Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui for a Sloping Property

I just found your website, and I looked over the beautiful images. I love the way you explain Feng Shui and talk about why it is helpful to us.

I bought a lot in Maine last year that is quite small, about 1/3 of an acre. It has a huge American elm tree in the front, and a small asphalt pad where there was previously a modular home (which I got hauled off). Then the lot drops off at a downward angle into a wetland kind of area with lots of pretty wetland growth. I have read that a sloping back yard (according to Feng Shui) is really bad...that all your prosperity goes out of your house. 

Can you suggest anything that I can do about the drastic slope? Would stone steps, or stone terracing behind the house going down to a cleared area in the back be helpful? I have read such negative things about a sloping back yard, I am a little dismayed. 

Sarah G., Maine

Hi Sarah,

Thank you for your email and your kind words! I love Maine! It’s so beautiful there!

Yes, a property that slopes down in the back indicates that prosperity and qi also fall down and away. In your case, you also have a wet area. If it’s at all river-like, it may also be a little more severe, as the qi continues to flow away from you. 

But, please don’t be dismayed! There is hope! The simplest feng shui solution is to install flag poles or tall lighting at the back corners of the lot to lift the qi. Note, in a full consultation with a practitioner, you may find there’s a more ideal adjustment that’s tailored to you. 

Also, the elm tree in front of the lot is great, but be sure it’s in good health. A dying tree in the front of a property can affect the well-being of the inhabitants. And, unless you are retired and seek to “hide” from the work, be sure it’s not blocking your doorway or the entry to the lot.

But I do love the symbology of the Elm tree:

One website says "The Elm tree is the Tree of Intuition. It gives you strength in listening to your own inner voice and trusting your intuition. It serves as a catalyst to sending, feeling and possibly seeing that which is not always visible. The Elm is a favorite tree of wood elves and dryads. If you sleep beneath an Elm, they will appear in your dreams. Elms are connected to each other unlike any other trees species. They sense the death of a fellow Elm and will mourn it, often becoming sick themselves. A staff or wand made from an Elm branch assists in meditation and magic. The Elm tree lends strength to whoever comes near it, and will help in overcoming exhaustion. It helps you access universal energy rather than depleting your own.”

I hope this helps! Thanks for this question. Let us know how it turns out and send along some photos!

by Anjie Cho

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. Visit us at mindfuldesignschool.com.

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!

How to Feng Shui a Living Room in Two Bagua Areas

featured on The Spruce

image credit: Jacalyn Beales/Unsplash via The Spruce

image credit: Jacalyn Beales/Unsplash via The Spruce

You may have decided to brush up on your feng shui knowledge, and the first thing you do is attempt to lay the bagua in your home. At first it seems easy, then after awhile, not so simple. When you finally think you’ve figured it out, you might give into frustration thinking there's no way your home will fit into these neat little squares. 

We can assure you there's no need to freak out—you’re not destined for bad feng shui.

It’s okay to have your living room, or any room for that matter, fall into two bagua areas. In fact, a room can overlap into two areas without any issues at all. It’s like life. Our lives don’t fall into perfect boxes. It’s not bad or good, it’s neutral. 

Living Rooms, a Room to Live

Your living room represents the social part of your life. It’s where you engage socially as well as rest and relax with others. We greet our friends and have conversations here. Your family gathers here, too. It’s half private and half public. There’s often a sofa and some chairs around a low table to sit and connect.

It's a space where many things happen at many different times, so it makes sense that a living room can fall into any of the nine bagua areas. Because it’s a more public space, this room often falls towards the front of the home, but it’s not a rule. And it’s not better or worse if your living room is in the rear of the home. Instead, we encourage you to think of your living room as an opportunity to improve how you live.

…read full article

by Anjie Cho

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui check out the Mindful Design Feng Shui certification program. Laura Morris and I launched our program in September 2018. To get on the list about it, sign up at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com.

Dive deeper into feng shui to transform your life!

Mindful Design is a new way to learn feng shui. Create sacred spaces that support, and nourish.

Visit us at mindfuldesignschool.com

Q&A Sunday: A Yellow Rug for Health

I'm moving into a new place within a few weeks, and I've decided to dedicate the feng shui adjustments to Health, Knowledge and Abundance. I'm thinking of putting a yellow-toned, square rug in the center of my bedroom. Is it better to stay with a solid color, or can I use prints?

Michelle G., Phoenix, AZ

Hi Michelle,

Congratulations on your new place, and that’s wonderful that you are dedicating time and effort to put some feng shui adjustments into your new space! I take it you’re looking to adjust Health by placing a yellow-toned square rug in the center of your bedroom. This was a tip that I suggest in my book, 108 Ways to Create Holistic Spaces, and it’s a great way to tie things together in a room, visually and feng shui wise.

For your question, you need not stick to solids rugs; prints are fine. If you use square prints, that would reinforce the earth element. If you used triangular shapes, it would invoke the fire element which create earth. 

Since the Health area is in the center, and it affects all the other feng shui areas, it is a great choice as an adjustment because it will also support the Knowledge and Abundance areas. If you cant find yellow, you can also use brown, beige, orange or other earthy tones.

Please send in a photo of what you ended up with!

by Anjie Cho

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. Visit us at mindfuldesignschool.com.

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!