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.  It would help if you focused on those areas to unblock the Ch’i energy using the various methods available. You may concentrate with intention; you can meditate, you can slow down and get in touch with your surroundings.  All of these steps will help move the stuck Ch’i energy.  Once it is unblocked, things in your life will improve. 

Join me, and let’s look at each of the nine 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 one area at a time. There is no rush, no agendas, just us working on improving ourselves and our situations. 

What is a Bagua?

The bagua is a tool for identifying the nine key areas and their locations in your home. It is a large square divided into nine smaller squares, each representing a key area in your life. Understanding how to use the bagua will help you 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 know the process, it may be applied to a larger space.  To start, outline a room in your home or workplace on paper; we will use a bedroom for this example. Then, download and print 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, and if the front door is on the left side, then it is in the Knowledge/Wisdom/Education area. If the doorway is in the middle, it is in the Career/Promotions/Life Path area, and if it is on the right side, it is in the Helpful People/Guidance/Travel area.  From this starting point, work 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 the room. Think about how each area feels to you. Identify the areas in which you are facing difficulties. Focus on those areas to get the Ch’i energy flowing again. Listed below are each of the nine key areas, along with its auspicious color and enhancements that may be used to help unblock the 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.  

• Recognition
• Fame
• Reputation

Recognition, Fame, Reputation

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, good things will come to us when we do good without wanting anything in return.

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 that 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, and poinsettias, to name a few. Anything that has a red color will do fine.

• Relationships
• Partnerships
• Love

Relationships, Partnerships, Love

Key Area:

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

Enhancements:

Here are a few items you may choose to put in this love and relationship area: a picture of you and your significant other, a pair of love ducks, a pair of pink candles, or a pair of figurines depicting 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. You can also add pink roses, carnations, candles, or anything that evokes the feeling of love and harmony. 

• Family
• Community 
• Bonding

Family, Community, Bonding

Key Area:

This area deals with family bonds, community bonds, relationships with elders, and your bond with your religion, among others. How do you relate to your family? Is it a strong relationship, or is it contentious?  Do you wish you had a stronger bond?  If so, then this is the area to work on. Consider what you would like to change to make this area different. Remember, you also need to put in the effort in addition to the enhancement(s).

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, religion, and community. 

Color:

Green is an exceptional 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 qualities. 

• Health
• Physical
• Mental  
• Center of it All 

Health, Physical and Mental – Center of the Bagua

Key Area:

Health is located in the “heart” of it all. This area is significant because it relates to your health and to your center. Here is where peace and harmony reside. That off-centered feeling you sometimes 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. Items that may be used here include a wind chime, crystals, pictures, statues, a water fountain, a fish tank, and 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.  

• Children
• Creativity
• Well-Being 

Children, Creativity, Well-Being

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. This is the area if you want to start or add to your family. 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 Ch’i is flowing without blockages, your creative juices will flow!

Enhancements:

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

Color:

White is the color for creativity because it symbolizes purity and a fresh start.  

• Knowledge
• Wisdom
• Education 

 Knowledge, Wisdom, Education

Key Area:

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

Enhancements:

If possible, this would be an ideal place to meditate. If not, add a statue or a picture of a Buddha, a sacred book, a candle, etc. Place in this area your books, framed inspirational quotes, and 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. When surrounded by it, you feel at ease.  

• Career
• Promotions
•  Life Path

Career, Promotions, Life Path

Key Area:

This is the section on career, job, education, and anything related to our ability to make a living. Here is where we can create the career we want. Put a picture or image of the career you are passionate about because then 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 Ch’i 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 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 Ch’i energy. 

• Helpful People
• Guidance
• Travel

Helpful People, Guidance, 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 Ch’i 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 Ch’i 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 settle the energy.