Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui and Crystals

Anjie Cho July 5, 2020

Photo by Franco Antonio Giovanella on Unsplash

I really appreciate your podcast and all the work you are doing. I would love to hear your opinion about the use of crystals in Feng Shui. They seem an integral part of the practice, but I find them personally difficult to use as many are mined in deadly conditions in one of the world’s poorest countries.

- Christine T.

Hi Christine,

Thank you for your question, and thank you for listening to our podcast! First, natural crystals are actually not an integral part of feng shui. That’s a common misconception. If you look at any older feng shui books, you won’t see any crystals, except maybe jade since that was often used in Asia. A lot of feng shui practitioners do use crystals, but they’re not necessary. The use of crystals in feng shui is part of a modern version of feng shui that’s been adapted to make it relevant for the current time.

We do talk a lot about using feng shui crystal balls in BTB feng shui, which is the school of feng shui that I practice and teach. In the BTB tradition, these faceted crystal balls are very important, but they’re also not necessary. There’s always something else you could use as an adjustment instead. Feng shui is about shifting the energy in your environment. You can use many different tools, including natural crystals or crystal balls, but they’re not a must. If you’re working with a consultant, they’ll be able to give you adjustments that are appropriate for you and customized to what you’re working on, as well as substitutions if required.

In terms of the mining industry, that’s a really important thing to think about. Especially because crystals are used as a healing tool, it’s important to think about where they come from. I find that as I’m teaching more and becoming more available to the public, I have a responsibility to educate myself because what I show and model publicly has an impact. While in many areas of my life I’ve taken the time to consider the ethics involved with where things come from, I haven’t researched that much about natural crystals, so I’m really grateful that you’ve brought this to my attention.

I don’t have a great answer about the mining industry because I’m not a gemstone expert, but I think it’s an important conversation and I’m going to reach out to my colleagues who are gemstone experts to see how they address it. If this aspect of crystals does make you uncomfortable, remember that you don’t have to work with them to practice feng shui.

We all have to do the best we can and continually wake up to see more of the suffering in the world and the ways we can lessen it. Since I’m talking publicly, it’s especially important for me to up the ante and take responsibility for what I am sharing with the world.

Thanks again for your question and for bringing this to my attention!

by Anjie Cho

Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday". We will be answering questions submitted by our readers. Click here to submit any Feng Shui questions!

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 Morning Rituals

Anjie Cho June 28, 2020

I would like my home to feel more like a sacred space, especially now that I’m spending more time there. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks for your question! One thing that really helps me incorporate more sacredness into my day is ritual. Ritual has been really important to me, even when I was little. I’ve always felt very connected to the ritual aspect of feng shui, and it really helps me feel connected to my home.

How do we bring more ritual into our lives using feng shui? There are a lot of ways to approach this, but a great way to start is to look at what happens when you first get up in the morning, and to create a morning ritual that really supports you.

I’ve been reading The Wisdom of No Escape by Pema Chodron, and I really love what she says about ritual. She writes, “Ritual is about joining vision and practicality, heaven and earth, samsara and nirvana.” How can you join vision and practicality in your home? How can you join heaven and earth? In feng shui, heaven is the ceiling and earth is the floor. Earth is always there to ground you, and heaven represents guiding principles, spaciousness, and openness.

For instance, I wake up to an alarm clock that emulates sunrise and sounds like birds chirping, and then I do my beauty rituals. Your ritual could be preparing a cup of tea or coffee, or making your bed. Whatever your chosen ritual, having that daily structure in your home gives you a sense of sacredness in your daily life. Feng shui is mindfulness for your home. It’s about paying attention to all the details in your environment, and noticing how your space affects you and how you affect your space. When we’re aware of this, we start to see that we’re not separate from our environment.

Morning rituals can look different for each person. If you’re not sure what to incorporate into your ritual, I would suggest looking at which of the five elements is most supportive for you. You can take my quiz here to find that out. For me, water is really nourishing, so part of my morning ritual is going to the East River and sitting in meditation by the water. Other ways to connect to the water element in the morning are to take a shower, drink a big glass of water, or listen to water sounds when you first get out of bed.

