Friday
Shambhala Touching the Earth Collective – Elemental Expression: Anjie Cho
Mindful Homes
The Chinese calendar looks to the earth and her seasons to inform how our inner and outer spaces are interconnected. In January, we have the solar terms of Minor Cold on the 5th and Major Cold on the 23rd, as well as the Lunar New Year on January 22nd. Those of us in the northern hemisphere understand that this is the darkest and coldest time of the year.
In feng shui, this time of winter is connected to the yin energy of the water element. The yin qi (life force energy), has the qualities of the moon. Some other descriptive phrases that teach us about yin and water energies include the darkness, what is hidden and concealed, the undercurrent and subconscious, wisdom and philosophy, as well as our intuition and insight. In the winter, animals hibernate to conserve their qi. Farmers step back, plan, and review. It’s not a time to be outside or active, but rather to rest and be still. We are also invited to utilize this time to reflect and receive.
I also wanted to share a bit more about water element from my forthcoming book, Mindful Homes:
Water
Our planet is mostly water with bodies of land in it. We are all connected to each other by the great oceans. There is so much depth, mystery, and wisdom to uncover when we dive in below the surface of things.
• Meaning: wisdom, intuition, connections
• Color: blacks, charcoals, midnight blues
• Shape: wavy, formless, undulating
• Movement: fluid, downward
• Material: water, mirror, glass
• Object examples: a wall mirror, wavy meandering patterns, water fountains
Water creates wood, because when we offer water to the trees and plants, that is when they grow and flourish.
I’m so grateful for the opportunity to share a bit about my practice of feng shui as a mindfulness practice.
Anjie Cho is a creator of holistic spaces, specifically focused on designing interiors and teaching feng shui and meditation. She’s guided thousands of people to harmonize their living spaces through the ancient practice of feng shui. Anjie is the feng shui expert at The Spruce, co-founder of the Mindful Design Feng Shui School, co-host of the Holistic Spaces podcast, and owner of Anjie Cho Architect. She’s the author of two books Holistic Spaces and Mindful Homes.
Listen to the Holistic Spaces Podcast: https://www.holisticspaces.com/podcast
Study at Mindful Design Feng Shui School: mindfuldesignschool.com
Shop for curated feng shui items at the Holistic Spaces store: holisticspaces.com
Pre-order Mindful Homes, to be released April 11, 2023: https://amzn.to/3YqiSdQ
*****
This post is an excerpt from the Shambhala Touching the Earth Collective January 2023 Newsletter. To read the complete newsletter please click here.
Entries filed under Arts and Poetry
Visiting Shambhala – HIGHLIGHT
A five-act comedy that takes us to the court of the Rigden by Walker Blaine A year ago in the spring, I had the most surprising thought: I could write a five-act Shambhala comedy. It was as though a light physically turned on in my head, and within ... continuePosted September 14, 2017 by CGH
Poetry Space- Short Pieces of Late Summer – HIGHLIGHT
It’s Summer, when our submissions slow and our massive volunteer staff, Shambhalians all, head off on retreat. For those who might have wondered if we’d ever publish again (or for that matter, respond to a submission…) our apologies! In any case, we’re delighted to offer three ... continuePosted August 19, 2017 by
Without Beginning or End, Part 3 – HIGHLIGHT
A multi-part series on the trans-temporal art of Yeachin Tsai by Robert R. Shane The Heart Sutra, 2016, sumi ink on Chinese rice paper, 18×30 in V. The Time of Compassion This profound interconnection of all things is expressed in the Buddhist notion of dependent origination (pratīyasamutpāda). This thesis that ... continuePosted July 30, 2017 by CGH
Without Beginning or End, Part 2 – HIGHLIGHT
A multi-part series on the trans-temporal art of Yeachin Tsai by Robert R. Shane III. Kinesis Hooked, 2017, acrylic on paper, 26×14 in Tsai’s lines—whether circular or straight—move. While literally static on the paper, they contain within them the energy of the artist’s gesture as they endlessly redraw themselves before ... continuePosted July 28, 2017 by CGH
