The Ancient’s Advice: Why You Shouldn’t Sleep with Two Pillows

10 May, 2025

In the folk teachings passed down through generations, our ancestors had a familiar saying: “One should not sleep with two pillows.”

1. Feng Shui Perspective: Two Pillows Represent a Couple

In Feng Shui, pillows are not just sleeping aids but also hold symbolic value.

Using two pillows when sleeping alone is often seen as a signal of “lonely but longing for a partner.” It creates a discordant energy flow in one’s living space.

Pillows symbolize unity: In the bedroom, two pillows typically represent a couple. For a single person, using two pillows can inadvertently create an imbalance in emotional energy, making it harder to find a life partner.
Attracting unclear relationships: According to ancestral beliefs, sleeping with two pillows alone may lead to ‘duyen am’, attracting unclear spiritual relationships, sometimes causing restlessness and disturbed dreams.

2. Psychological Impact: The Extra Pillow Creates a Sense of Emptiness

Our forefathers led simple lives and believed in rational explanations for everything. Sleeping with two pillows when alone can evoke a sense of absence and loneliness, reminding one of a past partner no longer present, thus negatively affecting one’s mood.

Reminding of the past: For those who have experienced loss or breakup, keeping two pillows even when sleeping alone could indicate an inability to let go, prolonging a state of melancholy.
Illusion of loneliness: Even without any life events, the sight of two pillows for a solo sleeper can still create a sense of deficiency, leading to emotional instability and difficulty in deep relaxation during rest.

3. Health Considerations: Using Two Pillows Can Be Harmful

From a modern medical perspective, sleeping with two stacked pillows can adversely affect cervical spine health and respiration.

Elevated pillows cause neck pain and breathing issues: Using two pillows simultaneously raises the head abnormally high compared to the body, leading to long-term shoulder and neck pain, cervical issues, back pain, and even snoring due to compressed airways.
Disturbed sleep: Sleeping on two pillows may prevent complete mental relaxation, resulting in a restless state, shallow sleep, and frequent awakenings during the night.

4. Cultural Superstitions and Symbols: Avoiding Ominous Signs

Our ancestors advised against sleeping with two pillows when alone, but why?

In Eastern culture, especially in Vietnam, many people avoid placing two pillows on a bed unless there is a couple. This practice is sometimes associated with separation and loneliness or evokes the atmosphere of a funeral, where two pillows are placed beside the deceased.

Ominous signs: An extra pillow with no sleeper may be seen as an empty space, attracting negative energy and creating a chilly, gloomy atmosphere.
Inappropriate for singles: Our elders emphasized harmony in all aspects of life. For unmarried individuals, keeping two pillows is considered contrary to the balance of Yin and Yang, potentially hindering their path to finding love.

The saying, “One should not sleep with two pillows,” is not just a reminder about sleeping habits but also encapsulates the folk wisdom regarding Feng Shui, health, and mental well-being. Whether it is a matter of belief or custom, it is a way to respect the little things that can significantly impact our mindset and fortune.

If you live alone, consider adjusting your bed setup. Sometimes, a single, properly placed pillow is all you need for a peaceful sleep and a lucky start to each new day.

(This article is for reference only)