Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui Mistakes to Avoid

Guest User August 29, 2021

Photo by Visual Stories || Micheile on Unsplash

What are the most common feng shui mistakes that you see?

This is a popular topic that people seem to be very interested in! It’s natural to want to put things in categories as “good” or “bad”, but I would first encourage you to try not look at things as “bad” feng shui. In BTB feng shui, there aren’t absolutes when it comes to things not to do. Instead, it really depends on each individual situation. While some aspects of your home may not be ideal, there can also be wisdom in challenging or less desirable situations.

That said, there are a few things that are generally best avoided if you want to improve your home’s feng shui. One thing that I often see is broken items in the home. Broken items can create challenges, so I most often recommend that you let go of these items. Or if you really love something that’s broken, take the time to repair it.

Another thing that isn’t ideal from a feng shui perspective is dried flowers. While you can certainly include dried flowers in your decor if you love the way they look, they are not a feng shui adjustment. Because they are no longer alive, dried flowers do not offer the same vibrant life energy as a healthy houseplant or a bouquet of freshly cut flowers.

Something else I’d like to mention is having random Asian things around your home. Sometimes, people buy Asian objects and place them in their home because they think it will be good feng shui, but they’ve done no research and have added them in with no purpose or consideration.

If you are really attracted to the item and you love it, that’s ok. It doesn’t necessarily have to have a feng shui meaning. However, it’s best to avoid bringing in something with the intention of improving your feng shui when you don’t actually know the purpose of it. For example, bagua mirrors are often used incorrectly, because people put them up thinking they’ll be good feng shui without knowing how to use them properly and respectfully.

If you want to learn more about common feng shui “mistakes,” be sure to listen to the Holistic Spaces Podcast episode all about this!

by Anjie Cho

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

How to Feng Shui Your Bedroom

Guest User August 25, 2021

Your bedroom is one of the most important parts of your home to look at when it comes to feng shui. In fact, I often recommend starting there, especially if you are a beginner.

If you feel like your bedroom could use a little feng shui love, here are a few simple tips:

Double up your objects.

Notice if you have a lot of single items in your bedroom. Do you only have one nightstand? Artwork that features a single person? If you’re looking for a relationship, or if you want to cultivate more balance and harmony in your current relationship, make sure you have pairs of objects: two nightstands, two lamps, and photos of couples or things in pairs.

Include a headboard for stability.

In feng shui, it’s important to have a headboard that is securely fastened to the bed. Headboards represent stability as well as connection between romantic partners. Look for one that can be attached to the bed, rather than leaned up against the wall, and one that is a solid shape without bars or holes.

Clean below the bed.

What’s under the bed affects you while you are sleeping. Ideally, it’s best to have nothing under the bed so that qi can circulate freely. If you need to utilize this area for storage, stick to soft, bed-related objects like extra pillows or blankets.

Notice art in the bedroom.

Make sure any artwork in the bedroom is relaxing and tranquil to encourage deep rest, especially if you tend to have trouble sleeping. Choose colors and imagery that feel calming. Also consider what art will be more conducive to connecting with your partner. In most cases, I recommend staying away from family photos in the bedroom, since this doesn’t usually contribute to a very romantic atmosphere!

I hope these tips help you create a nourishing, relaxing bedroom space! If you want to learn more feng shui tips for your bedroom, be sure to check out the Holistic Spaces Podcast episodes on Designing a Bedroom with Feng Shui!

by Anjie Cho

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

Q&A Sunday: What to Expect from a Feng Shui Consultation, Part 2

Guest User August 22, 2021

How does a feng shui consultation work?

In last week’s Q&A Sunday, I shared how I prepare for a feng shui consultation, which is a really important part of the process. As I shared last week, my preparation helps me to be a conduit for what my client needs during our time together. Today, I’m going to talk about what the actual consultation looks like.

During a feng shui consultation, I spend a lot of time listening to my client, and what it is they want to work on. I’ll ask very targeted, focused questions that help me determine what it is we can adjust in their home. I also might bring up questions I noticed in the feng shui. For example, if I noticed something about the location of their bedroom, that might guide me to ask certain questions. Or, if someone wants to work on their relationship, I might take a really deep look at what’s happening in the relationship area of the home and bedroom, as well as some other specific factors, and see what stands out.

Instead of going through a checklist, I let things arise during a consultation based on what the client needs, and then I listen. Next, we walk through the home, either in person or virtually. We might look at pictures, or we can go through the floor plan. It depends on the situation. Then I give recommendations and adjustments, answer questions, and transmit any personal qi adjustments or meditations that they should work on. Typically, if I have time at the end of a two-hour consultation, I close with some kind of space clearing or blessing.

There might be other things that come up in your space depending on the skill set of your consultant. For example, somebody asked me about where to put a bathroom when renovating a home. In general, a feng shui consultant might have suggestions about ideal locations for the bathroom, however they may not have the knowledge of other things that need to be considered, like the sizes of things or location of the plumbing. If you do need this kind of expertise, or if you need help decorating and picking paint colors, look for a consultant with those skill sets. Some of our Mindful Design graduates are designers or architects in addition to feng shui experts.

Even if you’re not renovating or redecorating, a feng shui consultant can still help you in your space, because feng shui is really energy work. A feng shui consultant will help you work with what you have, and also see what comes up that might need to be addressed. Sometimes, a very small and simple tweak can make a lot of changes in your home.

I hope that creates some clarity around what a feng shui consultation is actually like! If you’re curious and want to experience a consultation, I have many skilled graduates all over the world with different backgrounds who are available for feng shui consultations. I also offer a few discounted consultations each year that my students audit - if you’re interested in hearing about those when they are available, make sure you’re on my mailing list!

by Anjie Cho