Without Beginning or End, Part 1 – HIGHLIGHT
A multi-part series on the trans-temporal work of Shambhalian and artist Yeachin Tsai by Robert R. Shane The Contentment of Mr. Orange, 2015, acrylic on paper mounted on canvas, 14×14 in “The circle…is the synthesis of the greatest oppositions. …it points most clearly to the fourth dimension.” (1) —Vassily Kandinsky I. ... continuePosted July 26, 2017 by CGH
The Hill of Hua-Tzu – HIGHLIGHT
Commentary on a poem expressing deep wisdom and compassion by Noel McLellan Hua-Tzu Hill Wang: The birds fly away into infinite space: Over the whole mountain returns the splendour of autumn. Ascending and descending Hua-tzu hill, I feel unbounded bewilderment and lamentation. P’ei: The sun sets, The wind rises among the pines. Returning home, there is a little dew upon ... continuePosted June 20, 2017 by CGH
Lincoln in the Bardo – HIGHLIGHT
review of a George Saunders novel by Michelle Welch I’m often on the lookout for Buddhist-themed novels, and Lincoln in the Bardo is a new novel that received numerous critical accolades. More recently, Lion’s Roar magazine featured an interview with the author, George Saunders. I was particularly drawn ... continuePosted May 27, 2017 by CGH
Poetry Space – Shambhala Day Poetry Contest Runners Up – HIGHLIGHT
April is National Poetry Month here in the U.S., and given the confusing state of public discourse recently, I’m reminded of the words of poet William Carlos Williams who wrote, in part… “It is difficult to get the news from poems yet men die miserably every day for lack of what ... continuePosted April 11, 2017 by
The Need to Feel – HIGHLIGHT
A Shambhala teacher explores the meaning of “Environmental Melancholia” and its connection to meditation practice, through the work of artist Regan Rosburg by Shastri Christine Heming I recently participated in Proclaiming Basic Goodness: Shambhala Meditation with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche at the Halifax Shambhala Centre. Once again I was ... continuePosted March 15, 2017 by CGH
2017 Shambhala Day Poetry Contest – HIGHLIGHT
We’re delighted to share the winning poem from this year’s Shambhala Day Poetry Contest! We had entries from across the united States and Canada as well as Germany, Spain and the Netherlands. The prompt for this year’s contest was “Fresh Start” — and here’s the winning entry. Who can ... continuePosted March 1, 2017 by
Heart to Heart Writing – HIGHLIGHT
Meditators gather in Palm Beach, Florida to explore writing as contemplative practice by Tunde Nemeth I’m so excited to be back at the Palm Beach Shambhala Centre after a summer in the Great White North, and even more excited to be doing contemplative writing again. What a contemplative writing ... continuePosted February 3, 2017 by CGH
Tiger Dancing with Flowers – HIGHLIGHT
Portland hosts a new series celebrating the Path of Appreciation in Dharma Arts: Tiger Dharma Arts Salon by Abbey Pleviak Tonight the Dharma Arts Council hosted our first Four Dignities Dharma Art Salon of the year, on the warrior quality of Tiger. Societal Health and Wellbeing Director Mark ... continuePosted January 26, 2017 by CGH
Poetry Space for Winter 2017 – HIGHLIGHT
It’s full on winter everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere now, cold and snow and snow and snow. We had a number of interesting new submissions, and we’re very pleased to publish the following two poems, both from poets who are new to Poetry Space. Huge Reminder- we’re ... continuePosted January 18, 2017 by
Shambhala Day Poetry Contest 2017 – HIGHLIGHT
We’re very excited to announce this year’s Shambhala Day Poetry Contest! The winning poem will be read aloud during the Sakyong’s annual Shambhala Day Broadcast.* The prompt for this year’s contest is “FRESH START” To enter, please submit an original, previously unpublished poem OF NO MORE THAN FOUR ... continuePosted January 14, 2017 by
Midwinter Dawn Haiku – HIGHLIGHT
Warm blush on deep snow Longest night turns to brilliance Even now light comes continuePosted January 4, 2017 by CGH
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