How to Apply the Feng Shui Bagua in the Southern Hemisphere

Bagua, or the feng shui energy map, is the foundation of feng shui work that assigns different energies to different geographical directions. For example, the North has the energy related to your career and is nourished by the water feng shui element energy. South has strong fire feng shui element energy and supports your efforts in expressing your inner fire, talents, and creativity. But these directions are based on the perspective of the Northern Hemisphere. What if you live in the Southern Hemisphere? Do you apply feng shui the same way in Australia as you would in Austria?

Feng Shui in the Southern Hemisphere

The short answer to this essential question is that you do apply the bagua differently in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The long answer is based on the fact that feng shui evolved as a study of earth energies, not as a body of rigid rules. The cycles in the Southern Hemisphere are opposite to the cycles in the Northern Hemisphere, and you cannot practice feng shui any place without actually listening to its rhythms, understanding its cycles, and following its basic movement of energies.

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere (where feng shui was developed thousands of years ago in China), you receive the Fire element/Strong Sun/Yang energy while facing south. However, if you live in the Southern Hemisphere, the Fire element/Strong Sun/Yang energy is coming from the north, not from the south. This means that you should reverse the feng shui bagua so that it correctly reflects the energies of where you live.

Bagua Map Guides

The following charts outline the bagua differences between the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Each area includes the energy, such as the energy of health in the East bagua area, as well as the number, or feng shui stars related to the flying star school of feng shui or the Lo Shu Square, which is the foundation of the feng shui bagua.

We know that no matter where on earth one is located, the sun always rises in the east and sets in the west. However, in the Southern Hemisphere, the sun moves through the northern skies to set in the west, while in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun's route is through the southern skies. So if you live in Canada, for example, the hottest, strongest, most fiery energy in your bagua map is in the South bagua area with its feng shui element of Fire, the number 9, and the energy connected to Fame and Reputation. If you live in New Zealand, the same energies are found in the North bagua area.

Feng Shui Bagua in the Northern Hemisphere

SOUTHEAST #4 Wood Element Wealth	SOUTH #9 Fire Element Fame	SOUTHWEST #2 Earth Element Love and Marriage
EAST #3 Wood Element Health	CENTER #5 Heart/Yin Yang Point	WEST #7 Metal Element Creativity/Children
NORTHEAST #8 Earth Element Spiritual Growth/Cultivation	NORTH #1 Water Element Career/Path in Life	NORTHWEST #6 Metal Element Helpful People/Blessings

Feng Shui Bagua in the Southern Hemisphere

SOUTHEAST #8 Earth Element Spiritual Growth/Cultivation	SOUTH #1 Water Element Career/Path in Life	SOUTHWEST #6 Metal Element Helpful People/Blessings
EAST #3 Wood Element Health	CENTER #5 Heart/Yin Yang Point	WEST #7 Metal Element Creativity/Children
NORTHWEST #4 Wood Element Wealth	NORTH #9 Fire Element Fame	NORTHEAST #2 Earth Element Love and Marriage