Q&A Sunday: Prayer Wheels on Ceiling Fans

Anjie Cho March 1, 2020

Thank you for your podcast. I have a question about making a prayer wheel from your ceiling fan. I have always been interested in prayer wheels, but I was wondering if the prayer wheel (ceiling fan) turning counterclockwise during the summer is still auspicious. Perhaps the direction that the fan spins does not matter, but I wanted to make sure that if I print mantras and attach them to the top that it is spinning in the correct way to enhance the benefit.

Barbra, Pittston Twp, PA

Hi Barbra,

Thank you for your email! I love that you are interested in making your ceiling fan a prayer wheel. I personally think this is a beautiful adjustment. Your question is very thoughtful!

It is thought that in order to utilize their ceiling fans year-round, people can switch the direction from counter-clockwise, during the summer, to clockwise, during the winter. This adjustment switches the fan from pushing cool air down, when it turns counter-clockwise, to slowly pulling cooler air up and redistributing warm air, when it turns clockwise during the winter. We're assuming you do this!

Traditionally the prayer wheel is turned clockwise. In Buddhist walking meditation, we also walk clockwise. The clockwise direction creates a tightening, whereas a counter-clockwise loosens. Like a screw, righty tighty and lefty-loosey, right? I just learned recently that most of the planets, including the sun, rotate counter-clockwise, which makes sense because the universe is constantly expanding. It’s loosening, rather than getting smaller. You can read about it here!

But when we read in western culture, we read left to right, which corresponds to the clockwise direction. Therefore, I agree with you that it’s more effective to place the characters or syllables of the mantra so that when they're positioned, they are unfolding in a left to right direction. But if you've had it set up so it does not read in the left to right direction, remember, your intention is what's more important. Also the direction of the fan changes depending on how you look at the fan. Whether you look up or if you are above looking down, your perspective on the direction changes.

Creating a prayer wheel without taking this into consideration isn't necessarily wrong, but it can enhance this adjustment if it's something you've noticed and are thinking about. Whether the fan is turning clockwise or counter-clockwise is really all in your perspective, so adhering to this guideline is the best way to go.

Ultimately, I would recommend not letting the process get too complicated and remembering the intention! Remember that BTB feng shui is all about intention, and if you're going through the effort of creating the prayer wheel in the first place, chances are you have this down!

by Anjie Cho

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Q&A Sunday: Daybeds and Feng Shui

Anjie Cho February 23, 2020

I was listening to your Episode #12 and was wondering what your feeling is on daybeds; I live in a studio and have a daybed that acts as a couch and my twin size bed. The space simply cannot accommodate a larger bed. Do you have any recommendations as it relates to modifying the space to make it more auspicious for attracting a partner?

Rita P., Queens, NY

Hi Rita!

Thank you so much for listening my podcast (including Episode #12: Making Space for Love) … and also thank you so much for writing in!

Yes, daybeds. I remember they were so popular when I was a teenager. My sister begged my mom for a daybed so her friends could come over and sleep on the bed that you could pull out below.

In this case, you only have the twin bed and nothing below. I very much understand that in studio apartments you only have so much room, and if a twin bed or a daybed that acts as a sofa is all that you can manage, then it is what it is.

As I discussed in the podcast, a twin bed, with the long end against a wall, is not the most ideal for attracting a partnership, because it’s not exactly open on both sides.

In addition, the twin size only accommodates one person comfortably, and with the long side against the wall, if you could somehow both squeeze in, one partner may feel trapped! We definitely don’t want that, do we? 😃

Some possible solutions may be:

- Upgrade to a pull out sofa or futon that becomes a larger bed (I understand that you may not have room for that either).

- Get an additional twin bed that pulls out from under the daybed to make it a larger bed. When using this bed with the split, be sure to use a red sheet under any other sheets to mend the split.

If none of this is possible, listen to the podcast again. Look at some of the other love-related blog posts, and use the other tools to attract love, such as activating the opposite gua, self-knowledge, and keeping the bed clean underneath. I would also suggest the most basic feng shui cures, like making sure the bed is in commanding position.

A bed that can comfortably accommodate two is, of course, the best option for welcoming love, but if your space doesn't permit that, there are plenty of ways to show the universe you're looking for a partner! If your daybed isn't going anywhere anytime soon, aim for these other feng shui adjustments and remember that intention is one of the most important aspects!

by Anjie Cho

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6 Kitchen “Rules” You Can Break Right Now, According to an Interior Designer

Guest User February 19, 2020

Anjie Cho was featured on Apartment Therapy

A lot of good things came out of the 2010s, but there are some things we’re eager to leave behind when it comes to design—specifically when it comes to the kitchen. If you’ve decided 2020 is the year you’ll finally redo your cook space, make sure it fits the new decade. We talked with New York-based designer and architect Anjie Cho to identify six kitchen design rules that you don’t need to feel obligated to follow anymore, just as these forward-thinking homeowners already did in these inspirational kitchens.

The Work Triangle

The work triangle (aka the idea that your sink, refrigerator, and stove should be spaced equilaterally apart) has long been held as the gold standard of efficient kitchen layouts, but it’s not always possible—or necessary. In small spaces, Cho says you should worry less about achieving that perfect cooktop-sink-refrigerator configuration and more on maximizing your work surfaces in general. Everything in a small kitchen is already pretty close together as it is, so focus on what you can do to make your room feel bigger.

Opt for some open-front cabinets rather than the expensive custom ones packed with drawers and dividers, which might seem like they increase space, but actually ultimately limit the flexibility of your storage, according to Cho. Feel free to skip the pull-out trash can, too.

“Pull-out trash cans take up lots of room, and you can use the area under your sink for so much more.” A small trash can strategically placed in a corner or next to your island actually forces you to take the trash out more often, which will keep the kitchen smelling better. And don’t choose a huge apron-front sink just for the sake of having it. “Lots of people make sinks too large, which takes up precious counter space,” Cho says.

…read full article

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.