| Good feng shui often requires making wise decisions | | | | intellectually stimulating effect; if you have trouble |
| based on your specific circumstances, rather than | | | | turning your mind-chatter off so you can fall asleep |
| blinding following an ideal rule. The feng shui rule for | | | | at night, make sure you are not sleeping on top of a |
| storing things under your bed is "don't do it." But for | | | | lot of information. Plus, chances are good that if |
| those who live in small homes every inch of possible | | | | you're keeping that stuff under the bed it probably |
| storage space is precious. If you are faced with | | | | isn't at all current, so all that old information is also |
| cluttering up some other area of your home with | | | | energetically holding you in the past. |
| stuff that otherwise might be put under the bed, | | | | - Guns and knives. I really hope you don't feel the |
| how do you decide what to do? | | | | need to have these in your house at all. All that |
| My preference as a feng shui professional is to keep | | | | potential violence is not conducive to a good night's |
| the more visible, frequently used areas of the home | | | | sleep, no matter how "safe" it may make you feel. A |
| uncluttered. If that means storing some things under | | | | feng shui friend once told me she'd consulted for a |
| the bed, so be it, as long as it is done thoughtfully | | | | guy who collected knives, and who kept that |
| and appropriately. | | | | collection under his bed. No wonder he complained of |
| There are two reasons why your bed is so important | | | | a long string of failed relationships! Regardless of any |
| in feng shui. The first is the principle of proximity, | | | | other qualities he may or may not have had, that's a |
| which states that the closer something is to you the | | | | lot of cutting chi underlying what should be a place |
| stronger its effect will be. The second is the principle | | | | for romantic connection. |
| of duration, which means that the longer you are | | | | These examples should give you an idea of the sort |
| exposed to a particular influence the stronger its | | | | of potentially disruptive effect the stuff under your |
| effect will be. | | | | bed can have. If you must use the under-bed space |
| If we were getting our eight full hours of sleep | | | | for storage, reserve it for soft, cuddly items like |
| every night, we'd be spending a third of our lives in | | | | extra bedding or your winter sweaters. |
| bed. Even with long days and not enough sleep, the | | | | You may even find a good use for that space by |
| average person probably spends 25% or more of his | | | | placing something with positive symbolic meaning |
| or her time in bed. Keeping the factors of proximity | | | | there, so you can take conscious advantage of the |
| and duration in mind, this means that anything that is | | | | proximity and duration effect. For example, laying a |
| close to you while you sleep will have a strong effect | | | | mirror face up under the bed is a recommended feng |
| on you, either physically or symbolically. | | | | shui sure for insomnia; symbolically the mirror reflects |
| Since you are probably well protected from below by | | | | the bed "downward" thus drawing into a deep, |
| a nice thick mattress, whatever you've got stashed | | | | restful sleep. For a child who is frightened of |
| beneath your bed isn't likely to be directly harmful. | | | | imaginary monsters under the bed, placing a |
| However, in feng shui the symbolic energy of an | | | | super-tough-guy action figure under there could |
| object or image is just as important as whatever | | | | provide some important protection and security. |
| literal impact it may have. If you are using your | | | | A feng shui client recently asked if it was okay to |
| underbed area for storage, take a moment to think | | | | keep her empty suitcases under the bed. If you |
| about the implications of whatever is down there, | | | | enjoy traveling and want to do more of it, then |
| especially if you haven't been sleeping well lately. If | | | | having the luggage under the bed may help to |
| you don't remember what you've stashed under your | | | | encourage that. Inside the suitcases you can put |
| bed, it's time to take another look. | | | | guidebooks, photos, travel accessories, and other |
| Here are some things that you ought to find another | | | | items related to the places where you'd like to go. |
| place for: | | | | For example, if you would love to take a trip to Paris |
| - Shoes under the bed can keep you "running around" | | | | put a guidebook to the city, a French-English phrase |
| all night even when you are sound asleep. No matter | | | | book, and a photo of the Eiffel Tower in an empty |
| how many hours of sleep you get, you may never | | | | suitcase under your bed. Add some French currency |
| feel well rested. | | | | or traveler's checks for the future trip. The suitcase |
| - Exercise gear, workout clothes, and sports | | | | and its contents is now a feng shui activation to help |
| equipment are also less than relaxing. Unless you | | | | make your travel dreams come true. |
| want to feel like you're "going nowhere fast" in life, | | | | On the other hand, if you've been traveling a lot |
| don't store your treadmill, rowing machine, aerobic | | | | lately and would like to stay home for a change, then |
| step under the bed. Tennis rackets (or other gear | | | | I definitely recommend finding some other place to |
| for competitive sports) can bring a competitive, | | | | keep your luggage. If you absolutely, positively have |
| adversarial energy to your romantic relationships. It's | | | | no alternative to keeping suitcases under the bed -- |
| best not to have any kind of exercise or sports | | | | and you really want a break from travel -- put a rock |
| equipment in the bedroom at all if you can find | | | | in each one and cover them with a blanket, to help |
| another place for it. | | | | them settle in for a long rest and to keep you |
| - Books and work or school papers can have an | | | | grounded at home. |