Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui for Bad Energy

Guest User October 31, 2021

What should I do about bad energy in my home?

Happy Halloween! I thought this would be a good question to answer during this time of year when the veil is thin.

First, I would encourage you not to look at things as purely good or bad. It’s very natural as humans to want to put things in categories, but I always like to look at situations with curiosity rather than fear.

When we say “bad” energy, what we often mean is that yin and yang are out of balance. When you have too much yin qi in your home, it can make you feel heavy and low. One thing to pay attention to when you’re looking at the feng shui of your home is what’s outside your home. People often think that feng shui just has to do with home interiors, but as practitioners, we also look at what’s around you. Do you have any cemeteries, funeral homes, or churches close to you? These all represent yin energy, so it’s helpful to notice whether you have any nearby. Other things that can affect your home’s energy are the other people in your neighborhood, as well as the previous inhabitants of your home and the land. All of that energy is programmed into buildings and places, and your space holds memories of those vibrations.

Something else that might indicate difficult energy is needing an abundance of home repairs. If your home is falling into great disrepair, that’s something to pay attention to. This can contribute to really challenging energy in all area of your life, so it’s important to start to make any necessary improvements. It’s okay to take this one step at a time, because this process can be overwhelming if your house seems to be falling apart. However, it is a good idea to address issues that come up when you can. Your house represents you and your body, so this could also be reflected in your health.

If you feel worried about bad energy in your home, it’s important to make some shifts so that you can feel more comfortable and at ease in your space. You could try doing a space clearing using a method that resonates with you. If you would like more support in shifting your home’s energy, you might want to work with a feng shui practitioner who can give you more tools to transmute the qi in your space.

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 for Your Bedroom

Guest User October 27, 2021

Photo and design by Anjie Cho Architect PLLC

If you’re new to feng shui, getting started can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. If it feels like a lot, remember that you don’t need to do the feng shui of your whole home right away! I always recommend starting with your bedroo m. Your bedroom is a great place to begin, because it represents you, and it’s the most personal, private part of your home.

One of the first things I look at in a bedroom is the position of the bed. Ideally, your bed should be in the command position, which means that you can see the main entryway to the bedroom when you’re sitting up against the headboard. A lot of times, people don’t have their bed in command, which often corresponds with poor sleep and increased anxiety. It’s a good idea for everyone to have their bed in command if possible, because it helps you feel more at ease and more in control of your life. If you can’t put your bed in a position where you can see the door, you can add a mirror to correct this. The mirror should be located so that you can see the reflection of the door from your bed.

You also want to avoid having your feet pointing directly at the door if possible. If you can move your bed to offset it from the door, that is the best thing to do. However, if you have a smaller bedroom and aren’t able to position your bed in this way, you can correct the flow of qi fairly simply by placing a feng shui crystal halfway between the foot of your bed and the door to your bedroom. To learn more about feng shui crystal balls and how to hang them, check out this episode of the Holistic Spaces Podcast.

The next thing to look at is your headboard. It’s important to have a solid headboard that’s securely attached to your bed. A headboard offers support, and it helps you to feel more grounded and secure. You can think of it like a mountain behind you, providing a solid backing. In BTB feng shui, which is the school of feng shui that I practice and teach, we are not especially concerned with what the headboard looks like, although you do want to look for something that feels sturdy and solid. Generally, I’d recommend something either upholstered or wood. So many people, especially young people, tend to forgo a headboard, but it’s really important when it comes to creating stability in your life and in your romantic relationship.

The last tip I’ll share is to take a look at your window treatments. Often, when I have a client who is having trouble sleeping, they don’t have very good window treatments. Sometimes, they don’t have any window treatments at all. I would recommend you look for good-quality curtains or blinds with a blackout capability. One reason feng shui practitioners talk a lot about window treatments and lighting is that they really affect the yin and yang of a room. Yin is restful, quiet, dark, and cool, which is the perfect environment for sleep. By adding blackout blinds or curtains, you’re bringing in yin energy to support restful nights. In the morning, you want to be able to open your window treatments and let in the bright, yang energy of sunlight as you begin your day.

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: Broken Feng Shui Objects

Guest User October 24, 2021

What should I do if a feng shui object breaks?

Have you ever hung a feng shui crystal only to have it fall and break? People often get worried when a feng shui object breaks, but I generally say that it’s not a bad thing. This means that the energy is moving through the object you’ve placed, and that the adjustment is working.

If you do place a feng shui object in your home and it breaks, I would recommend you do it again, but try something a little stronger or better quality this time. If it was a feng shui crystal ball, for example, maybe you need to hang it from a stronger string or with a more secure tack. If the crystal itself is broken, it’s best to get a new one.

If a feng shui object fell and broke, or if you received it broken, you can still reuse it for another purpose if you’d like. Not everything in your home needs to serve a feng shui purpose. If you do want to use something as a feng shui object, though, intentionally select something new to bring into the space.

The reason you want to bring in something new for a feng shui adjustment is because you want to bring in fresh qi. Be mindful of what you select. Choosing a damaged object or one that is in disrepair for a feng shui adjustment isn’t a great idea because that’s not the type of energy you want to bring in. It’s also not ideal to use a secondhand item as a feng shui object, because that isn’t really bringing in new energy. If you do choose to use a secondhand item, be sure to clear it.

Many times I’ve done consultations where I suggest adding a plant to a particular area, and people ask if they can use a plant that they already have. Usually, I recommend they get a new plant instead, so that they’re bringing new energy into the space. If you just have more of the same, you’re not really shifting the qi.

by Anjie Cho