Q&A Sunday: Is a Spiky Cactus Good Feng Shui?

Anjie Cho December 20, 2020

A business colleague gave me this lovely little cacti garden in a little earthen ware pot as a “thank you” present. It is a gift that really touched me. I’ve had it in my little office on a bookshelf. It’s doing really well there in that corner, but I wondered if I could ask you where optimum placement would be. That seems to be "Relationship area" for the office, and I suddenly thought probably not great placement! It's got two spiky cacti, two succulents that I think are aloes, and one that I think is a little jade plant.

Sharon R., New York, NY

Hi Sharon,

This is a wonderful question to share on Q&A Sundays, because the question about spiky cactus plants comes up often. The general rule of thumb is that if you use a plant for feng shui purposes, it’s better if the leaves are rounded and smooth, rather than spiky and sharp.

In your situation, the sharpness of the cactus may cause spiky and touchy relationships in your business life, because it’s in the Relationship area of your office. Of course this isn’t ideal. But does this seem like this is something that is arising in your career relationships? A plant doesn’t always have to be a feng shui adjustment, and it doesn’t always necessarily affect your feng shui, especially if you have very strong and pleasant business relationships. And this might be the case since you receive this as a gift from a business relationship.

Another aspect to consider is that if you have very deep fondness for it, it may be okay. Or if you are especially attracted to this cactus, maybe you do need some spikiness in your business relationships to protect yourself. Maybe you can be a pushover and let people walk over you.

Also you mentioned that there are some aloe plants, which are spiky, yet very healing. So it really depends. If you really love this plant and the placement, you could also manicure it very carefully, maybe trim the sharp points from time to time, which can be a metaphor for giving attention to those difficult business relationships. Depending on your situation, there’s not necessarily a “better” place to put it, but I think all of this gives you many things to ponder on.

My intuition is telling me you should keep it there and remember that although the plant is sharp and spiky, you can offer it special attention and love to make it a positive thing. Sometimes being a little tough is good when it comes to business relationships, isn’t it?

by Anjie Cho

Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday". If you have personal questions, we encourage you to check out Practical Feng Shui or hire one of Anjie's Grads.

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, check out Mindful Design Feng Shui School at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com

Be Bright. Choose White.

Anjie Cho December 16, 2020

White is usually the default color for a space. But there is a big difference between leaving a room unpainted, and thus having the walls remain white, and deliberately CHOOSING white as your color.

A white room can be beautiful, luxurious, and rich. But more than just looking great, the color white affects us physically and mentally.

White represents innocence, goodness, cleanliness and simplicity. It encourages us to clear clutter and obstacles – in our home and our minds. In feng shui, white is related to the metal element. Metal is about precision and elegance. This pure color evokes purification of our thoughts and our actions and aids in mental clarity.

Classic white is bright and can create a sense of open space and cheerfulness, but it can also feel cold or bland. To assure that you don’t create a sterile, unfriendly atmosphere, here are a few tips:

Blend several tints of white (ivory, beige, linen) in the room.
Use various textures in your walls, floor coverings, and textiles to create an elegant, sophisticated room.
Layer your whites: add a rug, chenille throw, pillows, frames, etc.
Use other colors on the walls, but paint all your moldings white for a clean, fresh look.
To create a beachy atmosphere, use white accents in accessories, wainscoting, and gauzy fabrics.
Instead of pure white, choose creamy shades of white add to a cozy, warm atmosphere.
Use neutral white as an accent to make your other colors pop.

To enjoy the psychological effects of the color white, you don't need a lot of it. Accents like cream-colored window frames and doors can lift the look and feel of a whole room.

If you love the feeling of crisp freshness, remember to choose white deliberately. You can consciously add a sense of purity, cleanliness and spirituality to your home.

Here’s to hope, light, and fresh beginnings.

by Anjie Cho

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, check out Mindful Design Feng Shui School at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com

Q&A Sunday: The Best Feng Shui Colors

Guest User December 13, 2020

What are the best feng shui colors to use?

This may not be the answer you’re hoping for, but my best answer is: it depends! There are a lot of factors to consider, and feng shui is not a one-size-fits-all approach. What colors are you drawn to? What types of energy are you wanting to call into your life? These things can affect which colors are best for you.

Color is certainly a helpful tool when it comes to adjusting the energy of a space. It can be one of the simplest changes to implement, and since most humans rely heavily on visuals, it can have a big impact. Color affects our moods and emotions, and how we heal.

A lot of feng shui concepts, including color, are about connecting to nature. Color defines the seasons in nature. Think about how you see colors appearing outside in each season. In winter, we see a lot of white when it snows, and more dark colors because there is less daylight. It’s also more stark, since many trees no longer have leaves.

In spring, things begin to sprout. We see more green, along with more vitality. Summer is bright, sunny, and full of vibrant colors as plants, fruits, and flowers become lush and abundant.

Right now in the northern hemisphere, we’re moving out of the season of fall. During this season, we saw many earthy colors as leaves turned yellow and brown.

In addition to the larger cycle of the seasons, the colors in our environment change along with the time of day. At dawn, colors are more muted. At noon, when sunlight is more intense, they’re more vibrant, and as night approaches colors darken.

Another factor when it comes to color is that we have our own personal and cultural conditioning. A color can remind you of something from your past, and can stimulate nostalgia and memories. Different colors also have different meanings and associations in different cultures. Pay attention to your reactions to colors, and be sure to explore and honor your personal associations.

by Anjie Cho