Q&A Sunday: Bedroom Colors and the Bagua

I'm confused when it comes to bedroom feng shui. I see a lot of articles on creating a bedroom space that's romantic, with colors of red/pink, etc. But what about the area in which the bedroom is on the bagua map? My bedroom is in the Family area which has different colors and shapes, etc. than the Love & Relationships area. What's the best way to set up a bedroom like this?

Jennifer S., Madison, WI


Hi Jennifer

Thanks for your question! it’s a really good one, and it comes up a lot. Here we’re looking at two different approaches or feng shui techniques. 

First off, when writing a general post on feng shui for a bedroom, I try to make it as crowd friendly as possible. The bedroom can be in any area of the feng shui bagua map, but it’s always a bedroom! So usually I approach it from the knowledge that the bedroom can be in any bagua area, however here are some ways to work with the bedroom in light of what a bedroom is generally used for: sleep, or healing, or in the case that you mentioned, to encourage romance. 

It’s actually a great idea to also approach the bedroom with regard to where it’s located on the feng shui bagua map. You mentioned that your bedroom is in the New Beginnings (Family) area and it’s not in the Relationship area. You can possibly see that with your bedroom in this area, there can be opportunities for energy and growth in your relationships, especially your primary relationship. Your bedroom doesn’t have to be in the Relationship area to use the colors related to the Relationship gua. You can invoke romantic colors in your bedroom (in New Beginnings area) to create and invigorate new relationships. Or you can use the colors of New Beginnings (green) to encourage growth and healing in your personal life. But without talking to you, I can’t tell you what is the “best” way to set up your bedroom. 

This is where a feng shui practitioner can be very helpful. My friend and colleague, Doris Ingber, calls what you’re looking at as “Barnes & Noble Feng Shui”, where you read things here and there and work with things in a very literal way. There’s nothing wrong with this, because it’s a step in the right direction! But a skilled feng shui consultant can help you use the feng shui principles in a more precise and effective way depending on what your needs are. It’s sort of like working with a doctor or looking on WebMD 😃 But if that’s not something you’re interested in, I’d advise you to look at what you want to achieve in your bedroom, and take the advice on the posts that resonate with you.  

We’re also doing a raffle on the podcast in May through June 2017, so be sure to enter and you will have a chance to win a free mini-consultation with me that we’ll share on the podcast. There we could look at your bedroom more closely! Until then, take a peek at some of these bedroom feng shui posts to see what you can glean!

by Anjie Cho

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!

The Mood-Boosting Nontoxic Nail Polishes You Need To Try Right Now

featured this week on MindBodyGreen by Kayla Jacobs

Nail polish in general is a lot safer these days, with most brands removing carcinogens and toxic phthalates from their formulas to make them safer for both us (the consumer) and manicurists alike. Bright sunny days call for bold and beautiful nails, and so I've chosen seven shades for your digits' seasonal debut. To aid in the decision-making process, I thought about the literal mood-boosting effects of color, and consulted with feng shui expert, Anjie Cho.

Let these tiny bottles of kaleidoscopic lacquers take center stage in your springtime beauty rituals, and while you get your paint on, rest assured that the formulations you're playing with are the current gold standard in green beauty. Oh, and they shine pretty magically in summer evening light too. Now, I've just got to find that porch to sit on...

...read full article

Q&A Sunday: Studying Feng Shui

I am an interior designer. I would like to study feng shui to go deeply in that field so that would help me in my career. But I need to know: where can I study and get the perfect knowledge of that? Is the masters degree in feng shui? And how can I know that the certificate that I'll take is recognized worldwide? 

Marwa K., Lebanon

Hi Marwa

Thank you for your email - and what a wonderful question to share with the readers. I’m also so happy that as a designer, you’re interested in deepening into your profession with the study of feng shui. As an architect, I found myself in the same place many years ago. I was working on architectural interiors, and found that something was missing in my life. I started to learn meditation and yoga and started on my spiritual path...which very quickly led me to look at how I incorporate spirituality in all aspects of my life, including work. Chogyam Trungpa didn’t see a separation between the secular and the spiritual, between the scientific and the mystical. And by incorporating feng shui, I also began to see this line become fainter and start to disappear.

There is no “perfect” knowledge of feng shui, but you can begin by looking for teachers that are near you. I studied at the BTB Masters program in NYC. It’s really of the utmost importance to work with a living teacher who holds and passes down their feng shui lineage. First, we can keep that lineage alive. Second, the teachings are transmitted in this way. It’s not something you can read in a book without the assistance of a mentor. I found that the BTB Masters program was just what I needed. The teachers truly become mentors in your life. For instance, Rosalie Prinzvalli officiated my wedding! Steven Post so kindly read and edited my book as well as wrote the forward. Barry Gordon has been a tremendous support in my life. You can listen to podcasts where I’ve interviewed two of the teachers. At the BTB Masters program, it’s a 3-year commitment, and you receive a certification as a feng shui practitioner. I’ve also recently taught a class at the last BTB Masters session.

There are also other schools and resources. First maybe look at what feng shui school resonates with you. There’s BTB Feng shui and there are more classical schools. I also first look at what teachers inspire and motivate you. You can look at the International Feng Shui Guild for more resources there. There is no official certificate that’s recognized worldwide, nor is there an official degree in feng shui that I’m aware of. But again, I’d look at what is out there and what speaks to you. Personally, the BTB Masters program fell into my lap, and it really clicked with me, so I went with it. I had no need to shop around. And I can say with great conviction that I wouldn’t be where I am now had I not gone through that transformative program :)

by Anjie Cho

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!