I’m taking a sabbatical and have lined up a few posts ahead of time. I’ll also be re-sharing some of my fave OTR articles and introducing you to new guest authors as well as other interesting info while I’m away. Enjoy this post by Feng Shui expert, Ann Bingley Gallops! 

The holidays are here! Now is that unique time of year when we transform our homes to celebrate and give thanks with our loved ones. This festive season is also the most quiet “Yin” time of year (in the Northern Hemisphere), so it’s important to keep your home in balance with lively “Yang” elements.

1. To activate positive Yang energy make sure you have adequate and attractive lighting inside and outside your home. Family and social gatherings will wake up your space and get you moving, even if your natural tendency might be to hibernate right now!

2. Your kitchen is especially important during the holiday season since the stove and cooking activity there give this room the most Fire-y Yang energy in your home. Be sure to keep your stove burners active. From heating up cider to baking bread, the delicious smells from a healthy kitchen bring good Feng Shui nourishment into any home.

“Simplicity shouldn’t be confused with simplistic. Simplicity means that everything you do should be straightforward and easy to understand—even the most complex things.”

Read More:

The Human Brand Manifesto: Simplicity, Respect, Openness | OpenForum.com | 4.27.11

Feng Shui expert, Ann Bingley Gallops, has shared her insight with us before.  Today she’s back with a specific focus on how to reduce stress in the bedroom.

Did you know that 43% of American adults suffer adverse health effects from stress? Or that two-thirds of all visits to doctors’ offices are due to stress-related symptoms?

If you or your clients suffer from stress, one of the things you may be missing out on is deep, healthy sleep. Feng Shui offers a few simple solutions for creating a bedroom atmosphere that’s relaxing, soothing and serene, where you can reduce your stress and regain your health.

Take these steps to a better night’s sleep – and reduce the stress in your life.

1. Clear the clutter.

A cluttered bedroom = confused, nervous energy surrounding you as you sleep.  Sort through everything in the room, removing everything that’s not strictly sleep-related – that includes books, electronic equipment, the treadmill… you get the idea. If your bedroom absolutely must serve a secondary function – as a home office, for instance – find a way to screen it off from view when you sleep.

2. High ceilings?

Cathedral ceilings have become a fact of life in many modern American bedrooms, but they are a Feng Shui no-no in the bedroom, where feeling coddled and safe is priority #1.  Overly high ceilings call for a solution that brings things back to a more human scale: a canopy bed, curtains that create a cozy nest, even darker paint on the ceiling to bring it “back down to earth.”

3. Remove mirrors.

Even though they are so very common in bedrooms, mirrors may be increasing your stress by stirring up the atmosphere as you sleep.  Their hard, cold energy – reflecting every little bit of light in the room — is the opposite of cozy, warm feeling you want to create. I’ve had so many success stories with clients who have removed the mirrors from their bedrooms – try it and see for yourself.

4. Place your bed to put yourself “in command.”

With Feng Shui’s Command Position you reduce your stress by putting yourself in control of your room, even as you sleep.Place your bed so you can easily see the door to your room as you lie in bed.  The ideal spot is out of the direct line of the door, so “Chi energy” can meander around the room a bit before flowing around you as you sleep.

5. A headboard for your bed.

A headboard for your bed = a mountain at your back.  This classic Feng Shui principle keeps you feeling even safer and more secure as you sleep. It’s best to avoid metal or barred headboards: solid wooden headboards are best for a warm sense of sanctuary and protection.

6. Keep the lights down low.

Bright or overhead lights make your room feel like it’s daytime.  Avoid “full-spectrum” lighting in your bedroom, and put as many lights as you can on dimmers to create a dark and welcoming environment that’s conducive to sleep.

Feng Shui is a wonderful stress-reduction strategy.   I hope you’ll put as many of these tips into practice as you can to live a more relaxed and happy life.

About The Author

Ann Bingley Gallops and Open Spaces Feng Shui offer a modern, practical approach to the ancient art of Feng Shui, enhancing your life with balance and good health. Ann has been practicing Feng Shui since 1996, and received her Practitioner’s Certificate from the Western School of Feng Shui.

