Feng Shui for Real Life

Feng Shui symbols like red tassels, a 3-legged money frog, a pair of Mandarin ducks, a bowl of oranges, or an aquarium with goldfish, have specific meanings and cultural associations in Chinese Feng Shui. While these symbols are a part of my modern Feng Shui practice and are more often used with classical schools of Feng Shui, I want to share some of the more well-known Feng Shui symbols. As with any symbol, the stronger your connection to specific Feng Shui symbols the more powerful they will be in helping you attract wealth, harmony, love, and much more.

Animal Symbols
The most popular Feng Shui fish symbol for wealth is the arrowana, or dragon fish, but koi or goldfish are considered just as effective. The classical symbol is eight goldfish and one black one in a fish bowl or aquarium. Butterflies represent love because of the association with change and transformation. Horses represent the energy of speed, freedom, and success. Birds in general represent freedom, inspiration, and soaring high and specific birds have additional meaning. For example, cranes symbolize longevity because of their long lifespan, Mandarin ducks are seen as the "love birds" of Feng Shui because they mate for life, the peacock with it’s "thousand eyes" are thought to promote fame, and roosters represent career advancement because they get up so early, and you can place the image of a rooster in your office if you want to avoid being subjected to workplace gossip.

Prosperity and Happiness Symbols
A 3-legged money frog sitting on top of a pile coins is considered a Feng Shui prosperity symbol. Place the frog so it is facing your front door on a diagonal, and keep it off the floor. Other symbols of wealth, abundance, and prosperity include red envelopes, especially when filled with coins, a Feng Shui dragon, and a set of three Chinese coins ties together with a red string or ribbon. A prosperity tassel, especially with a mystic knot design, is used as a Feng Shui money cure. The Mystic Knot itself is one of the most often used symbols in Feng Shui because it is a combination of six times the infinity symbolizing symbolizes a long and happy life full of good fortune. The Chinese symbol of double happiness is thought to strengthen love and marriage because of its perfect harmony and balance. A pair of fu dogs can be used as guardians of wealthy homes and should be placed inside looking out the door.

Flower Symbols
Feng Shui symbols of flowers are thought to represent flourishing energy and good luck. Whenever possible, display living flowers in your home, but when that’s not possible you can use images of flowers or high quality silk flowers. Avoid plastic or dried flowers because they represent dead chi. The most common Feng Shui flower symbols are peony, lotus, orchid, and chrysanthemum, and a good place to display a pair of flower symbols is in your bedroom.

Fruit Symbols
Each fruit has a specific Feng Shui symbolism. For example, the peach is the symbol of immortality, grapes symbolize an abundance of food and therefore wealth, apples symbolize harmony and peace because the Chinese word for apple sounds like the word for peace and similarly, pineapples represent good luck because sound of the Chinese word for pineapple sounds like good luck. The pomegranate, which is full of seeds, symbolizes fertility, and in China Feng Shui consultants advise newlywed couples to display art with pomegranates to attract many children. Oranges can ward off bad luck, and the traditional symbol is to place 9 oranges in the kitchen for good luck and prosperity.