Gratitude for Your Home

Anjie Cho September 2, 2020

The feng shui that I practice is a shamanic tradition, which means we believe that everything around us is alive. Not only are you and I alive, but your home is alive, your desk is alive, your bed is alive, and so on. Even our spaces, and the air we breathe, are alive, and we’re all made up of the same stardust.

I think sometimes we forget this, and we take our homes for granted. It’s important to take a moment and think about how much gratitude you have for your home, especially since many of us have been spending more time at home than usual this year. A lot of us have also lost our homes or changed homes, and it’s been a year of really considering what home means to us. For example, does the city where you’ve been living really feel like home? Have you been living somewhere that does not suit you or support you?

No matter how you’re feeling about your current home, it’s still important to have gratitude and to thank your home. I encourage you to take some time to think about all of the things you’re grateful for, and simply say thank you out loud to your home.

Make this a sacred moment of gratitude, rather than rushing to get it done between tasks or immediately going back to scrolling through Instagram. Take a deep inhale, a long exhale, hold your hands over your heart if that feels good to you, and say to your home: Thank you so much.

You can add whatever you want to add - you can even give your home a name if you’d like - but a simple thank you is enough. Your home doesn’t speak in words, it speaks in energy. When you’re humble in your gratitude, your home will know.

I hope you take some time today to thank your home. If you would like more feng shui tips along with community and accountability, I would love for you to join me for eight weeks of free feng shui challenges!

by Anjie Cho

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, check out Mindful Design Feng Shui School at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com

Q&A Sunday: Books and Clutter

Guest User August 30, 2020

Hello! I have read some of your posts on clutter and found them very interesting. I don’t have a lot of clutter in my home except I do have a lot of books. What are your thoughts on books and how this relates to clutter?

Thank you for your question! I think a lot of us tend to accumulate books. There are always a lot of new books you want to get, and people give you books...and suddenly you have way more than you’ll ever be able to read! I notice that I start to feel a little stressed around my books because I feel like there are so many that I should be reading.

On one level, books can create a lot of clutter, so that’s something to think about. On another level, those books might be preventing you from purchasing and reading the books you really want to read, because you feel like you need to get through the books you already have. In this way, you might be limiting yourself. The books on your shelf served a purpose at one time, but that doesn’t mean they are useful to you now. Some of your books may have also been given to you by other people, and are not things that you really wanted in the first place.

Books also represent knowledge, wisdom, and information. This is true of fiction, too, since they often include metaphors that can be sources of wisdom. Something to pay attention to is whether you have any books that represent old ways of thinking. If you are holding onto books with ideas that no longer resonate with you, you may also be holding onto old ways of thinking that could be holding you back. It’s really important to revisit the structures in our lives, and choose which ones we want to keep and which ones we want to let go of. Letting go of books can be a beautiful way to let old ideas go as well. By making space on your bookshelf, you’re opening yourself up to new ideas and innovation.

I invite you (and everyone reading this!) to give away one book today. You can donate it to a used book store, your local library, or another organization that accepts used books. Choose a book that represents an old way of thinking, or a part of your life you're no longer resonating with, and let it go with the intention of making space to invite in something new. Instead of filling our lives with preconceived notions, we can make space and be an open container for new ideas.

How can you make space to receive something new, maybe something that you couldn’t have even imagined?

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 questions!

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, check out Mindful Design Feng Shui School at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com

3 Ways to Bring the Outside In

Anjie Cho August 26, 2020

The summer may be winding down but that doesn’t mean the warmth and relaxation of the outdoors has to go with it. Bring that same summer sun-drenched comfort and vibrancy indoors with these three simple steps.

Indoor Planters

For many, the warm weather seasons kick off with a mad dash to the nearest garden center. There are flower beds to populate, veggie gardens to plant and a generous assortment of flower pots and window boxes to fill. Just imagine how beautiful all that green and color would look inside your home!

Don’t get tied down to standard indoor planters. Traditional outdoor options like window boxes are a great way to bring the outside in. Start by picking a window box that compliments your décor. You’ll have your choice of materials like wood, iron, cooper, and wicker. Consider creating a kitchen window box and fill it with fragrant and flavorful herbs you can cook with!

Another perk of using a window box? Instead of filling the box itself with dirt and planting directly in it, use it to corral smaller, separate pots of your favorite plants. If you need to replace a plant, it’s simple to just slip out one pot and make the switch. Likewise, when it’s time to water the plants, remove the pots and water the plants in the sink. Once the excess water has drained, return them to the window box.

Tidy-up

Clutter can make a room feel restrictive. Simply organizing your space can open up the room and make it feel more inviting. As you’re cleaning, use natural cleaners with fresh scents. Imagine the woodsy scent of tea-tree oil or a little bit of lemon lingering in your living room. Makes you smile just thinking about it, doesn’t it? Now, throw open those windows and let the great outdoors shine in! Inviting more natural sunlight will enliven your space. Don’t forget a little TLC for your window treatments too. Wipe down the blinds and wash (or dry-clean) your draperies.

Draw color and texture inspiration from the outdoors

When you think of being outdoors, what colors do you think of? Whether it’s the lush green of grass, the salty blue of the ocean or the warm yellow of the sun, bringing those hues into your room is a fantastic way to welcome the outdoors into your home!

While a fresh, clean coat of paint will make your space feel fresh and bright, you’ve got other options when it comes to color. Introduce pops of outdoor-inspired hues with accessories such as pillows, blankets and rugs. Even candles, vases, and wall décor are fantastic options.

What’s your favorite outdoor place? If you’ve got a picture of it, frame it and hang it! Look for paintings, prints and design elements that mimic the scenery and texture of your outdoor sanctuaries. If you’re a beach person, for example, weathered grey wood textures mimic water beaten driftwood, while cool blues, greens and white bring to mind the water and elements like sea glass and shells. Is the forest more your style? Choose accessories in natural wood finishes and greens.

If you find yourself wishing you could spend more time outdoors but the seasons or your schedule are making it difficult, bring the outdoors in. If you incorporate these steps, don’t forget to come back here and share your pictures! Which step will you try first?

by Anjie Cho

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, check out Mindful Design Feng Shui School at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com