Her background includes an MBA from Columbia University as well as Red Ribbon Professional accreditation from the International Feng Shui Guild, the highest Feng Shui qualification available in the U.S.  Ann’s services include consultations for homes and offices, plus space-clearing & blessing ceremonies and long-distance “virtual” consultations.

Connect With Ann: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | E-Mail | 646.382.3878

Today’s post is courtesy of Feng Shui expert, Ann Bingley Gallops.  Many thanks to Ann for sharing these insightful tips and explaining the connection between Feng Shui and organization.

Whenever I walk into a client’s home, I get an immediate sense of what’s happening in their space even before they put it into words. This intuitive awareness of what’s going on comes from my understanding of Feng Shui, which helps me identify how the Chi, or life force energy, of the space moves and flows.  Feng Shui helps me identify where Chi energy is stuck or blocked.  Things stacked haphazardly in corners, doors that don’t open or close all the way, an environment that feels dusty or lifeless. All these are signs of Chi energy that’s stuck, and indicate that my client has an opportunity to improve his or her life in a significant way.

What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui (pronounced “fung schway”) is about enhancing your life by enhancing your space.  Sometimes called the art of placement, it originated in China thousands of years ago, becoming more commonly used in the West over the last 30 years.

The words Feng Shui literally mean Wind & Water. The concepts of a meandering stream and gentle breeze provide symbols of a smooth flow of energy bringing health and abundance into your space and your life.  The sense we seek is one of energy flowing smoothly and easily.  We don’t want Chi energy to be stagnant; neither do we want it to move too fast, like a roaring river.  When Chi energy is stuck, you feel stuck; when it rushes too fast you miss out on its life-giving benefits.

Everything in our surroundings has a physical and psychological effect on us.  Feng Shui enhances the positive aspects of your environment while minimizing its negative features.  Feng Shui aligns your space with the balance, harmony and energy of nature; the more you’re in harmony with nature, the better you’re able to live a comfortable and productive life.

When you use Feng Shui in your environment, you harness the natural power of Chi energy to bring greater ease and productivity into your life and energetically attract the things you want. When Chi energy flows smoothly, your life is more likely to flow more smoothly as well.

Three Essential Feng Shui Tools

Feng Shui uses time-tested techniques to bring its positive benefits into your space. Feng Shui also creates room layouts designed to put you in control of your space, giving you a solid sense of comfort and safety in your environment.

• The feminine and masculine energies of Yin & Yang must be balanced in every room as well as in the overall space.  Every room in your home or office needs its own balance of Yin and Yang.  A bedroom requires more Yin, while a kitchen is a more Yang space, for example.

• The Five Elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water must be brought into harmony with one another and with your personality, goals and style.  Everything and everyone is made up of these elements — Feng Shui brings them into balance for you and your particular situation.

• The eight-sided Bagua Energy Map divides every space into sectors including wealth, reputation, intimate relationships, health, family and more.  The Bagua gives you a way to focus on these important areas of your life and bring the power of Intention to making changes you want to make.

Why Clearing Clutter is So Important in Feng Shui

The necessary first step to creating good Feng Shui is to clear clutter so Chi energy can flow freely throughout your space. When Chi energy moves freely, your physical body as well as your mental and emotional energy — will, too.  A clutter-free environment with good Feng Shui will help you become more productive and achieve your most important life goals.

About the Author

Ann Bingley Gallops and Open Spaces Feng Shui offer a modern, practical approach to the ancient art of Feng Shui, enhancing your prospects for a balanced and healthy life.  Ann’s unique background includes an MBA from Columbia University as well as Red Ribbon Professional accreditation from the International Feng Shui Guild, the highest Feng Shui qualification available in the Unites States. She has been practicing Feng Shui since 1996, and received her Practitioner’s Certificate from the Western School of Feng Shui.

Ann’s services include consultations for homes and offices, plus space-clearing & blessing ceremonies and long-distance “virtual” consultations. You may contact Ann at 646-382-3878 or ann at openspacesfengshui dot com.

Get More Information