*** Mother’s Day Gift Vouchers Available ***

Kentia palm lowering chemical emission. Image via, hausmehr.com

Happy Mother’s Day, to all the lovely Mums out there. Mothering Sunday falls on the second Sunday of May (8 May 2022) each year in Australia/NZ/U.S. But if like me, you’re an expat this is our second opportunity to celebrate Mother’s Day. A few weeks ago the 4th Sunday in Lent (27 Mar. 2022) Mum’s in Guernsey, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Nigeria and the United Kingdom celebrated. Who doesn’t love a double celebration?!

SLOW MOTHER’S DAY

A few years ago I coined the term ‘Slow’ Mother’s Day? So does it mean? For the last few year it’s seemed to have even more significance and this year seems no different. With businesses struggling and closing due to the global impact of you know what, gift giving definitely deserves more conscious choices. ‘Slow Mother’s day’ means two things. Of course it implies taking it easy and enjoying the day hopefully with family members around us. But it’s also a mindful take on the ‘slow’ consumer conscious movements that so many industries are adopting - like fashion, food, health, growers etc . . .

Travel bubble may have returned but face to face and IRL contact remain limited. So the focus on Gift cards, cut flower deliveries and chocolates maybe even greater than usual. These go-to gift giving staples definitely contribute to the economy with an estimated whopping £50 million spent annually on greeting cards in the UK. While I’ve no flower figures, cut flowers are a super expensive gift with a short lifespan and destine for the bin. Cut flowers also aren’t technically recommended from a Feng Shui perspective. But if you do buy a bunch of roses, be sure to gift a spud as well - more on that later. So how to celebrate more consciously?

CUT FLOWER ALTERNATIVES

Cut flowers are certainly eye catching in a space especially when perfumed, engaging our senses. A wild bunch of flowers is harder to come by due to pesticides; but if you do forage, be mindful that flowers are part of nature’s cycle - the flower heads turn to berries in autumn and are the seeds for a new flush of flowers and feed for birds and animals. But in feng shui terms, live plants over cut are preferable. Cut from their own energy source; they absorb a lot of oxygen, with decaying Qi before our eyes. So try gifting a potted plant instead.

BENEFITS OF HEALTHY PLANTS

Again, I wrote about this last year, but once more it’s even more relevant. Incorporating plants into your life is a healthy practice to say the least, with known psychological benefits. NASA concurs on the health benefits, as they’ve even done a study. We know plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis but did you know certain common indoor plants provide a natural way of removing toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air? These chemicals are in abundance in new builds and in new furnishings about the home. Plants also balance humidity levels and reduce airborne mould -if not over watered. Nature’s efficient air cleaning system- is accomplished with at least one plant per 9.3㎡ of space - so in a 140㎡ home that’s 15 plants to clean the air.

Moth orchids are a popular potted plant and also have the benefit of removing Xylenes, a petrochemical, and Toluene, a paint thinner solvent. The top three plants to aid in lowering chemical emissions are - Peace Lily, Kentia palm and Janet Craig. In the main, the bigger the surface leaf area the better for air cleaning properties and also for collecting Qi - which in turn can influence your abundance. Make sure they are placed in the best spot within your home/workspace (best water ‘flying star’ sector).

WHERE TO PLACE YOUR PLANTS

INSIDE :: Harnessing the Qi of plants via the practice of Qi Gong is a great way to slow down and tune into nature. Green plants about the house are related to the eyes and liver in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), so they stimulate the liver function and promote ones over all well-being. Some may know that Feng Shui is a branch of Chinese medicine, and the interplay between the two disciplines is illustrated beautiful when it comes to the following example. One aspect of Feng Shui is the art of placement to harmonize a space. So by placing a plant, in the sector of your home/office that relates to let’s say the ‘East’ for example, it can act as a harmonizer. The cardinal direction of East, relates to the liver, the element of wood, the eldest son and relationships, as well as the trigram for ‘wind’. Too much ‘wind’ aggravates and unsettles liver Qi. Therefore plants placed in the East sector are said to quell the temper of a quarrelsome man. The liver governs the flow of Qi in the body, so if the liver is out of balance or over-worked; emotions, like anger come to the surface.

At night plants however, respire - meaning they absorb more oxygen than they produce and emit carbon dioxide. Cut flowers add more oxygen to a room than they use so they are best avoided in bedrooms. That said, it’s worth mentioning a rather synchronistic segway to a certain plant, given the day that’s in it. My newsletter blog shares the namesake in part - it’s Mother-In-Law’s Tongue or Snake plant . The Mother-In-Law’s Tongue is unique since it converts carbon dioxide to oxygen at night, making it favourable if you must have a plant in your bedroom and don’t over-water, about 6-8 plants are needed per person. The snake plant also removes formaldehyde from the air, so if you’ve new carpets or vinyls that off-gas for years, this could be a healthy choice.

OUTSIDE :: Trees and other members of the plant kingdom are considered to be the lungs of the earth - once again fitting for the current focus on climate and healthy lungs. The tradition of planting trees/shrubs could prove a popular ‘Slow’ Mothers day’ pursuit for those with departed matriarchs. Families often plant a tree of remembrance for departed family so if your mum has passed away then this could be a nice way to honour the day. Rosemary is of course, the plant of remembrance.

Plant Qi differs from plant to plant so what resonates with you might not for another. But if you’re buying a plant or an orchard with Feng Shui in mind, try some of these options; Apple trees - bring peacefulness and are best planted at the front of your garden; as are oranges or persimmons especially by the front door. And if the external use of Bamboo is permitted by your council, then plant Bamboo plants in the front of your garden - never at the back, or sides as they will break your finances down.

Succulents and cactus are popular in hot arid climates. Many forgetful gardener’s adore the prickly skinned plant due to it’s drought tolerant disposition. Menacing spikes aside, the cactus can be used in dark yin sectors of the home to dispel and repel negative Qi.

PLANETARY PLANT MAGIC

No matter your domicile or when you celebrate Mothering Sunday it will fall on, you guessed it - a Sunday. If planetary plant magic is new to you then simply put it involves pairing plants with associated planets. The planetary ruler of Sunday is.... the Sun! While the Moon is associated with the Mother. Luna will be in the sign of Leo on May 8 (2022), so some folks may choose plants linked to Leo, which is ruled by Sun. Here's some simple planetary themed inspiration to start you off. Plants with Sun links are Rosemary, Chrysanthemum*, Orange tree, Juniper, marigolds, Palms *, St. John’s Wort and the very obvious Sunflower. And if Essential oils are Mum’s jam, then Frankincense and Benzoin fit the bill. Or a plant linked to the Moon (mother energies) could be a Hydrangea plant. More moon planet/plant inspiration found here.

Note the Chrysanthemum, sometimes called ‘Mums’ and the mainstay of florists in Autumn (Mother’s day in S. Hemisphere) when little else is in bloom. Like some of the aforementioned plants it’s also a whizz at catching chemical emissions. Planetary wise it resonates with the energy of the Sun so it’s a good for a Sun ruled day like a Slow Mother’s Day. Certain varieties of the plant can be used to create Chrysanthemum wine or tea. This perennial is the gift that keeps on giving! Or the ultimate gift - a One of our Mother's Day Gift voucher's another Gift that keeps on giving Sheng Qi (good vibes).

Spuds . . .

If you did buy or give roses this year, then be sure to try propagate the rose afterwards by sticking the stem into a raw potato and transplant into soil; it’s a folk-gardening trick that nourishes the plant and prevents transplant shock. Happy Slow Mother’s day ⧇