Q&A Sunday: Artwork in Pairs

Anjie Cho April 5, 2020

I have purchased the Venus mandala, and I want to hang it my bedroom, but just ran across a post on decorating a couple’s room, and it says to hang artwork in pairs. Do I need to get another mandala, or is this ok, since it symbolizes relationships?

Shayna G., New York, NY

Hi Shayna,

Thanks for your question! I’m so glad you got the Venus mandala. I really love that one. The Venus yantra was the first yantra I ever created; it’s so delicate and pretty. And yes, the Venus mandala relates to romance and emotions, which would be a wonderful addition to your bedroom.

Now onto your question! It is ideal to have things in pairs in the bedroom, such as pairs of pillows, or two nightstands, but it’s not a strict rule. For instance, it makes a lot of sense to have a pair of pillows and two nightstands because there’s something for you and something for your partner. But for instance, artwork of a single woman may not be the best thing for a woman who’s lonely and looking for a partner. In one case, I visited the home of a woman with several images of singular things. It was very obvious. But it’s perfectly okay to have things not in pairs, such as your Venus mandala, especially because the purpose of that mandala is to support your relationship. In fact, I have that first yantra I ever painted hanging in my bedroom, and it’s not in a pair.

Most principles in feng shui are highly personal, and this one is no different. If there is a beautiful piece of art that you want for your bedroom and really love it, it's most likely acceptable. In this case especially, as the art represents relationships. If you find that the artwork in your room is singular and much of it has to do with being alone or isolated, then you may want to take a look at what that reflects for your life.

by Anjie Cho

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Q&A Sunday: Mirrors in an Office

Anjie Cho December 1, 2019

I follow you on Twitter and love your posts - very inspiring! I moved my office and have been working hard at setting up the new space in just the right way. I sketched out the Feng Shui mapping to determine where to place things and understand the space better. My large conference room still has a large blank wall because I need just the right "something" there.

I think I found it! It is the SE wall, so I think it's perfect for mirrors to build wealth and prosperity. It's the perfect size to fill the wall - 4.5 feet long and 2 feet tall - but they are Mercury mirrors - a bit antiqued looking. How should I consider this? Should I scrap the purchase because it's not a crystal clear reflection?

Suzanne A., Minnesota

Dear Suzanne,

Thank you for your email and kind words! I’m so happy to help another female entrepreneur!

Without a full consultation, where I see your floor plan and work with your specifics, the quick general answer is that for a feng shui cure, this is not a great mirror.

For a feng shui adjustment, a clear mirror that’s not mottled or disjointed is best. However, if you want as an art piece, that’s a different story. This is what I’m picking up from you. Not everything has to be a feng shui cure. This mirror can be there because you love it!

Secondly , I am not sure if a mirror is an appropriate feng shui adjustment for wealth, because, again, I would need to review your floor plan and specific concerns. In addition, I practice BTB Feng Shui, where the cardinal directions are less important than the mouth of qi (where the door is located).

Let us know what you end up doing! And congrats on your new office space!

UPDATE!

Suzanne wrote us back. She did end up getting the mirror.

Thank you for your response! I read it and it was just what I needed to hear. I'll send you a couple pics from my phone. It's already here and hung up in my space. It was meant to be but I was needing reassurance from you!

by Anjie Cho

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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!

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