How to Use Oranges to Welcome Positive Energy Into Your Life

featured this week on MindBodyGreen

Whenever I need a little sunshine, a little uplift, I place nine drops of orange essential oil into my diffuser. In case you didn't know, in feng shui philosophy, the scent of oranges and orange peels can bring in happy and life-affirming yang energy.

Yang energy is like the sun at high noon, shining vibrantly with strength. It's bright and constant. Even on rainy or cloudy days, the sun is still present above the clouds. Similarly, the scent of oranges just makes you happy and cheery, feeling strong and energetic. Alice Waters (founder of Chez Panisse), the American pioneer of a culinary philosophy that maintains that cooking should be based on the finest and freshest seasonal ingredients that are produced sustainably and locally, says that since oranges are available year-round, they can brighten up even the darkest of winter days and provide much-needed immune system support no matter what the season.

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by Anjie Cho

The Psychology of Color: A Feng Shui Expert Explains

featured this week on MindBodyGreen

image credit: Amy T. Won for MindBodyGreen

image credit: Amy T. Won for MindBodyGreen

Color is one of the most effective ways to shift the energy in your life. From the color of your underwear to the color you paint your walls, colors not only affect your well-being, but they also have significant meaning. Yes, even the color of your underwear!

As a feng shui practitioner and an architect, I always get asked “What color should I paint my walls?” I respond with, “What color are you most attracted to?” So in approaching this survey of colors and the feng shui psychology behind them, keep that in mind. What colors do you love, and what might you need more of in your life?

RED-PINK

Red is an easy one. Red is related to fire energy. This color can invoke passion and fiery flames of inspiration. It's pretty intense! It's quite a statement when a woman walks into a room wearing a red dress. Because reds are very stimulating, in a home I'd recommend red for accents like pillows and art.

You can also use red sheets underneath a more subdued duvet to bring more passion into the bedroom. Alternatively, wearing red underwear can spice things up! Red is also very auspicious (lucky!) and protective in feng shui.

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by Anjie Cho

Feng Shui Tips: Crystal Balls

featured on Homeclick

In case you missed it, I was featured on Homeclick earlier this year with tips on how to properly hang a feng shui crystal ball. Check out what Homeclick had to say below, and view the video and instructions here! You can also purchase a feng shui crystal ball with red hanging cord on the Holistic Spaces store here.

We're really digging this latest video with architect and feng shui consultant Anjie Cho. We were first wowed when we saw how a designer like Cho can seamlessly weave feng shui sensibilities into her design work for clients without compromising taste or preference. Feng shui is an intriguing, attractive art-meets-science practice that has been around for thousands of years. Crystals, it turns out, play an important role in creating good feng shui in the home. 

The basic concept of feng shui crystals is fairly straightforward. When properly cleaned and used, crystals can attract and disperse good feng shui energy in the home. Different crystals can attract different energies, while placement of crystals around the house can also affect outcome. 

In her video, Cho uses a Swarovski 40mm faceted crystal ball and discusses proper cleaning of the crystal as well as three potential rooms in which to use it: an entryway, hallway, or a home's center. 

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