Eight Directions — Feng Shui Bagua Reference

Each of the eight compass directions has a trigram, an element, and a life area. When you know what each direction means, you can read your home like a map. Different areas of your home support different areas of your life.

↓ North — 坎 Kǎn ☵

North — Career & Life Path

ElementWater
Trigram坎 Kǎn ☵
Life Area事業 — Career & Life Path
Favorable Kua1, 3, 4, 9 (East Group)
ColorBlack, dark blue
Associated KuaKua 1

North is the direction of Water. It is linked to winter — the quiet time before things start to move. In Feng Shui, the North area of your home is connected to your career and the opportunities that come through your work. When this area is clean and unblocked, your professional life tends to move forward more easily.

North is especially good for Kua 1 people, who share the Water element with this direction. All East Group people (Kua 1, 3, 4, 9) benefit from keeping the North area of their home active and well maintained.

Practical Application Keep the North wall of your office or study free of clutter. A small water feature — even a desktop fountain — placed in the North area supports career energy. Dark blue or black objects work well here. Avoid heavy furniture that blocks the space.
↗ Northeast — 艮 Gèn ☶

Northeast — Knowledge & Wisdom

ElementEarth (Mountain)
Trigram艮 Gèn ☶
Life Area智識 — Knowledge & Wisdom
Favorable Kua2, 6, 7, 8 (West Group)
ColorSandy yellow, earth tones
Associated KuaKua 8

Northeast is the direction of Mountain Earth. Like a mountain, it is still and patient. In Feng Shui, the Northeast area of your home is connected to knowledge and deep learning. This is not about studying fast. It is about the kind of knowledge that changes how you see the world.

This direction works best for people who study over a long time — meditation, spiritual practice, or any subject that takes years to understand. It rewards consistency. Come back to it regularly.

Practical Application Place your meditation cushion, altar, or study desk facing Northeast. Crystals, stones, or earth-toned ceramics work well in this area. Keep it quiet — this is not a space for social activity. Put the books you are actively reading here.
→ East — 震 Zhèn ☳

East — Family & New Beginnings

ElementWood (Thunder)
Trigram震 Zhèn ☳
Life Area家庭 — Family & New Beginnings
Favorable Kua1, 3, 4, 9 (East Group)
ColorGreen
Associated KuaKua 3

East is the direction of Wood. It is linked to spring — the time of new beginnings. In Feng Shui, the East area of your home is connected to family and to the start of new projects. A well-kept East area supports your family relationships and gives energy to the things you are just beginning.

East energy moves up and out. It is the energy of starting, not finishing. This makes it ideal for the beginning of any project. When you care for this direction, your new beginnings have more strength and more chance to grow.

Practical Application Plants that grow upward — bamboo, pothos, or any green plant — work well in the East. Put family photographs in the East area of your home. Keep this space alive: light, plants, and fresh air all support this direction.
↘ Southeast — 巽 Xùn ☴

Southeast — Wealth & Abundance

ElementWood (Wind)
Trigram巽 Xùn ☴
Life Area財富 — Wealth & Abundance
Favorable Kua1, 3, 4, 9 (East Group)
ColorGreen, purple
Associated KuaKua 4

Southeast is the direction of Wind Wood. Like wind, it finds its way through everything with patience and constant movement. In Feng Shui, the Southeast is the wealth area of your home. It does not bring sudden money. It builds wealth slowly, for those who take care of their finances with regular attention.

Southeast is about more than money. It is about the feeling that you have enough — that what you need arrives when you need it. When this area is well kept, that feeling becomes a steady part of your life, not just occasional good luck.

