What is a Traditional Feng Shui Bagua Map and Why Do I need it?

The traditional Feng Shui Bagua Map, or Luo Shu Magic Square, serves as a blueprint for outlining the energy flow within your home. This map effectively pinpoints the specific areas where these energies are concentrated and offers insights into how they can be harmonized to attract good fortune.

Your home is divided into eight distinct sections, each representing a unique energy blueprint. Each of these sections possesses a unique arrangement, exerting an influence on the overall energy of the dwelling. Armed with the knowledge of the energies prevalent in these designated areas, you can make informed decisions to either neutralize or augment these energies, ultimately enhancing the overall prosperity of your life.

I’m certain that during your online search, you likely encountered the simplified New-Age, Black Hat, or Western-style version of the Bagua Map. Interestingly, on the first five pages of Google results, it’s striking to note that the Black Hat Bagua Maps are consistently featured. Undeniably, this Western approach enjoys significant popularity in Europe and the USA due to its user-friendly application.

Whether you choose to follow Classical Feng Shui or Western Feng Shui (BTB), this post aims to provide an explanation of both versions. Please feel free to adopt whichever version aligns better with your comfort and preferences.

WHAT IS THE WESTERN BAGUA MAP?

This is the typical Western Bagua Map layout for the simplified Western Style Black Hat Feng Shui:

• • SOUTH – FAME AREA: Here the Fire Element is present and will enhance the reputation of the family members
  • SOUTH-EAST – WEALTH AREA: This is the wealth area occupied by the Wood Element for prosperity in life
  • SOUTH-WEST – RELATIONSHIP AREA: An Earth Element area to enhance your marriage and relationship with your loved ones.
  • CENTER – WELL BEING: The Center of the house should be in a free area and not trapped inside a close area like closet. Be aware that a kitchen or toilet in the center brings bad luck. Please avoid such layouts at all cost
  • WEST – Children AREA: This area will take care of your children’s study success and is a Metal Element.
  • EAST – FAMILY AREA: Another Wood Element focuses on the Family relationship
  • NORTH – WORK & SUCCESS AREA: A strong Water Element is present here to bring success in work
  • NORTH-EAST – SPIRITUALITY: Another Earth Element focuses on the spiritual journey and helps to progress for example in meditation.
  • NORTH-WEST – HELPFUL PEOPLE & TRAVEL AREA: A Metal Element that protects you from traveling mishaps and attracts people into your life that can help out.

Please note that the bagua map southern hemisphere is no difference as the northern counterpart.

Here’s why you should avoid using this version:

The Black Hat Bagua energy map remains perpetually fixed and unchanging. It does not account for the dynamic shifts and movements of star energies over time, a fundamental principle in both astrology studies and classical Feng Shui practice. In reality, all star energies are in a constant state of flux; static energy does not exist. Consider your zodiac horoscope, for instance. It undergoes changes over the years, doesn’t it?

This may seem illogical! Admittedly, the Western Bagua Map is a convenient choice for Feng Shui beginners, and some modern schools even propose that the South/Fame area always aligns with your front door. However, applying the wrong map can inadvertently bring more harm than good to both you and your family.

To provide a clearer illustration: I once encountered a situation in which an inauspicious energy pair was situated in the south section of a client’s home. In an attempt to enhance this area, the client adorned it with various shades of red.

However, here’s the catch: the 5/2 combination, which is associated with the earth element and manifests in health issues, occupied this section. The presence of fire elements, represented by the color red, tends to intensify the Earth’s element influence. In response, I recommended removing all red elements and introducing a significant amount of metal objects and gray hues into this section.

The rationale behind this advice lies in the 5 Element Theory, where metal effectively neutralizes the earth’s element inauspicious manifestations. This case serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers that can arise from applying the incorrect bagua map.

CLASSICAL FENG SHUI BAGUA MAP (Pie Chart Method)

If you’re employing the classical version of Feng Shui, I invite you to continue reading for advanced and detailed instructions on applying the classical Feng Shui Bagua Map or pie chart method to your home layout.

Square vs. Pie Chart Method

It’s essential to understand that the external environmental Qi’s energy flowing into your home does not conform to a square format; rather, it follows magnetic directions, much like the segments of a pie chart. Qi adheres to a natural, swirling directional pattern and can, to some extent, permeate walls.

