Feng Shui & the BA GUA octagon

The BA GUA octagon is one of the tools used in Feng Shui to help determine preferred locations for certain functions in the home or office. The BA GUA is placed with the front door of the floor plan of your home or office placed at the bottom of the BA GUA octagon.



The bagua divides any space into nine areas. Each area corresponds to a different aspect of your life. Whatever is going on energetically (good or bad) in that part of your space will affect the related aspect of your life (see diagram).

Align the bottom edge of the bagua with the wall the door is in. Stretch the bagua sideways or lengthwise to cover the entire space. The door or entryway will always be in ken, kan, or chien gua, although it may overlap more than one gua. As you stand in the doorway facing into the space, hsun gua is always at the far left; kun gua is always to the far right, and li gua is always at the center of the wall opposite you.

If there is more than one way to enter a space, orient the bagua to the main door or entryway. Even if you usually enter your home through the garage, align the bagua of your home to the front door.

Every space has a bagua. There is a bagua for your plot of land, a bagua for your house, and a bagua for each room within your home. You can even apply the bagua to your desk, bed, or stove.

The bagua is rich with meanings and associations. The most important meanings of each gua are shown below....

Everything that happens in life can be boiled down and placed within 9 categories that are also known as life situations. Each category is spatially represented by an area within your living quarters. Individually these areas are called a gua, while placed in a specific order it is called the bagua (ba meaning "8") and it is shaped like an octagon. The 8 sides, and the middle, form the 9 zones which relate to the various life situations. However, it does not end there! Each gua is also associated with a specific color, shape, symbol, body part, etc. Here are the specific life situations which are associated with the 9 zones that compose the bagua.

(1.) Prosperity and Abundance: This is the area that relates to wealth or having money for the good things in life. It does not have to do with life's necessities such as food, rent, and utility bills. Many Feng Shui consultants consider this area to be a power source since money is often viewed as power. If you are seeking big money then this is the corner that you must work upon. Prosperity and Abundance's colors are purple, green, gold, and red. Its body part is the hip and its associated number is 8.

(2.) Fame and Reputation: This is the area of the home that supports you as a person out in the real world. It deals with how others perceive you which in turn makes a great difference in the area of money and relationships. It also has a lot to do with your own integrity and honest which in turn will make a difference in your dating life as well as in your other relationships. For this reason, even if you are a jerk, or if people just think that you are a jerk, then you still do not have to despair since the fame and reputation area can help you out. This area's element is fire and its color is red. Its shape is triangular; its creative cycle items are wood, green, and columnar; its destructive cycle items are water, black, and undulating; its body part is the eye; and it's associated with the number 1.

(3.) Relationships and Love: If you are seeking a relationship, or simply looking to have a really good time then look no further than this area of the bagua! It is very important that this area of your home be balanced in order that you can have harmony in your relationships. So, before deciding to become a monk or a nun, you should make sure that this area of your hope is balanced. Relationships and Love's colors are pink, red, and white. It is associated with all major body organs and the number 2.

(4.) Creativity and Children: This area of your home relates to creative thinking. You may wish to begin in this area since it will help you form creative cures for the rest of your home. This area also relates to children since they are well known for their creative thinking abilities. Anything to do with working with children (whether they are yours or not, your siblings, or even the children that you may have in the future) should be done in this area of your home. Creativity and Children's element is metal; its color is white; and its shape is round or mounded. Its creative cycle items include Earth, yellow, flat or square shapes; its destructive elements include fire, red, and pointed shapes. It is associated with the mouth and the number 3.

(5.) Helpful People and Travel: This area of your home is set aside for calling upon someone who can make your life easier, whether it is a teacher, inspirational writer, maid, or other person who is helpful. Helpful People and Travel's color is grey, black, and white. It is associated with the head and the number 5.

(6.) Career and Life Path: This area of your home is linked to whatever it is that you are supposed to be doing in life, whether it is business or traversing a more spiritual path. This area of your home is dedicated to getting you onto the right path for your life. Career and Life Path's element is water; its color is black; its shape is undulating and free forms. Its creative cycle elements include metal, white and round objects while its destructive cycle elements include earth, yellow, and flat or square objects. It is associated with the ear and the number 6.

(7.) Skills and Knowledge: This area of your home effects how you learn, store and use knowledge. While each gua's energy affects the areas around it, this one is especially worthy of your attention. For instance, if you do not have the ability to manage the money you earn then it may erroneously appear that your Prosperity section is not working for you. This area is especially worthy of attention if you are in school but simply cannot bring yourself to study. Skills and Knowledge's colors are blue, black, and green. It is associated with the hand and the number 7.

(8.) Family: This area is associated with family issues. It also holds the energy for every day monetary issues such as rent, food, and the other necessities of life. Thus, if you do not have this area in order then your Prosperity area may never really reach its true potential. Family's element is wood; its color is green; and its shapes are rectangular, columnar, and vertical. Its creative cycle items include water, black, and undulating shapes while its destructive cycle elements include metal, white, and round objects. It is associated with the foot and the number 4.

