Feng Shui and Auspicious Planting

Indoors or outdoors, large or small, there is always somewhere in your home you can display the yang wood energy of trees, plants or flowers.  There are few things that can create such a feeling of auspicious, relaxing and uplifting energy as that of the natural world of plants.

Whether it is the gentle beauty of the magnolia tree or the plum blossom so auspicious in springtime; the pine tree and bamboo two symbols of longevity; they are all imbued with the powerful magic of nature.

If you plant a magnolia tree it is more auspicious to grow it in front of your home.  A single tree is sufficient to radiate its magnificent beauty when in full bloom. 

 

Succulents are usually associated with sharp and cutting leaves complete with spikes, such as those of the aloe plant and yet the jade plant with its round succulent leaves or the money plant with its heart-shaped leaves, are most auspicious in the practice of Feng Shui.  They are said to invite wealth and abundance and as with all succulents are so easy to care for.  The silver crown has spoon-shaped leaves with wavy edges and is the bringer of good luck and fortune to the family.

The jade plant, money plant and silver crown can be grown equally well both outdoors and indoors.

AUSPICIOUS FRUIT TREES

Together with the bamboo and the pine tree, the peach symbolises longevity in the practice of Feng Shui and its presence in the east of your garden will invite this positive energy into your home.   

During Chinese New Year celebrations the presence of the orange (Kum in Chinese-which translates as Gold), lime and lemon trees placed at the front of your home invite wealth, good fortune and prosperity to enter.

The apple signifies peace and family harmony and crystal images of the apple displayed in the centre of your home invites these feelings.

An apple tree in your garden will further enhance this for you with the added benefit of growing your own fruit.

AUSPICIOUS FLOWERS

One of the most auspicious flowers in the practice of Feng Shui is the beautiful yang peony.  It represents the essence of the female and springtime.  It is said that the peony will either grow or it will not in your garden.  If it grows it will become abundant and invite positive energy to your home.

If you have a daughter looking for love, growing this flower in the southwest of your garden is said to bring love opportunities into her life, particularly the red peony.

The chrysanthemum is a fun long-lasting pom-pom flower with vibrant colours.   The yellow chrysanthemum particularly is said to signify a life of ease.  The round-headed version is especially popular in the Far East.

The narcissus is said by the Chinese to symbolise great good fortune and they are a popular gift during Chinese New Year celebrations. 

The lily is a noble and upright bulb which has an auspicious scent and majestic appearance.  When in full bloom the lily indicates positive Feng Shui.

If you have a water feature in the east or southeast of your garden the lotus flower is a must-have addition.   It grows from the dark unseen depths and while its flower only lasts for a few days it invites an auspicious beauty to your garden. 

The lotus flower represents purity and a detachment from a specific desire or outcome.  It is associated with Buddha and its presence invites spiritual growth.

The orchid is a long-lasting flower associated with beauty, strength and refinement.    As a plant it can be difficult to maintain however if you give it plenty of care and attention it will reward you with eye-catching displays.  Their colour and flowers are varied and unique and each plant is stunningly beautiful and delicate in appearance.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

Enjoying our posts?  Register with Google+ Google Friend Connect to follow.
Visit http://www.abundance-chi.com to discover more about Feng Shui

Feng Shui and Missing Corners-Health and Family

The Eight Aspirations of Feng Shui are Career (north), Education and Study (northeast), Health and Longevity (east), Wealth (southeast), Fame and Recognition (south), Love and Relationships (southwest), Family (west) and Heaven and Mentor (northwest.)

When a location (corner) relating to an aspiration important to you is missing in the Big Tai Chi of your property the first thing to establish is whether this same location is missing in the Small Tai Chi of your living space.  When the locations are missing in both the Big and the Small Tai Chi it will prove difficult for you to achieve your desires.

