Tag Archives: Anxiety

Take Command Of Your Sleep, Start With Feng Shui Design

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“By helping us keep the world in perspective, sleep gives us a chance to refocus on the essence of who we are. And in that place of connection, it is easier for the fears and concerns of the world to drop away.”
– Arianna Huffington, The Sleep Revolution

In July I shared with you I will be part of an anthology, Recipes For Living Coloring Journal. It’s no surprise my chapter is devoted to how Feng Shui bedroom design helps you sleep better. I truly believe the bedroom is the most important room in the house. So when I read Arianna Huffington’s account of her “wake up call” in The Sleep Revolution, I knew that the benefits of Feng Shui design need to spread throughout the world.

“We are in a sleep deprivation crisis,” writes Ms. Huffington. “I experienced firsthand the high price we’re paying for cheating sleep when I collapsed from exhaustion.” She goes on to say, “If we look at our lives as a spiritual journey, sleep becomes a key paradox: when we completely identify with our persona in this world–with our job, our appearance, our bank account–we are asleep to life’s deeper dimensions….We are living in a golden age of sleep science–revealing all the ways in which sleep and dreams play a vital role in our decision making, emotional intelligence, cognitive function and creativity. And how lack of sleep is often the culprit behind anxiety, stress, depression and a myriad of health problems.” (Harmony Books, The Sleep Revolution)

Consulting with my clients I have discovered a similar loop. Usually it takes the form of an underlying anxiety that monitors their decision making where their choices are based on a stress response. For nearly everyone of them this stems from an exhaustive bedroom design.

Sleep not only helps you work efficiently but be a productive part of society. Yet productivity is but one piece of the well-being matrix. Living fully and consciously means tapping into your creativity, your rich well of emotions and you soul’s purpose.

Of all the Feng Shui design advice I give on the bedroom, I have found “placing the bed in command position” carries the most weight in addressing productivity (yang) and creativity (yin) of our everyday lives. And for those who constantly deal with anxiety, worry and depression, it is a gift for the soul. Bed placement creates a palpable shift in your emotions and I have seen a positive attitude change as a result. Choices come from confidence rather than the seat of the pants. Clarity eliminates self-sabotaging behavior that cycles into stress. Inspiration flows freely as the brain functions at its optimal capacity rather than run on auto-pilot.

If you’ve had doubts why changing your bed position is a good idea, I’ve included a short list. You may be surprised how it influences your health and peace of mind.

  • Heart troubles. Where your bed is positioned can place stress on your emotional heart. Prolonged stress can develop into physical heart troubles including a murmur and arrhythmia.
  • Illness along the midline. Your major organs from your brain to your kidneys can be affected.
  • Insomnia and restless sleep. Our brain is responsible for our survival. It we’re too close to an entrance, either facing it, to the side of it or behind it, this placement triggers the amygdala (the fight-or-flight mechanism). Our brain never shuts off and this weakens the immune system which depends on releasing toxins and building tissue in sleep.
  • Missed opportunity. If you sleep in line of the door your body never lets down at night to rejuvenate. During the day you may be preoccupied with a low grade headache which will invariably eclipse a chance meeting or being considered for promotion.
  • Mood swings. If your bed is on the door wall, you cannot see who is coming, you may feel a sense of danger and you may be blind-sided.

Command position is based on H.H. ”Professor” Lin’s Theory of Relative Positioning which states, the energy that is closest to you affects you the most. Think of the gunslinger in the old westerns. He always had his back to the wall and his eye on the saloon doors. Never too close and not in line of those swinging doors.

  • Your bedroom door determines command position.
  • The door should be within eyeshot of the bed.
  • The bed placement should allow the widest scope of vision of the door.
  • The best placement when feasible is the farther wall from the bedroom door.

As you lay in bed tonight take a moment and observe your surroundings. What do you see? What do you feel? Self awareness is key to getting a good night’s sleep.