If wood is really nourishing for you, you could make sure one of the first things you see when you wake up is connected to the wood element, like a houseplant or something green or blue. If you’re fed by fire, you could sit in a room with a lot of sunlight first thing in the morning, or turn on the stove to make a cup of tea. To connect to earth in the morning, make sure the first thing you see when you wake up is brown, or sleep in earthy colored sheets. If metal is most supportive for you, try sleeping in a white room or in white sheets, so that’s what you see in the morning.

Thanks again for your question, I hope that helps!

by Anjie Cho

Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday". We will be answering questions submitted by our readers. Click here to submit any Feng Shui questions!

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui check out the Mindful Design Feng Shui certification program. Laura Morris and I launched our program in September 2018. To get on the list about it, sign up at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com.

Dive deeper into feng shui to transform your life!

Mindful Design is a new way to learn feng shui. Create sacred spaces that support, and nourish.

Visit us at mindfuldesignschool.com

Chinese Zodiac for 2020: Year of the Metal Rat

Anjie Cho January 8, 2020

Happy Lunar New Year! Happy 2021!

To welcome the lunar new year, Mindful Design offers a New Year’s Reset Package, including a live ritual to peel away the old year and welcome the new one. This is an especially powerful ritual depending on your birth year animal, but everyone can benefit from these practices! To learn more about who can get the most out of this ritual, and more about what to expect in 2021 based on your birth year animal, listen to our podcast episode Welcome The Year of the Ox.

BTB Feng Shui always recommends carrying a three-dimensional charm to welcome good luck and protection each year. This year, since the Rat is the Ox’s best friend, we recommend a three-dimensional Rat charm, available in the color of your choice in the Holistic Spaces store!

*Please note, if your birthday is in January or February, your animal sign may be the preceding year. If you were born on the cusp, we we recommend you find your natal chart online .

Rat 子

Resourceful, like to be busy, can sniff out opportunities

Years: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

Rats are best friends with Dragons, Snakes, Monkeys, and especially Oxen! The Ox and Rat are considered best friends in the Chinese Zodiac, so this means it’s a good year for Rats!

Overall energy of the year: Good

What to do: Embrace the calmer energy of the Ox year. Don’t push riskier endeavours.

You are most compatible with: Dragon, Monkey, Rat and Ox.

You clash with: Horse.

Ox 丑

Steady eddy, hard working, ploughs through problems calmly

Years: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009

Oxen are great friends with Snakes, Roosters, and Rats. You may think that since it’s the year of the Ox, it would be a very lucky year for anyone born in the year of the Ox. But in fact, it may be a little more challenging for Oxen. In BTB feng shui we practice a protection ceremony called the Golden Cicada Ritual. Think of it as a way to smooth out the rough edges, and to bring more ease in the coming year. If you’re interested, there is a class available here, we also recommend you carry a 2021 charm (Rat) with you for extra support.

Overall energy of the year: So-so

What to do: Make time for self-care and take breaks. Oxen work too hard!

You are most compatible with: Rooster, Snake and Rat.

You clash with: Ram/Sheep.

Tiger 寅

Dynamic, self-reliant, Tigers leap forward with creative ideas

Years: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Tigers are friends with Horses, Dogs, and Pigs. The creative and dynamic tiger finds the Ox’s stead-fast work ethic a little tiresome.

Overall energy of the year: Mostly neutral

What to do: Take advantage of the calmer energy (may feel boring to tigers)

You are most compatible with: Horse, Dog and Pig.

You clash with: Monkey.

Rabbit 卯

Easy-going, sociable, the rabbit hops along with grace

Years: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

Rabbits are friends with Rams, Pigs, and Dogs. Rabbits will enjoy the quieter, more stable energy of the Ox. For extra support and ease with Ox, we recommend you carry a 2021 charm (Rat) the Ox’s best friend.

Overall energy of the year: Neutral

What to do: Gracefully bunny hop over minor set-backs, and enjoy the slower pace.

You are most compatible with: Pig, Sheep and Dog.

You clash with: Rooster

Dragon 辰

Energetic, strong, dragons fly through life with purpose

Years: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000

Dragons are best friends with Monkeys, Roosters, and Rats. Dragons respect the Ox’s work ethic and tenacious nature.

