Fast Feng Shui Blog
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April 10, 2009
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Ba Gua Mirrors and Your Neighbors |
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Two questions have come in asking if a ba gua mirror can be used inside an apartment or in an apartment house hallway, to deflect noise and/or "negative energy" coming from a neighbor's unit.
The short answer is no: hoping that it will help with a bad-neighbor situation doesn't negate the rule that a ba gua mirror should never be used in an interior space. That includes an apartment building hallway. The hallway is outside your apartment, but it's inside the building, and it's a space that you use on a daily basis. Be careful what you put there.
I believe that a ba gua mirror is only used appropriately as protection against inanimate sources of sha chi -- such as a road aimed at your house, or the sharp corner of a neighboring building. Bouncing "behavioral sha chi" (noise, or other inconsiderate behavior) back at your neighbors with any kind of mirror may feel empowering, but I think it's a bad idea. You want to defuse the situation, not add fuel to the fire.
A better solution is to find a way to send positive intentions to those troublesome folks next door -- no matter how irritated or exasperated you may feel. Hang an image that conveys blessings of some kind (whatever religious or spiritual heritage feels right to you) either within your home or above your front door so it faces the neighbors and showers them with good vibes.
If your neighbors often play loud music at night, visualize them making lots of new friends and socializing with those friends at a bar or club... so they make noise in a more appropriate place than next door to you. Feel happy for them that they're having such a good time, and happy for yourself that you now can enjoy some peace and quiet, even before it happens.
Truly aggravating neighbors may prompt you to wish the problem would be solved when they get hit by a bus. If you're tempted to imagine that kind of fate for anyone, try to rise above it. Imagine instead that these irksome pests encounter great good fortune, such as getting a fabulous job offer in another city so their luck literally moves them out of the building to somewhere far away from you.
This will be much better for both of you than focusing on annoyances and frustrations, which is unlikely to result in a pleasant outcome for anyone.
I've had nothing but fabulous neighbors for many years now, and wish the same for all of you.
Stephanie
PS: If it turns out you're the one who gets that irresistible offer to move, be sure to include "wonderful, quiet, considerate neighbors" on your list of what you're looking for in your new home.Labels: ba gua, mirrors, noisy neighbors
posted by Stephanie R. #
4/10/2009 11:53:00 AM
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March 21, 2009
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Ba Gua or Ba Gua MIrror? |
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I've received several questions recently asking about use of the ba gua and/or ba gua mirror, and whether or not it's "bad luck" to have one in the home.
No wonder people are confused. There are many styles of feng shui (some much more superstitious than others) and a lot of conflicting or even misleading information out there. I'm wondering if this tip, which recently appeared in someone else's newsletter, may be why I've been getting ba gua-related questions lately:
"The Bagua is an all-powerful tool to ward off bad energies and poison arrows from your home, and they are expressly created to be hung at the exterior of one's home. Do not under any circumstances hang one inside your house as a form or decoration!"
This tip was accompanied by photos of various ba guas and ba gua mirrors as though they are the same thing. But according to the contemporary style of feng shui that I practice, the advice quoted above applies to ba gua MIRRORS only, not to the ba gua itself.
A ba gua mirror is a round mirror in an octagonal frame. The frame is usually yellow or red, with black and/or green accents, marked with the eight I Ching "trigrams" arranged like this:
The ba gua MIRROR is a powerful tool for deflecting negative energy, and yes, it should only be used outside the home.
BTW: I have occasionally seen octagonal mirrors marketed as "ba gua" mirrors, but they're not. It's the octagonal frame and trigrams that make it a "ba gua mirror." An octagonal mirror is just an eight-sided mirror. While the octagon itself is considered an auspicious shape because it references the ba gua, an octagonal mirror has no special qualities in and of itself.
However, the BA GUA is not the same as a ba gua MIRROR. The ba gua is a representation of the univeral energy qualities of a space, and as such is a HIGHLY AUSPICIOUS object that can be used anywhere in the home. It is particularly good to place in the center of the home as a symbol of good chi and good fortune. This includes a feng shui compass, because the compass includes the trigrams on one of the innermost rings.
The trigrams on the ba gua symbol or compass are in a different arrangement than they appear on the mirror. The ba gua map/symbol/compass shows the trigrams in the later heaven sequence (on the left, below), while a ba gua mirror should have the trigrams in the early heaven sequence (on the right, below).
So, to summarize:
Ba gua MIRROR: a protective remedy used only to deflect NEGATIVE chi, and only outside the home.
Ba gua (no mirror): a positive symbol that can be used INSIDE the home to add POSITIVE energy to your space.
As always, that's my opinion, coming from the contemporary style of feng shui practice. Practitioners from other traditions may disagree.
Labels: ba gua, mirrors
posted by Stephanie R. #
3/21/2009 10:32:00 AM
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October 31, 2008
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Bathroom Across from Entry |
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Q: When you enter my flat, there's a center hallway that leads to a bathroom. The bathroom door faces the main door. I do have a feeling this might be causing the financial problems we are facing. Nothing seems to be working out to better our finances or help me find a new job. We'll be really grateful for any cure you can suggest.
A: If your bathroom is directly opposite the door, at the end of a hallway in the center of your home, it is in the Fame/Reputation gua, not your Weatlh or Career areas. That could affect how others perceive you, which would be a factor when applying for a job, for example. While you might wish to address that (suggestions follow), I doubt it's the underlying cause of work/wealth problems. See this post for why I think feng shui bathroom phobia is often an overreaction.
Decorating your bathroom with greens, purples, reds, and some living plants, if possible, will help create a space more “friendly” to the Fire element associated with Fame and reputation.