Have you decided this will be your year? “Boldness has genius”…start with one hour of Feng Shui A La Carte. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

Feng Shui Matters To Your Heart

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“If light is in your heart, you will find your way home.”
– Rumi

If you are like me you may be feeling an ache in your heart for Orlando, the LGBTQ community and their families. After the Bataclan attack last year I wrote “How To Manifest Peace”. These tragedies and the ones preceding, Aurora, Newtown, Roseburg…, could conceivably keep our spirits rattled for some time which may settle into a despairing belief that peace is not possible in our communities. I believe we have options. We can begin to repair when we understand how these events have placed stress on our hearts. Making a shift to focus on kindness, our communities’s purpose and the influence our home has on our heart’s well-being can be healthy antidotes to combat despair. I compiled “Feng Shui Matters To Your Heart”, a list of design details that cause conflict. I have seen time and again when we modify stress in the walls that surround us, we don’t just keep the healing to ourselves, the empowerment goes out to our loved ones and our communities.

The ancient Chinese scholars identified the Heart as the director of all the other functions of the body primarily because of its leadership quality, its ‘shen’ or ‘spirit’. “In The Yellow Emperor’s Chinese Classic–the oldest text in Chinese medicine–the strength of the shen is essential for good health: ‘If shen is strong, the body will be strong; if we lose shen, the body will perish.’ ” – Epoch Times

So we see something more than a regulator of blood circulation as western medicine would indicate. The Heart is an organ of consciousness. It is the spark that moves the body in rhythm with a love song; stirs the pulse when hearing a rousing poem; ignites passion when seeing a powerful speaker; the soul of the pen that radiates an uplifting letter. It is the Heart that guides our intellect, studies the world, gives us a sense of mindfulness…it is the supreme governor that directs our purpose everyday, fulfilling our ‘why’. 

“The shen likes peace and calm.” It is a balanced state for the Heart. When you experience shen disturbances such as anxiety, insomnia, sadness, obsession, stress, heart palpitations, heart disease, depression or an inability to speak clearly, these symptoms are revealing some truth about your situation. The imbalances caused by the environment, either in your body or the landscape that surrounds you, can be a catalyst to explore not only conventional and Chinese medicine, but also an opportunity to inquire what in your home may be creating an unsettled spirit in you. 

I believe we are in the midst of extraordinary transformation. What is prompting the change are extreme, sometimes tragic, but always heart-opening experiences and our response to transmute these into positive events is clearly in the early stages of evolution. There is no better time than now to focus on aligning the Feng Shui in your environment to support your emotional well-being. This design detail conflict indicator is a tool to help you examine what is going on in your home especially if you or a family member is experiencing emotional distress, high blood pressure or heart disease.

Front Door Disadvantages A spiral staircase near the front door. A spiral staircase acts like a screw that burrows down into the house affecting your heart.

A stairway out the door can create illness along the midline which includes the heart. A nuance is there may be conflict locked in of the heart of the inhabitants. These emotions can deplete the heart/shen from functioning in its natural capacity of joy.

Difficult interior doors Biting doors are doors that face each other and are misaligned. This creates the trauma of a split. Chaos is created. It can create conflict for the inhabitants which can lead to divorce, career downturn or difficult bankruptcy. When they are misaligned by exactly one half there may be verbal and physical fighting. If they are misaligned in a child’s room they may encourage bullying behavior.

A Contrary door is a door that opens to the wall instead of the large part of the room. You may feel you are working hard for little gain. There may be back issues as the back slumps over the lungs and heart, this positioning creates respiratory and heart disease.

Piercing Heart Doors are three or more doors through which you could walk in a straight line. They create an invisible obstacle which creates obstacles between family members. As the crevasse widens over time, it becomes more and more challenging to touch the heart of another.

Hollow unhappiness Health is the center of the Ba-gua. A stairway in the center creates a lack of stability that can lead to worry and restlessness. You may feel depleted of hope and peace. Ch’i may escape from the everywhere in the home and from its inhabitants. Your health maybe particularly affected.

