Feng Shui isn’t complete without taking the time to think a bit more about plants. The items in a home all contain energetic components and using herbs for good luck is a great practice. Not only to give your home a greater level of feng shui, but it offers a large list of other potential benefits. Having plants in your home can improve air quality, lower stress, quicken recovery from illness, and reduce mental fatigue. This is something we should all consider as we emerge from the holiday season.
It is commonplace in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurvedic herbal traditions use the energetic components of herbs to help formulate herbal remedies for each individual client. For example, licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is more of a cooling, moistening herb, and this would potentially be useful for a person who is over-stressed with a dry cough. The ability to use herbs in this way can be complex which is why working with a holistic health professional is recommended. Additionally, this energetic herbal technique can be applied to working with plants in your home. Using herbs for good luck and prosperity can be a powerful addition to managing your home’s energy. Here are a few you may choose to use in your space.
Herbs for Luck
- Rosemary: (Rosmarinus officinalis)
- Lavender: (Lavandula angustifolia or Lavandula officinalis)
- Basil: (Ocimum basilicum)
Herbs for Prosperity
- Thyme: (Thymus vulgaris)
Herbs for Prosperity and Luck
- Oregano: (Origanum vulgare)
- Spearmint: (Mentha spicata)
- Patchouli: (Pogostemon cablin)
Any of these herbs can be used in multiple ways from plucking a fresh sprig to sniff throughout the day, adding to cooking and baking recipes, or adding them to a fresh cup of tea. Essential oils can be blended together to add a few of these herbs together, and then placed on an oil diffuser to create a lucky, prosperous atmosphere. Bundling dried herbs together to smudge your space can also be another way to welcome the new year.
Resources:
Lohr, V.I. 2010. “WHAT ARE the BENEFITS of PLANTS INDOORS and WHY DO WE RESPOND POSITIVELY to THEM?” Acta Horticulturae 2 (881): 675–82. https://doi.org/10.17660/actahortic.2010.881.111.
Tilgner, Sharol. 2020. Herbal Medicine From The Heart of The Earth. 3rd ed., Wise Acres Publishing.