Snake plants or Mother in law’s tongue are popular houseplants famous for their hardiness. You might be already aware of some of their awesome abilities such as releasing oxygen at night and purifying air by absorbing harmful chemicals. However, snake plants can do more than these impressive physical benefits. According to Feng Shui principles, they can be helpful for maintaining good energy in your house or office. If you are a busy person who wants to benefit from Feng Shui without spending much time on plant care, snake plants are a great pick for you. This article offers an insight into how plants provide protection against negative energy while bringing in generous fortune. Learn why your snake plant is a good Feng Shui remedy and most importantly, where to place it to maximize the positive effects.
What is Feng Shui?
Feng Shui is based on an ancient Chinese belief to use energy forces for harmonizing individuals with their environment. It is a practice that aligns the energies by maintaining a balance of five elements. These elements are fire, water, earth, metal and wood. Elements around your home or office work together to create an energy-filled living space. It is believed that everyone and everything in the environment has inherent energy (often called chi) associated with them. The energy can be good and positive or not so good. Thus, in Feng Shui practice, it is important to consider the things you bring into your home, where you keep them, and how you arrange them in your rooms.
According to Feng Shui, specific arrangements can bring good or bad luck to your health, career and relationships. Arranging your home according to Feng Shui principles helps balance various energies. It also ensures that the energy flows freely throughout the space. Feng Shui allows you to make simple changes in your home to invite positive energy. It may also help to improve bad fortune or resolve difficulties.
Houseplants and Feng Shui
Plants are one of the most attractive and easiest remedies used in Feng Shui. Healthy and thriving houseplants are auspicious because of their remarkably beneficial chi. They can bring living energy into any space. Flowering plants are great for this, especially when in bloom.
Positive green energy
Feng Shui practices encourage us to strengthen our ties with nature. In today’s world where we are moving away from mother nature, plants remind us of our natural roots. They wonderfully forge this vital link by creating a green, living atmosphere around us. Plants possess a potent source of chi which can be used to energize any part of a home.
Nurturing and caring for plants can have therapeutic effects on one’s mind. We naturally feel at ease in the company of plants and greenery. It elevates our chi and makes us feel more grounded. Living chi greatly assists to restore the equilibrium of energy.
The wood element
A good balance of elements is important for positive energy flow in our homes. Nowadays urban houses are predominantly filled with electronic devices and synthetic materials. Electrical equipment and static electricity represents the metal element.
Plants, which are associated with the wood element, are believed to counterbalance this effect. They cancel the positive ions emanating from electronics, which we are more and more surrounded with. The bright green color of leaves promotes healing energy and also represents a wood element. This element brings compassion, kindness and inspires growth.
Quality of Chi
The quality of chi emitted by plants can be determined by applying certain criteria. It can depend on the shape of the plant, colors associated with each element or balance of yin and yang qualities. Prickly plants like cactus are bad for Feng Shui. Plants with succulent, rounded leaves are better as they have greater balance of yin and yang.
Plants are living beings and their energy changes with time. For instance, yin energy increases when the plant is blooming. Wilted and diseased plants signify death and bad luck, and discourage vibrant chi from entering the abode. Artificial plants and flowers are less effective but will stimulate chi as long as they are kept clean and tidy.
Snake plant – Auspicious Feng Shui plant
The scientific name for snake plant is Sansevieria Trifasciata and other common nicknames are mother-in-law’s tongue and viper’s bowstring hemp. However, there are many varieties of Sansevieria and most are popular as indoor houseplants. Depending on size, shape and colors, Sansevieria has different quality of chi. But in general, snake plants are deemed to be lucky plants when placed in ideal positions.
Snake plants are perennial succulents that inspire positive and abundant vibes. They improve air quality by absorbing the poisonous gases from the air and eliminate the toxins. They also reduce the impact of airborne allergens. The long sword-shaped leaves exude strong protective energy and shields the residents from negative chi. Its strong wood energy cuts through dull, stagnant forces. Snake plants are extremely tolerant and easy-to-care. They are less prone to wither away and create a sense of negative energy. Keeping these plants in the household not only adds purity to the air but also wealth, health and love.
That being said, try not to keep too many plants at home. Too much wood element can make one lethargic and hinder the clear thinking and feeling processes. Be mindful that creating a jungle in your house disturbs the balance of other elements.
Bad Feng Shui?
The one characteristic that often associates a snake plant with bad Feng Shui is its shape. Plants that have thorns or spikes are generally not good for Feng Shui. And snake plants can get a bad rep due to its pointy leaves. However, from a view of the whole plant, this one feature doesn’t make it an unlucky plant. After all, the key idea behind Feng Shui is to see the interconnections between different forces.
Although it might appear sharp, the foliage has a quality of protection. Snake plant is an evergreen plant with green succulent leaves, which symbolizes renewal and new beginnings. Besides, it is after all a plant that represents positive chi and the wood element. It is beneficial to keep in the areas that require a wood element and yang quality for equilibrium.
Favorable colors and shapes
Yet, if you are still concerned about the bad Feng Shui aspect of snake plants, choose the types with “gentler-looking” foliage and auspicious colors. This way you can avail the benefits of snake plant without any worries regarding their bad energy. Go for Sansevieria moonshine, whale’s fin or Hahnii cultivars that have wider leaves than usual snake plants.
Colors also play a minor role in harmonious balancing of energies. Bright yellow and red colors are prosperous any time of the year. Just like green color signifies wood element, yellow color is the essence of earth element. Snake plants have many variegated cultivars that exhibit gorgeous yellow stripes. Some of the examples are Golden Hahnii, and Sansevieria Laurentii.
Where to place your snake plant?
Plants can be effectively used to stimulate specific places in your house. A bagua map (floor plan to bring good intentions) in Feng Shui suggests places that may need a positive boost of energy. Keep your snake plants in areas such as in room corners, near bookcases or office furniture to neutralize sluggish energy and acute angles. Snake plant leaves are an expression of upward chi and can uplift the spirit of living and dining rooms. Because they have a protective chi, snake plants also go well near entrances. It also serves the purpose of enabling the eight virtues to enter the house. Due to sharp leaves and yang quality, some experts suggest keeping them in areas of your home that don’t have high traffic.
Houseplants strengthen the energy of the wood element. According to traditional Feng Shui methods, eastern and southeastern corners of your house are great places for snake plants. East is good for family and health aspirations, and south-east for wealth and prosperity. However, as the wood element destroys earth, avoid placing them in earth sectors– north-east, south-west and center. Wood opposes metal, so avoid metal sectors also– west and north-west.
Conclusion
Snake plants enhance the beauty of your place while increasing the oxygen content, clean air and positive energy in it. They are one of the inexpensive and most valuable Feng Shui remedies around, to create balance and harmony in your home or office spaces.
