Q&A Sunday: Buying a New Home

Anjie Cho September 23, 2018

Thanks for your podcast and blog, I love all the things I learn from you. We are deciding whether or not to buy a house that would be great in so many ways, although it is a financial risk. It is a house of many entrances, but the real entrance faces south west, the other two entrances are North East and North West. My daughter and I are 9s and my husband is a 1, so all these are described as ruinous directions. Should I be worried? Or should I go ahead and then fix the influences when we move in? We currently live in a (rather small) house that faces South, which has worked well for us, so we are not desperate to move, we could wait for something that faces a different direction. Thanks for your help,

Stephanie B., Denmark

Hi Stephanie,

Thanks so much for your email and question, and for listening to the podcast and reading the blog. First off, I practice BTB feng shui, so the directions are not something we focus on in this particular school. There are dozens of schools of feng shui, and my teachers have taught to respect and honor all of them. However, everyone agrees also not to mix and match them. This is where reading things here and there can get you into trouble. You also note that you and your daughter are the number nine and your husband is a one, however you don’t indicate what that number is in relationship to…so again, it’s good to know what you’re using and be knowledgeable and clear about it. In the feng shui that I use and teach, again, the directions are not the most important thing. Also the numerology we use is the nine star ki, which has nothing to do with which direction is better for you. It sounds like flying star, maybe. But with that, your negative directions change every year.

My first suggestion is to look at the practical aspects. The first thing you note is that although the new home is great in many ways, it is a financial risk. The fact that it’s a financial risk is the first clue. I think you already know that even if you may or may not be reading the feng shui of the home, the mundane aspects indicate it is not a wise decision. Always, always, always remember that the mundane is as important, if not more, than the invisible, transcendental aspects of a situation. If it does not make sense functionally or practically, please pay attention to that first. From your words, I understand that you are in a good place now, not in a hurry to move out. So I think you have your answer! Wait until you find the right place for you that works for you financially and with whatever school of feng shui you are using. Remember, stick with one school, or one consultant. There is a poverty mentality that arises when one dabbles and goes feng shui “shopping”. Find the one school that you would like to work with and stick with it. There is so much depth and knowledge with each school. It takes a lifetime just to become an expert in one.

In the case that this home was workable from the mundane sense, yes, BTB feng shui offers many ways to adjust with most feng shui shortcomings. Feng shui is often remedial. I work with many clients while they’re searching for a new home. The most recent was looking for a new home in Manhattan. It was difficult because every floor plan has its missing areas, not to mention balancing location, budget, amenities and then getting an accepted offer. And this isn’t just Manhattan, right? It’s really challenging to do the best you can, there’s going to be no “perfect” solution. However pay attention..if the practical aspects are working and you love the place, then the feng shui can be workable. Listen to your intuition.

by Anjie Cho

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui check out the Mindful Design feng shui cerfication program. Laura Morris and I are launching our program in September 2018. We have a free webinar “Five Feng Shui Tools Revealed: Must-do business boosters for soulpreneurs and wellness practitioners” coming up, too! check us out at www.mindfuldesignschool.com

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.

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!

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Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui for a Yoga Teacher

Anjie Cho September 16, 2018

I’d love any feng shui advice you can give me. I’m a yoga teacher - it’s what I love. I would like to grow my annual income by doubling the amount of private clients I work with regularly. I’m exhausted with the myth that it’s impossible to make money as a yoga teacher!

Hunt P., Brooklyn, NY

Hi Hunt,

What a blessing that you love your career and what you do. And yes, it is possible to make good money as a yoga teacher; I believe in you! And a little feng shui always helps, right? 🙂

Thank you for sending along your floor plan. I’ll make some basic comments on the entire plan, then focus on your bedroom. The bedroom represents you and is the best place to focus your energy.

Feng Shui for a Yoga Teacher - Floor Plan.png

It’s really important to have a clean entry with a bright light. If there isn’t an ability to keep the entry area bright and as expansive as possible, do what you can. You can add lighting, use brighter bulbs, paint the area white. From your floor plan, it looks rather narrow, so it could also benefit from having a mirror on the wall, to visually and energetically open up the space. Also make sure that, since this is an apartment, the apartment door number is easy to find and clean. You can also make sure all buzzers and door bells are in working order. Since the entry is your Path in Life and Career area, this is especially important.

