I Went Down A Feng Shui Rabbit Hole And I'm Sleeping Better Than Ever
by Vanessa Kass
I haven’t had three consecutive nights of good sleep in ten years.
Sometimes it’s because there is anywhere from one to three additional humans in my bed. Other times, it is because I am alone in my bed and I feel the need to read the entire internet in blessed solitude.
Now, I will admit to being a little woo. So when I spotted ad in my Instagram feed that said “Feng Shui” and “sleep,” I clicked instantly. Then I spent another forty-five minutes clicking. Down a rabbit hole of Chinese history, energy centers, maps, terms and images.
Feng Shui is a traditional Chinese spatial arrangement practice that uses energy to create harmony between individuals and their surrounding environment. The practice itself is thought to be over 6,000 years old, and is used to create optimal placements of dwellings, businesses, farms, graveyards and even singular rooms. The orientation of doors, windows, and furniture are strategically placed to create prosperous centers.
Feng (wind) is the air and the field energy, while Shui (water) means flow and change. It is meant to balance the physical world with the energy that exists within. Doesn’t that sound nice?
I read testimonials from the clients of experts. I read about classes, courses, freebies, professionals and self-professed amateur consultants. There really didn’t seem to be any downside. People tried it and, for very few, it didn’t work. But it didn’t cause harm, either.
Maybe I was grasping at straws. Or very tired. Or both.
But sleep, or lack thereof, is a powerful motivator. Click. Right click. New window. Screenshot. Favorite. Click again. And then I got started.
But before you can even rearrange, you have to clean. Toss things, organize, say some mantras and even burn some sage. You have to have a clear space logistically and energetically in order to capitalize on the centers. I can clean and smudge stick all day. So I was all in.
Plus, the tenets of a Feng Shui bedroom just…make sense.
Your bed should take a commanding space. And it should face the door. Why would you not have your bed face the door?? How can you see who is coming to kill you in your sleep if your bed is not facing the door? Mine always has. Safety, first. Check.
Take advantage of natural light every day. I like to sleep in a cave. The darker the better. But I love natural light in the day. Every morning I open the curtains and let the sun shine. I even bought a rainbow prism which creates dancing rainbows along my walls. Done.
Use lighter colors to promote rest and calm. I, traditionally, loved a bedroom that was pitch black. See #2. I moved into a light blue room. Not gonna lie, there is something light and airy about it that is appealing. The three test pots of dark green paint are unopened in the closet. Yep. Next.
Pairs for balance and space. Always a fan of pairs whether for one or two. Onward.
Here are some before-and-afters, because we all love a visual aid:
Before
After
But, there were also some no-thank-yous. I moved into a smaller bedroom. There is one tiny closet and one fewer dresser. Feng Shui tells you to keep the area under your bed clear. Free for the energy to flow in every direction around you while you are sleeping. I get that. But until my purging sessions are done, there’s gonna be blockage. It’s either under the bed or in the bed with me. Don’t think that is conducive to sleep.
There were also notes about minimal plants and an absence of water images and mirrors. Those first two bring me too much joy to remove. As for the mirror? I have one. And it will remain in my bedroom so I can give myself the once over if I am ever allowed to leave my house again. I do cover it when I go to sleep at night. Feng Shui approved.
As with all things that are mystical and based on anecdotal of success stories, you pick what works. Here’s what is working. The light walls and natural light are tranquil and bright and calming. My bed is across from the door and framed by two hutches. It feels safe and grounded. Of all the rooms I have had, this one, to me, feels the most grown up. Even if I still don’t have a headboard yet.
And? I am sleeping better and heading into month two of my new room.
I am calmer in this room than my previous one, where the bed was on the same wall as the door. A major Feng Shui no-NO. There is a clear difference between the room during the day and at night. Which seems foolishly simple but there it is. During the day, the bed is made and the curtains are open providing bright, natural light and rainbows. Then as night comes, there has almost become a sleep prep routine. Removing the obscene and unnecessary number of throw pillows, closing the shades, covering the mirror. I am readying my room, as much as I am myself, for sleep.
Even though the number of humans in my bed hasn’t really lessened, I am falling asleep more quickly and sleeping through the night more frequently. Noticeably so. My fitbit tracks my sleep and assigns a number. My sleep scores have been in the high 80s and low 90s since the makeover. I was lucky to get a high 70 before. So, my actual sleeping has improved. By a lot.
As has my morning attitude.
Can I say it is the Feng Shui attuned energy of my room? Maybe. Can I say the now clear delineation between day and night in the room contributes? Sure. Could I say it is these little doohickies I got from Amazon that help me breathe while I sleep? Also maybe. But I wake up having removed them from my nose sometime during the night. So I am going with the Feng Shui.
Vanessa Kass is a writer, teacher and mindset mentor. She lives in Connecticut with her three children, husband, and menagerie of animals. You can find more of her articles here.
