Anjie's Favorite Things: Let's Get Cozy for September

Welcome to Anjie’s Favorite Things!

Each month, we highlight products to help you create a holistic lifestyle that inspires and nurtures you, so that you can be happier and feel supported.

It’s already really starting to feel like fall, here in NYC. I can't believe it! We've had a long, warm summer, but the weather is beginning to get cooler and crisper, and soon we'll be switching walks in the park for snuggling up indoors. That's why this month's My Favorite Things is all about getting cozy! We put some thought into the necessities for a staying warm in the fall air, and here's what we came up with.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Sun Yantra Mandala for Radiance & Warmth

I love mandalas as a way to add a certain energy or intention to a room. This Sun yantra mandala is perfect for warming up your space as the weather cools off!

The Sun is associated with individuality, radiance and yang energy. It depicts yellows and oranges and radiating lotus petals, and looks similar to the sun itself! As it represents warmth and radiance, this mandala is perfect for seasons when we see less sun. 

Yellows and oranges are representative of nature, which is appropriate for autumn, and the bright colors are also a helpful dose of optimism and positive qi during fall and winter months. 

Available at: Holistic Spaces

Wei of chocolate’s cardamom

I am a big fan of cardamom, and flower elixirs, and who doesn’t love chocolate??? My current favorite Wei of Chocolate flavor is Cardamom. It’s warming and uplifting and infused with Lotus Wei’s Sacred Awareness flower remedy blend for: heightened intuition, awakening, and energetic perception.

We’re invited to let the chocolate melt in the mouth to enhance the experience!

Available at: Lotus Wei

SENTIA non-alcoholic SPIRITS

I thrilled with the unique non-alcoholic offerings that are now available to all of us. I’ve been getting super cozy in the evenings with a relaxing mocktail with Sentia GABA Red (with passionflower, ashwagandha). I just pour some over ice with some sparkling water, and instant relaxation!

Check out: Sentia GABA Red

image from quince.com

SheepSKIN Rug

When it comes to making your holistic space warmer, a wool rug is a no-brainer!

Most rugs can help to reduce the cool temperature beneath your feet, especially here in NYC where everything is wood flooring, but wool and sheepskin rugs are especially warm!

When looking for wool or sheepskins rugs, seek out organic and ethically sourced if possible.

I have two from Quince that I love!

Sandalwood Essential Oil

My favorite things for warming up wouldn't be a complete list without essential oils! Fall is a great time to utilize these incredible healing tools, and sandalwood is on our ultimate fall list. 

My good friend, Andrea Giordano, of Aromatherachi, specializes in using essential oils to make amazing products like soap and bath salts, but she also sells the oil itself! Her sandalwood oil is sustainable and eco-friendly, sourced in Hawaii! Can you think of a warmer place?!

Available at: Aromatherachi

Anjie's Favorite Things: the fullness of summer

Welcome to Anjie’s Favorite Things!

Each month, we highlight products to help you create a holistic lifestyle that inspires and nurtures you, so that you can be happier and feel supported.

We’re in the fullness of summer in August. It’s my favorite time of year because it’s also my birthday month! Plus this year I have my third book coming out: Mindful Living. But the real reason why I love August, is that I love the summertime. The last few years we’ve been visiting Maine to enjoy the water, hiking and the last days of summer.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

space | clearing Blend & Amethyst Mist for space & energy clearing

August is a big month to travel, as we’re taking advantage of the last days of summer. I never leave home for a trip without a bottle of my Holistic Spaces Space Clearing mist. The small 2 oz bottle is travel friendly and vital for those of us that are energetically sensitive.

The blend has white sage essential oil which purifies, and the amethyst crystal protects. The smell is divine, but the mist also clears away any stagnant energy that may be lingering in a hotel room or AirBNB.

Available at: Holistic Spaces

The buzz's insect-repelling perfume

I am a big fan of summertime. Biting insects are also big fans of summertime, and of me! I am the best mosquito repellent because they will feast on me and leave you alone!

