Does your bedroom know you're there?

This week's Torah portion, Vayera (Genesis 18:1-22:24), means "And He appeared"—a parasha about seeing and being seen. God appears to Abraham at his tent entrance (mouth of chi, again). Abraham notices three strangers approaching. At the binding of Isaac, Abraham "lifts his eyes and sees" the ram.

But buried in this parasha of patriarchal visions is Hagar—whose story began last week in Lech Lecha when she encountered God in the wilderness and named Him "El Roi, the God who sees me." This week in Vayera, she returns to the wilderness with her dying son. This time, the text doesn't say God saw her. It says: "God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water" (Genesis 21:19).

Last week, Hagar discovered she was seen. This week, she learns to see.

Maybe it's because my mother almost named me Hagar. Maybe it's because this week I contemplated moments of being witnessed and overlooked—at home, as a nation, as outcasts. Either way, Hagar's progression spoke to me. First you need to know you're seen. Then you need to learn to see for yourself.

Before covenant, before commandments, before belonging—there is being seen, and then there is learning to see. Your bedroom is where both happen. It's about creating a space that witnesses you AND opens your eyes to what's already there.

ROOM OF THE WEEK: BEDROOM

The bedroom is feng shui's most intimate laboratory—where you encounter yourself beyond the day's performances, whether you sleep alone or share the space with a partner. Like Hagar in the wilderness when all her identities (according to tradition: princess, then servant, then mother) dissolved and only her essence remained, your bedroom should be where you meet yourself without masks.

DAILY ENERGY FOCUS: SENSING YOUR SPACE

This Week's Chi Focus: Transition Week

We'll explore Si Chi (dead/lifeless energy) and Sheng Chi (vital/alive energy) patterns, as they represent Hagar's transformation across both parashot—from being seen by God (Lech Lecha) to having her eyes opened to see for herself (Vayera).

Sunday (Yang/Sun) 

OBSERVE sheng chi indicators in your bedroom. Notice: you naturally want to pause and enjoy the space; colors appear vibrant and fresh. DETECT this pattern by asking: Does this room invite me to linger, or do I rush through?

What this can mean: Sheng chi signals that your bedroom witnesses and welcomes your essence—you feel seen here, even by yourself. If you sense this pattern: Add one more element that honors your fullness—perhaps something that represents who you are beyond all roles. Yang energy reveals: spaces that truly see us make us want to stay.

Monday (Yin/Moon) 

SENSE si chi indicators in your bedroom. Notice: air feels heavy or stuffy despite ventilation; you feel emotionally flat when entering. CHECK IF this is present by asking: Do I feel more or less alive when I enter this space?

What this can mean: Si chi suggests parts of yourself have become invisible even to you—the room has forgotten to witness your aliveness. If you sense this pattern: Open windows to invite fresh energy, even for five minutes. Consider adding curved shapes (wavy mirrors, flowing fabric) or dark shades of any color. Yin energy asks: What parts of me have I stopped seeing?

Tuesday (Fire/Joy) 

NOTICE the fire qualities in your bedroom—how morning light enters (or doesn't), warm vs. cool color tones. DETECT signs of si chi by observing: Does this room feel like an abandoned stage set, or does it pulse with my presence?

What this can mean: Fire element reveals whether you're visible to yourself here—whether your light can shine without performance. If you sense this pattern: Add one source of warm radiance: candles, crimson accents, or triangular art. Fire's transformative energy asks: Am I allowing my essence to be illuminated here, or am I dimming myself even in private?

Wednesday (Water/Flow) 

OBSERVE water elements in your bedroom—how your body moves through the space, where your feet naturally go versus where you force yourself to walk. SENSE si chi by asking: Does energy pool here like a stagnant pond, or does it refresh like a mountain stream?

What this can mean: Water element shows whether your bedroom supports emotional flow or traps you in stuck patterns. If you sense this pattern: Clear anything blocking natural movement paths. Add wavy curves, mirrors, or indigo tones. The flowing energy of water asks: Where have I stopped allowing my emotions to move and refresh?

Thursday (Wood/Growth) 

FEEL the wood energy in your bedroom—living plants (thriving or struggling?), any sense of upward reach versus horizontal collapse. CHECK IF sheng chi is present by noticing: Do plants flourish here? Do I wake feeling ready to grow?

What this can mean: Wood element indicates whether this space supports your expansion or keeps you small. If you sense this pattern: Tend to plants with fresh water, or add tall bamboo. The pioneering energy of wood asks: Does this room encourage me to reach toward my potential, or does it ask me to stay safely compressed?

Friday (Metal/Structure) 

SENSE metal qualities in your bedroom—organized versus scattered surfaces, precise arrangements versus loose chaos. DETECT si chi by observing: Does this space have bones and structure, or has it dissolved into formless neglect?

What this can mean: Si chi in metal areas suggests your bedroom lacks the clear structure needed for self-recognition—your essence can't emerge through the clutter and confusion. If you sense this pattern: Organize with purpose—not perfection, but precision, creating the kind of clarity where the space feels 'just right' in ways you can't quite articulate. Add clear quartz, silver bowls, or white roses. The structured energy of metal asks: Have I created clear space to see myself, or is disorder blocking my self-recognition?

Saturday (Earth/Grounding) 

REST and INTEGRATE this week's chi observations without acting. Simply NOTICE: square shapes or earth tones in bedding, what grounds you when you lie down at night—while considering both si chi and sheng chi patterns discovered this week.

What this can mean: Earth element asks whether your bedroom provides stable foundation for self-recognition—a grounded place to integrate all you've seen. Allow yourself: To simply be witnessed by the space itself, without needing to change anything today. Earth's grounding energy asks: Can I rest in being fully seen, or do I immediately need to perform or improve?.

BAGUA MAP BY ROOM: STRATEGIC RESPONSE

The practices above work powerfully on their own. For those exploring bagua mapping—this week's work naturally emphasizes the 1-5-9 vertical axis (Career-Unity-Fame), which runs up the center of your bedroom from front to back.

In BTB feng shui, we map the bagua onto your bedroom the same way we map your whole home—aligning the bedroom door with the bottom edge of the tic-tac-toe grid.

This is Hagar's meridian—from multiple identities (Gua 1: Career/Life Journey), through integration (Gua 5: Unity/Center), to being seen (Gua 9: Fame/Reputation). Work these three areas as one continuous practice of self-recognition: acknowledge all you've been, integrate who you are beneath the roles, and allow your essence to be visible—even if only to yourself.

Not sure how to read your bedroom according to this map? [Learn more here]

CLOSING INSIGHT

God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water" (Genesis 21:19). The Midrash asks: Was the well not there before? Yes—but Hagar couldn't see it until God opened her eyes. Last week in Lech Lecha, she learned she was seen: "El Roi—You are the God who sees me." This week in Vayera, she learns to see. Sometimes what we most need isn't hidden far away. It's right here, waiting for us to open our eyes. Your bedroom might already be the well of living water. You just need to see it—and let it teach you to see yourself.