Q&A Sunday: How to Feel More Inspired at Work

Guest User September 13, 2020

I am feeling uninspired in my career. Are there any feng shui cures that can help me?

Thank you so much for your question! I’m sorry you are feeling uninspired in your career. That’s not a good feeling, and you are most certainly not alone. I think most of us have been in work environments where our gifts are not nurtured, and when this happens we end up losing inspiration and passion for the work we are doing.

In feng shui, inspiration is related to the fire element. I would suggest you take a look at the li area of the bagua map, since that’s the area associated with fire energy. To find the li area of your bedroom, check out my blog post on the bagua.

Before you make any feng shui adjustments, I would first observe what’s happening in this area of your home or bedroom. Do you regularly give attention to this part of your home? Does it need to be cleaned? Is it easy for you to move around in this area, or is your path blocked? This information can give you a clue as to what might be happening in this area of your life.

Sometimes, when you are not feeling passionate about your work, it is because you are not being recognized for your unique gifts. When we feel like we are being overlooked, it’s easy to lose inspiration. If this is the case, I would again look to the li area, since li and the fire element are also connected to recognition, fame, passion, and reputation. Think of a fire, big or small, and what kind of energy it has. The flame of a candle is illuminating, and can bring luminosity, clarity, and attention. In the same way, fire energy can bring these qualities into your life.

One of my favorite ways to activate the li area is with new green plants. Plants represent life energy and growth. When placed in the li area, they can infuse the energy of growth and new life into how you are inspired and how you’re seen by others. Plants also represent wood energy, which feeds fire. Think about it: fires need fuel to burn. Since your lack of inspiration is specific to work, I would also recommend placing a new green plant in the li area of your desk, since your desk represents your career. A flowering plant can be especially helpful in this area.

I hope this helps you find more inspiration in your career! As always, if you want advice that is more tailored to your unique situation, I recommend working with a practitioner or studying feng shui more deeply.

Even if you decide to move on from your current work situation, a bonus of activating the li area is that it can help you gain public support if you are starting a new endeavor. So, if you decide to pursue a new career or even start a business, you will have a boost there as well!

by Anjie Cho

Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday". If you have personal questions, we encourage you to check out Practical Feng Shui or hire one of Anjie's Grads.

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

Feng Shui Tips for Bedrooms

Guest User September 9, 2020

If you’re not sure where to get started with feng shui, I suggest taking a look at your bedroom. First, it can be easier to lay the bagua on a single room rather than your whole house. Second, adjustments in your bedroom can be very effective because your bedroom represents you. Your bedroom environment also influences your ability to rest and reset your stress levels, which can have a big impact on the rest of your life.

Because of this, it’s important to make your bedroom a soothing, relaxing space. Start by removing any objects that are too energizing or engaging, like books, electronics, and work projects. Having these things around you when you are trying to relax can cause more stress and make it more difficult to sleep.

It’s also important to make sure your bed is in the commanding position. To do this, place your bed in such a way that you can see the door when you are lying in bed, but are not directly in line with the door. This way, you can be more at ease when you are resting or sleeping because you are able to see anyone or anything that could be approaching. If you’re unable to place your bed in command, you can also add a mirror that allows you to see a reflection of the door from your bed instead of the actual door.

Next, choose colors for your bedroom that are supportive and soothing. Blues and greens are great colors for bedrooms because they’re healing and peaceful. They represent life energy, and are colors we naturally find in nature. Try not to use too much white, because it can be stressful on the eyes, like looking at snow with no sunglasses. Red and yellow are very stimulating, so they’re best used as accents.

It’s also helpful to consider the color of your bed linens. Because you spend so many passive hours in bed taking in the energy of your surroundings, the color of your bedding can impact your mood and energy. White can be a bit harsh here as well, so you may want to try a softer ivory instead. Deep reds and purples are good choices if you want to call in more passion, and earthy colors like yellow can help you feel more stable and supported.

It’s also important to choose colors that you love. There are so many potential color palettes, and the best one for you will depend on your preferences and life situation. Pay attention to what you’re drawn to and how you feel around certain colors. How do you feel in your bedroom now? Is there a change you could make that would make you feel more at ease?

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: Flowers and Feng Shui

Guest User September 6, 2020

Someone told me it is good feng shui to have flowers in the dining room. Is this true?

Thank you for your question! Yes, in general, fresh flowers are great, because they can bring in joy and uplift the qi in your home. Flowers also feel special. When I was going to ikebana class every week, I would bring flowers home and people would always ask where they were from. Having fresh flowers in your home can be a lovely and simple way to do some special for yourself.

It’s also true that flowers are especially good for the dining room. Dining rooms are important places in the home because they represent how we nourish ourselves, and also how we connect to others and how deep our friendships are. However, they’re often neglected because we often don’t spend a lot of time eating in the dining room, and sometimes we even use the dining room table as a home office. If you want to deepen your friendships, make sure you are being mindful of how you interact with your dining room and especially your dining room table. Find a separate space that can function as your home office if you can, and take time regularly to eat meals at your table. Having a vase of beautiful flowers here can also help to bring more attention and energy to your dining room table and the parts of your life that it represents.

If you do bring flowers into your home, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, if you can, try to find locally grown flowers. Local flowers are generally better for the environment because they aren’t shipped from far away, and don’t require as many chemicals to stay fresh for a long trip. It’s also a great way to support your local farmers.

It’s also important to care for your flowers once you’ve brought them into your home. Replace the water daily and remove any dead leaves or flowers. Water is their life blood, just like it is ours, and it’s important to keep it clean and free of any debris that might fall into the vase. When you replace the water, you can also cut off the bottom inch or so of each stem, so that the flowers can receive more water.

I encourage you to do something special for yourself and bring some fresh flowers into your home. Choose flowers that you’re drawn to, and if you like, you can even look up the symbolism of those flowers to learn more about what they can teach you.

by Anjie Cho