The introduction of the Luo Shu magic square aimed to simplify the process of overlaying and partitioning the energy map onto a floor plan. This square format was designed to mimic the arrangement of walls and the overall structure. However, despite its simplifying convenience, it fails to authentically represent the organic flow of energy.

Additionally, it inadvertently implies the existence of a literal central palace within the house, leading many individuals to erroneously focus their remedies on this central area in response to Qi distribution.

In reality, there is no tangible central palace within the home; instead, there exists a minor convergence point where all energies disperse into the eight directional sections. This central point is beyond modification or adjustment. Unfortunately, its presence within Luo Shu Square often misleads people into believing otherwise.

This is precisely why opting for the pie chart method is both safer and more precise. Even individuals with limited knowledge can discern that the center is just a mere dot and acts as a control center to distribute all energies into their assigned sections.

You might be curious about why even Feng Shui masters frequently employ the square format in classroom settings. The rationale behind this practice lies in the fact that certain Feng Shui principles are easier to convey using this format compared to the more intricate pie chart method.

Traditional Feng Shui Bagua Map (9-Palace Grid)

Within the classical Feng Shui school of Xuan Kong Flying Star, the static Western Bagua map, as depicted earlier, is not given due consideration. Instead, our primary reference lies in the traditional Bagua map, or the 9 Palace Grid, often referred to as the 8-section pie chart. This chart offers a far more comprehensive insight into the residents’ overall well-being and challenges. Utilizing the 9 Palace Grid provides several significant advantages, including:

• Understand which Feng Shui Element (Wood, Water, Earth, Metal, Fire) effects certain sectors
• As the energy movement is dynamic, you can adjust accordingly
• Shows what kind of stars are Yin and Yang-based in each sector
• Each Feng Shui bagua map compass directions belongs to a specific family member (see Later Heaven Bagua Map below)
• Display a map of potential illnesses, affected body part, and who gets affected
• Hides the absence of center stars out of sight

Permanent Energy Chart Explained Step by Step

Before delving into the intricacies of plotting the energy map using the 9 Palace Grid method for any home, apartment, or business, it’s crucial to grasp some foundational concepts. To begin with, the center stars, the sitting direction, and the facing direction can exert profound influences on all family members, even those who may not reside in these specific sections.

The rationale behind the widespread use of the pie chart method by many practitioners lies in its capacity to provide a more precise depiction of the entire Qi distribution within a home.

As you may already be aware, the greater our accuracy in determining the flow of energy, the more accurate adjustments can be implemented, yielding even better results. Additionally, the 9-grid method aligns more closely with the ancient texts and scientific understanding of how exterior Qi influences the interior of a space.

Indeed, there may be arguments suggesting that once energy is contained within a home, its influence from the exterior should be negligible. In simpler terms, everything, whether it’s tangible matter or intangible things, vibrates and possesses some form of energy. The same principle applies to a house, which continually receives and absorbs electromagnetic vibrations from its external environment.

This is why both our body’s qi and the qi within our homes are finely attuned to the universal flow of energy, capable of absorbing precise information. They possess the innate ability to discern the timing and alignment of cosmic energies, distinguishing between auspicious and inauspicious energy patterns when it comes to the flying stars application.

Step by Step How to Do a 8 Section Pie Chart

There exist a total of 144 distinct flying star energy maps, each determined by the combination of the 24 mountains based on the precise sitting orientation degree and the specific Feng Shui period during which the home’s construction was completed.

1. DETERMINE THE FACING DIRECTION OF YOUR HOME

To conduct an accurate Feng Shui compass reading, it is essential to ascertain the facing direction of your home. This typically corresponds to the side of the house that fronts the road or experiences the highest degree of Yang activity. It’s worth noting that this facing direction may not always align with the location of the front door.

Read More: How to find facing direction Feng Shui

2. DO A COMPASS READING

Once you have the facing direction, it is time to do a compass reading. In order to get a correct reading, face your compass away from your house. Do it two or three times in different areas to make sure the reading is correct.

