What Makes My Bedroom A Soul Oasis

I often refer to creating a soul oasis as storytelling because the items displayed in our spaces should tell us really good stories. Another way to look at it is to consider it an evolving, three-dimensional vision board. Like a vision board, the "images" (wall art) are "symbols" that point to our dreams or visions. The stories develop as we imagine what is yet to come or simply reflect on happy memories. 

The corner in the above photo is the wealth area of our bedroom, according to the Bagua Map. We purchased the painting of the white dory while traveling to Bayfield, Ontario, a beautiful beach town we love to visit. Since this is the most expensive piece of art we own, I thought it was the perfect symbol of wealth. The mirror to the left of the painting symbolizes that we want expansion in our wealth area and the framed photo above the bed is a sunset view from a favorite spot in Cayman Island. The combination of these items signify travel, a beautiful memory, and dreams of expanding our wealth.

This image (above) is one of many soul snapshots I have created. It symbolizes career to me. The story I tell myself when I look at this is "I come alive when I talk about home. I love talking to groups of people about creating a house that they love!"

Waterfalls are significant in the career area, according to the Bagua Map, so that is why I used several in this snapshot and because I LOVE THEM! The person standing on the cliff is Katie Hess, flower alchemist. Like Katie, I want a career that I am passionate about and I chose this picture of her to remind me of my dream. The two women standing and laughing together are Brene Brown and Elizabeth Gilbert, both of who are inspiring to me.

This soul snapshot is in a picture frame on top of a chest of drawers with a candle in front of it and a plant next to it. The three items together symbolize that I want to nurture, grow, reflect on, and celebrate a career I am passionate about.

This wall in our bedroom is what my teacher, Kirsten Steno, refers to as the "happy wall." It is opposite our bed and displays things that we see as soon as we wake up every morning and right before we go to sleep every night. The framed photos are from some of our favorite trips we have taken to the Caribbean. The pair of candles and figurine represent that we are a couple. The vase of fresh flowers represent that we nurture our loving relationship. The rock is one that we brought back from a trip. The box contains notes we have written to each other and the pocket watch is a symbol that time is precious.

...and this is how I feel when I slow down and look at my surroundings. If the decor in my home isn't reminding me of a happy memories, it's pointing me to my future and to adventures I can only imagine in this moment. This is the power of creating a soul oasis.