Why Fancy, High-Tech Diffusers Are Taking Over the Decor World

Anjie Cho November 13, 2019

Anjie Cho was featured on Hunker

Fancy diffusers are having a moment - and with good reason. Not only do designer diffusers disperse essential oils into the air so that you can reap the benefits of aromatherapy (which include more restful sleep and improved breathing), but when thoughtfully designed, they can look pretty in a room, too.

It's no surprise then that wellness enthusiasts and holistic interior designers around the world are going gaga for essential oil diffusers. "A diffuser distributes olfactory information directly to your limbic system and hypothalamus, and depending on the essential oil you use, can offer anything from calming to energizing effects," says feng shui architect and designer Anjie Cho. "So, having one at home can make for both a happier and healthier interior space."

Not to mention that high-end diffusers suddenly seem to be infiltrating the home decor arena — and our respective Instagram feeds. Case in point: Poosh founder (and celeb juggernaut) Kourtney Kardashian's newly released, limited edition aromatherapy diffuser for Saje Natural Wellness. It's sleek (made of stone), it's healthy (100-percent synthetic-free), and most importantly, it's Kardashian-approved.

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Q&A Sunday: Adding Fire to a Bedroom with Art

Anjie Cho November 10, 2019

Q&A Sunday - Adding Fire to Your Bedroom with Art.jpg

Dear Anjie,

Concerning your Favorite Things series on Fire element, can I add the Mars yantra in a bedroom to add a bit of fire? I'm looking for subtle way to add fire, as pure red color feels overwhelming to me. Thanks a lot in advance!

Giuliana G., Lille, France

Hello again Giuliana! You always send such great questions! Thank you!

This is an interesting question. When you sent this in, I wrote you back and said that Mars is good, as is Durga, but now a few months later (sorry we have a long queue for these Q&A Sundays!), my intuition says that Mars is too intense, definitely not “subtle,” as you’re looking for.

If you look at the Mars yantra, there are LOTS of triangles, and it’s very fiery. It’s almost as overwhelming as a pure red color, because it has the red, plus the triangles, plus the symbology of Mars. Mars is the god of passion and war! A very strong planet.

Another thing I wanted to mention is that last year I went to a yantra painting retreat where we had our Vedic astrology read. It was enlightening, and one thing I learned was that I was “manglik,” which, according to Wikipedia, means I have Mars in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, or 12th house of my ascendant chart.

Wikipedia explains:

It is believed to be unfavourable for marriages, causing discomfort and tension in relationships, leading to severe disharmony among the spouses and eventually to other bigger problems. This is believed to be caused due to the "fiery" nature of the planet Mars, named after the Roman god of war. Also, if two mangliks marry, the negative effects are believed to cancel each other out. However, Mars is not the only planet in Astrology that is supposed to affect the relationship and these effects should be seen in a broader perspective of overall astrological compatibility.

Now this is the funny part:

There is a belief that the negative consequences for a single-manglik marriage can be resolved if the manglik first performs a ceremony called a kumbh vivah, in which the manglik "marries" a banana tree, a peepal tree or a silver or gold idol of the Hindu God Vishnu.

What I gathered from all that, is that maybe it’s not a good idea if you’re “manglik” to have the Mars yantra in your bedroom, because it may increase the disharmony in a marriage, or with a single person, if they are manglik. I think if both partners are manglik, it’s OK.

So, after all that…I think that a subtle way to add fire can be with a red pillow, red throw, another fiery yantra like Durga (that’s a bit more mellow, and on the small side), or you could put a red sheet UNDER the bed, or put red somewhere it’s not visible. The fire element will still influence you, but it will be more subtle. Of course, one could use triangular shapes as well!

Even if your intuition (and mine) says that a solid red placement or an addition of Mars art is too intense for your bedroom space, there are still plenty of ways to welcome passion and fire. You can also take another look at the My Favorite Things post: 5 Ways to Bring the Fire Element Into Your Space. The pillow case there might be a great choice for you!

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 or Green Design questions!

Feng Shui for Your Wallet

Anjie Cho November 6, 2019

I truly believe that how you treat your money reflects on how it will treat you. Keep reading for ways to feng shui your wallet and your money mindset. Remember, your wealth comes in many forms.

Your Wallet

Take a good look at your wallet. Go ahead, grab it. Is it frayed, unsightly, falling apart and on its last legs? If you said yes to any of these, it is time to treat yourself to a brand new wallet! I give you permission to splurge on that nice wallet you’ve wanted. If you have a nice one, you’re good. Just keep it in good condition, and when it starts to fall into disrepair be sure to replace it.

Organize Your Bills

Take care and be mindful of your cash in your wallet. Don’t shove your dollars and wad them up into your wallet. :) Be gentle, and thoughtfully unfold your bills, smoothing out folds and creases. Then put them in order, facing the same direction. Finally, place the largest bills in front so you see that hundred-dollar bill first!

De-clutter

Be sure to de-clutter your wallet regularly. A good rule of thumb is at least every 27 days. This means to clean out old receipts or cards as required. Keep the wallet clean and trim!

Citrine

If you have enough room in your wallet, it is beneficial to carry a piece of citrine with you to attract wealth and abundance. Citrine is self-cleansing so you don’t need to regularly clear that gemstone. It also helps to clear the items and currency you keep in your wallet.

I was interviewed by Amanda Gates for her “Design 101- Designing your best life” Podcast. We had a really great time talking and connecting. She was telling me about her recent blog post “11 stupidly easy techniques to feng shui your wallet." That inspired me to share my tips to feng shui your wallet as well. Be sure to check out her tips as well! And look out for our interview, coming up in a couple of months.

by Anjie Cho

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.