Don’t know how, here is the guide: How to take a Feng Shui compass reading

3. DETERMINE YOUR PERMANENT ENERGY CHART

With the aid of a compass reading and knowledge of the construction completion date, you can accurately ascertain the permanent energy chart of your house, a crucial step in Feng Shui practice. Ensuring accuracy and using the correct chart are of paramount importance. To obtain it, begin by identifying the House Period, which is defined by the completion of the ceiling and roof upon finishing construction.

It’s highly probable that your house falls under either Period 7 (1984–2004) or Period 8 (2004–2024), although this determination hinges on the specific completion date of construction. Next, utilize your compass reading to locate the Flying Star Natal Chart based on the 24 Mountain Principles.

In Feng Shui, there are precisely 144 different energy charts, underscoring the critical importance of commencing with an accurate chart. Below is a sample chart of a Period 8 home facing 180 degrees (S2):

How to place Bagua Map on floor plan of your home or apartment correctly?

I can imagine your confusion as you look at the chart above, with a multitude of numbers that might seem bewildering at first glance. I understand that it can be quite challenging to grasp initially. In this article, I won’t delve too deeply into the technical intricacies; instead, I’ll provide an overview of the fundamentals.

The classical Feng Shui Bagua energy chart presents three distinct types of numbers: the Base Number, the Sitting Star, and the Facing Star. All the star energies on your permanent energy map remain static and will not change (with a few exceptions). However, it’s essential to pay attention to the yearly and monthly energies, which are in a constant state of flux. Consequently, adjustments are required to accommodate these ever-changing energies.

1. Draw a Home Floor Plan

Take exact measurements of the entire floor which needs to be drawn. If you have a multiple story home, take the measurements for each floor. Do this for all the walls, doors, and windows. After you have finished, it is time to add the main furniture positions onto your floor plan. It is even better and more accurate to have a professionally drawn plan from your architect

2. Find the Center of the Floor Plan

I would suggest beginning with the first floor since it typically hosts the most dynamic and active areas of the house, including the kitchen and living room. To locate the center of this floor, follow these steps: first, draw a line from the bottom left corner to the top right corner.

Then, draw a second line from the bottom right corner to the top left corner. The point where these two lines intersect represents the center. If your floor layout is irregular or has an odd shape, you can extend lines to fill in any missing areas to establish the center accurately.

3. Overlap Compass onto Floor Plan

Next, place a compass over your floor plan matching exactly the degree of your house facing. You can find the tool in any office supply store or simply print one out from the internet. After you made sure that the facing degree is 100% correct, we can go to the next step.

To double check if you have the compass is correctly placed, draw with a ruler a straight line from the degree number to your house facing. If it is straight, you are ok. In case the line is not straight, adjust slightly your compass.

4. Draw the 8-Palace Map onto your Floor Plan

Feng Shui bagua map compass directions by degree:

Now, let’s proceed to delineate the 8 sections on the floor plan, using compass degrees as a guide. To assist you in this process, here’s a summary of the compass range degrees:

• South (S): 157.5° – 202.5°
• Southwest (SW): 202.5° – 247.5°
• West (W): 247.5°- 292.5°
• Northwest (NW): 292.5° to 337.5°
• North (N): 337.5°- 22.5°
• Northeast (NE): 22.5° – 67.5°
• East (E): 67.5°- 112.5°
• Southeast (SE): 112.5° – 157.5°

Once you have finished drawing your 8 sections, you can remove the compass from your layout.

5. Plot your Star Energy into the 8 Palaces of your Bagua Map

Please note that in Classical Feng Shui, no square boxes are being used. Energy flies in degrees and not in squares. The center 4/3 Star Combination can be ignored, as it does not occupy a physical space. Qi Energy always looks for a center to attach it too. This can be the center of your house or the human body.

Do you remember, what we have talked about right in the beginning? Now, it is time to apply the Star Energies from your permanent house chart onto the layout. The lines can also be extended outside of your house. However, please do not use the Flying Star Energies for any garden design. The energy is only for interior purposes and not for exterior applications.

The Million Dollar Question: What’s the meaning of the Star Energies?

Indeed, applying the correct enhancements and cures is key now. Therefore, you must identify which stars are lucky and which are unlucky. As the topic is very complex, a separate article was written about the 81 Flying Star Combination meanings.