Q&A Sunday: Hanging Artwork in Your Home

Guest User September 20, 2020

I’m curious if you have any tips about hanging art. I’m downsizing to a smaller apartment, and I’m not sure where to hang my art or if I will have space for it all.

Thank you for your question! To answer the first part of your question, it’s generally a good idea to hang paintings and other art a little higher than you think you should. This is especially important if you have a tendency towards depression. When the art in your home is placed too low, it can depress your qi. Placing your art higher, as well as choosing light fixtures that point upwards, can lift your gaze which also helps to lift your qi. After six months of a pandemic, I think all of us can probably use an extra lift!

When it comes to the size of your space and whether you’ll have room to hang all the pieces you own, I’m reminded of one of my favorite books, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism by Chögyam Trungpa. In the first chapter, he speaks about our tendency to collect. Some of our collections are internal: maybe you are always collecting new information, or learning about yet another spiritual modality. In this internet age, people often want to collect as much information as possible rather than really receiving and working with one thing. Because your home is a manifestation of what’s going on inside, how you collect things in your home may also indicate how you collect things in your life.

Chögyam Trungpa compares our collections to a shop. We may have started out with one beautiful item, but over time, our space becomes so full of things that it becomes more like a junk shop. Even if the individual items are beautiful, too many things placed in the same space can lead to chaos.

You may have beautiful artwork, but will you be able to enjoy its beauty if your walls are completely full of things to look at? When we have too many things, life becomes oppressive. Practices like meditation and feng shui are about focusing on one thing at a time, paying attention to the details, and simplifying. What if we chose to fully appreciate individual things in each moment, rather than feeling the need to bring them home and add to our collection?

I hope this gives you some inspiration as you decide which artwork to hang in your new apartment, as well as what else you choose to bring with you!

by Anjie Cho

Thanks for reading our "Q&A Sunday". If you have personal questions, we encourage you to check out Practical Feng Shui or hire one of Anjie's Grads.

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

Open the Eyes of Your Home

Guest User September 16, 2020

In feng shui, the windows of your home represent your eyes. Because our surroundings are a reflection of our inner worlds, the state of your windows can say a lot about your vision and how clearly you are seeing the world around you.

If your windows are dirty or dusty, it can be harder to see, not only on a mundane level, but also in life. If you are seeing the world through a film of dust, this can represent a lack of clarity in your life. Perhaps your vision is clouded by perceptions or judgments, just as your home’s windows are clouded by debris.

Clean windows, on the other hand, represent clear vision and being able to see with open eyes. Because of this, it’s helpful to wash your windows regularly. Instead of using toxic chemicals and paper towels, you can make your own cleaning solution from vinegar and water to use with cloth towels.

Make sure your window frames are in good repair also. Broken things in general often indicate difficulties or challenges, so it’s a good idea to fix anything that is no longer functioning properly. Because windows are connected to eyes, dirty or broken windows could even relate to eye problems.

When you clean your windows, both your environment and your perspective become clearer. Not only does your space become brighter and more cheerful with the added light, this allows you to see things in your world with more clarity, precision, and truth. It also allows you to see the everyday magic and beauty in the world around you.

The transition to fall is an especially great time to clean your windows and clear your vision. I encourage you to take some time in the next few weeks to work on this, or hire your local window cleaner. Let me know if you notice any more clarity in how you see the world around you!

by Anjie Cho

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

Feng Shui Tips for Bedrooms

Guest User September 9, 2020

If you’re not sure where to get started with feng shui, I suggest taking a look at your bedroom. First, it can be easier to lay the bagua on a single room rather than your whole house. Second, adjustments in your bedroom can be very effective because your bedroom represents you. Your bedroom environment also influences your ability to rest and reset your stress levels, which can have a big impact on the rest of your life.

Because of this, it’s important to make your bedroom a soothing, relaxing space. Start by removing any objects that are too energizing or engaging, like books, electronics, and work projects. Having these things around you when you are trying to relax can cause more stress and make it more difficult to sleep.

It’s also important to make sure your bed is in the commanding position. To do this, place your bed in such a way that you can see the door when you are lying in bed, but are not directly in line with the door. This way, you can be more at ease when you are resting or sleeping because you are able to see anyone or anything that could be approaching. If you’re unable to place your bed in command, you can also add a mirror that allows you to see a reflection of the door from your bed instead of the actual door.

Next, choose colors for your bedroom that are supportive and soothing. Blues and greens are great colors for bedrooms because they’re healing and peaceful. They represent life energy, and are colors we naturally find in nature. Try not to use too much white, because it can be stressful on the eyes, like looking at snow with no sunglasses. Red and yellow are very stimulating, so they’re best used as accents.

It’s also helpful to consider the color of your bed linens. Because you spend so many passive hours in bed taking in the energy of your surroundings, the color of your bedding can impact your mood and energy. White can be a bit harsh here as well, so you may want to try a softer ivory instead. Deep reds and purples are good choices if you want to call in more passion, and earthy colors like yellow can help you feel more stable and supported.

It’s also important to choose colors that you love. There are so many potential color palettes, and the best one for you will depend on your preferences and life situation. Pay attention to what you’re drawn to and how you feel around certain colors. How do you feel in your bedroom now? Is there a change you could make that would make you feel more at ease?

by Anjie Cho

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