"How To" Feng Shui
The Ancient Chinese used a potent and mystical tool called the Ba-gua, an octagonal map, to determine which area of the environment affects which area of life. This map when placed over a sketch of a plot of land, a home, business, room or ever a desk helps the Feng Shui practitioner determine problem areas in a client's life, or areas in which enhancements might improve an already fortuitous circumstance.
A simplified Ba-Gua
The Ba-gua maps the eight universal life situations: knowledge and wisdom, family and health, prosperity and wealth, fame, children and creativity, career and helpful people. It acts as a template that, when superimposed on a space, is a tool of divination and guidance in locating those areas that could benefit from correction. The professional employs three corrective methods: the connecting method, the balancing method, and the outstanding method. Through analysis of the map and conversation with the family, one or more of these methods is chosen. It is more than coincidental that by rearranging the furniture, adding accessories, or reallocating space, the Feng Shui practitioner corrects an existing life challenges or enhances an already pleasing arena.
To begin, make a sketch of the area of concern. Then place the picture of the Ba-gua over the sketch, keeping the career area of the Ba-gua on the side with the main entrance. For practice and ease of learning, it might be easiest to begin with just on room. Now decide which are of the room applies to the area of life to be corrected. If one wants to increase one's fortune, enhancements need to be made in the upper left-hand corner of the room. If marriage and relationships need help, then the upper right-hand corner should be studied. Study of the Ba-gua map brings understanding of how to improve every area of life.
So, suppose that the children are having trouble in school. First we place the Ba-gua over a sketch of the parent's bedroom and then the children's bedroom. We make sure that the rectangles that form each room are complete, with no missing parts. If parts of the rooms are missing (areas that do not fall within the Ba-gua sketch), we employ the connecting method to ensure that the space is complete. We might place a mirror on the wall, or draw chi to the area by placing a wind chime or a mobile there. We might paint the wall in white, then place a picture of a rainbow on it. We may even relocate our audio system or TV to that wall.
Next, we check the shape of the entire house to ensure that the children section is not missing or diminished. If we find that some part is missing, we employ the same method but outside of the home. We can place a bright light outside, facing up to the peak of the roof, leaving it on twenty-four hours a day. We can make a flowerbed filled with white flower on that side of the house.
Perhaps one of the family members seeks a promotion at work. Careers are moving forward and upward, but things just aren't working out the way they should. Let us look at the helpful people area of the house, the main gathering space and the bedroom. We must first confirm that the section is complete. If it is, then we can enhance that lower right corner of the space with metal objects, such as sculptures, hollow brass wind chimes, round accessories (such as a round vase or a stone sphere on a metal holder) or anything colored black, white, gray, silver, or gold.
When in search of a promotion, another section to enhance is the career section at the bottom of the Ba-gua or the fame section at the top of the map. Each of these specific areas play an important role in one's aspirations and success in one's chosen field.
by Diane Oliveira
Fame/Recognition
Love/Marriage
Health/Family Center
Peaceful Place
Creativity/Children
Knowledge/Self Cultivation
Career
Helpful People/Travel