Five Wallpapers for the Five elements

Anjie Cho April 29, 2020

Here’s some of my new favorite wall papers that express the five elements!

FIRE ELEMENT

The Fire element is represented by the color red, and this is definitely a fiery wall paper.

This leaves form triangular shapes, which also represent the Fire element. Fire element is about inspiration, passion, and being recognized in the world.

Not only is this a statement piece for your home, it’s impressive how easy it is this put up this wallpaper. They take the headache out of a DIY wallpaper installation.

Available at: PHOTOWALL

special code: anjiecho25

for 25% discount on any product at PHOTOWALL good through May 29, 2020

WOOD ELEMENT

Wood element is all about new beginnings and is related the colors blue and green. This is a beautiful wallpaper, the blue is perfect to inspire the wood element in your home.

Also, Feldspar is a group of rock-forming minerals, one of which is my favorite Labradorite, which has a green/blue iridescence.

Gorgeous!

Available at: flatvernacular.com

WATER ELEMENT

Wavy patterns and very dark colors like black and charcoal invoke the Water element. This is an elegant example of both.

I also love that you can install it vertically or horizontally! Vertically it’s like a waterfall, and horizontally it feels more placid and still like a deep ocean.

Available at: Studioprintworks.com

EARTH ELEMENT

Earthy colors and neutrals are very supportive and stable. The square shapes in this wallpaper quiet and subtle wall paper also welcome the earth element.

It’s also good for your self-care because this “peel-and-stick” wall paper is forgiving and easy to install!

Available at: timberleaMineral-Etsy

METAL ELEMENT

We fell in love with this charming wallpaper. The cool and metallic colors as well as the circular shapes beckon the Metal element in your space. The metal element invites in beauty, joy and precision.

It’s lovely design is versatile and can be hung in a variety of rooms such as a nursery or foyer.

Available at: Aimee Wilder

by Anjie Cho

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Q&A Sunday: Laying the Bagua on a Room with Two Doors

Anjie Cho April 26, 2020

Hi!I am reading your Holistic Spaces book and I have tried to find an answer to this on your website but so far no luck.... what if your room has 2 doors? Which way do you put the map as that would totally change the outcome. I appreciate your help and if you have a Frequently Asked Questions page, please let me know!

Linsey R.

Hi Linsey,

That’s a great question. We often get asked how to lay the bagua, or feng shui energy map, when your home has more than one door. You always want to use the formal or official front door, because that’s where qi (energy) enters the home. You use this door to lay the bagua even if that’s not the door you generally use.

It’s very common, especially in many areas of the U.S., to not use the formal front door. Often people use a back door or garage door instead. Because the front door is where energy enters the home, this can limit the opportunities that are available to you, so it’s important to start using your official front door if you can. It can be as simple as making an effort to use the front door when you get your mail; opening and closing your front door will activate it, and will help you start to welcome more opportunities and resources into your life.

You can also place the bagua map on an individual room. I often recommend that people who are not practitioners start by laying the bagua on their bedroom, because it can be much simpler than laying the bagua on a whole house. If your room has two doors, you also want to use the door that feels like the official front door. It’s not ideal to have multiple doors leading to your bedroom, as it can mean that things are a little complicated in your life.

Doors also represent communication, the mouth, and how you connect with the world. I worked on a project where the original front door was closed up and made into a window, and they had added a side door that became the front door. This meant that there was a voice that was blocked or not being heard in the home.

I hope that helps!

by Anjie Cho

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Q&A Sunday: Laying the Bagua, Health, & Skin

Anjie Cho April 19, 2020

Hi, We are in Australia (Southern Hemisphere) and I get to read your book in our local library. Do we read the map of bagua in the same direction? My daughter has eczema and I want to give her some help in Feng Shui. Health is in the middle of the space. What shall I do to help her recovery? Thanks a lot.

Chuiyin I., Victoria, Australia

Dear Chuiyin,

Thanks so much for your question. For anyone who doesn’t know, the bagua is a conceptual map that feng shui practitioners lay on a space. It’s a three-by-three grid with nine areas that each correspond to a different area of life. The word “bagua” actually means “eight areas,” because there are eight areas around the center.

There are many schools of feng shui, just like there are many schools of yoga, many ways to make pancakes...you get the idea. In the school of feng shui that I practice, BTB feng shui, we lay the bagua based on the formal front entry. We do this because that’s where the qi, or energy, enters the space. It’s also called the “mouth of qi.” In your case, even though you’re in the southern hemisphere, you still lay the bagua based on the formal front door. Other schools of feng shui, like Compass School, Classical, of Flying Star, may orient the bagua based on the cardinal directions, but I’m not an expert in those schools of feng shui.

You also mentioned the health area and wanting to help your daughter with her eczema. You’re correct that the health area is in the center of the bagua. This means it is touching all other bagua areas, and metaphorically, all aspects of your life. Think about it: if you don’t have your health, it can be hard to be successful in things like your career, relationships, or family life. Right now, it’s especially relevant to stabilize your health, and focusing on the health area would be helpful for your daughter and also your family in general.

You can start activating the tai chi by giving attention to the center of your home: notice what is going on in that area of your home or bedroom, start spending more time there, and make sure it is well cared for and uncluttered. You can also add the color yellow, which is related to this area, and/or plants, which bring growth and healing.

There are many metaphors in feng shui. If someone in your household is having skin issues, it may be helpful to notice what is going on with the walls, which represent the “skin” of your home. Are they dirty? Do they need a new coat of paint? Working on things in your home can work in tandem with what you’re doing for your health.

Thanks again for your question!

by Anjie Cho