Feng Shui for Autumn

Guest User November 10, 2021

We’re well into fall here in the Northern Hemisphere, when the weather gets cooler and things start to die away. The leaves on trees start to change color and fall, and things start to get slower as we wind down for the holidays. During this season, we also have more yin time. Yang energy is related to the sunshine, while yin energy is related to nighttime and darkness. During the fall and winter, we have more dark hours of the day and less sunlight.

At its core, feng shui is really about connecting to the cycles of nature. Applying feng shui principles can be a way to engage with these cycles and the changing seasons in our homes and our lives. If you want to really embrace this time of year, here are a few ways you can do this using feng shui principles.

The metal element

First, you can work with the metal element, which is related to autumn. Metal also gives way to water, which is connected to the season of winter that we’ll be moving into next. One way to embrace the metal element is just to understand that we are moving into a time where things are falling away, and that it’s okay to let go of things. It’s okay to be going through a transition. The metal element has the feeling of a sword or scissors cutting through something. What do you need to cut through? What do you need to let go of that is no longer serving you? Once you’ve done some reflection on this, take action. Metal is about movement and taking steps to move things forward, not staying still. It’s also about contraction and becoming more compact. Think of an acorn: it has all the energy and wisdom of an oak tree, but in a smaller package.

Protect your neck

My acupuncturist always tells me to protect the back of my neck during this time of year as it’s getting colder. It’s a good idea to protect this part of your body from the wind. There’s actually an area of the feng shui bagua that’s related to your neck and head, and it’s usually near the front door. To support this part of your body and your home, make sure you have extra protection from wind and drafts.

Accept sadness

With the change in seasons, some people start to feel more sad. The metal element is connected to sadness as well. If this resonates with you, I would encourage you to recognize that it’s okay to feel sad. If there were never any sadness, you would also never feel any joy. It’s a part of life. It’s not about trying to eradicate sadness, because there is always sadness in the world. Begin to embrace all parts of you, including the sad parts.

If you are feeling very low and sad because of the waning light, there are a few practical things that you can do. You might want to bring in more full-spectrum lights to use during the day, and go out in the sun more. You can also look at how things are placed in your home. Is your bed or the artwork in your home placed especially low? If your mood feels low, and especially if you have a tendency towards depression, you might want to pay attention to this, and maybe take some time to lift the qi of your home. You might want to get a taller bed frame, or add a box spring or lifts for your bed. You also might want to carefully rehang one or more pieces of art. Take it off the wall, dust it, and place it even just an inch higher to lift your qi and raise your spirits.

I hope these tips help you to welcome autumn!

by Anjie Cho

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

Feng Shui for Better Sleep

Guest User November 3, 2021

Photo and design by Anjie Cho Architect PLLC

Do you have trouble falling or staying asleep? If so, you’re not alone. As our lives get busier and more stressful, our sleep tends to be affected. One of the tools that you can use to improve your quality of sleep is feng shui. Feng shui is an Asian art that recognizes that our homes are connected to us and our wellbeing, which includes how we are able to sleep and rest.

In this post I wanted to share a few feng shui tips for better sleep. These are also all great tips that can benefit anyone, even if you don’t have trouble sleeping.

Optimize your bed position

First, make sure your bed is in the command position. This means you are able to see the door while lying in bed, while not being directly in line with the door. You want your bed to be placed in such a way that you can see the doorway, because that means that you are in control of what’s happening in your space and you won’t be caught off guard. When your back is facing the door, your stress levels are elevated because your subconscious mind recognizes that it can no longer see things that are coming towards you. This can increase your stress levels and affect your ability to sleep restfully. Ideally, you want to set up your bed for the best sleep possible by putting yourself in the command position.

Evaluate storage under the bed

Second, take a look under your bed. A lot of people find this area to be a convenient storage space, however in feng shui we recommend that you have absolutely nothing under the bed if at all possible. You spend at least a third of your life lying over those objects, and storing your clutter underneath you can affect your quality of sleep. If you do have items stored under the bed, think about what those mean. For instance, do you have shoes under the bed? Shoes can represent movement. Do you keep luggage there? That could also represent movement, as well as travel and instability. Are you storing divorce papers or other things that are emotionally charged? Items related to an ex, for example, can correspond to subconscious blocks in a relationship, because you’re sleeping over that energy every night.

When you’re sleeping, you’re in a passive yin state where you’re susceptible to all the energy around you, so it’s especially important to have a supportive feng shui setup for your bedroom. If you do need to store things under the bed, stick to softer, sleep-related items like extra blankets or pillows. If possible, however, you really want the space under your bed to be open so that qi can flow freely around you.

Lighting and electronics

Third, I would recommend paying attention to any lighting and electronic devices in the bedroom. In feng shui we use the principles of yin and yang. This can be applied in a really practical way, in terms of making sure that there is enough yin energy and darkness in the area where you sleep. For example, phones or other devices in your bedroom can give off blue light, which is very cool and related to yang energy. Yang is the energy of the sun, which is not as restful as yin energy. You want to have warmer-toned lights around you. Think of the warm glow of candlelight or a pink salt lamp. (If you do have candles in the bedroom, make sure to snuff them out before you start falling asleep!) Try to improve the yin quality of your bedroom and allow your body to have a cycle of yin time each night by enhancing the darkness in this space.

I hope these suggestions help you create a relaxing space where you can drift off easily!

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: Feng Shui for Bad Energy

Guest User October 31, 2021

What should I do about bad energy in my home?

Happy Halloween! I thought this would be a good question to answer during this time of year when the veil is thin.

First, I would encourage you not to look at things as purely good or bad. It’s very natural as humans to want to put things in categories, but I always like to look at situations with curiosity rather than fear.

When we say “bad” energy, what we often mean is that yin and yang are out of balance. When you have too much yin qi in your home, it can make you feel heavy and low. One thing to pay attention to when you’re looking at the feng shui of your home is what’s outside your home. People often think that feng shui just has to do with home interiors, but as practitioners, we also look at what’s around you. Do you have any cemeteries, funeral homes, or churches close to you? These all represent yin energy, so it’s helpful to notice whether you have any nearby. Other things that can affect your home’s energy are the other people in your neighborhood, as well as the previous inhabitants of your home and the land. All of that energy is programmed into buildings and places, and your space holds memories of those vibrations.

Something else that might indicate difficult energy is needing an abundance of home repairs. If your home is falling into great disrepair, that’s something to pay attention to. This can contribute to really challenging energy in all area of your life, so it’s important to start to make any necessary improvements. It’s okay to take this one step at a time, because this process can be overwhelming if your house seems to be falling apart. However, it is a good idea to address issues that come up when you can. Your house represents you and your body, so this could also be reflected in your health.

If you feel worried about bad energy in your home, it’s important to make some shifts so that you can feel more comfortable and at ease in your space. You could try doing a space clearing using a method that resonates with you. If you would like more support in shifting your home’s energy, you might want to work with a feng shui practitioner who can give you more tools to transmute the qi in your space.

by Anjie Cho