Q&A Sunday: Being Overlooked at Work

Anjie Cho January 5, 2020

I find I get overlooked at work. Can you suggest a feng shui cure for this?

Giuliana G., Lille, France

Hi Giuliana

Thank you for your wonderful questions and support. I'm so sorry to hear you're feeling this way!

Nobody likes to feel overlooked, especially in the workplace. But you're in luck! There are many, many ways to approach this concern from the feng shui perspective. The fame and Recognition area is the feng shui bagua map area for you! I think this area came up for you before in a previous Q&A.

But before we work on the fame and Recognition area, it's helpful for you to look more closely at why you are feeling overlooked. We can give clarity to a problem by looking at it more carefully in light of the other feng shui bagua areas. Who is doing the overlooking? Why is it happening? Are there ways to work with it? Can you gain more skills and knowledge? Is there a relationship that can be improved? Etc., etc.

I challenge you to really look closely at that. If this were a consultation, I would of course like to know much more about the situation.

Now getting back to the Recognition and fame area, this would be the best area to address feng shui-wise to receive more credit and acknowledgment. My intuition tells me it would be best for you to place a new green plant in the Recognition area of your desk at work, the same area of your desk at home and in the same area of your entire home. Use matching black pots with a red ribbon tied around the pot or plant. The plant adds Wood to feed the fire of Recognition. The color combination creates a powerful feng shui cure as Water (black pot) manifests the Wood (green plant) and culminates with Fire (red ribbon).

You can check out some of our posts on green plants and the Wood element for insight on what kind of plants to choose based on feng shui, indoor air quality and much more. Please keep us updated and feel free to share photos of your new green friends!

by Anjie Cho

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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: Placing a Vision Board in the Bedroom

Anjie Cho December 29, 2019

image credit: Marissa Bracke — *image credit:* *Marissa Bracke*

Thanks so much for taking a look at my space. This is my bedroom. My boyfriend and I share it. He's Kua 3, I'm Kua 1, so I know we are supposed to have the crown of our heads facing EAST when we sleep. Currently the best wall to have the bed on is SOUTHEAST. I'm an entrepreneur; Will and I own a video production company together, and it's doing well but I'm still looking to enhance success in work. When sitting in bed I face NORTHWEST and I have a little vision board on that wall. Wondering if that's where I should have it and what I can put in my 'bad directions'?

Alli Saunders, New York, NY

Hi Alli

You’re very welcome, thank you for submitting your question and floor plan.

First of all, I practice BTB feng shui. There are countless schools of feng shui, all are valid and work, however in BTB we don’t use Kua numbers to determine the direction our crowns face while sleeping. This is often why there is a lot of confusion and even some conflicts when consulting with different schools of feng shui. Ideally it’s best to find a consultant that you really resonate with and go with their recommendations.

Interestingly enough, the school that directed you in this way seems to coincidentally work out with how we place beds in BTB feng shui. One of the main philosophies in BTB is called the commanding position. Using this concept, we aim to place our beds, as well as other important pieces of furniture and appliances like a desk or stove, facing the door, but not directly in line with it. This comes from an ancient style of building homes so that you can see what is coming towards you at all times. It actually helps to reduce your stress level as well, even if you didn't know it was affecting it! The location of your bed is ideal in the BTB school! Yay!

Since we don’t use Kua numbers, I cannot advise to any “bad directions”. But if we look at this from a BTB perspective, let’s look at what would be a great place for your vision board. I actually have a podcast about vision boards and feng shui placement. Be sure to check it out.

I know that you are an entrepreneur and you live here with your boyfriend. I overlaid the feng shui bagua map (BTB style) over your floor plan. I think the Path in Life (career) area of your bedroom is a great place for your vision board to enhance your career and the steps you will take to move forward in life. Perhaps your boyfriend can do the same. Looking at the photo, I would suggest that as long as it’s not too distracting for your sleep, maybe you get an even bigger board and share one board with both your visions. That little board looks so small on the wall. And your dreams need more space!

A final note, I also noticed that you’re not able to open the door a full 90 degrees because of all the things hanging behind it. I recommend you move all of that off the back of the door so it can open all the way. The door here represents how opportunities come to you. And you’ve only allowed in a portion of what’s out there! Open it up so you can have all the wonderful possibilities for clients, ideas, passion, and people to come into your life!

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!

Q&A Sunday: Colors for a Small Foyer

Anjie Cho December 15, 2019

What color can I use for my small foyer I have? My entrance has 2 doors, the main one, then a very small foyer and second door to enter the house.

Ela, New York

Dear Ela,

Thank you for your question! Color is definitely is a great way to shift the energy in a space. Humans are very visual, and a coat of paint or a few colored accents (artwork, pillows, etc) can quickly transform things.

Your question in specifically about a small foyer with two doors, one going outside and one going further into the home. Without any more information to go on, I'd first ask what it is you want to work on, or what areas of your life need some attention. Your entry represents your face to the world, how the universe sees and finds you. Your entry door is called the "mouth of qi" and that's where the energy comes in.

In general, an entry is best when clean and well lit, especially if it's small. The two doors don't seem like an issue. Color wise, again it depends on what it is you'd like to work on. Some options are below:

healing and growth, a green or light blue
attract fame and recognition, a red door
if it's very dark, whites for clarity and precision

But I'd also ask you what color you love and what you're most attracted to. That's also a huge factor, because this is the first thing you see when you get home, and the last thing you see before you enter the world. And it can affect your mood! And if it's a color you love, it can bring you joy every day.

by Anjie Cho