It’s Earth on 22 April 2023. In the Chinese metaphysical study of Feng Shui, all businesses can be defined by one of the five elements. And Feng Shui belongs to the EARTH element! Do you work in an Earth classified industry? What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day?

Perhaps you work in an Earth industry unbeknown to you and you honour Earth everyday. Real estate agent, builder, ceramic artist? Many moons ago I studied Ceramic Art . . . I just adored Raku glazes and could make free form pinch pots all day long. I’ve always adored Harrison McIntosh’s work and hankered for one of his Double Gourd vases (see below). Little did the Feng Shui practitioner in me (before I knew my path), know the purpose of a Chinese wu lou , a gourd shaped calabash, in the hands of a Feng Shui consultant. Funny how things resonate and come full circle!

So if you’re stumped for ideas to celebrate Planet Earth, you could always take a pottery class, or embrace Plants and learn of their medicine. I’ve an embarrassing secret to share. . . . a few years ago on Earth Day I was making chicken stock and I let the pot burn dry . . . . My house ended up smelling like a chicken crematorium! Despite a thorough clean of every single kitchen surface, using an arsenal of eco cleaning products - the smell still faintly lingered. So I called upon Mother Nature to assist.

Bad smells are Sha Chi - negative energy in Feng Shui and although a bunch of perfumed cut flowers would bring a more fragrant note to my home, it's not really sustainable Sheng Chi - vibrant uplifting energy. Why? Because cut flowers only have short term energy and their vitality is cut short (pun intended!). They will in time fade, with the chi progressively dying off. Besides cut flowers visual beauty, they’ll only mask smells.

Did you know that certain Plants are air purifiers? NASA conducted an experiment over 25 years ago to determine the most effective indoor plants for removing toxic agents from the air. Chemicals such as formaldehyde, ammonia and xylene lurk in new furnishings, carpets and a host of everyday items commonly found in our homes and offices. Thankfully Mother Nature can help us get rid of some nasty manmade toxins. Choosing plants is another way of doing your bit for the environment on Earth Day, as it avoids the use of nasty plug-in fragrance dispensers (or aerosols), to pump synthetic fresheners into the air.

NASA’s list of air purifying plants has one notable theme, to my mind at least - not too many have showy flowers, except for one noticeable showy exception - the Chrysanthemum morifolium, more commonly known as the Florists Chrysanthemum. And this plant is also the most versatile and capable of neutralizing most tested toxins.

So I marked Earth Day that year, with a trip to the garden centre to buy a potted Chrysanthemum - a big showy white variety as my kitchen needs the METAL element and white is the colour associated with Metal in Feng Shui. I also popped my plant into a metal container to reinforce the metal remedy. And, I’m pleased to report it worked a treat!

If you don’t require an air purifying plant then perhaps you could choose a Plants linked to a Planetary day ruler? Yes, each day of the week is ruled by a planet; Saturday’s ruling planet is Saturn and Comfrey is great garden addition. But Ferns (boston), Lillies (Peace) and Chrysanthemum are just two of Nasa’s 25 indoor cleansing plants list, and they’re linked to the planet Venus, if you’re buying some treats on Friday.

Heads up it’s Mother’s Day soon in Australia, so consider some plants over cut flowers, and make it MOTHER EARTH DAY, check out our post on Slow Mother’s Day for tips.

Be a land and Earth custodian this Earth Day and everyday ⧇

ⓒ FENG SHUi iSM 2023

“Living eye to eye with environmental wisdom ”

— FENG SHUi iSM