Let’s move onto your bedroom area. We can echo what we are doing in your overall floor plan by activating the Path in Life area of your bedroom. Mimic what was done in the entry of the whole floor plan. For example, you can add a new light fixture and/or mirror in both of these areas. Or paint the entry of the apartment and the wall along the door wall of the bedroom white. Or do all three!

The bed is not in the ideal position, but I understand you have a window and closet that makes it difficult to relocate it. What you can do to put the bed in the commanding position is to place a mirror so that when you’re in bed you can easily see the front door. Second, your body is in the line of qi from the door. This can cause health problems. This can be corrected by hanging a Feng Shui crystal in the line of qi, where I’ve notated it on the floor plan. You can purchase a feng shui crystal here, in the Holistic Spaces shop.

Feng Shui for a Yoga Teacher - Bedroom Floor Plan.png

Finally my last comment is to move your desk in command as suggested on the floor plan. You’re not in command with your current desk position. Your desk represents your career, so its location is super critical. Also, in the Recognition areas of your desk, bedroom and apartment, you can place a piece of citrine; see the circles noted on the floor plans. This will activate your prosperity energy and your fire energy in the world, so all the potential clients out there who can benefit from your services can find you!

Be sure to check out our upcoming webinar, which is geared towards wellness practitioners like yourself. You can visit the website below to get registered!

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!

Visit the Holistic Spaces Store

Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui for Small Spaces

Anjie Cho September 9, 2018

I am trying to use more basic Feng Shui tips to make my medium-sized bedroom into a sort of mini convertible studio. During the day I would fold my bed up into a mini couch and have much more open space to do yoga and other activities. Then during the night I would unfold my bed and use ceiling curtains to separate my office area from the bed area (with balanced elements on both sides of the bed). Oh and the bed lays on the ground, which I personally find most comforting. What do you think about this setup in terms of Feng Shui? I really need to have a sanctuary at home from all the intense things going on in my life.

Tenzin C., Easthampton, MA

Hi Tenzin,

Thank you for sending in your question! Your description is careful and thorough, so I can only imagine that your bedroom is laid out with as much attention.

I’m guessing that you live in a roommate situation, so your bedroom is where you find your personal space. It sounds like your daily ritual of transforming your bed into a sofa is beneficial. Not only do you have more space for your daily activities, but you have also created a separate “daytime” space for more active applications that goes hand in hand with daytime. The visual separation with curtains of your bed from the office is also wonderful, so that active yang energy will transition into the yin sleepy time when it’s appropriate. Plus you don’t have a bed in the daytime - which can prove difficult in a studio apartment setting. Seeing the bed while working can affect your attention and motivation. Also, good job on the balanced bed elements, probably nightstands and lights.

The only thing I may comment on is the bed on the ground. In feng shui, it’s ideal to have the bed off the ground, on a stable bed frame with headboard so that the air and qi can flow around you while you’re sleeping. This is good for your health. Also, if you’re prone to depression, the proximity to the floor may correspond to the low mood. However, you have described you find the bed on the ground “comforting”, so pay attention that that. If it feels correct for you, then it’s okay. Especially if you don’t have a tendency towards depression.

You mentioned that there are intense things going on in your life. I don’t know the details, but I can suggest a feng shui adjustment to lighten things up! It can be very simple, but I’ll offer two suggestions. First, bringing fresh cut flowers into the bedroom. You can collect them yourself, or get some from the store. But fresh flowers uplift the qi and bring joy. Second, purchasing a new lamp where the light shines up. A Torchiere like this one works wonderfully. Again, this lifts the energy and can balance the low bed.

Overall, I think that you’ve done a wonderful job of creating a feng shui studio sanctuary in your bedroom. All the attention to the details and the ritual aspect provide a lot of positive energy in the space.

by Anjie Cho