An elevator and air shaft are in this category of a hollow center for they create a void.

Center conflict A kitchen in the center of the house. The function of the stove is to create a flame that heats your food. It may overheat the emotions in your heart.

Inoperative operating systems If there are problems associated with the air conditioning system or the heating system, those are connected to the heart functioning well.

Slants, edges and blocks blues Slanted ceilings can be particularly uncomfortable if you have low blood pressure.

A knife-edge that comes at the bed will affect your heart, especially if you have an irregular heartbeat.

A blocking wall will make your stomach feel squeezed, pushing your breath back up to your lungs and putting pressure on your heart.

A slanted hallway especially if it leads to the bedroom over time depletes your joy.

Bed distress A lack of commanding position of the bed in the bedroom can cause, but not limited to the following: restless sleep including insomnia, illness along the midline, anxiety, phobias and heart trouble, including arrhythmia and murmur.

If you want to receive a cure for any one of these design features, I will ask you to honor the red envelope tradition.

In 1999, when I started my practice, I chose the name, Shén Mén Feng Shui because our home has a spirit and by linking our spirit to our home’s spirit, I believe we become self-realized beings.

Have you decided this will be your year? ”Boldness has genius”…start with one hour of Feng Shui A La Carte. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

How To Manifest Peace

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“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster’, I hear my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing there are so many helpers–so many caring people in the world.”
– Mr. Rogers

The tragedies that have pierced the heart of the world were such a force that I had to step back these past several weeks to think deeply how Feng Shui may empower us to create a world that is safe. The story we tell this time of year is about peace, goodwill towards all. I asked myself, “How do we maintain a peaceful coexistence throughout the year?” “Build it into the world!” whispered in my ear.

It is through H. H. ‘Professor’ Lin Yun rich legacy of Feng Shui and dharma teachings that I am able to share this wisdom with you. I have selected six Feng Shui precepts that I believe will help us to help each other live under an umbrella of peace. At the least may they be a foundation to harmonize our hearts and mend strained relations and not just the United States, but around the world too. Because when we show we care, we feel safe.

Solidarity In a sense right now we are all vulnerable. Professor Lin said planting bamboo will help vulnerable areas. Bamboo is an uprising force. It provides support. It can drive away negative forces and has the power to suppress evil Ch’i over time. Bamboo is hollow and soft inside, these characteristics symbolizes humility. When you plant bamboo, you add that quality to your own nature. You create solidarity and help your neighbors, near and far, when you place bamboo or the imagery of bamboo in your home and/or plant bamboo on your property. It will wrap its long limbs of peace and safety around you.

Safety New homes that consume an entire lot are on the rise in major and mid-sized cities. They create pressure among neighbors. Everyone feels the narrow space and tight fit. Like a pressure cooker that has to release steam an adjustment to your home can deflect a crisis before it happens. Plant greenery, especially plants with colorful flowers in your lot, both front and back yard. The colors release the pressure of being crowded. It is also vital we maintain our city parks and not let them be sold to developers. Stay up to date on city policy and stay closely connected to your neighborhood associations.

Stillness Take time to be still and shake off negativity by meditating. Start with chanting. The Sanskrit chant, Om mani padme hum, has been practiced all around the world for thousands of years. As you chant and meditate you may realize you have all the power, clarity and the omniscience of the Buddha. If you do not ascribe to the Buddha, then place your focus on God or your higher power. As you practice meditating you unify your inner being, your heart comes into coherence. You let go of divisiveness and inner conflict which is the pathway to peace.

Softness His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama has often expressed that feeling warm-hearted allows him to smile and be happy even in the company of strangers. Being kind and nice towards others creates an atmosphere  for them to be kind in return. A smile works wonders in a potentially unfamiliar situation. When you can help another person feel at ease neither you or they feel alone. Your lives become much easier. Practice kindness, sympathy and generosity daily.