Keep in mind that chi goes where your attention goes. If you are concerned about the bathroom placement, the first and easiest solution is to keep the door closed or just a little ajar so you don't see into the bathroom when you enter your home. Look for opportunities to place something to attract your attention away from the bathroom as you enter the apartment. For example, if space allows, you might place a console table and attractive floral arrangement (artificial flowers okay) or lamp (on a timer, so it's lit when you come home in the evening) in the foyer, or hang a beautiful tapestry or fabric panel, or an art poster, somewhere along the hallway or even on the bathroom door to catch your eye.
A faceted crystal ball halfway down the hall, or chandelier-style light fixture in the foyer or hall will also help to divert chi from the bathroom.
Although a large mirror is often recommended for the outside of the bathroom door, I would not recommend it in your case because it will visually double the length of the hallway, which will encourage chi to move too quickly in that direction.
Don't forget to examine your wealth and career areas as well: any feng shui problems in those areas will have a more direct impact on your job/money issues than the bathroom.
Hope this helps clarify things for you,
Stephanie R.
Q+A POLICY
The purpose of this Q+A service is to clarify modern feng shui principles and remedies, and to help you make sense of contradictory teachings you’re likely to come across. If you are new to this blog, please read the Q+A Guidelines (see sidebar on left) before sending me a question. Do expect that I will edit your message for clarity and focus, and that it will be several days (often longer) before I post a reply. Keep in mind, too, that you’re getting my personal opinion on the topic. If you ask someone else, you might get a different answer.Labels: bathroom, crystals, doors, Feng Shui Q+A, mirrors, prosperity
posted by Stephanie R. #
10/31/2008 10:18:00 AM
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September 15, 2008
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Feeling Invisible |
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Q: I am single and ready for a relationship, but I am not getting much attention from the opposite sex at all. It seems like I am invisible, even though I have placed images of a couple embracing and of a couple being married in my Relationship power spots. What else can I do to jazz up my love life?
A: What most interests me in your question is the phrase, “it seems I am invisible.” The words any client uses to describe their situation are important, so that’s the kind of aha clue that feng shui practitioners listen for. I expect there’s something going on in your house that echoes invisibility in some way.
My first guess would be that it has something to do with mirrors. What do (or don’t) the mirrors in your home reflect, and are they positioned in places where the lighting is good and you can get a good look at yourself? If you can’t see yourself clearly, how can you expect others to notice you? For example, if the only large mirror in your space is a full-length one on the inside of a closet door that is usually kept closed (which I’ve seen in a client’s home), that may be contributing to your “invisibility.”
Do you have a good-sized mirror near your front door, so you take a look at yourself before venturing out into the world? If you don’t, I recommend one: it will help with your visibility, especially if you pause for a moment to check your reflection before you venture out every day.
As for “jazzing up” your love life, that's an interesting phrase, too. What does that mean to you? For example, if I take it literally I would suggest including a picture of a couple having a grand time at a jazz club among your relationship “cures.”
I suspect you may also have missed an important imagery step, which is to cut out your face from a snapshot, and paste it over the face of the woman in the couple photographs you already have. You want those loving moments to be about you, not about some stranger from a magazine.
Wishing you admiring glances from someone special soon,
Stephanie R.Labels: Feng Shui Q+A, mirrors, relationships
posted by Stephanie R. #
9/15/2008 10:13:00 AM
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August 29, 2008
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Mirror facing the bed |
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Q: I'm new at Feng Shui, and don’t know what to do about my bedroom. The mirror is on my dresser, facing the foot of my bed. There’s really no other way to arrange the furniture in this space, so what kind of cure can I do to make this a better Feng Shui bedroom? A: If you are concerned about the mirror, all you have to do is drape a pretty shawl or scarf over it at night, so the mirror is covered while you are sleeping. That will solve the problem. StephanieLabels: bedroom, Feng Shui Q+A, mirrors
posted by Stephanie R. #
8/29/2008 11:56:00 AM
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July 31, 2008
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Mirrors Opposite Windows and Doors |
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Q: I'm a new subscriber and enjoyed reading your archives. I'm confused about the use of mirrors in feng shui. I spent yesterday moving mirrors to various locations because in their previous locations they reflected doors or windows. Yet, I also read that a mirror should reflect a beautiful view. How can I place a mirror to reflect a pretty view when it shouldn't be placed oppostite a window/door?
A: I don't know where you read that mirrors should not be placed opposite a window or door, but this is incorrect. Placing a mirror where it will reflect an attractive natural scene into the house (i.e., a view seen through a window) is a very positive benefit and one of the traditional uses of mirrors in feng shui.
There are some people who believe that a mirror should not be placed opposite the FRONT door (not all doors!), because it is thought to "reject" or "bounce back" any positive chi coming through the door.
However, I disagree with this view, as do many other feng shui practitioners. A mirror in the entry can be very beneficial, especially in a small entry with a wall "blocking" the door. A mirror in this position opens up the wall and creates the impression of greater space, as well as reflecting exterior chi into the house.
Hope this helps you gain more enjoyment from your mirrors,
Stephanie R.
Q+A POLICY
The purpose of this Q+A service is to clarify modern feng shui principles and remedies, and to help you make sense of contradictory teachings you’re likely to come across. If you are new to this blog, please read the Q+A Guidelines (see sidebar on left). If you send me a question, do expect that I will edit your message for clarity and focus, and that it may be several days (or longer) before I post a reply. Keep in mind, too, that you’re getting my personal opinion on the topic. If you ask someone else, you might get a different answer.Labels: Feng Shui Q+A, mirrors
posted by Stephanie R. #
7/31/2008 10:50:00 AM
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