put a picture/image of the career you are passionate about because it will never feel like a job. When you love what you do, the money will come.  Our life journey is to be happy, fulfilled, and a productive member of society.

Enhancements:

Place a water fountain here to move the Qi energy, or add pictures of what you envision your career to be, and of places that you want to visit. Add images/pictures of people or things that you are passionate about and want to increase in your life.

Color:

Black is the color for this area.  You may want to add a pillow with a black trim, a black rock in the water fountain, or a picture with a black frame.  Here is a tip, add a little red accent to these items to enhance the Qi energy. We do not recommend painting any walls black.

• Guidance
• Helpful People
• Inspiration 
• Travel

Guidance, Helpful People, Inspiration, Travel

Key Area:

This area represents friends, benefactors, assistants, mentors, teachers, and helpers. People who lend a helping hand by creating opportunities that come to you by “coincidence.”  We always want to keep the Qi energy moving in this area because it encourages the help of others.  When we help others, we get that same help in return. 

Enhancements:

Here are a few suggestions of items to place in this area. A rock (solid) symbolizes the type of people you want in your life, a picture of a person whose qualities you would like to emulate, such as Mother Theresa.  A few of her special qualities were patience, unconditional love for the world, and generosity.  Since travel is also part of this area, put a picture of a place(s) you would like to visit.  Think big!  Remember you are working on activating Qi energy to enhance this area.

Color:

The color here is gray.  It represents getting along, a solid foundation, and neutrality. Add accents of this color whenever you feel discord or disharmony as it will calm the energy down.  This color is ideal for offices and business settings.