Just what is the bagua map, exactly? And how can you draw it over your floor plan?
In the Taoist form of alchemy that we call feng shui, there is a mathematical and magical construct known as the bagua. In Western mystery traditions it’s known as a magic square (a square in which each row adds up to the same number) or, more specifically, as the square of Saturn. In fact, the bagua/square of Saturn is present in some form in the mathematical and spiritual traditions of countless cultures, both Western and Eastern. It looks like a tick-tack-toe board in which each square contains a number. If you take a moment to investigate, you’ll notice that each row on the board, whether horizontal, vertical, or diagonal, adds up to the number fifteen.
The square of Saturn and the numbers associated with each area of the bagua map or feng shui floor plan
In feng shui, each square in the bagua corresponds with a major life area.
Western magical traditions associate this particular magic square with the planet Saturn: the planet of earthiness and limitation. This is notable because the bagua, or square of Saturn, is an alchemical map that works within the appearance of limitation to help us find our way back to a connection with the infinite bliss that is our natural state.
To illustrate this, imagine sunlight streaming through a clear prism or wind blowing through chimes. The sunlight is sunlight, and the wind is wind. Still, by flowing through something that appears limited (the prism or chimes), the sunlight creates rainbows, just as the wind rings the chimes. Similarly, an infinite life force flows through our present finite “reality” (or existence and perceptions) to create the holographic interplay of stories that we call our life conditions. The bagua/square of Saturn is a symbol, or conceptual construct, of that mechanism. It gives us a framework and reference point for effecting positive change through working between the realms of finite and infinite, seen and unseen, form and spirit.
How to Draw Your Bagua
You can absolutely draw your very own bagua, or feng shui map. That way, you’ll know the location of each power center of your home.
Believe me: it’s really not as hard as it may sound! It just entails a tape measure (just to get it as close to scale as possible), a piece of graph paper, and a tiny bit of patient determination. And keep it simple: all you need to draw are the walls, doors, and perimeter of the space. (No need to worry about things like windows, toilets, or drawing the burners on the stove!) Again, there’s no need to go crazy: just get it as close to scale as possible so that you have a good working idea of the layout of your home.
Here are a few additional tips:
- Include any attached garages or attached covered patios. (If they’re not attached or covered, leave them out. The one exception would be if it were a raised patio that is contained by railings; if it is attached to the home, even if it is not covered, include it.)
- If you live in an apartment, just include the boundaries of your personal space. Include attached balconies or attached covered patios.
- If you rent a room or live with parents or roommates, just include the room that is uniquely yours. (If you want to do the whole house later at some point, go ahead, but start with the space you call your very own.)
Now that you’ve gotten that out of the way, you’re going to draw the square of Saturn (see above) over your floor plan. To do this, follow these simple steps:
1. If the outside border of your floor plan is not already a perfect square or rectangle, make it into one by extending the sides in order to complete any “missing areas.” (See dotted lines below.)
2. Draw an arrow at the front door/main entrance (as intended by the architect, even if you use another one more often) that’s pointing in toward the home.
3. If necessary, rotate the paper so that the arrow is pointing up.
4. Draw a tick-tack-toe board over the square/rectangle, dividing the floor plan into nine equal parts.
4. Write the essential names of the bagua areas on each area as below.
Here are common and alternate names, along with links to explanations for each area:
Gratitude and Prosperity: Wealth and Prosperity
Radiance and Reputation: Fame and Reputation
Love and Marriage: same
Health and Family: same
Synergy: Center
Creativity and Playfulness: Creativity and Children
Serenity and Self-Love: Knowledge and Self-Cultivation
Career and Life Path: Career
Synchronicity and Miracles: Helpful People and Travel
Please note: for additional floors, the floor plan extends straight up or down from the floor containing the front door. In other words, if it’s directly above (or below) the prosperity area, it’s also the prosperity area.
Please also note: if areas are “missing” from your floor plan (i.e. if they are outside of the house), don’t worry: this post has got you covered.
…And if you have any questions, be sure to leave them in the comments.
Hi Tess, it was a really nice job, thank you. So, our front door is in the front of the house but when we enter, we face a wall (It looks like a really tiny square, about 3 ft each side) and then turn to the left to really enter the living/dining area. which direction should I choose? Entering and facing the wall or when we turn and really enter the main areas?
Good question! I’d choose entering and facing the wall. I’d place something on the wall (like a certain kind of picture or a mirror) across from the door to help with energy flow. How far away is the wall from the door, and what part of the bagua is it in? (These answers will help me give you the best suggestion.)
Blessings! I have an attached and covered front porch that runs the entire front legth of my rectangular shaped house (typical log cabin with porch). This is also where the front door is located (at life path/career). Do I treat the porch as an extension and extend the NE/N/NW behind the front door, or do I treat the porch as part of the house and center the map off the front edge of the front porch? Thank you so very much!
Hi Rebecca! I would treat the porch as a part of the house. That sounds super cute by the way.
Hi, my garage is at the center left, beside of the house, with a door link to the house. The house s longer than the garage. Is the garage included in bagua map?, if so, second level will have huge missing spot? Thanks
Hi there! Thank you for reading! It sounds like the garage is included in the bagua. Don’t be concerned about the missing area. Instead, see this post: https://tesswhitehurst.com/diy-feng-shui-part-6-five-ways-to-remedy-missing-areas/
Hi! I’m loving your series, thanks! I’m trying to apply the bagua individually per room. In the masters bedroom, was wondering if the walk in closet and en suite bathroom should be part of its bagua map? Thanks!
Hi Kathy! If the master bedroom is a perfect square or rectangle without the closet and bathroom, I wouldn’t include them. If they are included within the square or rectangle that is the master bedroom, then I would. Does that make sense?
Hi i am just focusing on one room and i noted your bagua does not mention the compass directions but instead orients to the door of the room. that is good news as east south north west would not work for me in this room (door is to the south ) my creativity is the east wall , instead of west
is this ok to set it up this way ? thanks, leslie
Hi Leslie! Yes, I know that can be confusing. That’s because there are two main schools of feng shui: one determines the bagua from directions and the other from front door placement. The kind I practice is the latter. So go ahead and set up according to door placement. 🙂