On Wednesday 24th October at 9pm on Channel 5, I am featured in the concluding episode of this TV show with Aemonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford. Ruth snores like a mammoth! So the couple are exploring ways that might improve their sleep. They spent a whole morning filming me talking about feng shui and space clearing, and in action, demonstrating how they affect our bedrooms. I am drumming (space clearing) on the preview for the show. Of course it’s down to the editor which clips they include, and how they choose to portray me and these modalities – fingers crossed it’s good publicity for both. Only a few minutes of the footage will be chosen, so here’s a summary of what I shared:
How might feng shui and space clearing affect our sleep?
Our quality of sleep affects our health and well-being, relationships, career, creativity, safety, moods, sports performance, meditation, clarity and so on. If we have a really bad night’s sleep, we tend to get off to a rough start, and everything feels like hard work; whereas if we sleep well, we tend to feel bright, smiley and energised, with a spring in our stride, ready to embrace the day…So let’s take a closer look at our bedrooms – our most intimate spaces, where we spend around one third of our lives…
Proponents of feng shui believe that
Firstly, it’s important not to become fearful or superstitious about feng shui. If your bedroom doesn’t fit the ideal feng shui model, then there are always ways to improve and make the best of your situation, by making physical or symbolic changes. Remember that a pleasant environment will tend to bring out the good feng shui influences, and lessen any ‘negative’ ones. Whatever ideas we may have about ‘best directions to face’, feng shui ‘cures’ or enhancements, they all have to make practical sense!
When looking at quality of sleep from a feng shui perspective, we can examine it from a heaven, earth and human angle, and the yin and yang aspects within those:
Heaven’s qi is the sunlight and shade affecting the bedroom, and how hot or cold the weather – most people like to sleep in a room that can be made dark, with a comfortable temperature for their climate. The yin aspect of heaven’s qi are the more intangible influences such as astrology. ‘Flying Stars’ could be described as an astrological method of feng shui that considers the influence of cycles of time with the direction the house sits and faces, that reveal patterns of potential support for health (and wealth) in each location in the house, which can be balanced using the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water) – metaphorically speaking.
Earth qi is the ‘form’ ie the influence of the physical environment, landscape, architecture and furnishing of the building. Usually, bedrooms are more relaxing at the back of the house, where it tends to be more sheltered, protected and still, and there may be a garden view, and connection with home-life, rather than the open street, movement of traffic, and connection with the outside world, at the front. The bed should be positioned in the most protected, secure position in the room, so that when you are in bed, you can clearly see the doors and windows, and there is a solid wall behind the head of the bed, creating a sense of safety. Ideally the line of qi that flows between doors and windows does not cross the bed. The door should open in the direction that does not give someone an immediate view of the bed as they enter. Try to avoid sleeping under sloping roofs or beams, or where sharp corners point towards you, or directly in line with the door (creating a sense of vulnerability). If you share your bed, see that you share the same view – a window, or picture that you both love.
The physical shape, furniture and decoration of the bedroom will create a certain atmosphere – the yin aspect of earth qi. Bedrooms tend to be decorated in a more yin fashion than the kitchen for example – with soft furnishings and lighting, so that it feels cosy, peaceful and calm to encourage sleep. The only exception is a kid’s room, which is often their play room too, so they tend to be more colourful and busy. Try to avoid having anything to do with work in your bedroom (or if you have to, keep it covered when not in use). Is your bedroom clutter-free? If there isn’t a great view from your bedroom window, you could have a picture of a view you love. Do the pictures, items and ornaments in your room represent love and peace or isolation/conflict? Are there healthy plants or struggling ones? Does it feel like a sanctuary/love nest/tantric temple – or soul-less and uninviting?Are the sounds disturbing or relaxing? Does it smell stale or pleasant?
Human qi is the effects of your health and well being, personality and behaviour, taste and intentions, and in the yin form, your unconscious fears and desires. What activities do you do before you sleep? Do you take your dog for a walk, have a bath, meditate, read, make love or have a massage? Or do you work, drive, use a mobile/cordless phone, watch stimulating TV, eat sugar or coffee? How are you when you go to bed – are you stressed, irritated and tense, or relaxed, content and peaceful? If you share your bedroom, are you disturbed by your partner’s habits, or do you feel relaxed, comforted and supported by their presence?
Proponents of space clearing believe that:
Everything that has ever happened in a room will leave energetic imprints, which will tend to affect us. We can use space clearing techniques with the intention of clearing away the past and previous occupiers of a building. If we consider the stress, addictions, sickness, sex lives, arguments, neurosis, shocks, and losses etc, that may have occurred in the average bedroom, then there is plenty to be space cleared! Using sound healing and other techniques, the intention is to then infuse the space with your wishes. I also recommend having a new bed, mattress and bedding at the start of a new relationship.
Proponents of geomancy believe that there are streams of energy that move through, and emanate from the earth, that may be created by geological faults, underground water, or man-made influences such as building roads and houses, quarrying and mines; and by using earth acupuncture, crystals and prayers, the effects of these may be harmonised.
Proponents of ‘Healthy Home’ believe that:
In ancient China they didn’t have electro-magnetic fields, microwaves or chemical products in the home, so these weren’t a consideration, but these invisible fields are becoming more and more prevalent in our homes. Personally, I position flexes and electrical items as far from my bed as possible, switch off wi-fi at night and do not have a cordless telephone (if I did the charger & phone would be located as far from my bed as possible). If you are semi-detached then where you sleep may be influenced by your neighbour’s EMF’s. If you would like to test the levels where you sleep, you can buy or hire electronic devices that give readings. Wherever possible I avoid high levels of EMFs, and would consider shielding devices if necessary.
Conclusion.
I like to take a holistic approach, and take all of these factors into consideration, and more, with recommendations of how to create the most harmonious environment conducive to a good night’s sleep in your home.
Sweet dreams!
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