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
The Impulse to Reach Out – HIGHLIGHT
A songwriter’s memoir reveals connections between Dharma Art and the creative work of a punk/rock musician by Michelle Welch I love finding Buddhist themes in unexpected places, most often in books that are otherwise unrelated to Buddhism. Recently I read The Art of Asking, a memoir by rock/punk singer ... continuePosted December 27, 2016 by CGH
Celebrating the Arts – HIGHLIGHT
Naming and sharing the art that inspires you on the path by Carol Henderson As I drove to work one morning this week, fall colors in the woods on either side, and a silver glimmer bright on the lake beyond, I did what I often do behind the ... continuePosted November 2, 2016 by CGH
The Play Itself to See – HIGHLIGHT
A theatrical featurette of the play Norbu and the Mystery of the Missing Ratna by Walker Blaine As noted in the earlier article “Interview with a Shambhala Playwright,” this play was performed in Halifax as part of the Harvest of Peace celebration. Shambhala centers had the option of ... continuePosted October 1, 2016 by CGH
Interview with a Shambhala Playwright – HIGHLIGHT
This Harvest of Peace weekend, a new Shambhala play, Norbu and the Mystery of the Missing Ratna, will premier at the Halifax Shambhala Centre and a theatrical featurette about the play is being made available to all local Shambhala centres for the Harvest of Peace celebrations. ... continuePosted September 21, 2016 by CGH
Poetry Space, Fall 2016 – a New Prompt, “Into Winter…” – HIGHLIGHT
As we head into late fall and soon the early days of winter, we’re delighted to feature two poems from a poet new to Poetry Space, Sydney Solis from Boulder. As the days shorten, we are increasingly eager to review new work. This time, we’re offering a ... continuePosted September 3, 2016 by
First Thought, Best Thought – HIGHLIGHT
Sometimes interesting coincidences happen…. by Michelle Welch I was browsing the Phoenix Shambhala Twitter feed and came across this photo posting from Lion’s Roar: The photographer included this comment: “In this monochromatic moment, as birds take flight, dark lines dissolve into textures. It’s a rich example of fresh seeing.” continuePosted June 23, 2016 by CGH
Writing with Beginner’s Mind – HIGHLIGHT
Writing is for everyone! A writer and workshop leader shows us how…. by Tunde Nemeth Forget everything you’ve ever learned about writing, everything you know about making an outline and following it and sticking to one point per paragraph. Forget about grammar and punctuation and making sense. Forget ... continuePosted June 21, 2016 by CGH
Place Your Thoughts Here, Part II – HIGHLIGHT
The second of two excerpts from Shambhalian Steven Saitzyk’s new dharma art book by Steven Saitzyk Place Your Thoughts Here (Version 2), by Steven Saitzyk “Just be here now.” This is advice many of us have heard. Intuitively, we know our landing place has everything to do with being ... continuePosted June 13, 2016 by CGH
Place Your Thoughts Here, Part I – HIGHLIGHT
The first of two excerpts from Shambhalian Steven Saitzyk’s new dharma art book. by Steven Saitzyk Things are not difficult to make; what is difficult is putting ourselves in the state of mind to make them. ~ Constantin Brancusi “My creative process is a meditation.” I have heard this statement often. ... continuePosted June 12, 2016 by CGH
Poetry Space – Summer 2016 – HIGHLIGHT
It’s spring moving into summer, retreat time in the Shambhala kingdom. This month, we’re delighted to welcome two poets new to Poetry Space. By the way, we’re always reviewing new submissions, so please send us yours! (Previously unpublished work only, please…) continuePosted June 7, 2016 by
Piercing the Heart of Mara – HIGHLIGHT
A poem by Jampa Pawo, dedicated to his dharma friend Grace Bull’s Eye: An Arrow Piercing the Heart of Mara Listen, brave warrior of Shambhala. In your battle against the delusions, Raise the longbow of unborn shunyata In your left hand of primordial wisdom And draw the arrow of bodhichitta With your right ... continuePosted April 28, 2016 by CGH
Windhorse Poem from Jampa Pawo – HIGHLIGHT
Kyango Karkar: The Windhorse Song poem and drawing by Jampa Pawo 2.28.16 To Kyango Karkar, the supreme windhorse, I offer this praise and invocation. Blessed by the smoke of juniper incense, Appear and grant us your inspiration! Your eyes beam a rainbow of five colors. Your perky ears resemble Bodhi leaves. Your pink tongue shines ... continuePosted April 16, 2016 by CGH
Poetry Space — Spring 2016 – HIGHLIGHT
After a couple of special projects, we’re delighted to return to publishing work that’s been submitted by the readers of Poetry Space. This also means that we’re back in the business of soliciting new work. If you submitted to Poetry Space over the winter, your submissions ... continuePosted April 14, 2016 by
Poetry Space- Shambhala Day Poetry Contest Special Edition – HIGHLIGHT
The theme of this year’s Shambhala Day poetry contest was The Shambhala Lineage manifesting in the world today, and we received many entries from around the world, each a unique expression of the theme. But one entry touched us all deeply, so deeply that despite the ... continuePosted March 17, 2016 by
2016 Shambhala Day Poetry Contest – HIGHLIGHT
This is the third year that Poetry Space has had the privilege of coordinating the annual Shambhala Day Poetry Contest. Sadly, it’s also the first time that we blew it, failing to get the winning entry to the Office of the Sakyong in time for inclusion ... continuePosted February 20, 2016 by
RSS feed for the Arts and Poetry category
View all posts from authors in Arts and Poetry: jillian_johnson natasha_west
