If you’re interested in Feng Shui but not sure where to start, the Bagua Map is one of the most powerful tools you can use.
It’s a simple grid that helps you identify how different areas of your home or office correspond to specific areas of your life—like career, health, relationships, and wealth.
Once you understand how to use the Bagua Map, you can make small, targeted changes to invite better energy, balance, and abundance into every part of your space.
I will walk you through what the Bagua Map is, how it works, and exactly how to apply it to your space.
What Is the Bagua Map in Feng Shui?
In Feng Shui, the Bagua Map (pronounced “bah-gwah”) is a 3×3 grid that divides any space into nine energy zones.
Each zone represents an important life area, such as your career, health, wealth, relationships, and creativity.
The word “Bagua” means “eight areas” in Chinese, and each area is also associated with an element, a color, a direction, and specific symbols.
The Bagua Map allows you to overlay this energetic blueprint onto your room, home, office, or even a desk. It’s like a GPS for energy—showing you where opportunities may be stuck and where you can boost positive flow.
The 9 Life Areas of the Bagua Map
Here are the nine zones of the Bagua Map, starting from the bottom-left corner and moving row by row from left to right:
- Knowledge & Wisdom (Bottom Left)
- Element: Earth
- Color: Blue, green
- Supports: Learning, self-cultivation, inner growth
- Career & Life Path (Bottom Center)
- Element: Water
- Color: Black, dark blue
- Supports: Professional path, flow, purpose
- Helpful People & Travel (Bottom Right)
- Element: Metal
- Color: Gray, white
- Supports: Mentors, blessings, travel opportunities
- Family & Ancestors (Middle Left)
- Element: Wood
- Color: Green
- Supports: Family harmony, support, roots
- Health & Center (Middle Center)
- Element: Earth
- Color: Yellow, earthy tones
- Supports: Physical well-being, stability, balance
- Creativity & Children (Middle Right)
- Element: Metal
- Color: White, pastel
- Supports: Creative energy, future, joy
- Wealth & Abundance (Top Left)
- Element: Wood
- Color: Purple
- Supports: Prosperity, financial growth, abundance
- Fame & Reputation (Top Center)
- Element: Fire
- Color: Red
- Supports: Visibility, recognition, confidence
- Love & Relationships (Top Right)
- Element: Earth
- Color: Pink, red
- Supports: Romance, partnerships, self-love
Each square is connected to a meaningful area of life—and by enhancing that area in your space, you enhance it in your life as well.
How to Use the Bagua Map on Your Space
To use the Bagua Map, you’ll first need to determine the front entrance of the room or home. The bottom row of the Bagua (Knowledge, Career, Helpful People) always aligns with the main door or entryway, regardless of the compass direction.
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Sketch the floor plan of your home or room. It doesn’t have to be perfect—just get a basic outline of the space.
- Divide the space into nine equal sections, like a tic-tac-toe grid. Every section doesn’t have to be exactly the same size—what matters is visual balance.
- Align the bottom row of the Bagua Map with your front door or main entrance to the room.
- Label each area according to the Bagua zones:
- Bottom row: Knowledge (left), Career (center), Helpful People (right)
- Middle row: Family (left), Health (center), Creativity (right)
- Top row: Wealth (left), Fame (center), Love (right)
Once you have the map overlaid, you’ll see which parts of your space connect with which life areas.
How to Activate Each Area of the Bagua Map
Here’s how to enhance each zone of the Bagua using color, elements, and décor:
Knowledge & Wisdom (Bottom Left)
This is the area to strengthen if you want to focus better, study more effectively, or deepen your inner wisdom.
- Decorate with books, journals, symbols of learning
- Use earthy colors like blues and greens
- Add stone décor, crystals, or meaningful quotes
Career & Life Path (Bottom Center)
This area is tied to your job, direction in life, and how smoothly things are moving forward.
- Keep this space clutter-free and open
- Add a mirror, water fountain, or black rug
- Use images that represent your goals or dream job
Helpful People & Travel (Bottom Right)
This zone helps you attract mentors, supportive relationships, and travel experiences.
- Add metallic or silver accents
- Place a box for travel goals or gratitude letters
- Use photos of inspiring people or destinations
Family & Ancestors (Middle Left)
This area connects to your roots, traditions, and familial support.
- Include family photos or heirlooms
- Use green tones and wood textures
- Place a healthy plant here
Health & Center (Middle Center)
This is the heart of the Bagua and represents overall well-being and harmony.
- Keep this area open and balanced
- Add a bowl of fruit, a plant, or a yellow object
- Avoid clutter and excess furniture here
Creativity & Children (Middle Right)
This area is all about imagination, inspiration, and future projects.
- Use soft whites, pastels, or metallics
- Display artwork, crafts, or photos of children
- Keep art supplies or creative tools in this space
Wealth & Abundance (Top Left)
This is the prosperity corner—enhancing this zone attracts more flow, money, and financial opportunities.
- Add a jade plant, purple object, or a small fountain
- Use items that symbolize wealth (coins, gold, amethyst)
- Place a vision board or goal card here
Fame & Reputation (Top Center)
This area governs how you are seen by others—your status, brand, or personal confidence.
- Use red tones, candles, or fire images
- Display awards, your nameplate, or testimonials
- Add symbols of your success or public image
Love & Relationships (Top Right)
This corner supports your romantic life and relationships of all kinds.
- Decorate in pairs—two candles, two hearts, two photos
- Use pink or red and soft textures
- Place rose quartz or meaningful love-related décor
Tips for Small Spaces or Single Rooms
Don’t worry if you’re working with a single room, small apartment, or shared space. You can still apply the Bagua Map to just one room—including bedrooms, living rooms, and even desks.
- For a bedroom: Align the entrance to the room with the bottom row and adjust décor accordingly
- For a desk: The back-left corner becomes your wealth zone, front-center is career, and so on
- For an office: Overlay the Bagua on your office layout with the door as the base
Even applying the Bagua Map to a small corner can shift energy powerfully if done with intention.
What if an Area Is Missing or Blocked?
Sometimes, the Bagua reveals that a zone is missing (like an L-shaped home that lacks a top corner) or blocked (such as a bathroom in the wealth area). Don’t worry—there are always Feng Shui “cures” to balance the energy.
- Add mirrors to symbolically extend the space
- Use color, lighting, or art to energize the zone
- Place a crystal, wind chime, or plant to lift the energy
The goal is to bring awareness and balance, even when the physical layout isn’t perfect.
The Bagua Map is a beautifully simple tool that can reveal so much about your space—and your life.
By overlaying it onto your home, office, or room, you gain a new understanding of where energy is strong, where it’s stuck, and how to make small but powerful changes.
Feng Shui isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention. When you consciously decorate or adjust even one Bagua area, you’re signaling to yourself and the universe that you’re ready for positive change.
Use this map as your energetic guide, and start where you feel called. With time, you’ll notice more clarity, support, abundance, and harmony flowing into every part of your life.