Do we need to change pakua mirror every year

[moon88]

Dear cecil,
I read somewhere that one should change the pakua mirror every year. Is it true. Secondly one one moves to a different house one should that use the same pakua which was used in the old house. Is there any truth in this. Thanks.

[Cecil Lee]

Dear Anon,

1. In my view, in Western countries it’s more common for Feng Shui practitioners to advise their clients to hang a Ba Gua mirror to counteract Sha Qi.

2. In the East—particularly in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other parts of the Far East—Feng Shui practitioners usually make slightly different recommendations:
   
   2.1. Many Feng Shui practitioners with a religious background, such as Taoism or Buddhism, often encourage their clients to hang a Ba Gua mirror on the main door, or even on several doors, for “protection.”
   In these cases, clients are sometimes asked to place specific “charms” above their doors. These charms are usually written on yellow paper, with red writing or drawings on them.
   Alternatively, many people use a Ba Gua mirror that includes the twin images of the two door gods on the same mirror (also for protection).

   2.2. In the East, if the Feng Shui practitioner does not have a religious inclination, they typically recommend placing a Ba Gua mirror only in situations where there is “Sha Qi” or a poison arrow directed at the main door, other doors, or windows of the home.

3. Generally, the Ba Gua mirror should be checked about once a year.
   Most of the time, it is replaced anywhere from one year after it has been put up to around two or two-and-a-half years.
   In places where there is strong, direct sunlight, such as a west-facing wall, the surface of the Ba Gua mirror may fade more quickly than on a shadier side of the house.
   If the mirror is exposed to the elements—such as rain and an open outdoor location—it should be inspected regularly.

4. Here are some interesting points about the Ba Gua mirror:

   4.1. When you want to replace a Ba Gua mirror, you can simply wrap it in clean, used newspaper, tie it with a string or a red string, and then throw it away in the bin.

   4.2. One piece of advice when changing a Ba Gua mirror is to avoid doing so during the Seventh Lunar Month.
  http://www.geomancy.net/calendar/index.htm

   4.3. When the Ba Gua mirror is used for “protection” or to ward off evil, many people invite priests or monks to bless it first.
   If you cannot find a “holy person,” you can simply say a short, sincere prayer and observe a brief moment of silence before putting it up.

5. When calamity strikes:
   There are reported stories that when a Ba Gua mirror—although properly and securely fixed above the main door—suddenly falls off without any clear reason, it suggests that some kind of calamity has occurred to a member of the household. In these stories, there was no mention of strong winds or anything else that could have caused the Ba Gua mirror to fall.
   Quite scary, isn’t it?

Please note that most of the information above is based on “beliefs” rather than on Feng Shui principles alone. So ultimately, it’s really up to each person to decide how they feel about it.
Although the situation described in Paragraph 5 is rare, one might say it is an “occupational” hazard that comes with hanging a Ba Gua mirror.

Warmest regards,  
Cecil

P.S. In the past, the Chinese were also very concerned about well water, as they believed there was a spirit living in the well.  
Sorry for all the talk about “spirits” today, but this topic just seems to keep popping up.  
Nevertheless, don’t let your personal “spirits” drop today *JOKE*

 

Quote

On 4/12/00 11:07:00 PM, Anonymous wrote:
Dear cecil,
I read somewhere that one
should change the pakua mirror
every year. Is it true.
Secondly one one moves to a
different house one should
that use the same pakua which
was used in the old house. Is
there any truth in this.
Thanks.

 

[Cecil Lee]

Summary

The text explains differing Eastern and Western practices and beliefs around using Ba Gua mirrors in Feng Shui, covering their purposes (protection vs countering Sha Qi), maintenance and replacement guidelines, associated religious rituals, superstitions about falling mirrors as omens, and noting that many aspects are belief-based rather than strict Feng Shui.

- In the West, Ba Gua mirrors are commonly recommended mainly to counteract Sha Qi (negative energy).
- In the East, religiously inclined practitioners use Ba Gua mirrors and charms on doors primarily for spiritual “protection.”
- Non-religious Eastern practitioners tend to use Ba Gua mirrors only to address Sha Qi or “poison arrows” aimed at doors or windows.
- Mirrors should be inspected yearly and typically replaced every 1–2.5 years, especially if exposed to strong sun or weather.
- Old Ba Gua mirrors are usually wrapped (often in newspaper, tied with string) and simply discarded, but replacement is traditionally avoided during the Seventh Lunar Month.
- Many people have the mirror blessed by a monk/priest or say a short prayer before hanging it.
- Folklore holds that a securely fixed Ba Gua mirror falling without cause can signal a family calamity, underscoring that much of this is based on belief rather than formal Feng Shui theory.