I am a big fan of this DEET-free, plant-powered, chemical-free insect repellent that is also a wildcrafted botanical handcrafted elegant perfume. I recommend the Charlston scent. Top notes: Lemon & Lime; Middle: Orange, Bergamot & Mandarin; Base notes: Geranium

Available at: The BUZZ

image from the BUZZ

BUG BITE THING

Still on the insect topic, I tried out the BUG BITE THING Suction tool and it really does work! Along with the BUZZ perfume, I also carry the suction tool in my pocket or purse to make sure I can use it if I get a bite.

Check out: BUG BITE THING

image from Out of the Woods

Out of the woods eco-friendly cooler backpack

When I think of August, I think of hikes and picnics. So I love my new Seagull Backpack Cooler from Out of the Woods.

Their products are cute, functional.. and did I mention: CUTE!

PLUS: they are lightweight, durable, and made from ethically sourced, sustainable materials, featuring Supernatural Paper® from responsibly managed forests.

Check out: Out of the Woods

Make Room for Metal and Clarity with the Autumnal Equinox

yellow autumn leaves on tree branch

Photo by Katie Moum on Unsplash

I can't believe it's already time to say goodbye to summer! In a few days, we will experience this year's Autumnal Equinox and feel the shift from long, warm summer days to shorter, crisper fall days before we head into winter. Many of our friends have shared incredible ways to adjust to the new season and welcome the equinox. Be sure to check those posts out! We've also pulled together a few tips for this year to make autumn your best season yet!

What is the Autumnal Equinox?

Let's cover the important bases, first. Just what is the equinox, and why is it so important? The September equinox, also referred to as the Autumnal Equinox, marks the point in the year when the sun crosses the celestial equator, a sort of extension of the earth's equator that "sits" above the planet, from north to south. So essentially, the sun is crossing the earth's equator.

The term "equinox" comes from Latin roots "aequus" and "nox", meaning "equal night," which corresponds to the belief that, on an equinox, night and day are equal length. As it turns out, daylight still typically lasts longer than night. The center of the sun sets 12 hours after rising on this day, but each half of the sun still has to travel through the sky, so day and night times will vary. In fact, the equinox is not an all-day event, but the specific moment when the center of the sun reaches this point. This year, in Eastern time, that will happen at 4:02 pm on September 22. 

For everyday purposes, the equinox most notably represents the change from summer to autumn. As some of our holistic experts have noted, this is the time to move from yang energy, high activity and cool foods to more inward, yin energy, self-care and a warming, nourishing diet. And, based on the feng shui bagua map and five elements, autumn is a season of Metal.

Autumn and the Metal Element

In feng shui and the five elements theory, the autumn season corresponds to the Metal element and the Completion area of the bagua, which relates to the color white, the number seven and the element of joy. Metal is also associated with clarity.

If you're looking to update your space for the new season, you might think you should add more Metal. But in fact, for the most part, because this season carries more of this element, there can be an overabundance of Metal. Metal relates to metallic colors (think gold, silver) and the colors white and grey, as well as to joy and the mouth, and governs order and beauty. It's associated with efficiency and organization, circular shapes and a general turning inward. So what does an overabundance of Metal mean? Metal out of balance can be rigid and inflexible, stuck on having everything perfect. Since Metal is related to the mouth and speech, individuals with an excess of this element often speak without precision and boundaries. If this describes you in fall, you may have too much Metal!

Some ways to adjust a Metal imbalance: add Water, which drains Metal, or Wood, which dulls and softens the Metal element. For more Water, try enjoying walks along the water, bringing wavy patterns into your space or incorporating the sound of water into your home, like with music or a fountain. If you'd rather add Wood, add blue and green tones or plants to your space! Check out our My Favorite Things series for more insight on adding Water and Wood. 

Get Clarity with Metal 

Autumn is also the time for harvest, both in agriculture and metaphorically in life. The planting season is ending, so maybe it's good to look at this in terms of your life and space. What no longer serves you in your home? It could be as literal as summer clothes you haven't worn in three years or letting go of old food in the fridge and composting it. Think about things or people in your life that are no longer serving you, as well. Metal element can also be like a sharp sword, cutting through what's unnecessary. It's time to harvest what's come to fruition, look at why some things didn't grow and think about planning for the next year. 

Take some time as we transition to fall and consider how your "harvest" has turned out. And what do kind of energies do we want invite the next time around?

by Anjie Cho

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