Plants and Feng Shui
Feng Shui originated in China about 6000 years ago, was guarded knowledge of the Chinese Imperial Court kept from outsiders in secret, passed down from son to son, and the people that used these practice succeeded in abundance heath and happiness which perpetuated this ancient idea that has been practiced ever since spreading in popularity across the globe. This ancient concept and practice is intended to bring happiness, abundance, and harmony to the home. Feng Shui is about the placement of objects withing the home or space that best works with the flow of Qi or natural energy within the layout of the space and the colors and material and shapes within that space to create the most serene energetic and prosperous atmosphere and to make the most of the space. Feng Shui which is also known as “Geomancy” translates to literally mean “wind” (Feng) and “water” (Shui). {1}
There are two major forms of Feng Shui. The most common type of Feng Shui used in America and in much of the west is the Black Hat Sect or Western Feng Shui. In Asia the most commonly practiced form of Feng Shui is called Traditional or Chinese Feng Shui. Both Western and Traditional Feng Shui use the same bagua and the same five elements. The major difference between the two types of Feng Shui is that in Traditional Chinese Feng Shui aligns the bagua with the compass direction of the door in regards to the true north, south, east, and west directions and in Black Hat Feng Shui the bagua is always aligned with the front door is always considered North and the rear of the house is always considered South using the same map for every house. The bagua is like a map. {2} Each of the two schools of thought of Feng Shui use the same map in a different manner according to north, south, east, west directions. The map is divided into slices or sections according to a compass and blocked out in different areas of the home. The maps have the same sections and categories and are divided into Carrier-North (water), Growth & Spiritual Northeast, Health& Family-East (earth), Money & Abundance-Southeast, Fame & Reputation-South (fire), Love & Marriage-Southwest, Children & Creativity-West (air), and Helpful People-Northwest. While the two different forms of Feng Shui orientate “North” in a different manner and it is ill advised to incorporate both methods at the same time for reasons of confusing the space, they end goal is the same, to harmonize the home and surrounding environment incorporating and considering the Qi energy in an arrangement of ones items in a more flowing way designed to create abundance, happiness, and serenity for the occupant. {3}
The two methodologies also differ in a number of other ways as well so choosing the right one usually means choosing the right one that works best for you and your home or space you are trying to improve. Traditional Chinese Feng Shui that ordinates the space by true north may be suitable in single family homes whereas Western Feng Shui may be suitable for a more urban like city setting where the shapes of houses and apartments may be an unusual shape and less rectangle like the Traditional model supports. Western Feng Shui promotes mirrors, plants, and fountains in bathrooms and bedrooms while Traditional Feng Shui it is not recommended at all so in some ways the two greatly disagree. Traditional Feng Shui has a lot more formal and specific talismans associated with the practice such as conch shells, mystic knots, coins, wealth vases, and red envelopes called “hong bao” for payment most usually around the lunar new year to be given freely often to children in gratitude. {2}
Plants have ultimately a positive Qi energy and so they are quite useful in Feng Shui especially because they can bring a water and earth element. Natural elements are often also considered Feng Shui as well, making plants the perfect solution to unresolved Feng Shui areas of the home, space, or surrounding environment. Based on the Baguas and our specif challenges to the flow in each room, you can use plants to alleviate the disharmony and create a more positive atmosphere. There are many plants that can be used but a few stand out among the rest as being the most popular choices in the Feng Shui world. For thousands of years the plants that have become the most famously known for Feng Shui for good luck and good fortune are the Peace Lily, Snake Plant, Jade Plant, Spiral Bamboo, Money Tree, Fern, Orchid, Orange Tree, Sage Plant, and Peonies. {4}
We know that plants clean and filter the air but Feng Shui is also a great way to increase happiness, productivity, and abundance, and wealth so it’s no wonder why so many incorporate Feng Shui in the workplace. Feng Shui is the practice of arranging your belongings and space in
a way the helps the flow of energy throughout the space. Qi energy is comprised of the five elements of wood, earth, fire, metal, and water. Plants represent the wood element in Feng Shui that balances the metal element so often found in our spaces and symbolize relationships and new beginnings. Their green color is said to inspire calming and relaxing feelings. Plants that have round leaves are chosen most often because the roundness of the leaves represent coins and therefor wealth. Different plants should be used in specific locations for specific reasons within the particular bagua. Cacti, for instance because of their prickly exterior, should only be used in certain areas because it could inspire arguments, but in dead zone areas such side unused hallway space, laundry rooms, or bathrooms they would be useful because they will absorb the negative energy in those locations. {5}
The front door for instance would be the best location to focus on in Feng Shui and plants like ferns can be very welcoming. Plants like jade at the entrance would be very good for prosperity. The front door is the first impression your gets will see so plants there suggest life and is where the air circulates most freely creating an inviting successful atmosphere. By adding tall plants such as “lucky” bamboo, it is said to increase wealth, new business, and abundance if placed in the Blessings or Relationship baguas. Other locations such as sloping ceilings, jagged corners, or wall cut outs can cause negative energy areas or areas of stagnation and plants are recommended to soften these areas to circulate the Qi energy in a more flowing positive way. Chrysanthemums are said to be great for indoor spaces because they reduce the feelings of anxiety and inspire positivity and optimism within the space and are recommended for the first floor of homes and workplaces. Golden Pathos and Boston Fern are said to be excellent air purifiers which make them both great for home or work spaces. {6} Aloe would make a great Feng Shui plant for the home or office because of it’s filtering and healing capabilities. The nectar-like gel of the inside of an aloe plant even heals burns which can often come in handy and is said to be protective and ward off bad spirits. NASA scientists listed English Ivy as the best air filtering plant which would be great in a hanging basket or on a desk. The Rubber Plant, another plant great at filtering toxins, is also called the money plant. It’s round large plants make them a plant for prosperity and they do well indoors needing little light to grow well. {7}
It is important to remember that living plants actually being alive is what gives them their life energy in Feng Shui so dead plants or flowers can cause the reverse and stagnate the energy in the space. The best Feng Shui positioning in the home or office would be in the East, Southeast, and South baguas where the wood element would be most effective. The North, Northwest, and Southwest bagua areas will be weakened by a strong wood element so using plants sparingly in these areas is recommended. {8}
As you can see, the practice of Feng Shui can be simple or elaborate. While Feng Shui could take years to master in full, with even a beginner’s knowledge, you can start to improve the Qi in your home or office with plants. They bring a welcoming, freshening, positive, abundant, healthy, relaxing element to any space, inspire new business, and improve relationships. Plants with all the benefits they bring, also bring an incredible design and aesthetics to any room and so plants (as long as you water them!) will surely liven and brighten the surroundings and create a more prosperous, happy, healthy, and far more productive atmosphere in any setting.
{1} http://fengshuistyle.us/what-is-feng-shui/history/
{3} https://www.knowfengshui.com/feng-shui-bagau-use-in-your-home/
{4} https://mydomaine.com/feng-shui-plants
{6} https://planterra.com/how-to-choose-the-best-office-plants-to-increase-your-workplace-feng-shui/
{7} https://fengshuimanhattan.com/blog/top-feng-shui-plants-for-your-home-and-office
{8} https://www.thespruce.com/good-and-bad-feng-shui-plants-1274740