The use and purpose of Taoist Ba gua mirrors

Among the various feng shui items used in home decor, one specific tool to counteract negative energies in a residence is the Bagua mirror. The Bagua mirror is a common feng shui talisman, and you can easily spot them hanging on eaves and walls as you walk down the streets. Master Longyin will now introduce how to use the Bagua mirror and its purposes.

1. Composition of the Bagua Mirror

The Bagua mirror is composed of the eight trigrams representing Heaven, Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, Thunder, Mountain, and Lake, combined with a mirror. It is a Taoist tool and generally comes in two types: the Early Heaven Bagua Mirror and the Later Heaven Bagua Mirror. Most Bagua mirrors sold in feng shui stores are Early Heaven Bagua Mirrors, with prices ranging from a few dozen to several dozen yuan, depending on size and origin.

2. Uses of the Bagua Mirror

The main use of the Bagua mirror is to counteract negative influences from surrounding buildings, such as sharp structures, power poles, transformers, roads, iron towers, sewage drains, chimneys, or doors directly facing a toilet or kitchen. If your residence faces any of these structures, you should use a Bagua mirror to adjust the energy field and neutralize negative energies. Additionally, the Bagua mirror can regulate indoor energy fields, calm anxious emotions, and help ward off illnesses. Simply hang the Bagua mirror inside your home or place it on a table.

3. Types of Bagua Mirror Surfaces

Bagua mirrors have four types of surfaces, each with different feng shui effects.

Flat Mirror

The flat Bagua mirror can both absorb and reflect energy, depending on the situation, which is determined through experience. Flat mirrors are used when there are sharp corners, roads, or angular buildings outside the house. They should not be used indoors, as the mirror needs to face outward to neutralize harmful energy.

Concave Mirror

The concave Bagua mirror absorbs and gathers energy. For example, if your front door faces a downward staircase, it symbolizes a loss of energy, indicating financial loss. Hanging a concave mirror on the door can gather the escaping energy. Concave mirrors are also used to absorb harmful energy, particularly in commercial areas to attract prosperity from the street. However, using concave mirrors requires a certain level of feng shui knowledge, as improper use can backfire. If your home has strong negative energy outside, do not use a concave mirror to absorb it, as it can lead to frequent accidents, severe illnesses, or even death.

Convex Mirror

The convex Bagua mirror is used to deflect, disperse, and neutralize negative energy. It can be used against sharp corners, road intersections, lamp posts, power poles, and other harmful structures. This mirror can turn a bad house into a good one. However, if there is no negative energy outside your home, hanging a convex mirror can reflect your good energy out, affecting your household's fortune. Always be cautious when using any type of Bagua mirror, and never direct a Bagua mirror towards someone else's door, as it is considered disrespectful. Convex mirrors should also not be used indoors.

Pure Bagua without a Mirror

Most Bagua mirrors on the market include a mirror, but there are pure Bagua items without mirrors. These can be used indoors to enhance the energy of the house. Taoist priests often wear pure Bagua for spiritual energy. When using pure Bagua indoors, you must consider your personal five elements. For example, if your zodiac sign is wood, you can hang a pure Bagua in the east or southeast to boost your personal energy and financial luck.

4. Dos and Don’ts for Using Bagua Mirrors

Suitable for Outdoor Hanging

Bagua mirrors are tools for countering negative energy. Whether flat, concave, or convex, their purpose is to absorb or block external energy, so they are suitable for outdoor use, such as on eaves or walls. Avoid placing them indoors where they reflect on people. Only one Bagua mirror should be hung in one direction, and no more than three in the whole house, to avoid negative effects.

Do Not Direct Convex Mirrors at People

Convex Bagua mirrors differ from flat mirrors. If you find a negative energy tool facing your home from outside, you can use a convex mirror to reflect it back, thus mitigating its effect. This mirror should also be placed outdoors, not indoors, and should not face people or be placed in front of doors, as it can bring bad luck.

Translating and understanding the proper use of Bagua mirrors can help ensure they are applied effectively and safely to improve feng shui and harmonize the energy in your home.