Feng Shui for a Small Home

Guest User December 15, 2021

Have you ever wondered how to use feng shui in your small space? Even if you live in a tiny studio apartment, there are still ways that you can apply feng shui principles.

If you do live in a small home, I invite you to consider the metaphor of a plant. I used to live in a really small home, and I got a plant at the time that only had two very small leaves. Now, that plant has grown into a much bigger plant, and I’ve also taken many cuttings from it that have rooted and become bigger plants as well.

In feng shui, plants represent the wood element, which is about growth and generosity. Instead of thinking about how small your space is and coming from a place of lack, think about what you can cultivate in the space you do have. In life we have the opportunity to grow and cultivate and receive the gifts that the universe has for us. Then, you can also create many gifts to share with other people.

One way you can apply this concept in a small space is to actually find a tiny plant and bring it into your home. Learn how to take care of this tiny plant, and watch it grow. Once it gets bigger you can be generous, and create cuttings to give to other people.

You can also find a friend who you believe really exemplifies generosity, prosperity, abundance, and authentic kindness, and tell them that you admire and appreciate these qualities in them. If they have houseplants or a garden, you can also ask if they would be willing to give you a cutting of a plant. This cutting that you receive from your friend can be the tiny plant that you learn to cultivate in your home, and then share generously. In feng shui, we talk about the concept of qi, which is life force energy. When you receive a cutting from someone who genuinely embodies the qualities that you aspire to, that energy will also be in the cutting, and you can start to cultivate those qualities in your own life.

Make sure you start with a plant that you have the ability to accommodate in the space that you have. This goes for everyone, even if your space isn’t small. It’s important to do your research and make sure that the plants you bring into your space will be able to thrive in your home’s conditions. Then, take the time to learn how to take care of this other living thing, and see how you can start to cultivate your generosity, your qi, and the qualities that you admire in your friend, in your own way.

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: Feng Shui and the Fire Element

Guest User June 27, 2021

Can you tell me more about the fire element?

We use the five elements in a lot of feng shui applications. The five elements are earth, metal, water, wood, and fire. Right now, we’re in a fire season. Fire is related to summertime and we just had the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, so it seemed like a good time to answer this question and talk about what the fire element means in feng shui.

Feng shui is related to a lot of different Asian modalities that also use the five elements, like Taoism and Chinese acupuncture. We also find the elements in many different cultures, and across the board, fire looks very similar. As humans, we have this connection to fire, and we really understand it. Fire is bright, consuming, red, and it stands out. It’s also this expansive energy. Of course, summertime is very fiery.

If you want to bring the fire element into your home with feng shui, you can start to bring in different aspects of fire. One of these is the color red. Red and fire are not only related to heat and summer, but also being seen in the world and your reputation. If you feel like people pass you over for promotions, or you’re not being recognized for all the good work that you do, you might need to bring in some more fire element.

Fire is also related to triangle shapes. This is a connection that is seen in many cultures. Bringing in that fiery triangle shape is another way to add more fire energy to your home.

My favorite way to bring the fire element into your home is to use your voice and sing. Professor Lin Yun, who brought BTB feng shui to the West, talked about letting your heart sing to really activate the fire element. I recommend you put on your favorite music, and then sing out loud and dance around! This will really inspire some passion, and invoke the fire element to promote more vitality. Allow yourself to be heard and seen in the world!

I hope you have fun working with the fire element!

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: Feng Shui for Beginners

Guest User June 20, 2021

I’m new to feng shui. Where should I start?

One of the most important areas to look at for your feng shui, especially for beginners, is your front door. We call the front door or the formal front entry the “mouth of qi,” and this is where energy comes into your space. It’s like a portal or gateway to receive any kind of qi or life force energy. Ideally, you want it to be able to come in through your front door and properly circulate through your home. This allows you to be more in balance, and to invite in positive energy from the outside world and the natural world.

When it comes to your front door, there are a few really simple things you can do. First, make sure your entry is clean and inviting. You should also be able to open the door fully, so remove anything behind the door that is getting in the way, like trash cans or hanging coats. It’s also a good idea to make sure your entry is bright and well-lit, so if you need to, add a light fixture or a new lightbulb.

I would also suggest you take some time to put some care and attention into this area of your home. You can do this by sweeping and removing any debris. It’s also helpful to clean the door itself.

One other thing I see often is that when people are decluttering, they tend to accumulate the things they want to get rid of near the front door. That’s ok as long as it’s temporary, but make sure to move the things out of your home soon. If you have a blocked front door, that means that the energy also has a difficult time coming into your space and your life. You may not be allowing opportunities to come to you.

I hope you are able to spend some time this week cleaning up your front door, and inviting in positive qi!

by Anjie Cho