Overall energy of the year: Pretty good

What to do: Align your powerful Dragon energy with the stable and determined energy of the Ox

You are most compatible with: Rat, Monkey, and Rooster.

You clash with: Dog

Snake 巳

Intellectual, Snakes slide through life with wisdom and grace

Years: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013

Snakes are best friends with Rooster, Monkey, and Ox; this is good news for the Snake. Snake’s wisdom will serve them well, and is looked upon favorably by the Ox.

Overall energy of the year: Good

What to do: Use your subtle influence and keen intuition

You are most compatible with: Rooster, Ox and Monkey.

You clash with: Pig

Horse 午

Strong, active, horses will gallop by looking for adventure

Years: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002

Horses are best friends with Tigers, Dogs and Rams. You just came out of Rat year, which was a tough one -- for all of us :) Horses are efficient and hard-workers which the Ox respects.

Overall energy of the year: Ease

What to do: focus on projects that were left undone in 2020 (Rat) and channel that Ox energy into tackling them.

You are most compatible with: Tiger, Dog and Ram.

You clash with: Rat

Ram 未

Gentle and kind, but under that soft, wooly exterior is strong determination

Years: 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003

Rams (Sheep or Goat) are friends with Pigs, Rabbits and Horses. The good-natured Ram is not a fan of the hard-working Ox. Because Ram clashes with the Ox, so it is important in BTB feng shui to practice the Golden Cicada Ritual. If you’re interested, there is a class available here. We also highly recommend you carry a 2021 charm (Rat)

Overall energy of the year: Might feel like Ox is a bit of a task-master

What to do: Tap into your strength and determination

You are most compatible with: Rabbit, Pig and Horse.

You clash with: Ox

Monkey 申

Clever, curious, Monkeys will charm others with their ap-peel

Years: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004

Monkeys are friends with Dragons, Rats, and especially Snakes. Monkeys will do well this year if they focus their energy and don’t try to take the quick way to doing things. Use the Ox’s hard-working energy to balance your curious nature, the Ox won’t tolerate any monkeying around.

Overall energy of the year: Pretty good

What to do: Use your clever Monkey and ways to channel your energy for success.

You are most compatible with: Rat, Dragon and Snake.

You clash with: Tiger

Rooster 酉

Articulate, astute, Roosters strut with confidence

Years: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005

Roosters are best friends with Snakes, Oxen, and Dragons. Roosters like the solid work ethic of the Ox. They make a good team and appreciate each other's focus and determination.

Overall energy of the year: Supportive

What to do: Just because you have the opportunity to do a lot and accomplish much, doesn't mean you should. Don’t get caught up in working too hard, take time for yourself.

You are most compatible with: Ox, Snake, and Dragon.

You clash with: Rabbit

Dog 戌

Loyal, dogs look out for others and they are dogged protectors

Years: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018

Dogs are best friends with Tigers, Horses, and Rabbits. They are in a mostly neutral relationship with the Ox. Dog and Ox see eye-to-eye on being fair and steadfast. For extra good luck and support, we recommend you carry a 2021 charm (Rat) this year.

Overall energy of the year: Neutral

What to do: Don’t pick fights, instead choose to channel your inner peace-maker.

You are most compatible with: Tiger, Horse and Rabbit.

You clash with: Dragon

Pig 亥

Good-nature, trust-worthy, fun-loving. Pigs are always there to help ‘sn-out’

Years: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

Pigs are best friends with Rabbits, Rams, and Tigers. Pigs are hard-working but know how to have to have a good time. Yes, Pigs work hard, but the Ox doesn't appreciate the Pig’s bon-vivant side, so we recommend you carry a 2021 charm (Rat) to soften the relationship and give the Pig more support.

Overall energy of the year: So-so

What to do: Be selective of who you do business with, and use the stable and analytical ways of Ox to support you.

You are most compatible with: Sheep, Rabbit and Tiger.

You clash with: Snake

To learn more about the energy coming your way in 2021, be sure to check out our podcast episode Welcome The Year of the Ox!

If you're really interested in more personal, in-depth predictions, please reach out to a Four Pillars or Bazi practitioner for a consultation!

Don’t forget to grab your three-dimensional rat charm this year, here at Holistic Spaces!

Check out our New Year’s Reset Package here!