If you are experiencing periods of poor sleep, or feel grouchy and tired during the day despite great sleep hygiene, it could be down to the energy of your bedroom experts say and the fix will surprise you.
Experts in Feng Shui sing the praises and power of water, an element believed will create harmony and tranquility in your space. That's why Feng Shui pros say a glass of water under your bed will absord the bad energy while you sleep. You'll know if it's worked they explain, if you wake up to bubbles or cloudiness in the glass.
It's a unique concept for good sleep so intrigued, we asked a celebrity psychic and Homes & Gardens' Feng Shui expert more about this interesting idea.
Why you should put a glass of water under the bed at night
If you're having one of those days, or weeks, the 'glass of water under the bed' cleansing ritual could be a good test to eliminate bad vibes that have found their way into your home.
Celebrity psychic Inbaal Honigman points out that there are thousands of cleansing and protection spells in every culture., including this one from the practice of Feng Shui.
She explains, 'From a St. Christopher pendant worn by Catholics for protection during travel, to putting crystals on the window sill to cleanse and charge under the full moon, we are all aware of many a cleansing ritual and do some of them intuitively, like sprinkling salt or opening a window to get rid of a bad vibe.'
Inbaal explains that water is a very sensitive and reactive element, which is often why it's linked to emotion and intuition, with languages and phrases reflecting this historical connection. The popular phrase, 'I feel it in my waters', is a good language example of how water has become linked to the concept of human instinct.
'As such, water will absorb any negative energy around it,' adds Inbaal. 'If there's a depressing or oppressive vibe in the room, a glass of water will absorb it. Place it under the bed so you don't step on it when you get out from under the covers.
'Get rid of the water in the morning, because fresh water works best. Pouring into a plant that will enjoy it is good magical practice – and observe the water for any changes before you chuck it away. A bubbliness, cloudiness, or a change of texture may suggest that your water has absorbed something nasty.'
Suzanne Roynon, H&G's resident Feng Shui expert says, explains that water is often used to enhance the positive Feng Shui in a home, whether looking at Feng Shui in the bedroom or any other space in the home.
'We use moving water to encourage a flow of good chi and abundance into a home, and the location chosen on the Feng Shui energy map is entirely dependent on the unique combination of the Feng Shui energy required in each individual home,' she says.
'The most important thing to remember is that to support Feng Shui the water has to be constantly moving,' Suzanne reiterates. 'That’s because, as mentioned above, still water absorbs the energy around it, regardless of whether it’s negative or positive.
'The glass of water under the bed isn't something I'd come across previously, and this has really made me conscious of those glasses of water I've swigged in the morning which sat through the night on the bedside cabinet! That's not going to happen again and I advise the same for you.'
Fancy a more decorative option than a glass of water? Consider a tabletop water fountain to keep water moving for positive energy in the bedroom. In Feng Shui, gold is thought to attract good luck, making this fountain a great addition for a positive morning.
In Feng Shui, the color black is thought to bring positive energy into the home. Combined with the curved lines of this tabletop water fountain this simple addition is perfect for improving the energy of your sleep space. Amazon shoppers also mention that it produces a calming water sound, with a near silent motor to help soothe you to sleep.
Combine soothing water sounds, Feng Shui bad-vibe clearing and gentle ambient light with this little indoor water feature. Just remember to blow out your tealights before sleeping as leaving them on overnight or while you're asleep will post a fire risk.
To make it more effective, sound and energy healer Andrea Donnelly suggests adding a pinch of salt before placing it under your bed, or somewhere else in your room, to amplify your intention. If you feel comfortable or so inclined, you can verbalize or think a prayer, too.
Andrea explains, 'You can try something like, Thank you water for all that you do. Please help me safely, clear my space of anything out of alignment with my home’s highest good. You can set an additional intention that in the space good vibes fill the “energetic space” made by drawing out those bad vibes.'
It might seem a little unusual but anything that encourages us to create a calm and intentional sleep space is a good thing in our book. Taking a few minutes to make our bedroom more soothing is a way of looking after ourselves. There are so many ways to do this, whether that's trying a ritual like this, giving ourselves our own turn-down service, or picking up a pillow spray, paying attention to the best and worst scents for sleep.
Looking at the layout of your bedroom and decluttering your nightstand will also work wonders, as so often these areas get overwhelming and messy which is not conducive to a good night's sleep.
It is important to remember that water under the bed is a supplementary trick to try, and investing in the best mattress and best pillows you can afford will be the perfect foundations on which to build great sleep. Poor sleep, including disrupted or shortenspells of sleep may impact your mental and physical health in the long run.
Getting the basics right before looking to more spiritual improvements will truly help you sleep better.