Practical Application Healthy plants with round leaves work best in the Southeast — avoid spiky or drooping ones. A small water feature that flows toward the center of your home is also good here. Use purple or deep green in this area. The most important rule: keep this space alive. Never let it go static.
↑ South — 離 Lí ☲

South — Recognition & Reputation

ElementFire
Trigram離 Lí ☲
Life Area名譽 — Recognition & Reputation
Favorable Kua1, 3, 4, 9 (East Group)
ColorRed, orange, bright tones
Associated KuaKua 9

South is the direction of Fire. Fire makes things visible. In Feng Shui, the South area of your home is connected to your reputation — how others see you and your work. A well-kept South supports the kind of recognition that comes from real work being seen by the right people.

South energy moves outward. It needs fuel to keep burning. If you are building your reputation or trying to become more visible in your field, pay attention to the South area of your home and workspace.

Practical Application Candles, warm lighting, or a fireplace work well in the South. Place your awards, diplomas, or any sign of recognition in the South area. Use red or orange accents. Avoid heavy, dark objects here — they suppress the energy of this direction.
↙ Southwest — 坤 Kūn ☷

Southwest — Love & Relationships

ElementEarth
Trigram坤 Kūn ☷
Life Area婚姻 — Love & Relationships
Favorable Kua2, 6, 7, 8 (West Group)
ColorYellow, pink, earth tones
Associated KuaKua 2

Southwest is the direction of Earth. It is connected to the energy of the mother — receptive, nurturing, and supportive. In Feng Shui, the Southwest area of your home is connected to love, romance, and close relationships. This is the area of feeling welcomed and cared for.

When the Southwest is cluttered or neglected, close relationships often have more friction. This is not about character — it is about the energy around your partnership at home. Taking care of this area creates better conditions for love to grow.

Practical Application Place pairs of objects in the Southwest — two candles, two crystals, a photo of you and your partner. Use soft earth tones, pink, or terracotta. Above all, keep this area free of clutter — clutter in the Southwest is one of the most common causes of relationship problems in Feng Shui. A clean, warm Southwest creates better conditions for closeness.
← West — 兌 Duì ☱

West — Children & Creativity

ElementMetal (Lake)
Trigram兌 Duì ☱
Life Area子女 — Children & Creativity
Favorable Kua2, 6, 7, 8 (West Group)
ColorWhite, gold, silver
Associated KuaKua 7

West is the direction of Metal. It is linked to harvest — the time when things are completed. In Feng Shui, the West area of your home is connected to children, creativity, and joy. This is the area of everything you create — raising a child, making art, building something from your own vision.

West energy is light and joyful. It rewards people who enjoy what they make. When you work with real pleasure — not just effort — this direction supports you. Keeping the West area active supports creativity in all its forms.

Practical Application Metal objects in white, gold, or silver work well in the West. Display your children's artwork or your own creative work here. Keep this area open and light — not heavy or cluttered. A round metal bowl is a simple and traditional way to activate this direction.
↖ Northwest — 乾 Qián ☰

Northwest — Helpful People & Travel

ElementMetal (Heaven)
Trigram乾 Qián ☰
Life Area貴人 — Helpful People & Travel
Favorable Kua2, 6, 7, 8 (West Group)
ColorWhite, silver, grey
Associated KuaKua 6

Northwest is the direction of Heaven Metal. It is strong, disciplined, and connected to leadership. In Feng Shui, the Northwest area of your home is connected to helpful people — mentors, supporters, and those who arrive at exactly the right moment. It is also connected to travel and to the networks that help your work reach further.

When this area is well kept, you tend to attract people who can help you — mentors, partners, and supporters. It also supports international connections and long journeys. Take care of this area when you need help from others or when you want to grow beyond your current limits.

Practical Application Metal objects, globes, or maps work well in the Northwest. You can also place photos of mentors or people you admire here. Use silver, white, or grey in this area. Avoid wood or earth objects — they conflict with the Metal energy of this direction.

Find out what this means for you

The eight directions are a key part of how Feng Shui is applied to your home and life. In the Sanctuary app, Indre uses your personal birth data to show you exactly which directions matter most for you — and how to use them.

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