Q&A Sunday: What to Do When Your Desk Isn't In Command

I happily discovered your blog and am inspired to feng shui my desk! Unfortunately I have an L-Shaped desk attached to the walls, and the right side of my body is directly in line with the door. I do not have the option to change this, what can I do instead? Can I use crystals?

- Joanne C., San Francisco, CA

BTB feng shuiHi Joanne, thanks so much for your question. This is a good question, because it’s very common. If you work in a cubicle, or most office spaces, it’s very likely you will have a desk that is fastened to the walls, often placing the worker directly in line with the door (or door of the cubicle). I have designed many, many office spaces in my time, and even after learning feng shui, sometimes you end up with a situation like this. For instance, in my home office, my only option is also to place my desk so that my (left) side is directly in line with the door.

Luckily, BTB feng shui gives us some tools to adjust these situations. Ideally, if at all possible, it is best to place the desk in command. But for those of us without that option, I have some suggestions!

Convex Mirror

If the side of your body is facing the door, then you are not in command while sitting at your desk. A simple way to adjust this is to use a convex mirror. I have a small one on the top of my computer monitor so that it expands my view around me. It’s even better if you can place it angled so that you can see the door. You can get one at the Holistic Spaces store here.

Feng Shui Crystal Ball

Because you’re in line with the door, that puts you in the path of qi. This should be adjusted, because the qi comes at you very quickly and can be damaging. The feng shui way of adjusting for this is to place a faceted feng shui crystal ball halfway between you and the door. Grab a crystal ball with string at the Holistic Spaces store here. Hang the crystal ball with a red string from the ceiling. The length of the string can be cut in a dimension that is a multiple of 9, such as 9”, 18”, 27” and so forth. You can use any units, including centimeters. The crystal ball energetically breaks up that rushing qi and disperses it.

If you have enough room, you can use something else to break up the line of qi, such as a piece of furniture or plants. We’d love to see a photo of what you end up doing!

I hope you also listen to my Podcast, Episode #3 feng shui for your desk!

by Anjie Cho


Mindful Design is a new way to learn feng shui. Our a unique training program takes an holistic approach to learning the art of feng shui design. Mindful design is about becoming aware, and attentive, to the energy around you: both inner and outer qi. It is about promoting a better way of living and creating sacred spaces that support, and nourish. Visit us at mindfuldesignschool.com.


Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday" (formerly “Question of the Month”).  We will be answering questions submitted by our readers.  Click here to submit any Feng Shui or Green Design questions!

Q&A Sunday: The Bagua Map and Your Entrance

If we have an outer gate, and another main entrance into the house, which entrance do we use as a reference for the bagua map? My outer gate faces south and the inner one faces West...so I'm a little confused as how to place the map.

Samantha C., Malaysia

Hi Samantha, thanks for your note!

Your question is an important one. It is challenging to overlay the bagua map on a space. Which way is up? What if my house is “L” shaped, etc. But another source of confusion is when you have more than one entrance. Sometimes this question comes up in suburban homes where the inhabitant enters through the side, rear or garage door, while rarely using the official front door. In this case, it’s recommended to open the official front door occasionally. This can be done once every 9 days, or something to that effect. The front door represents the “mouth of qi,” how energy enters your space and your life. If you never open the front door, then energy has trouble moving into your home and your activities.

This leads me to your question. Even though you have an outer gate to your home, and another main entrance to your home, the official front door would be the one attached to the building with a roof that is your home. When we discuss the “mouth of qi” it’s important to remember that we always follow the qi. Where is the qi coming from? 

Since the exterior gate is a doorway that you walk through to get into the home, it would be considered a “yin” door. Yin doors are the more passive, indirect, or secret doors. It’s the secondary door. But the actual front door to the house is what you would use to overlay the feng shui bagua map.

As I discuss in the Holistic Spaces Podcast episode #2, the bagua map is a concept that you can overlay on your home, but also your bedroom, your desk, or even your hand! Although the primary placement of the bagua on your home would be in reference to your front door, you may locate a secondary bagua map based on the yin door. If you work with an advanced feng shui practitioner, they may use both (or more) bagua maps and suggest you do adjustments in both (or more) baguas if appropriate.

For instance, with the Holistic Spaces Citrine for Wealth & Abundance kit, I provide three pieces of tumbled citrine so that you can intensify the effects by placing one stone in two bagua maps. Place the first in the abundance area of your bedroom, the second on the abundance area of your desk, and the third in your wallet or pocket.

Thank you for the kind words, and check out the podcast on the feng shui bagua map! Please let me know what you think and if you have other questions.

by Anjie Cho


Mindful Design is a new way to learn feng shui. Our a unique training program takes an holistic approach to learning the art of feng shui design. Mindful design is about becoming aware, and attentive, to the energy around you: both inner and outer qi. It is about promoting a better way of living and creating sacred spaces that support, and nourish. Visit us at mindfuldesignschool.com.


Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday".  We will be answering questions submitted by our readers. Click here to submit any Feng Shui or Green Design questions!

Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui in Any Environment

photo by Anjie Cho Architect

photo by Anjie Cho Architect

How does one live a feng shui lifestyle if the environment is not "good feng shui?" Steps are being made towards a feng shui inspired environment, but how do I create good feng shui without changing/renovating the physical architectural elements. Thanks for your help!

Charlene R., Pacifica, CA

Although I am a professional architect and incorporate feng shui principles into my architecture and design, we always still work with existing environments that cannot be changed. Beyond the actual built architecture of your home or office, there’s also the natural environment, the street, the city, the country, etc. See the image above. We are all influenced by these concentric circles, or degrees, of the environment that we can’t just go and change. I own an apartment in New York City. The bathroom and kitchen have to stay where they are, as does the front door, the relationship to the street, etc. You can do your best to pick the most advantageous location, but nothing is perfect.

Luckily, I practice BTB Feng Shui. This school of feng shui is influenced greatly by intention and offers many solutions that can work with your existing environment. Most feng shui is remedial, and we work with what you have.

If we go back to the concentric circles, you see the green center area is YOU. Start with changing your energy and your personal feng shui. Then work outward. I think the steps you're taking and even intention to start making shifts are great first steps. From here, work on changing the feng shui of your bedroom. Put your bed in the commanding position, which means either moving the bed or placing a mirror so that you can see the door.

Take a look at my other tips, and take it step by step! And by starting with yourself, you’re already creating a good feng shui environment. 

by Anjie Cho


Mindful Design is a new way to learn feng shui. Our a unique training program takes an holistic approach to learning the art of feng shui design. Mindful design is about becoming aware, and attentive, to the energy around you: both inner and outer qi. It is about promoting a better way of living and creating sacred spaces that support, and nourish. Visit us at mindfuldesignschool.com.


Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday".  We will be answering questions submitted by our readers. Click here to submit any Feng Shui or Green Design questions!