Feng shui bagua is a map or chart used by practitioners of feng shui to determine which parts of a space correspond to specific life areas. By placing the map in correct alignment over the floor plan of the space, it may be possible to decide how to apply the feng shui principles to it. There are nine such factors including career, love, children, and health. Decorating in a certain way and using specific colors or objects in portions of a space, or energy centers, is supposed to enhance the corresponding life areas.
The basic idea behind feng shui is that the placement of certain objects within a person's space can enhance important areas of that person's life. The feng shui bagua is a guide map for the process. The bagua identifies which areas of a space correspond to particular important life areas, also known as energy centers. It shows eight areas arranged around a central space which represents the ninth. The sections of the bagua are called "guas" and they can be arranged in a square shape or a hexagon.
When properly placed, the bottom of the feng shui bagua with the section for career and life path in the middle should be lined up with the side of the space that has the entrance, the front door of a house for example. Once the corresponding areas of the space have been identified, changes in the decor are supposed to have positive effects on the occupant's life. Some people also believe that if there is a problem in a certain aspect of life, it can be helped by changing and improving the arrangement of the corresponding space in the home.
The life aspects represented on the feng shui bagua clockwise from the bottom center are: career and life path, knowledge, family, prosperity, reputation and fame, love and relationships, children and creativity, and helpful people and travel. The center represents health and good fortune. Each has a color that should be used in that part of the space, and some have specific materials or elements that are recommended.
According to the feng shui bagua, the portion corresponding to career and life path is in the middle of the entrance side of the space, and should use the color black and the element of water. The section to the left corresponds to knowledge and should utilize the color blue, with books or other tools for learning. The next is for family and should contain wood, green items like plants, and family photos. The far left corner represents prosperity and the ideal color for items in this area is purple; fountains are also a good choice to symbolize the flow of money.
The top center on the feng shui bagua is for reputation; the space should include red items, like floral arrangements. The far right corresponds to love and should contain the color pink and photos of loved ones. The next area is for children and creativity, with white decor and metal accents recommended. The close right represents helpful people and travel with the color gray or silver, possible choices for this part of the space include mirrors. The center of the space corresponds with health and good fortune; yellow or earth tone items are suggested for this area.