In the previous posts of this series, we explored the fundamentals of the Bagua map and how to lay it over a standard, rectangular floor plan. Ideally, in Feng Shui philosophy, a home is a perfect square or rectangle. This shape represents stability, grounding, and the earth element. It allows for a balanced distribution of Chi (energy) across all nine life areas.
But let’s face the reality of modern architecture: most homes are not perfect rectangles.
If you live in an L-shaped apartment, a split-level house, or a home with architectural cut-outs, you might feel stuck. You might be asking, "Where is my Wealth corner if there is no room there?" or "Does my L-shaped hallway mean I have bad Feng Shui?"
In this guide, we will tackle the advanced application of the Bagua map. We will look at how to map irregular spaces and, most importantly, how to "cure" missing corners to ensure your life energy remains balanced.
The Concept of "Missing Corners" vs. "Extensions"
When you overlay the nine-grid Bagua map onto an odd-shaped floor plan, some grid sections will inevitably fall outside the walls of your home. In Feng Shui, we categorize these protruding or absent areas in two ways: Extensions and Missing Corners.
The 50% Rule
To determine which one you have, look at the wall where the irregularity occurs.
- Extension (Good Luck): If the protruding part of the house is less than 50% of the width of the wall it is attached to, it is considered an extension. This is generally positive! It means you have extra energy in that specific area of your life.
- Missing Corner (Needs Attention): If the empty space (the part that isn't there) is less than 50% of the wall's width, or if a section is cut out of the main structure, it is a "missing area." This indicates a depletion of Chi in that specific life aspect.
How to Handle Common Irregular Shapes
The L-Shaped Home
This is the most common irregular shape. L-shaped homes often struggle because the center point (the Tai Chi, or health center) is not contained within the house, or one significant corner is completely missing.
- The Diagnosis: Identify which Gua (life area) is missing. For example, if the back left portion of the "L" is missing, you are missing the Wealth & Abundance area. If the front right is missing, you are missing the Travel & Helpful People area.
- The Fix: You need to energetically "complete" the square.
The U-Shaped Home
U-shaped homes often have the front door in the middle with two wings sticking out, or the reverse (a courtyard in the back).
- The Diagnosis: The danger here is usually the "mouth" of the U. If the front door is in the recessed part, it can feel like the home is retreating. If the empty space is in the center back, the home lacks a "spine" or support (Fame/Reputation area).
Practical Cures for Missing Areas
If you have identified a missing corner, don't panic. You do not need to move. Feng Shui offers "transcendental cures"—methods to energetically push the walls out and reclaim that space.
1. Structural and Visual Cures
If you own the home and have access to the exterior:
- Lighting: Install a lamp post or a strong landscape light in the corner of the yard where the corner of the house should be. This anchors the energy of the missing corner.
- Landscaping: Plant a tall tree, a heavy boulder, or a flower bed in the missing space to create a visual boundary that completes the square.
- Decking or Patios: Physically building a deck in the empty space is the best way to reclaim the footprint.
2. Interior Cures (For Apartments and Renters)
If you cannot modify the outside, you must work from the inside. Go to the room that borders the missing sector.
- Mirrors: Place a mirror on the wall that borders the missing area. The intention is to visually expand the room into the "void," symbolically pulling the missing area back into the home.
- Crystals: Hang a faceted Feng Shui crystal ball in the window or corner nearest to the missing area. Crystals disperse Chi and can help modulate the energy flow, preventing it from "leaking" out of the missing corner.
- Imagery: Use art that features depth (like a path leading into a forest) on the bordering wall to simulate expansion.
3. Elemental Cures by Sector
To strengthen a missing area, you must introduce the element associated with that Gua into the room closest to it. Here is a quick guide:
- Missing Wealth (Wood): Place a healthy, tall plant or a water feature in the area closest to this void.
- Missing Love/Relationships (Earth): Use ceramic pottery, crystals (like Rose Quartz), or square shapes.
- Missing Career (Water): Use mirrors, black/dark blue decor, or water imagery.
- Missing Fame (Fire): Use triangular shapes, bright lights, or red accents.
- Missing Creativity/Children (Metal): Use round shapes, metal sculptures, or white/grey colors.
The "Small Tai Chi" Method (The Micro-Bagua)
Sometimes, a floor plan is simply too chaotic to map effectively. It might be a zig-zag shape, a long narrow hallway, or a studio apartment with strange angles.
In these cases, stop worrying about the whole-house Bagua. Instead, apply the Small Tai Chi.
This method involves laying the Bagua map over a single room—typically the Living Room or the Bedroom.
- Treat the door to the room as the "bottom" of the map (Mouth of Chi).
- Overlay the grid on that room alone.
- Activate the corners within that room.
For example, if your house has a missing Wealth corner, go to your Living Room. Locate the back-left corner of the Living Room (relative to the door). Enhance that spot with purple, plants, or wealth symbols. The energy of the part represents the energy of the whole.
Conclusion
Living in a home with an irregular shape does not doom you to bad luck. In fact, knowing you have a missing corner gives you a powerful advantage: awareness.
By consciously applying cures to these areas, you are paying extra attention to those aspects of your life. Often, the energy put into "curing" a missing Relationship corner yields better results than simply ignoring a perfect one.
Look at your floor plan, identify the gaps, and start weaving the energy back together. Your home—and your life—will thank you for it.
