BAGUA BASICS (Part 1)
Because many folks have mentioned that they are confused about how to use the Bagua, I have decided to make it the focus of the next few newsletters. Even though the Bagua is only one aspect of Feng Shui, it is vital to comprehending the big picture.
The Bagua, which is a pattern resembling a tick tack toe grid with nine equal areas, can be placed over any property--whether it be a home, office, piece of land, an individual room, or even a desk, bed, or stove. Each area of the grid is called a gua and influences several specific life conditions.
The traditional Bagua shape* is an eight-sided figure. It is considered an auspicious building shape. However, since very few of us live an octagon shaped home, we extend the corners in the traditional Bagua in Knowledge, Wealth, Relationship, and Helpful People to create a square shape.
In fact, a square or rectangular home is ideal. Many homes though have extensions or missing pieces and many lots--especially in rural areas--are irregularly shaped. Sometimes these irregularities are auspicious and at other times they require either a mundane or transcendental adjustment--or both. I realize these exceptions can be confusing to new students and I will try to cover a few of them in future newsletters.
Each gua represents several possible life situations and conditions--including health and well-being issues, five element applications, and many subtle attributions assigned by the related I Ching trigram. Each area is also related to a color and is influenced by other colors.
The gua names that we are most familiar with are Family, Wealth, Fame, Relationship, Children, Helpful People, Career, Knowledge, and the Center. Even though the names for each area are brief, each gua has many meanings and possible applications. For instance the Children’s area not only represents the children in your life, but also your own inner child, how you play and enjoy yourself, your mouth, your ability to express yourself, and creativity in general. (We’ll expand on this in a later newsletter when we discuss the Children’s area.)
The word Bagua means eight guas. Now you may have noticed that there are actually nine sections in the Bagua. This is because the I Ching does not assign a trigram to the Center--even though it’s extremely important. In fact, all of the guas are important and they intimately relate to each other. That’s one of the reasons that it’s usually not as effective to Feng Shui just one part of a property.
To locate the specific guas in your home, it’s helpful to measure the front and sides of your home--although you may be able to eyeball it. (If you have an attached garage, be sure to include it in the measurement as it is part of your home’s Bagua.) Then simply divide the area across the front of your home into thirds and the sides into thirds. Do the same thing if your home is a rectangular shape. The individual guas in a rectangular home will be long and narrow rather than square.
Next, stand in front of your architectural front door** while facing into your home. It’s helpful to hold a copy of the Bagua* with Knowledge, Career, and Helpful People next to your body. Your front door will always either be in Knowledge--if it is on the left front third of your home, Career--if it’s in the middle, or Helpful People--if you are standing in front of the right third of your home. You will find your Wealth area in the far left corner at the back of your home and the far right corner will be your Relationship area. All of the other areas, providing your home is square or rectangular, will fall into their respective areas of the grid.
In the next newsletter, we will continue with more general information.
May You Enjoy A Heart-Filled
& Blessed Holiday Season!
Suzanne
OFFERINGS:
CREATING WEALTH WITH FENG SHUI
Beginning Tues., January 18th - 4 weeks - 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
This class will include process work along with Feng Shui cures, meditations,
and methods for creating and retaining wealth.
This class is appropriate for both beginners and advanced students
Note: For interested students who are unable to attend scheduled classes, they are also available in a mentoring format by phone or in my office.
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• Scheduling a consultation appointment for your home or office
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(Sessions are by phone or in person.)
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or group
Suzanne Metzger,
Feng Shui Consulting Services
SuzyM@earthlink.net or (719) 260-7207
(if you e-mail, please use Feng Shui as part of your subject)
www.FengShuiConsultingServices.net