Feng Shui for Better Sleep

Guest User November 3, 2021

Photo and design by Anjie Cho Architect PLLC

Do you have trouble falling or staying asleep? If so, you’re not alone. As our lives get busier and more stressful, our sleep tends to be affected. One of the tools that you can use to improve your quality of sleep is feng shui. Feng shui is an Asian art that recognizes that our homes are connected to us and our wellbeing, which includes how we are able to sleep and rest.

In this post I wanted to share a few feng shui tips for better sleep. These are also all great tips that can benefit anyone, even if you don’t have trouble sleeping.

Optimize your bed position

First, make sure your bed is in the command position. This means you are able to see the door while lying in bed, while not being directly in line with the door. You want your bed to be placed in such a way that you can see the doorway, because that means that you are in control of what’s happening in your space and you won’t be caught off guard. When your back is facing the door, your stress levels are elevated because your subconscious mind recognizes that it can no longer see things that are coming towards you. This can increase your stress levels and affect your ability to sleep restfully. Ideally, you want to set up your bed for the best sleep possible by putting yourself in the command position.

Evaluate storage under the bed

Second, take a look under your bed. A lot of people find this area to be a convenient storage space, however in feng shui we recommend that you have absolutely nothing under the bed if at all possible. You spend at least a third of your life lying over those objects, and storing your clutter underneath you can affect your quality of sleep. If you do have items stored under the bed, think about what those mean. For instance, do you have shoes under the bed? Shoes can represent movement. Do you keep luggage there? That could also represent movement, as well as travel and instability. Are you storing divorce papers or other things that are emotionally charged? Items related to an ex, for example, can correspond to subconscious blocks in a relationship, because you’re sleeping over that energy every night.

When you’re sleeping, you’re in a passive yin state where you’re susceptible to all the energy around you, so it’s especially important to have a supportive feng shui setup for your bedroom. If you do need to store things under the bed, stick to softer, sleep-related items like extra blankets or pillows. If possible, however, you really want the space under your bed to be open so that qi can flow freely around you.

Lighting and electronics

Third, I would recommend paying attention to any lighting and electronic devices in the bedroom. In feng shui we use the principles of yin and yang. This can be applied in a really practical way, in terms of making sure that there is enough yin energy and darkness in the area where you sleep. For example, phones or other devices in your bedroom can give off blue light, which is very cool and related to yang energy. Yang is the energy of the sun, which is not as restful as yin energy. You want to have warmer-toned lights around you. Think of the warm glow of candlelight or a pink salt lamp. (If you do have candles in the bedroom, make sure to snuff them out before you start falling asleep!) Try to improve the yin quality of your bedroom and allow your body to have a cycle of yin time each night by enhancing the darkness in this space.

I hope these suggestions help you create a relaxing space where you can drift off easily!

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 Bad Energy

Guest User October 31, 2021

What should I do about bad energy in my home?

Happy Halloween! I thought this would be a good question to answer during this time of year when the veil is thin.

First, I would encourage you not to look at things as purely good or bad. It’s very natural as humans to want to put things in categories, but I always like to look at situations with curiosity rather than fear.

When we say “bad” energy, what we often mean is that yin and yang are out of balance. When you have too much yin qi in your home, it can make you feel heavy and low. One thing to pay attention to when you’re looking at the feng shui of your home is what’s outside your home. People often think that feng shui just has to do with home interiors, but as practitioners, we also look at what’s around you. Do you have any cemeteries, funeral homes, or churches close to you? These all represent yin energy, so it’s helpful to notice whether you have any nearby. Other things that can affect your home’s energy are the other people in your neighborhood, as well as the previous inhabitants of your home and the land. All of that energy is programmed into buildings and places, and your space holds memories of those vibrations.

Something else that might indicate difficult energy is needing an abundance of home repairs. If your home is falling into great disrepair, that’s something to pay attention to. This can contribute to really challenging energy in all area of your life, so it’s important to start to make any necessary improvements. It’s okay to take this one step at a time, because this process can be overwhelming if your house seems to be falling apart. However, it is a good idea to address issues that come up when you can. Your house represents you and your body, so this could also be reflected in your health.

If you feel worried about bad energy in your home, it’s important to make some shifts so that you can feel more comfortable and at ease in your space. You could try doing a space clearing using a method that resonates with you. If you would like more support in shifting your home’s energy, you might want to work with a feng shui practitioner who can give you more tools to transmute the qi in your space.

by Anjie Cho

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, check out Mindful Design Feng Shui School at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com

Feng Shui for Your Bedroom

Guest User October 27, 2021

If you’re new to feng shui, getting started can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. If it feels like a lot, remember that you don’t need to do the feng shui of your whole home right away! I always recommend starting with your bedroo m. Your bedroom is a great place to begin, because it represents you, and it’s the most personal, private part of your home.

One of the first things I look at in a bedroom is the position of the bed. Ideally, your bed should be in the command position, which means that you can see the main entryway to the bedroom when you’re sitting up against the headboard. A lot of times, people don’t have their bed in command, which often corresponds with poor sleep and increased anxiety. It’s a good idea for everyone to have their bed in command if possible, because it helps you feel more at ease and more in control of your life. If you can’t put your bed in a position where you can see the door, you can add a mirror to correct this. The mirror should be located so that you can see the reflection of the door from your bed.

You also want to avoid having your feet pointing directly at the door if possible. If you can move your bed to offset it from the door, that is the best thing to do. However, if you have a smaller bedroom and aren’t able to position your bed in this way, you can correct the flow of qi fairly simply by placing a feng shui crystal halfway between the foot of your bed and the door to your bedroom. To learn more about feng shui crystal balls and how to hang them, check out this episode of the Holistic Spaces Podcast.

The next thing to look at is your headboard. It’s important to have a solid headboard that’s securely attached to your bed. A headboard offers support, and it helps you to feel more grounded and secure. You can think of it like a mountain behind you, providing a solid backing. In BTB feng shui, which is the school of feng shui that I practice and teach, we are not especially concerned with what the headboard looks like, although you do want to look for something that feels sturdy and solid. Generally, I’d recommend something either upholstered or wood. So many people, especially young people, tend to forgo a headboard, but it’s really important when it comes to creating stability in your life and in your romantic relationship.

The last tip I’ll share is to take a look at your window treatments. Often, when I have a client who is having trouble sleeping, they don’t have very good window treatments. Sometimes, they don’t have any window treatments at all. I would recommend you look for good-quality curtains or blinds with a blackout capability. One reason feng shui practitioners talk a lot about window treatments and lighting is that they really affect the yin and yang of a room. Yin is restful, quiet, dark, and cool, which is the perfect environment for sleep. By adding blackout blinds or curtains, you’re bringing in yin energy to support restful nights. In the morning, you want to be able to open your window treatments and let in the bright, yang energy of sunlight as you begin your day.

by Anjie Cho