Origins of the Bagua

Transcription

1 Origins of the Bagua The Bagua is a pattern formed from the eight trigrams of the I Ching. Legend says that this pattern was revealed to Fu Xi, one of China s greatest emperors ( BC) years ago tortoise shells were used for divination. The story is that during meditation Fu Xi discovered this pattern on the back of a tortoise that crawled from the sacred river Lo and he knew that there was an important message hidden within the markings. The tortoise pattern is shown below. Fu Xi directed his scholars to work with the patterns and identify the message. They discovered remarkable symmetry and a map of the Universe. This map is what we call now The Lo Shu. Fu Xi s Tortoise The arrangement of the pattern The Lo Shu Magic Square The central square, identified with the number 5, represents the balance of heaven and earth. The number 5 is denoting the 5 elements of Chinese medicine that bring energy into form. Each surrounding square represents one of the qualities of life on earth. From these patterns, 8 trigrams were derived. These associated trigrams (a combination of 3 yin and yang lines) illustrate the ways that energy moves on earth. The eight trigrams can be used to understand the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of life. The trigrams are given names associated with an earth form or natural phenomenon that helps describe their energetic expression. The patterns of interaction between the trigrams illustrates the nature of all relationships. Furthermore, these 8 trigrams create 64 possible combinations, which are the 64 trigrams of the I Ching. Historical references are from The I Ching Workbook by Roger Green

2 The Origin of the Eight Trigrams of the Bagua The following chart shows how the eight trigrams of the Bagua are derived from Yin and Yang. These trigrams form the basis of the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching. It is these 8 trigrams, and the resulting 64 hexagrams, that form the foundation for Chinese philosophy (Confuscism and Taoism) and Chinese medicine (including EAcupuncture, Feng Shui, Chigong, Tai Chi, and food energetics).

3 Elements of the Bagua Fortunate Blessings, Abundance, Wealth Fame, Illumination, Clarity, Being Seen in the World Unconditional Love, Marriage, Relationships, Partnerships Trigram: Xun, Wind, Penetrating Element: Wood/Tree/Space Late Spring, spring matures, full abundance and growth Number: 4 Southeast Color: Green, Purple Trigram: Li, Fire, Radiance Element: Fire Summer, brightness, Number: 9 South Color: Red Trigram: Kun, Earth, Field Late Summer, hidden potential, the receptive, germination, fertility Number: 2 Southwest Color: Pink, Earth Tones Family, Elders, Ancestors Tai Chi Health and Unity Creativity, Children Trigram: Zhen, Thunder, Shake Element: Wood/Tree/Space Early Spring, new ideas, vitality, impulsiveness Number: 3 East Color: Green Number: 5 Color: Deep Yellow, Earth Tones Trigram: Dui, Lake, Open Element; Metal Early Fall, harvest, maturation, self reflection, insight Number: 7 West Color: White Self Knowledge, Wisdom, Contemplation Career, Life Path, Journey Helpful Friends, Community, Reciprocity, Travel Trigram: Gen, Mountain, Bound Late Winter, change, revolution, turning point, new direction Number: 8 Northeast Color: Earth Tones Trigram: Kan, Water, Pit Element: Water Winter, retreat, inaction Number: 1 North Color: Black, Blue Trigram: Qian, Heaven, Force Element: Metal Late Fall, clarification, responsibility, accomplishment Number: 6 Northwest Color: Gray

4 Your Current Life Overview Please rate the nine following aspects of your life from A to D. Think about the present moment in time and use the rating system as follows. Circle the appropriate letter on the numbered list below. You may also summarize any significant issue or issues in the spaces provided. If you are uncertain about the correct response, just put your first reaction. A: This part of your life is very fulfilling and brings much happiness. B: This aspect is going well, but there is still room for improvement. C: This is an area that you would definitely like to improve upon. D: In this aspect of life you feel stuck or discouraged. It s not going well at all. 1. A B C D Your career, your life path, your journey. 2. A B C D Relationships and unconditional love. Especially a primary relationship or life partner. 3. A B C D Family, elders, your parents, and grandparents. This area can also refer to your relationships with people in authority. 4. A B C D The area of prosperity and well being. Your ability to attract resources and abundance into your life. 5. A B C D Your state of well being and health. Consider your physical health as well as your overall sense of well being and vitality in your life. 6. A B C D This area is called helpful friends and travel, referring to your sense of community, and support, both in the physical and non-physical worlds. Do you feel connected and supported? Do you experience the reciprocity of giving and receiving? 7. A B C D Children, creativity, and creative expression. This area represents the creativity of children in your life, as well as all other forms of creativity. 8. A B C D The path of wisdom and self knowledge. Do you feel nourished and challenged on your path of personal growth and exploration? 9. A B C D Fame and illumination. Do you experience being seen and appreciated in the world? Do you feel valued for the unique gifts and abilities that you contribute? Do you feel free to fully express yourself?

5 Mapping Your Current Life Overview Abundance Prosperity Self-Worth 4. Fame Reputation Illumination 9. Marriage Relationship Unconditional Love 2. Ancestors Elders Family 3. Health Unity 5. Creativity Children 7. Wisdom Contemplation Spirituality 8. Career Life Path Your Journey 1. Helpful Friends Travel, Community Reciprocity 6. Place your responses from the previous Current Life Overview Activity in the spaces provided above. By mapping your responses into the Bagua, and then overlaying the Bagua onto a floor plan, you can see how your environment is related to all of these aspects of your life. To begin working intentionally with the Bagua, choose one of the above areas of your life. Find the related area or sector of your home and work with that area of your home using the following principles: 1. Connecting: Set your intentions and ask your home for support. 2. Clearing: Clean, clear clutter, organize, bring to order. 3. Cultivating: Enhance the area with new symbols, objects and activities that support your intention in this aspect of your life. Enhancing can also mean rearranging the space for a new perspective or fresh approach to life. After you have worked with the primary area, you can also consider which other areas of your home will support this intention. For example, if your intentions are around health you may have begun by working on the center of your home (area 5, Health Unity). Next, you may apply this process to the kitchen as it is an area that directly supports health. You can also choose other areas of the Bagua. For example, the Helpful Friends area will offer additional support from your community and guides. The wisdom area will help you access new information and understandings. The prosperity area will support your health by expanding your experience of abundance. Your environment comes alive when you understand it as a symbolic map and mirror of your life experience.