Q&A Sunday: Abundance, Giving, and Receiving

Guest User April 25, 2021

How can I work on bringing in more abundance?

This is a popular question, and I invite you to read through some of my earlier blog posts on feng shui and abundance as well. Today, I want to talk about how we can approach this from the perspective of giving and receiving. There’s a Zen saying that there’s no giver and no receiver. I encourage you to think about what this means to you. It might sound paradoxical, and there are many ways to unpack this statement.

I invite you to contemplate how you give and receive, and what generosity means to you. In BTB feng shui, we were taught by our teachers to honor something called the red envelope tradition, and this is something we teach our students at Mindful Design School. It’s a way to formally exchange energy with our students, since we are offering them teachings. At the same time, my students are also my teachers because they help me to become a better teacher.

Whenever you do give something, you can think about why you are giving. Is there a balance in what you’re receiving? How can you be generous in new and different ways? This concept connects to the feng shui area of abundance, called Xun. In feng shui, the opposite areas of the bagua are closely related. Opposite Xun is Qian, which has to do with benefactors and helpful people. How abundant you feel is directly related to how you can invite helpful, supportive people into your life, and the way to invite more helpful people into your life is to become a more helpful person. A lot of people want to work on wealth, and it’s something I get asked a lot about as a feng shui practitioner. Often, however, what people really need to work on is how to give and receive. How can you become a benefactor to others, and how can you receive what is offered to you?

A lot of people, myself included, have a hard time receiving wealth. One lesson that many of us are learning is to not help other people so much that we hurt ourselves, and to be open to receive when people do offer their help and support. In addition to being open to support from others, it’s important to be able to support yourself too.

If you’re working with abundance, I encourage you to think about your relationship to giving and receiving. How can I give and support others, and how can others support me? Feng shui isn’t just about moving things around. Changing the objects in your home is just one way you can start to manifest these deeper philosophical concepts in your physical world.

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

Q&A Sunday: Gratitude for Your House Spirits

Guest User April 18, 2021

Do you have any recommendations for preparing for a home renovation?

I’ve helped many clients with home renovations, and am actually doing my own soon, so I understand that it can be a bit stressful.

One thing that I would recommend before embarking on a renovation is to offer gratitude to your home, as well as your house spirits. We all have spirits, or invisible beings, that help to protect our homes. It’s important to acknowledge these spirits, and have gratitude for all of the support and wonderful energy that they’ve given to you and your family, or anyone else who lives with you.

In feng shui, we talk about the importance of acknowledging your home as you start to make shifts to your space. For instance, your home represents your body. If you’re having health problems, you can look at your home and how it relates to different areas of your body. Your home also supports you in so many ways, so it’s important to acknowledge that support and offer gratitude.

Whether you are preparing for a renovation or not, I invite you to take some time to acknowledge your house spirit. First, meditate in a place in your home that feels like it has a great deal of power and energy. Don’t overthink where this is — your first thought is your best thought. When you think about the center of energy in your home, what comes up? Go to that area in your home. Then say hello to your house spirit, and be friendly, just like you would if you were meeting a new friend. Have curiosity, and offer gratitude. Then think about all the beauty and love that your house spirit has offered you over the years.

The way that you treat your home will be reflected in how your home treats you. This is really a law of the universe. Everything external to you is a mirror to what is going on internally, so I invite you to take a moment to acknowledge your house spirit and offer gratitude to your home.

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

Nine Star Ki for 2021, Year of the Metal Ox

Guest User February 3, 2021

Happy Lunar New Year!

Soon, we celebrate the Year of the Metal Ox!

We have put together a top line review of the overall energy of the year and how it may impact each of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. There is an important energetic interaction between your birth year (your animal) and the current year (Metal Rat). Read here or listen to the podcast to learn more!

Be sure to check out our 2021 new year course:

New Year Reset Package

A new lunar year also means new Nine Star Ki forecasts! In addition to Chinese zodiac astrology, I like to use the numerology of the Nine Star Ki to prepare for the coming year and stay energetically balanced. This practice was developed in ancient China, so it logically goes well with feng shui, and is based on a number system of nine rather than the animal system. It also closely aligns with the five element principles and the I-Ching.

Don’t forget to also grab one of our custom aromatherapy blends for each Nine Star Ki number. Each aromastick is created to provide support and enhance the energy for your individual number in the coming lunar year, and they can be used in conjunction with feng shui!

If you’ve never used Nine Star Ki before, have no fear! Use the guidelines below to find your number, and let’s get started!

