Using the Classical Bagua in the Southern Hemisphere Is Not Easy, Here’s How to Apply It

The classical feng shui bagua cannot be applied in the Southern Hemisphere the same way as in the Northern one. We know that in the Northern Hemisphere (where feng shui originated) the strongest Fire element energy, the midday sun, comes from the South. When you are in the Southern Hemisphere, though, the Fire element energy comes from the North.

Because the classical bagua is defined by compass directions and by feng shui elements, it is only logical to reverse its application. There is no consensus in the feng shui world on this; most practitioners say to keep classical bagua the same, which makes no logical sense. I live in the Northern Hemisphere but have worked with clients (at a distance) that are located in the Southern Hemisphere. I also traveled there a few times, so what I offer here is based both on years of full-time practice, as well as lived experience.

To illustrate the application of classical bagua in the Southern hemisphere, I will show the steps based on Lo Shu Square, the ancient origin of bagua.

Each number in the Lo Shu Square expresses a specific feng shui element. For example, number 6 is a strong expression of the Metal element, this is why when a space needs a potent Metal element cure we suggest it in 6, as in a wind chime with 6 metal hollow rods, or 6 metal singing bowls. Each number in the Lo Shu Square is also an expression of specific energy in motion (from hourly to yearly) called Star in the Flying Stars school of feng shui.

Now I will add the compass directions to the numbers of the Lo Shu Square as located in the classical feng shui bagua.

Next, I will add the feng shui elements which are as crucial as numbers because, as mentioned above, the elements are expressed in numbers (as they are also expressed in specific colors and shapes).

Now comes the difficult part of correctly reversing the classical feng shui bagua, and here we have to go slow and apply clear thinking based on logical deductions. This is very important because there are no rules about in feng shui; you know it originated in the Northern Hemisphere.

The center of the Lo Shu square obviously stays the same, with its number 5 of the Earth element; we start by reversing the elemental energies of South and North. As I already noted, in the Southern hemisphere the strongest, most fiery energy of the midday sun, is in the Northern skies, opposite to the strongest sun energy being in the Southern skies in the Northern hemisphere. It is a reverse, mirror-like expression. So the Fire element with its number 9 goes to the North (to align with the energies of the Southern hemisphere), and the Water element with its number 1 goes to South area.

Next we bring the elemental energies of the East-West axis because we know that they stay the same (the sun always rises in the East, no matter which hemisphere we are in, the Southern or the Northern one).

Next, in following the reverse/mirror like principle, we fill the rest of the numbers based on the integrity of the Lo Shu Square.

Here is the classical bagua map as applied in the Southern hemisphere (with bagua areas and colors as expressions of feng shui elements).

I trust this brought you clarity. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere and the classical bagua application feels like too much work, you can always choose the other bagua as it is way easier to apply. The key is to choose one bagua style, and to enjoy applying feng shui in your home.