A loving family and a long and healthy life are two of the most sought after desires in Feng Shui practice.  Financial wealth may have a strong pull on the emotions but without your health or someone to share your life, it will be lacking the positive energy necessary to create a happy and fulfilling existence.

West and East

Looking at the Big Tai Chi of your property, and confirming there is a missing corner in the west of your home will make it difficult for you to have children.  Not everyone wants to be a parent it is true however if you do this is an important area to consider.  The west is a small metal area so if it is missing and the layout of  your home is such that you can incorporate a circular design into the missing area; an area that will be used regularly;  you will go a long way to making up for the lack.  As part of your garden design a circular flower bed with plants will recreate a sense of growth and new life in the area.  Or if the west coincides with the main door of your home, having a circular driveway which is often used will bring lots of yang energy into the space.

Earth energy in the west is auspicious so a garden design combining squares and circles will energise the location.  Bring the earth element to bear with natural material seating and tables and either locate them on a circular base or arrange them in a circular fashion.  Use this area often to activate the yang energy necessary to bring the location to life.

In symbolic Feng Shui the elephant with his trunk down is said to attract the luck associated with having a family.  There are many earth element images available.

In your bedroom the west is the place to display pictures of children aplenty. 

Without good health living a long and fulfilling life is difficult.  The location of health is the east, the area of new growth and vitality.  It is the big wood area of the Pa Kua and if it is missing in the overall design of your property good health will be hard to come by.  The east is the location of the eldest son of the family as well as health and longevity.  An abundant and vibrant rectangular flower bed to the east will create growth and new life and as long as the plants are cared for and not allowed to fade their positive energy will bring benefit to the home.  Having a moving water feature will also serve to ‘feed’ the growth element here.  It is important to ensure that the area is used frequently otherwise it will remain a yin and negative area lacking in the yang energy of movement and positive vibrations.

Using the Small Tai Chi of the living space and symbolic Feng Shui, images of the peach, the deer, the crane, bamboo and the pine tree are all associated with longevity and are often displayed together in Chinese paintings.  Depending on your culture and likes and dislikes however opting for something that represents long-life and with which you have a natural affinity will invite positive energy, energy suited to your way of life.

Feng Shui practised correctly will activate positive energy in your life and home and is designed to enhance and improve however, it is not a replacement for caring for yourself and having a lifestyle in keeping with good health.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

We hope enjoy our blogs and leave any comments below or email: crystal@abundance-chi.com visit: www.abundance-chi.com LynC

Feng Shui and the Lo-Shu Grid 1-3

The nine numbers of the original Lo-Shu Grid from the north following a clockwise cycle are 1, 8, 3, 4, 9, 2, 7 and 6.  The numbers opposite one another around the grid always add up to 10 and with the number 5 residing in the centre any row up, down or diagonally will add up to 15.

Each of these numbers and their associated direction has an element, colour, shape, family member, aspiration as well as more intangible aspects such as body parts or musical notes.  We will look at the fundamental parts of each number and how they affect us all.

All odd numbers represent yang energies and all even numbers represent yin energies even when the area itself may be the opposite. 

Number One (1) – This is the number of the north. It is one of the auspicious white stars of Feng Shui and is synonymous with career luck. One represents new beginnings, creativity, independence and self.  The north represents water; the colours blue and black; its shape is wavy. The middle son (Kan) has his home in the north and it signifies dark, winter, an excess of yin energy.  Water and the number 1 are both yang.  If the north represents the back of your home avoid placing a water feature here, especially a pond, pool, waterfall or swimming pool.  Water at the back can suggest lack of support in your endeavours. 

Number Two (2) – This is the number of the southwest.  It is a yin number which represents the yin energy of big earth and its shape is the even-sided square which represents a solid base; loving and nurturing energy.  Two represents a couple, balance, yin and yang; it signifies co-dependence, partnerships and co-operation; it invites choice. It is a number representing interaction with others, and unity.  Its colours are earth colours such as ochre.  The southwest is a vital area to care for as it represents the female, the mother, caring and nurturing, love and relationships in its many and varied forms.  Love and relationships between a couple, between family members and between friends.  This is predominantly a yin area (Kun) the receptive, the yielding.  

