In our previous post, we covered the fundamentals of the Feng Shui Bagua map—the energetic grid used to analyze the different aspects of your life as they correspond to your living space. We discussed how to lay this map over a standard, rectangular floor plan to identify your Wealth corner, Relationship area, and Career sector.
But here is the reality for many homeowners and renters: most modern homes are not perfect squares.
From L-shaped apartments to split-level houses and architectural cut-outs, irregular floor plans are incredibly common. If you tried to apply the standard grid to your home and felt confused because your "Wealth corner" seems to be floating in the backyard, this guide is for you.
In this second installment of our Bagua series, we are diving deep into troubleshooting the Bagua map for home layouts that are irregular. We will cover how to handle missing corners, how to identify extensions, and how to use the "Micro-Bagua" to correct energy flow.
The Challenge of the Irregular Shape
In Feng Shui, the ideal shape for a home is a square or a rectangle. This shape represents stability, balance, and the element of Earth. Qi (energy) flows smoothly and evenly throughout the space, nurturing all nine areas of your life equally.
When a home has a missing sector (like in an L-shape or U-shape), the Qi can become destabilized. It implies that the energy supporting a specific area of your life—be it your health, your career, or your relationships—is missing, weak, or compromised.
However, do not panic. Feng Shui offers "cures" or adjustments to energeticially complete the shape of your home.
Step 1: Determine if it is a Missing Corner or an Extension
Before you apply a cure, you must identify the diagnosis. When a piece of the floor plan sticks out or cuts in, it is classified as either a Missing Area or a Projection (Extension).
To determine which one it is, draw a square or rectangle around the entire footprint of your home. Compare the protruding part to the width of the wall it is attached to.
The 50% Rule
- Missing Corner: If the indented area is less than 50% of the total length of that side of the house, it is considered a missing corner. This is generally viewed as a negative that needs fixing.
- Extension (Projection): If the protruding area is less than 50% of the width of the house, it is considered an extension. Generally, extensions are considered positive! They add extra energy to that specific area of your life.
Step 2: Curing Missing Corners
If you have identified a missing corner, the goal is to energetically "push out" the walls to complete the square. Here are effective cures you can use based on where the missing sector lies.
1. The Visual Expansion (Internal Cures)
If the missing corner is a negative space outside (like the empty part of an 'L'), you need to work on the walls that border that empty space.
- Mirrors: This is the most classic cure. Place a large mirror on the wall bordering the missing sector. The reflection symbolically pulls the outside energy in and expands the room, energetically completing the missing shape.
- Perspective Art: Hang art that features paths, landscapes, or deep horizons on the border wall to create a sense of depth.
2. The External Completion (Outdoor Cures)
If you have access to the yard or garden where the "missing" area is located, you can complete the Bagua physically.
- Lighting: Install a lamp post or a solar light at the corner where the house would end if it were a perfect square. This anchors the Qi.
- Landscaping: Plant a tree, a heavy shrub, or place a large rock or statue at the hypothetical corner to "close" the energy loop.
3. Elemental Cures by Sector
Enhance the wall adjacent to the missing area with the element associated with that missing Bagua area.
- Missing Wealth (Southeast): Use Wood elements (tall plants) or Water elements (fountains) near the missing area.
- Missing Love (Southwest): Use Earth elements (crystals, ceramics) or Fire elements (lights, red accents).
- Missing Career (North): Use Water elements (mirrors, black/blue decor) or Metal elements.
Step 3: Managing Extensions
If you have an extension (a room that projects out), congratulations! You have bonus energy in that sector. However, you want to ensure this extra energy doesn't overwhelm the rest of the house.
- Wealth Extension: You may find it easy to make money, but ensure you aren't obsessed with work.
- Relationship Extension: You likely have a happy social life, but ensure you maintain boundaries.
The Fix: Generally, you don't need to "cure" an extension, but you should ensure the room located there is kept clutter-free and well-lit to maximize the benefit.
Plan B: The Micro-Bagua (The Small Tai Chi)
Sometimes, a floor plan is simply too chaotic. Perhaps you live in a complex loft, or you rent a room in a shared house where you cannot control the outer perimeter. In these cases, you use the Micro-Bagua, also known as the Small Tai Chi.
Instead of applying the Bagua map to the whole house, you apply it to a single room, usually the bedroom or living room.
How to apply the Micro-Bagua:
- Treat the door to the room as the "Mouth of Chi" (the bottom of the Bagua map).
- Align the bottom of the map (Knowledge, Career, Travel) with the wall containing the door.
- Overlay the grid on that specific room.
For example, if you are renting a room and the house has a missing "Love/Relationship" corner, you can activate the Love corner of your bedroom (the far right corner from the door) to compensate.
Specific Tips for Common Irregular Shapes
The L-Shaped House
This is the most common irregularity. An L-shape always implies a significant missing sector.
- Tip: Use the "External Completion" method mentioned above. If that is impossible (e.g., you are in an apartment), place a facetted crystal sphere in the corner of the room that borders the missing space to disperse and correct the Qi.
The U-Shaped House
This shape often creates a "missing heart," meaning the center (Tai Chi) of the home falls outside the structure (often in a patio or courtyard).
- Tip: The center represents health and unity. If your center is outside, treat that patio or courtyard with reverence. Keep it clean, maintain beautiful plants there, and perhaps install a central focal point like a fountain or fire pit to ground the home's energy.
Conclusion
Don't let an irregular floor plan discourage you from using the Bagua map for your home. In Feng Shui, intention is everything. By identifying the missing areas and applying cures with a clear intention to balance the space, you can correct the flow of Qi regardless of your home's architectural quirks.
Remember, a "perfect" home isn't one that is a perfect square; it's one where the energy is nurtured, balanced, and loved.
