Tumbleweed with... Feng Shui Practitioner and Interior Designer Cally Ashby
Spring clean your home for energy and flow
“I use live plants in almost every room in my home because they provide many natural benefits including air purification, they can reduce stress levels, can be a tool for enhancing Qi, and they are esthetically appealing”.
Cally Ashby
I recently experienced a Feng Shui consultation with Cally, and it would be an understatement to say she blew my mind.
I expected a quick report along the lines of ‘move this table, put a plant here’. What I received was so very much more.
Imagine the Marie Kondo of living space with a side of esoteric wisdom - and, oh yes, an individualized personality chart of everyone residing under your roof, and you’re coming close. Our meeting lasted one and a half hours, and included a wealth of follow up material.
Safe to say, mind blown (and clearly, I have some work to do).
Cally Ashby is the founder of Ash + Acre Projects, and is a certified BTB Feng Shui practitioner. She applies a holistic approach to Feng Shui, integrating interior design and Feng Shui principles that are tailored to each client and their particular living space.
Cally joins us this week to explain how Feng Shui can enhance your home - and your life.
In a nutshell, what do you do and how did you get there?
I started my career with a degree in Interior Design and that quickly morphed into a successful 20+ career in the design and construction industry delivering projects across Canada.
In recent years I became a certified BTB Feng Shui practitioner through the Mindful Design School - my sincere gratitude goes to my teachers Anjie Cho and Laura Morris, founders of the Mindful Design Feng Shui School for sharing their wealth of knowledge and guidance.
I am now the owner and principal of Ash + Acre Projects. One of my residential service offerings includes holistic design consultations using BTB Feng Shui.
Born, raised, and currently residing in rural southern Ontario, my practice is deeply routed in nature. I provide in-person and virtual consultations that integrate design, the nine star Ki, and BTB Feng Shui principles that are tailored to the client and their environment.
Can you tell us a little bit more about Feng Shui?
The type of Feng Shui I practice is called BTB, Black Hat Sect Tantric Buddhist Feng Shui. The BTB Buddhist method was founded by Feng Shui master Thomas Lin-Yun in Berkeley as a more modern version of Feng Shui.
BTB Feng Shui combines ancient Feng Shui beliefs with mundane and transcendental (invisible) adjustments.
BTB focuses on Qi (energy) and the movement of Qi. Qi is the invisible life force, and Feng Shui looks at the flow of Qi in our environments.
BTB Feng Shui uses a bagua map as a tool to assess how Qi, yin and yang forces, as well as the five elements operate in each space. The map is overlayed over a property, floorplan or individual room and allows the consultant to pinpoint where adjustments could be made to enhance or balance Qi flow.
How would you describe Nine Star Ki (the astrology arm of Feng Shui)?
Ki is Japanese for Qi and is an ancient form of astrology.
Nine Star Ki shares the Feng Shui fundamentals that are connected to the Bagua and the I-Ching, the concept of yin and yang, intertwined with the five elements, the seasons in nature and 9-year cycles that move from winter summer.
The nine star ki is used in BTB Feng Shui to better understand the energy of the client(s) and how their energy can influence their environment.
What’s the biggest misconception about Feng Shui?
One misconception is that there is only one school or method of Feng Shui.
There are several methods including Compass, Classical, Flying Star, BTB, etc. There are similarities and differences in each school, all varied, all correct and all are practiced today.
This is one reason why it’s best to use a certified consultant rather than try to practice feng shui on your own.
If you could recommend one place to begin in aligning the energy of your home with these principles, what would it be?
Alignment of energy is very specific to each individual client, their personal goals, and their space/home. For this reason, I recommend working with a certified Feng Shui consultant.
Do you have a secret life hack?
I use live plants in almost every room in my home because they provide many natural benefits including air purification, they can reduce stress levels, can be a tool for enhancing Qi, and they are esthetically appealing.
Where is your happy place on the planet?
Somewhere off the beaten path, outdoors, and in the wilderness. Even better if my four-legged companions are with me.