Number Three (3) – Three is the big wood area of the east and it signifies communication.  The number three is a yang number that signifies the trinity; in this instance father, mother and child and also time represented by past, present and future.  It also represents Heaven, Earth and Man which are the basis for Feng Shui practice.  It indicates pleasure achieved through creativity. The shape of the east is rectangular. 

This location represents the eldest son of the family (Chen) and signifies new life and upward growth.  Its colours are the darker olive or emerald greens.  Sons are known as the Dragons of the family and east is the location of the mighty Green Dragon.  If you choose symbolism an image of this celestial creature is auspicious here together with large round leaved lush plants. The east also represents health and longevity.  Growing bamboo, which is one of the many symbols of longevity, in the east of your garden is auspicious, however take care of the variety you choose as they grow fast and can take over if not controlled.  Other symbols of longevity are the pine tree, peach and the long-legged Crane.  These are often represented together in oriental paintings. This is the place to house your larger pieces of wooden furniture. 

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

We hope enjoy our blogs and leave any comments below or email: crystal@abundance-chi.com visit: www.abundance-chi.com LynC

SYMBOLISM OF THE CRANE BIRD

As well as being an important symbol, second only to the mythical Phoenix in the practice of Feng Shui, the elegant and leggy Crane is a bird associated with the traditions of many ancient and modern cultures.

Its image is identified back to ancient times.  

Mythology surrounding this bird is widely spread throughout the world and is found in the history of Greek, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and Native North American cultures.

In ancient Greece the Crane was said to be the bird of the God Apollo, the God of the Sun who would disguise himself as a Crane when visiting the world of mortals.

In Europe Cranes are associated with awareness and devotion.

Some Native American Tribes associate the Crane with good luck, peacemaking, leadership and speaking skills.

In Japan the Crane is given the title ‘Bird of Happiness.’

There is some disagreement as to whether the Crane is monogamous.  Whatever the truth however, traditionally they are seen as representations of fidelity and faithfulness.

Japanese brides often have the image of a Crane depicted on their wedding kimono.

In Vietnam the Crane is frequently portrayed in paintings with the tortoise, as both are said to enjoy long lives, therefore signifying longevity.To the Chinese the Crane signifies longevity and in traditional paintings is shown together with the pine tree, bamboo, and the peach; all identified with long life.

The painting of a Crane against a background of the sun signifies the desire to attain social recognition.

Ancient Chinese interpreted the white plumage of the Crane as a sign of purity; its red cap representing the element of fire or vitality which is also a sign of fame and recognition.

The Chinese see this majestic bird as the bird of immortality.  He symbolises happiness and smooth flight;  a smooth path through life.

As well as inside the home an image of the Crane is auspicious when displayed in the garden, inviting longevity and good health luck for the family.

As in much of the bird world the Crane loves to dance, especially when looking to attract a mate.

However, historically it has been observed that they also appear to dance for the pure joy and pleasure of it and if this is true it is something that is unique among the bird world.

Displayed in the East, which represents the location of health and well-being, is representative of peace, good health and long life for the family, especially older members of the household and the sons of the family.

 

Placed in the South of the home the Crane will bring opportunities; in the West it signifies good luck for the children of the home and in the Northwest the Crane will bring positive benefits to the male of the family.

The image of the Crane in a painting together with the peony signifies prosperity and longevity and displayed with the lotus flower is said to bring peace, contentment and opportunities.

This is an auspicious symbol to display in the home either as an image or in a painting and wherever it is presented it will bring good fortune to the home.

To the fulfillment of your dreams

LynC

www.abundance-chi.com

We hope enjoy our blogs and leave any comments below or email: crystal@abundance-chi.com visit: www.abundance-chi.com LynC