5 Ways to Embrace the Summer Solstice

Photo by Dakota Roos on Unsplash

It's officially summer! As of yesterday, the 2022 summer solstice, we've moved from spring to summer and are welcoming the fire season after a cold winter! The earth will travel its closest to the sun today, bringing longer days, warmer weather and the official beginning of a new season in the northern hemisphere. We're always fans of the summer season, and in feng shui terms, it's a great time to refresh your space and prepare for the coming fire element. Here are our favorite ways to switch to summer in a holistic space!

Clear Your Space

I recommend space clearings on a regular basis to my feng shui clients. They are great ways to refresh the energy in your home, send stagnant energy on its way and welcome positive qi to your space. There are any number of ways to clear the space, but I prefer the BTB feng shui orange peels method or our Holistic Spaces white sage mist during the summer months! The Space white sage spray is finally back in stock, and it's also perfect to travel with during the summer. You don't always want to burn sage when you're staying away from home, so the mist is a brilliant way to clear the space of that guest room without setting off any alarms!

Clean Out Your Closet

We all know the value of closet space, and though it might be necessary to leave out a few warmer pieces for the spring season, summer is hot and vibrant, and it's the ideal time to pack away those winter clothes and make space for light, comfortable summer clothes. You may even find there are clothes you haven't worn that you can get rid of! Each piece of clothing that leaves your space leaves room for a new, quality piece you love. Check out some of our past posts about cleaning out the closet!

Stock Up on Fruits and Veggies

Just as we change our eating habits at the beginning of fall, winter and spring, the summer season brings with it a new list of optimal foods, most notably raw fruits and veggies. With the rise of the heat, fruits and veggies offer a healthy, nutritious way to cool the body, and many (think lettuce, watermelon) even contain a high amount of water to help combat the fire season! My favorite thing is to make watermelon juice. Be sure to juice the rind, too! Watermelon rind contains a wealth of nutrients not found in other fruits and can even help improve blood circulation! 

Swap Out Design Accessories

If you changed up your holistic space to get cozy during the cooler months, it's time to switch back to breezy, cooling accessories for your space. Replace darker colors with light blues, greens and pastels; swap heavy drapes for thin curtains; opt for airy, organic linens and maybe even throw in a few summer-themed pillows! Check out this My Favorite Things post for some of our favorite summer design accessories.

Add the Water Element

June is the peak of the fire season, and the best way to balance out excess fire is to add water. You can do this by adding actual water, kidney shaped items, dark blues and blacks and representations of water. Check out some of my favorite ways to add water to a space!

by Anjie Cho

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

Quartz in the Refrigerator

Photo by Tengyart on Unsplash

Quartz in the refrigerator is new to me. What is the benefit? Which one is the best: clear/rose/smokey/ritualised?

Rowena, 

Hi Rowena!

Thanks for your thoughtful question. We suggest clear quartz for locating in your refrigerator. The refrigerator holds food that nourishes you, and clear quartz can be used to amplify this nourishing energy. 

Be sure to clear the clear quartz and empower it with your intention that the food in the refrigerator is nourishing and creates vitality for you physically, mentally and spiritually. You can also use the feng shui bagua map on your refrigerator, and place the crystal in the center area which is related to overall health.

There are different ways to work with crystals, but I’d like to share a simple procedure to acquire, cleanse and activate the crystal. 

  • Acquire a new crystal that finds you. To me this means one that speaks to you. Go with first thought is best thought, and don’t over think it. It may be the one that you literally see first.

  • Cleanse the crystal. Again there are dozens of methods, but one simple one is to use sage, incense, palo santo or another smudging method to clear any energy.

  • Dedicate and activate the crystal with your intention. In this case we are creating the intention that the clear quartz will amplify and enhance the nourishment of the food in your refrigerator, to support your body and spirit. Be sure you’re in a positive and open healing place when this is done. You can do this while bathing the crystal in pure bright sunlight.

You can read more about working with crystals in "Love is in the Earth", one of the most comprehensive crystal reference books available.

Remember that the intention behind this adjustment is as important as the adjustment itself. Take the time to find a crystal that resonates with you, and imbue it with positive, supportive energy before placing it into your refrigerator. We would love to see which crystal you choose!

by Anjie Cho

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

Here’s Exactly How to Design a Feng Shui-Friendly Bedroom, Per a Certified Expert

Photo and design by Anjie Cho Architect PLLC

Anjie Cho was featured on Havenly Hideaway

A quick Google search will tell you that Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy that helps people find harmony in their surroundings. And while this certainly rings true in the design world, we like to lean into feng shui for a layer of intuitive functionality, too. 

This “mindfulness for spaces,” as Feng Shui expert and architect Anjie Cho puts it, is especially important in bedrooms. “We spend so much time in our bedrooms,” she tells Havenly. “Sleep is when we heal and regenerate – everything around you affects you while you’re sleeping.” 

In other words, your bedroom layout is so much more than aesthetics (though we’d argue those are pretty important, too). Cho goes as far as saying that the placement of your furniture and decor can affect your sleep, mood, and overall well-being. “There are spaces that can support and nourish us, or spaces that create obstacles, stress, and challenges,” she says. “So we really want to be mindful of our environment and create ease in places like your bedroom.” 

So, how exactly do you create a supportive, nourishing bedroom layout? Cho shares her best eleven tips for a top-notch Feng Shui bedroom below:

.…read full article

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

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