You can calculate your principle number by using your year of birth. Beware: this requires a little elementary math ;)

As an example, if you were born in 1986:

Add: 1+9+8+6 = 24
Reduce to a single digit: 2+4 = 6
Subtract from 11: 11-6 = 5

*if you were born between January 1 and February 4, subtract from 12: 12-6 = 6

If you were born in 1940:

Add: 1+9+4+0 = 14
Reduce to a single digit: 1+4 = 5
Subtract from 11: 11-5 = 6

*if you were born between January 1 and February 4, subtract from 12: 12-5 = 7

Here's what all that calculating means for the Year of the Metal Rat in 2020:

If your principle number is 1, in 2021 you will be in the year of Recognition. This year you will be in the house of fire, where you have the best opportunities to be seen and recognized by others. It is a great time to receive any promotions or any other projects that you want publicity for. Be careful, as all things, good or bad, may be unveiled to the public. As a 1 Water person, you will feel be in the spotlight, but be careful to not get overwhelmed or burnt out in the 9 Fire year. Take advantage of this time to work with what you’re passionate about.

If your principle number is 2, in 2021 you will be in the year of Planning. This year will feel quiet and is a time for planning. In the winter, it may appear that everything is dead on the surface, but underneath there is much life and activity. Similarly, it may feel slow, but take this time to reflect, review and plan for the future. As a 2 Earth, you will feel a bit muddy and slower this year. Take advantage of the quietness and rest up!

If your principle number is 3, in 2021 you will be in the year of Germination. This year will be the time to plant seeds. When you plant a garden, you germinate many more seeds than you need. Do the same this year. Put all your ideas out there into the universe and share them with others. Plant the seeds and see what comes up! As a 3 Wood person, you will feel a little subdued while grounded in this 2 Earth year. It will be slower than you’re used to but use the time to work on self-care.

If your principle number is 4, in 2021 you will be in the year of Sprouting. This year will be energetic and full of new beginnings as you catch sight of seeds that you planted last year begin to sprout and grow. Be open to new ideas and cultivate the projects that you start at this time. As a 4 Wood person, you will feel supported but maybe a little speedy in this 3 Wood year. Remember that this is a time to sharpen and expand. It’s going to be a year of pushing through and working to move stagnant energies.

If your principle number is 5, in 2021 you will be in the year of Rapid Growth. This year will be a continuation of last year where you see your sprouts grow into strong, grounded trees. This year will be busy and active, so please take care of yourself and be careful not to get burnt out. As a 5 Earth person, you may sense some speediness in this 4 Wood year, but remember to take care not to get overwhelmed. Don’t take on too much and say no when you need to.

If your principle number is 6, in 2021 you will be in the year of Fluctuation. This year will feel a little chaotic, as this is a time of renewal and rebirth. You may need to reinvent yourself this year. It’s a great time to let things go that are no longer serving you. As a 6 Metal person, you will feel generally supported in this 5 Earth year. Emphasize some self-love and care this year.

If your principle number is 7, in 2021 you will be in the year of Prosperity. This year will feel strong and prosperous. You will begin to feel confident and be recognized for your knowledge and skills. There will still be a lot of effort, but you shall finally be harvesting the fruits of your labor. As a 7 Metal person, you will feel good in this 6 Metal year. Make the most of it!

If your principle number is 8, in 2021 you will be in the year of Celebration. This year will feel celebratory and playful. It is a great time to relax and pat yourself on the back for all the hard work that you put in the last few years. Enjoy yourself, rejoice and have some fun. As a 8 Earth person, you may get a little overwhelmed or depleted in this 7 Metal year. But it’s still an auspicious year for you, just don’t have TOO much fun!

If your principle number is 9, in 2021 you will be in the year of Stillness. This year will be much quieter than the last. It will be a time of stillness, like climbing up a mountain to meditate in isolation. This is a great time to focus inward and do some self-cultivation. As a 9 Fire person, you will feel a little depleted in this 8 Earth year. This is a time to ground yourself and go deep and focus on self-care. Remember it’s ok to slow down.

Each year holds lots of promise and positive energy for all of us, even if the year ahead appears challenging, remember that great things can come from difficulty. Interested in learning more about Nine Star Ki? Listen in on this Holistic Spaces podcast.

Regardless of your number or zodiac animal, remember to take care of yourself during the Year of the Metal Ox!

Start this off by grabbing a three-dimensional Rat charm to carry with you at all times for protection and support. Since the Rat is the Ox’s best friend, carrying this charm will keep you in their good graces. :) Happy Lunar New Year!

by Anjie Cho