Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui and Pregnancy

Is there any sort of feng shui I should pay special attention to if I'm pregnant?

Stephanie C., Washington D.C.

Hi Stephanie,

First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy! 

There are a few things to consider when we look at feng shui and pregnancy. For one, I would encourage you not to do any kind of house renovations during your pregnancy. Your home represents your body, so during a pregnancy, you don’t want to do any renovations or move things around or rebuild things. Not only does this disturb your body's natural chi, any chemicals or substances that become airborne during a renovation can be harmful to an unborn baby. 

Since your body, for the next nine months, is your baby's only space, do your best to keep this space healthy, both emotionally and physically. Avoid high-stress situations and instances where you might come into contact with anything physically harmful for your baby's growth. Check out my recipes for DIY non-toxic cleaners and laundry detergent, and if you feel the need to nest (which you most likely will!) aim for a green cleaning approach, natural space clearing and the like. And don't do any painting yourself, but check out how to create a relaxing atmosphere, use the color wheel and incorporate other feng shui aspects into your baby's space. 

Don't forget to take time out for yourself to eliminate stress too! Meditate, use essential oils or do any other activities you can to calm down without changing the overall chi of your baby's temporary space. 

In feng shui, there are also some important factors to consider before you get pregnant, when you are trying to have a baby. One of the most important is to avoid cleaning out from under your bed during this time. Though feng shui recommends keeping space beneath your bed clear, it is important to understand the concept of "ling particles" as it relates to pregnancy. 

Feng shui practitioners believe that there are what we call "ling particles" in the air that help create and support life. When a baby is conceived, a ling particle gives the embryo life, and these particles are said to collect under the bed. For this reason, if you're hoping to become pregnant, you don’t want to clean under your bed. I would also encourage you not to do any renovations when you’re trying to get pregnant.

For the most part, feng shui advocates creating a healthy, positive space for your baby. This means not making any drastic changes to the environment you've already created, and doing what you can to maintain a stress-free, healthy lifestyle. This will also help to create a holistic space in which for you to welcome your baby to the world!  

by Anjie Cho

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!

Holistic Spaces Store

Everything You Need to Know About Thieves Essential Oil

We're fans of essential oils, especially in the cooler seasons, when the change of weather and increase in stressful situations can wreak havoc on immune systems. You can check out our list of fall favorites here, but one oil that deserves a post of its own is Thieves. Thieves is a combination of several other oils and has an interesting back story as well as a laundry list of uses for both the body and the home. So why the name "Thieves"? The story goes like this:

When the Black Plague hit Europe, four spice traders found themselves forbidden to trade and had to find another way to generate income. Since the plague was claiming many victims, and most were afraid to touch the bodies of those who had died or were dying, these spice traders began to enter homes and loot the bodies and homes of the victims. To prevent themselves from becoming casualties as well, the four thieves rubbed a mixture of vinegar, oils and spices on their feet and bodies before entering the homes. 

When the king found out about these four thieves who had somehow managed to find immunity, he threatened to have them killed if they didn't share their recipe, which they did. Once the king had the recipe, he shared it with the kingdom and it eventually made its way all the way here!

Of course, we don't have to worry about the Black Plague in our modern day, but we do still get the sniffles and have to watch our immune systems closely when the weather begins to get chilly! Just like in days past, Thieves oil can help us to fight off sickness and maintain a healthy body! 

While there are many recipes for Thieves oil, depending on who you ask, the ratio of oils is generally very similar. 

For a small amount of oil, try:

10 drops of Clove oil
9 drops of Lemon oil
5 drops of Cinnamon oil
4 drops of Eucalyptus oil
3 drops of Rosemary oil

If you need a much larger amount, use:

80 drops of Clove oil
70 drops of Lemon oil
40 drops of Cinnamon oil
30 drops of Eucalyptus oil
20 drops of Rosemary oil

 

You can use these basic recipes to adjust for the amount of oil you need, but be sure to always use therapeutic grade essential oils, as other kinds may be toxic. We recommend seeking out Fair Trade as well! 

Once you've mixed your oil in a glass container, how do you use it? Thieves has a wide range of uses, but these are some of our favorites:

  • Mix Thieves in a 1:1 ratio (1 drop to 1 oz) with Witch Hazel or water to use as a general disinfectant and all-purpose cleaner

  • Mix in a 1:1 ratio (we like 9 drops of each) with carrier oil and massage on feet, back and chest to support a healthy immune system

  • Add one drop of Thieves to at least a cup of water and drink, cool or warm, to support immune system and lung functioning. You can even add a drop of lemon oil to make a great tea for throat pain!

  • Add a few drops to steaming water and use as a steam facial to support head, chest and lungs

  • Diffuse or add a few drops to a cinnamon stick to make your holistic space smell warm and welcoming, like the autumn and winter seasons, and to purify your indoor air!

We'd love to hear your favorite ways to use Thieves in your holistic spaces. Happy mixing!

by Anjie Cho 

The Best Ways to Reuse Items That Aren't Plastic Bags

We talk a lot about reducing, reusing and recycling as part of creating a holistic space, and I know we're not the only ones encouraging that green behavior. A quick Google search can return tons of suggestions for keeping those plastic bags, water bottles and cardboard items out of landfills. But what about other items made from recyclable material? What can you do with them once they've served their original purpose? We've got a few creative ideas on how to keep those items useful for a little longer!

Turn Wine Into Coasters

Well, sort of. If you enjoy a good glass of wine from time to time (guilty!), you've probably seen your fair share of corks, maybe even wondered what to do with them. There are places you can recycle them, but you can also use them to save a little money and your good furniture at the same time! Check out one of the many online tutorials, like this one, for turning old corks into coasters!

Give Your Plants a Little Tea

Likewise, if you're an avid tea drinker like me, you probably go through a teapot or two over time. Some pots make it longer than others for various reasons, but you don't have to throw that pot with a small crack or chip to the curb! Instead, use it to add a little nature to your home! Find a small plant that brings you joy and doesn't need much drainage, and create a new home for it in your old teapot!

Brush Outside Your Mouth

A toothbrush only lasts so long for its purpose, typically about 3 months with regular use. After that, it's not really hygienically safe for scrubbing your mouth. But its scrubbing power may still be strong! Instead of tossing it, put an old toothbrush (or two) to use in your home. Toothbrushes are great for scrubbing tile, small surfaces, shoes, even inside bottles, and they're much more cost effective than buying a single purpose brush!

Wash With Mesh

If you're a fan of fruit, you likely know it's often cheaper to purchase it in bulk. Many times, that means buying a red or green mesh bag full of lemons, oranges, and the like. Forget tossing that mesh in a recycling bin, since they can often get tangled during the sorting process, and don't even think about trashing it! Instead, use that material to make your own bath loofahs or pot scrubbers! It can be as easy as wadding up the mesh and securing with elastic or something similar. 

Let in Light With Newspaper

This reuse idea may not be quite as creative, but it's still super useful! Instead of buying paper towels for cleaning your windows, thus adding to the demand for paper products, keep a hold on old newspapers and use them! Newspaper is actually some of the best material to use for cleaning windows, which you should be doing often to make sure you can be seen and heard!

Do you reuse your recyclable materials? What are your favorite ways to breathe new life into old items? Share with us, so we can all take steps to be a little greener each day!

by Anjie Cho