Mirrors themselves embody the element of water. The water element cultivates wisdom and introspection. The feeling of water is cooling. Water is formless and takes the shape of whatever container it’s in. Because of this yielding quality, mirrors are used in feng shui for they can reflect without judgment or obscurations. They can expand your view as well as focus energies. Mirrors can invite energy into a space, especially near a window or front door. A strategically placed mirror can reflect the view of an element that is seen through a window into a room. For example, place a mirror so that you can see the reflection of a river (water element) and trees (wood element) into your office. This invites more water for wealth and wood for expansion into your career and work life. And again, mirrors are placed with intention, which makes them more effective feng shui adjustments. On a mundane level, mirrors can simply bring more light into a space and make it look larger and more spacious. Both light and space qualities invite in good feng shui.
Types of Mirrors
Here’s a list of the types of mirrors that are used in feng shui applications:
Flat Mirrors
Just your regular mirror but look for a regular shape such as a round, oval, rectangle, or square. It can be framed or frameless with a polished edge. Octagon-shaped mirrors are particularly useful if you have any weak or missing areas of the bagua map (more on that below).
Convex Mirrors
Convex mirrors are shaped like the outside of a bowl. They are useful because it provides a wider view to see more around you. It gives you a larger view. They also have protective qualities, serving as a watchful eye.
Concave Mirrors
Concave mirrors are shaped like the inside of a bowl. They are useful for deflecting sharp energy because they take an image, make it smaller, and flip it upside-down.
Bagua Mirrors
These are special mirrors that have an octagon-shaped border with the trigrams radiating and framing a round mirror. This is used for exterior feng shui protection adjustments. Only use this mirror under the supervision of a feng shui consultant. Most of the time an inexperienced practitioner places this and it’s not necessary. Incorrectly used, it can push away energy you’d like to invite into your home.
Mirrors to Avoid for Feng Shui
If you’re using them for feng shui, avoid any mirrors that are cloudy, broken, obscured, distorted, or in disconnected pieces (like a mosaic or a group of small mirrors). You want a single piece of glass. It’s also good to avoid sharp shapes or any mirror that is placed at a height that cuts off a head in the reflection. Not every mirror in your home is a feng shui adjustment, so don’t fret if you have a mirror in your home like this. It’s just a mirror and it’s not a feng shui mirror. Also, it’s best to avoid sharp mirrors, that can cut someone, or that have unfinished and dangerous edges.
Some Feng Shui Uses for Mirrors
Missing Bagua Areas
Mirrors can be used to strengthen any weak or missing areas of the bagua map. If you lay the feng shui bagua map on your space and there is a missing or weak area, placing a mirror in that area facing into your space (and the back facing toward the missing or weak area) will help to energetically expand and strengthen the missing or weak area.
Correct Being out of Command
You’re are out of “commanding position” if you cannot see the door when you’re sleeping in bed, cooking at your stove, or sitting at your desk. To correct this imbalance, you can use a mirror. The mirror can be placed such that you can see the door in the reflection of the mirror. Convex mirrors are particularly useful for the desk and stove since they are small and simple to attach to the stove or computer. For beds, opt for a standing mirror that’s easy to arrange so you can see the door while lying in bed.
Invite Friendships
To increase close friendships, you can place a large mirror that reflects in it an image of your dining table so that you can double your circle of support and love.
Double Your Wealth
Locating a mirror so that you can see the reflection of the burners on your stove and be used to increase your wealth. By doubling your burners, you can double your capacity to attract prosperity. Just make sure that it’s not too close to the flames.
Harmony in Partnerships
A round mirror over your bed creates smooth and continuous qi for the partners sleeping together underneath. The round shape has no harsh edges and can soften the relationship. Be mindful that both partners feel safe with having anything heavy hanging over the head in bed. Be sure to fasten the mirror securely and check-in with your partner to make sure he or she is okay with the mirror there.
Focus While at Your Seat
A small round mirror is particularly useful to focus your energy when placed on the ceiling above where you sit at your desk or in your meditation area where you sit to practice. Remember to also set your intention that this mirror will focus your qi.