(9.) Health and Other: The center of the bagua contains all of the other life situations which are not mentioned above. Since this area is located in the middle of your home it geographically touches all other areas and thus, due to its location it affects all other areas, both literally and figuratively. As the old saying goes, "If you don't have your health, you don't have anything." Health's element is Earth; its colors are yellow and earth tones; its shape is square, horizontal, and flat. The creative cycle elements include fire, red, and pointed objects while the destructive cycle items include wood, green, and columnar objects. It is associated with any of the body parts that are not associated above and the number 9.

The Ba Gua points are contributed by Brenda-Marie Hoffman - © 2002 Pagewise

Contributed By : Abhi Chopra

UNDERSTANDING VASTU & FENGSHUI AND THEIR RELAVANCE IN THE REAL ESTATE MARKET

VASTU SHASTRA:

Vastu is a Sanskrit word which means Vaas: Live Tu: you, a place where you live or dwell. Shastra means a text which contains knowledge or instructions. Simply put Vastu Shastra means instructions laid down for building a structure.

HISTORY:

Historically Vastu dates back to the Vedic times. Although there is reference of Vastu in several ancient books, Mayamata and Manasara are the most important ones. Being a technical subject it was confined to the Sthapathis or architects. They laid down several principles for constructing a building taking into account the five elements of nature.

BASIC FUNDAMENTALS:

Vastu Shastra is based on the importance of the 5 elements of nature (wind, water, earth, fire, space) and the 4 directions (East, West, North, South). Any structure which is not built in accordance with these elements or aligned with the 4 directions will sooner or later pose problems for its inmates. The interplay of nature acting through these elements and directions therefore forms the basis of Vastu.

VASTU AND REAL ESTATE

Vastu touches every aspect of our lives. Vastu homes provide us with a healthy and secure life. Offices built on Vastu principles enhance sales and productivity. Vastu compliant factories can promote the efficiency of the workers and minimize breakdown of machines or other equipments. Malls and retail outlets can see the boost in sales. In short modern societies can benefit from Vastu in a lot of ways. Today we have so much moved away from nature. Either we are confined to the four walls of our home or office. A walk on the city roads is far from relaxing. In such a scenario the principles of Vastu need to be correctly applied to our buildings and we shall ourselves experience excellent results.

FENG SHUI

Feng shui means the Law of Heaven and Earth. Feng means wind and Shui means Water. It believes in the balance of yin and yang (the two opposites) and a balance between Heaven and Earth.Chinese saw wind and water as the intermediaries between heaven and earth.

HISTORY

The earliest records of Feng shui can be established during the Han Dynasty (200B.C – 200 A.D). There is evidence that the Chinese wrote on bones about the logical assumptions of natural cause and effect. The observation of Nature’s cycle and it’s relationship with the well being of humans. However, it is also believed that the Buddhist monks travelled to Tibet to teach and preach Lord Buddha’s teachings.Along with the Buddhist philosophies they also carried with them other systems which were practised and perfected in India. Vastu was one amongst them. The beliefs slowly altered to suit the local customs and culture.

BASIC FUNDAMENTALS

Feng shui too takes into account the importance of the 5 elements and the 4 directions. But it also lays a lot of emphasis on flow of “chi” or the cosmic energy. It is the invisible life energy force which operates within a human body as well as the buildings we live in. A building without proper flow of chi is nothing but an ailing or dead concrete structure. The philosophy behind Fengshui is to create environments where the chi flows smoothly to achieve physical and mental health.

FENGSHUI AND REAL ESTATE:

Not only South East Asia but the Western world too in-corporate Fengshui principles and considers it as an effective tool. In Taiwan whenever a new skyscraper goes up the owners hire a Fengshui consultant to plan and build their buildings. Fengshui is thousands of years old philosophy but its principles are as much relevant today. Example: The Form School of Fengshui proposes that the best site for a home is on a south-facing slope - preferably between two hills of unequal size (the Green Dragon and the White Tiger). Ideally, a river will be running along one side of the structure. The river should then turn in front of the building and then disappear.
Looked at another way, such a home on the south slope gets the maximum hours of sunlight, is shielded from the chilly, health-sapping north wind and has a good supply of water for drinking and cleaning. By then conveniently disappearing under the ground and gravel, the river carries away effluents and other "dirty" water.
Therefore with a little foresight and a good knowledge of Fengshui we can select the best place for ourselves.

In the coming weeks we shall investigate about the different aspects of both Vastu and Fengshui and how both can be a very powerful tool for increased effectiveness. The meaning purpose and role attached to every direction. How an alignment of the house, with the four directions can bring a healthy and positive change and lots more.

Contributed By : Sabina Vanjani