Simple beauty A son and father interviewed after the Bataclan attack. The son is fearful the gunmen may return and he wants to leave. His father speaks calmly to him and says, “They may have guns but we have flowers.” The son feels reassured comforted and a look of peace washes over his face. 

In 2007, Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D. of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital and her research team investigated the effects of flowers in the home. Flowers foster compassion. Participants noted that they felt influenced by flowers emotionally, causing them to feel kindness and more compassion for others. Looking at flowers first thing in the morning, particularly in the kitchen, dissipates anxiety and feelings of depression. Having flowers at home can have a positive carry-over impact on your mood at work too. They energize your time at work.

In the Chinese culture flowers served as a significant vehicle of communication. They convey epic messages that express powerful positive emotions. A peony, the national flower, stands tall and symbolizes prosperity, happiness and peace. Plum blossoms, the harbinger of spring, represent firmness and solidity. The lotus whispers, that which may not be sullied. Chrysanthemums brave the frost to bloom in a vast array of colors. The narcissus is known as ‘the fairy over ripples’. They speak of the correct way of living, indicating being clean and healthy. If you want a flower’s quality to support your endeavor, display a picture purchase flowers and usher in the force they represent. For those suffering from acid reflux Professor Lin shared The Flower Cure.

Self Care If you are suffering from stress or depression caused by the tragedies or you can’t quite put your finger on what the stress is but you feel pressure, make an adjustment in Helpful People. It could be the house, office, bedroom, or any Helpful People gua. If you need more strength, place three cures, one in each of three places. If you live in an apartment, one could be the home, bedroom, and desk. If you live in a home with property, you can adjust the bedroom, house and lot.

Have questions about your home? Minimize stress by designing it with vitality and beauty with Feng Shui A La Carte.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

 

Dream Big, Start Small, A Feng Shui Meditation To Create A Break Through Year

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“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.”
–Martha Graham

Your expression is unique and the world needs it.
If you’ve have felt held back, dream big and break through this year. All it takes is 15 minutes. Clear your heart with a Feng Shui meditation and your mind will let go of what steals your passion. Courage will come easily to unshackle the trap of self doubt, release outmoded ideas and see through imposed limitations. Feng Shui meditation takes the blinders off, your heart will feel purified and you will align with your unique expression. With daily practice hidden talents reveal themselves: your wisdom unfurls, your whimsey blossoms and your imagination sets your creativity on fire. Your first thought becomes your best thought as you call upon your intuitive knowing to answer personal problems. Your heart will recalibrate and radiate Love. Feng Shui Meditation is like polishing the mirror, reflecting both your outer brilliance and the mystical, subtle world that empowers you moment by moment. 

Your business is to keep the channel open.
Illness, unhappiness, anxiety, insecurity, anger and money trouble are all disconnects. You are capable of so much more. You have the talent, the intellect and the hutzpah to shed the inner critic and shift your focus to what is right, good and special about you. As Martha said,“…because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it.”

You begin by starting small.
Buddha was asked, “What have you gained from meditation?” He replied, “Nothing! However, Buddha said, let me tell you what I lost: Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Insecurity, Fear of Old Age and Death.” Setting aside 15 minutes a day to meditate will cleanse you of your worries and shed your doubts. You will recognize what is true for you, have no doubt what your purpose is and life becomes easier.

You don’t have to be Buddha to do this.
You only need to borrow her Ch’i to help you open your heart to greater possibilities. The Astral Body Meditation is a Feng Shui Meditation to create a break through year. It is one of H. H. “Professor” Lin’s most profound. It is lovingly offered to you. This meditation can be used to heal yourself physically and emotionally. It will relax both the mind and body, releasing you from worry. It will help you deal with worldly matters with wisdom and flexibility. Extraordinary things happen when you close your eyes.

If you want a copy of this meditation, please email me, bette@shenmenfengshui.com, for the PDF.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.