Which Bagua To Use

Understand the reason for two baguas in feng shui and choose the one that is best for your home

The bagua applications can be confusing. Feng shui in general can be very confusing. I know from my own experience that there is a strong need for logic and simplicity in approaching this ancient art. Calling it superstition does not work, relying on it as religion does not work, only a clear and practical understanding can work.

The biggest area of confusion in applying feng shui is the concept of bagua, or energy map of any space. Not only this is a very complex tool in itself, but to add to it, there are two distinctly different ways to apply the bagua in a home. What is bagua? Bagua is the main tool used in mapping a home to find specific areas called bagua areas. There are eight bagua areas plus the center, called the Yin Yang point or heart of the home. The center is not considered a bagua area in itself because it is the origin of eight areas. You’ve heard about areas of your life being connected to specific areas of your home; bagua is the tool that allows you to see this connection.

The reason there are two different baguas in feng shui is because there are two main groups of schools in this ancient art and science. The first group of schools is under the umbrella of Classical, or Traditional feng shui; it has developed the Classical bagua you can see below. This is the bagua that defines areas of your home based on compass directions; and the first step in applying this bagua is always the compass reading of your front door.

Here is the Classical bagua:

The second group of schools was initiated by bringing an ancient Tibetan school into the Western world in the mid-80s. This school is called the BTB school (Black Sect Tibetan Tantric Buddhist School); it was brought into the USA by Grandmaster Lin Yun. This bagua is easier to apply as it is always based on the location of the front door of the home and it does not consider the compass directions. Its simplicity does not take away from its power, though; I know first hand that it really works. Many people consider this bagua map superficial as compared to the Classical one, but this view is erroneous. Both bagua maps are based on the ancient Lo Shu Square.

To use this bagua map, you simply align its lower row with the wall of your front door, so your front door will be in one of the three areas in the lower row (Spiritual Growth, Career or Helpful People). Often called the Western bagua, this map is used in several modern schools that use an intuitive approach to feng shui. Sometimes this approach comes across as (or actually is) naive, so I understand why there is a widespread pragmatic attitude towards this bagua map, not knowing its origins or its wisdom.

Here is the basic BTB/Western bagua:

Now that you know a bit about the two baguas, the question is: “Which bagua should you use in your home?” This is a question that basically means “Which bagua is better?”  Even though a complex question, it has an easy answer: “The best bagua for your home is the one you want to work with.”

One bagua is not better than the other; powerful and long lasting work can be done with either one. Working with bagua means working with energy; you are establishing your own rules of engagement, so to speak. There is power in it. It is always recommended to choose one bagua style, and base all your feng shui work on it. Trying to apply both baguas when you start will inevitably bring confusion to your home and to your energy. Once you go deeper with your feng shui work, you will feel how both are actually different facets of the same coin.

However, only after mastering one can you start integrating the other. Here is an example to help illustrate what I mean. Let’s consider the location of a facing wall, the one you most prominently see when you enter any space. Feng shui-wise, the wall that you first see as you come into the space (unless it is a blocking wall that is too close to the door) is a very powerful wall. This is the wall that smart business spaces use to display powerful marketing images. In a well designed home, this is the wall that needs to carry powerful presence in order to ground and strengthen the incoming energy for the benefit of the whole home.

Now, let’s say that you use the Classical bagua and this specific wall is in the North area (Career). Knowing that this area loves Water and Metal elements, you decorate accordingly. After you apply good feng shui to all bagua areas of your home, you will inevitably feel the need to strengthen each facing/focal wall of any room (no matter which bagua area the wall is located in). This is what the BTB bagua emphasized: the facing wall of any space, be it a home or a business, needs the energy of inspiration. You probably guess I am referring to the so-called Fame area (called Light Within in ancient texts) with its fiery, energizing and inspirational energy.

This is the wall that has to feed and support both your energy, as well as the Universal energy/incoming Chi, with a specific energetic quality. So, in our example of a North bagua area wall, sooner or later you will feel the need to bring inspiring energy with a fiery feel to it, and you will sense how this changes the feeling of the whole space. This might sound complicated for now, and I genuinely do not mean to confuse you. My intent is to show you a wide open door into deeper explorations of this ancient wisdom.

There are many layers to this art, another complex one being the annual updates, which tend to be even more confusing. My best advice in working with feng shui is to stay empowered, go slow and proceed at your own pace. You are establishing a deep connection to your home, which is an inspiring long term journey rather than a quick obligation to fulfill. As with any relationship, if you rush into it expecting quick results, the energy might backfire and create negativity.

Going slow and steady allows you to listen to your home, understand its rhythms, and ask for its cooperation with this work. When we are working with the bagua, we are using a very ancient, complex and mystical tool. As with any mystery (or mastery), you can’t rush it. You can only go slowly, step by step, with patience, reflection, and consistent practice. I trust this helps you in making the right decision about the best bagua for your home.