Q&A Sunday: Is Purple a Good Feng Shui Color?

Guest User January 3, 2021

Is purple a good color in feng shui?

First, I encourage you to read more about my philosophy on color. It’s more complex than certain colors being “good” or “bad.” It’s important to think about which colors support your intention, as well as how different colors make you feel.

That said, purple is an auspicious color in feng shui, and can be helpful in many situations. It’s connected to wealth and abundance, as well as elegance and royalty. Purple is the combination of active red (fire element) and relaxing blue (wood element).This means that purple can harmonize and create inner balance and peace. Purple is also the color of the crown chakra, related to enlightenment and wisdom.

Purple is connected to the abundance area of the bagua map, called Xun in Chinese. You can place purple in this area to activate and welcome abundance, as well as self worth. To invite prosperity in your career or business, activate the abundance area or your desk. For overall prosperity, activate the abundance area of your home. You can also work with the abundance area of your bedroom, which can support you as an individual, or you and your partner.

A vase of fresh purple flowers is a great activation for the abundance area. Make sure to take care of your flowers by changing the water often, and cutting the stems regularly to allow them to drink more water. You can also place a purple amethyst crystal in this area, or another purple accent that speaks to you.

Keep in mind that what I offer on my blog is the entry level version of feng shui, and if you really want to work with it, it’s best to work with an expert. This is true for a lot of disciplines. For example, you wouldn’t just poke yourself with needles if you wanted to experience the benefits of acupuncture - you would go to a trained practitioner.

This applies to feng shui as well. I try to keep it as simple as possible on my blog and podcast so you can apply it to your own life. But if you’re really curious, I encourage you to understand that it’s a really deep wisdom, and work with a consultant or study more deeply.

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

Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui & The Color Red

Guest User December 27, 2020

I like to decorate with the color red. What does that mean in feng shui?

We recently talked about the color black, which is a very yin color, related to the water element. Fiery red is the polar opposite. Fire energy is very bright, like the middle of summer. It can be really helpful to include some fiery elements, including red accents, in your home during this cold, dark time of year.

Red is the most auspicious color when it comes to feng shui. It’s dynamic, bold, and stimulating, and it really stands out. If someone walks into a room wearing red, you really notice them.

While red is appropriate for many applications, it’s not the best choice for restful spaces, so be careful not to use too much in places where you want to relax. Keep in mind what the spaces in your home are being used for, and what colors will support those activities.

A little red also goes a long way, so it’s generally best used in moderation. You probably wouldn’t want to wear red lipstick, red earrings, red blush, and a big red hat, for example - it would be too much for most people.

It makes perfect sense that red represents the fire element, which is connected to passion and inspiration, as well as the recognition area of the bagua map, called li. If you need more passion in your relationship, you can add red accents in your bedroom, like red sheets, pillows, or a throw blanket. (Remember, a little goes a long way!) Adding red to your bedroom can also be helpful if you want to find a partner and are having a hard time meeting people.

If you want to bring more recognition and inspiration to your career, try placing red around your desk. One way to do this is through artwork. I paint yantras, which are a beautiful way to bring some meaningful red artwork into your space. You can also create your own red artwork, by making a collage or vision board with a lot of red. If you need more passion and recognition in your life in general, you may want to add red to the li area of your home.

As you can tell, there are many ways you can work with red. That’s where a feng shui expert, like one of my students, would really be able to help and support you. If you’re not ready to work with a consultant, you can also dabble and play around with red, and see how it goes!

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

Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui and Taking a Leap

Guest User October 11, 2020

Hi Anjie! I have been loving your podcast, especially the episode about how you got into feng shui. My question is about starting something new. I have been wanting to make some big changes in my life but I keep getting scared, and then I feel like I stay stuck. Do you have any suggestions?

Thank you so much for your question, and I’m so glad you’re enjoying the podcast!

When it comes to taking leaps in your life, whether it’s moving across the country, leaving a stable job, or any other big change, there’s a connection to letting go. Taking a leap is scary. It requires you to be courageous, to give yourself permission to do what you’re scared of doing, and to let go of anything that may be holding you back.

One way that this fear translates to how we live in our homes is being scared to get rid of things. People become terrified of letting go of even simple things like a cup or a sweater, because they worry that they might need it one day. Just by starting to practice letting go of things in our home, we are starting to soften our hearts. This helps us take leaps and let go in other parts of our life.

Decluttering can be challenging for many people, because we can get very attached to our things. There’s a traditional Buddhist practice of generosity that is very simple, and I would suggest giving it a try if you are having a hard time letting go of items in your home: Take an object, and practice moving it from one hand to the other. Begin to notice how it feels to let go of something in one hand, and how it feels to offer it to the other hand.

Once you’ve practiced this exercise, begin to practice letting go of things in your home that no longer serve you. You can start with the low-hanging fruit, like items that are broken. Notice how this begins to open your heart, and helps you become more courageous in letting go of things that no longer serve you in your life. This can apply to people and situations as well.

I think the reason feng shui is so attractive to people is that it can be easier to make changes in your external environment rather than your internal environment. In a way feng shui is sort of a gateway drug, because once you really unpack things and connect to your environment more deeply, you begin to see that you’re really interconnected to everything outside of you. You begin to soften and open up, and you can start to really dig deep within yourself, too.

I hope this helps, and I wish you all the best in the changes that lie ahead! If you’d like more feng shui support in making changes in your life, I encourage you to work with a consultant or join us for an upcoming session of Practical Feng Shui to dive deeper.

by Anjie Cho