When I was interviewed by AHALife, for their “Good Guide” they wanted to know some of my tips for a better nights sleep. Here is the interview:
If you’re struggling with getting better sleep, you’ve probably tried just about everything—meditation, melatonin, a warm glass of milk… Well, have you tried feng shui? Laura Benko, author of The Holistic Home: Feng Shui for Mind, Body, Spirit, Space, is a master at helping people create stress-free spaces through a modernized version of the ancient art. “We all live these busy, chaotic lives with schedules that can be overwhelming. I want to help my clients create spaces that hold deeper meaning, that flow efficiently, that are beautiful and inspiring and wholly their own,” she says. So, we wondered: How could we use feng shui in our bedrooms to get a more restful sleep? We tapped Laura for answers.
Get Rid of Reminders of Action
“You want to get exercise equipment out of the bedroom, since it’s a reminder of what you did do or a reminder of what you didn’t do. It doesn’t belong in the bedroom. Remove stacks of unread books or a to-do list from your bedside table. They’re all reminders of what you haven’t done and what you need to do. You don’t want to have that resonating next to your head when you’re sleeping. You don’t want it to be the last thing you see before you go to sleep.”
Create a Serene Space
“You want to get rid of anything that’s busy and chaotic. Decorate with soft colors. You want to look at the symbolism of your surroundings in the bedroom. Instead of crashing waves, go with serene ocean landscape.”
Position Your Bed so You Can See the Door
“The best position for a bed is so that when you’re lying in the bed, you could see the door. If for structural reasons, you can’t be in that particular commanding position, there are ways of bringing in a mirror, so that when you’re lying in bed, you can see who is entering. You don’t want to feel vulnerable or easily startled. It all boils down to tapping into these primordial energies of feeling safe, feeling empowered, feeling in charge, and in command. It’s so important not to have your bed on the entryway wall, where the door is to the bedroom. The most ideal position is to be in the far left or far right from the entrance of the bedroom.”
No Electronics (You Knew This Was Coming)
“Electronics should really be far away from your head, that means even the alarm clock. Charge your electronics elsewhere, not next to your bed. You want to minimize all that electronic pollution around, and you really will feel a difference. You’ll get a deeper, more restful, restorative sleep.”
Your Bed Should Be Your Happy Place
“You spend a third of your life in your bed, so you want to make sure the sheets are nice. Your bed should be as comfortable and luxurious as you can possibly afford, because it’s one of those spaces you really want to indulge in. That’s when you’re healing and restoring, and you want to give yourself the best possible environment. Investing in the bed that feels best to you is always a wise investment.”
Bring in Positive Energy
“If you’re having trouble sleeping, try using a crystal by the bed or the Juju spray from the Energy Clearing Kit to help reduce bad dreams and clear the energy on three different levels. There’s a packet of sage in there, burn it and waft it around your bedroom. Just as you clear the dirt and the grime from your space, you want to clear your space. As you’re using the sage, you want to visualize that you’re getting rid of sickness, nightmares, or whatever was not conducive to a good night’s sleep. You want to visualize that that’s leaving, and you’re bringing in nothing but peaceful, harmonious energy into your bedroom.”
