Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui Your Front Door

Guest User October 4, 2020

Hi Anjie, I have heard you talk about the front door being important in feng shui, what suggestions do you have for making it better?

Thank you for your question! You’re right that the front door is an important place to look at when you are looking at your home’s feng shui. The front door is also called the mouth of qi, because this is where energy enters your home. An inviting front door will help welcome opportunities to you.

In terms of specific suggestions, your front entrance should be tidy and free of obstacles. Start by removing anything that’s blocking the path to your front door, and making sure it’s visible. Remove clutter and trim any bushes that obstruct the view of your door. Next, is the doorbell functional? Is your house number clearly marked? If new guests can find your entrance easily, so can positive energy and new opportunities.

In order to make your entrance more inviting, you may want to place plants or flowers around the front door, or paint your door in a color that you’re attracted to. Red is an auspicious color in feng shui, so it can be a great choice for a front door. A new door mat can also make your entrance feel more welcoming.

It’s also important to keep your front door clean. Wipe down the surface of the door, and don’t forget the frame, hinges, and knob. Neglecting parts of your front door can represent blocks. Alternatively, by giving your door some love and attention, you can begin to activate it and welcome more opportunities and new energy into your life.

Finally, use your front door! If you’ve been spending more time at home and feeling a bit stuck or stagnant, experiment with using your front door every so often, like when you go out to get your mail. Taking a moment to mindfully open your door nine times can also air out your space and activate your entrance.

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.

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

Q&A Sunday: Hanging Artwork in Your Home

Guest User September 20, 2020

I’m curious if you have any tips about hanging art. I’m downsizing to a smaller apartment, and I’m not sure where to hang my art or if I will have space for it all.

Thank you for your question! To answer the first part of your question, it’s generally a good idea to hang paintings and other art a little higher than you think you should. This is especially important if you have a tendency towards depression. When the art in your home is placed too low, it can depress your qi. Placing your art higher, as well as choosing light fixtures that point upwards, can lift your gaze which also helps to lift your qi. After six months of a pandemic, I think all of us can probably use an extra lift!

When it comes to the size of your space and whether you’ll have room to hang all the pieces you own, I’m reminded of one of my favorite books, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism by Chögyam Trungpa. In the first chapter, he speaks about our tendency to collect. Some of our collections are internal: maybe you are always collecting new information, or learning about yet another spiritual modality. In this internet age, people often want to collect as much information as possible rather than really receiving and working with one thing. Because your home is a manifestation of what’s going on inside, how you collect things in your home may also indicate how you collect things in your life.

Chögyam Trungpa compares our collections to a shop. We may have started out with one beautiful item, but over time, our space becomes so full of things that it becomes more like a junk shop. Even if the individual items are beautiful, too many things placed in the same space can lead to chaos.

You may have beautiful artwork, but will you be able to enjoy its beauty if your walls are completely full of things to look at? When we have too many things, life becomes oppressive. Practices like meditation and feng shui are about focusing on one thing at a time, paying attention to the details, and simplifying. What if we chose to fully appreciate individual things in each moment, rather than feeling the need to bring them home and add to our collection?

I hope this gives you some inspiration as you decide which artwork to hang in your new apartment, as well as what else you choose to bring with you!

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

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