Our Favorite Summer Flowers for Feng Shui

June 17, 2024 • 6 months ago

Why are flowers important in feng shui?

Flowers are used in feng shui adjustments to represent joy and beauty, and they can help to unstick things that are stuck. They also offer us many teachings — one of these is the idea of impermanence. Flowers really remind us that nothing lasts forever; not only do flowers last for a finite number of days, they also tend to accompany ceremonies in our lives that can mark big changes, like funerals, births, weddings, and celebrations.

Flowers also invite us to consider what is present and blooming for us right now. In the Tarot, flowers in bloom symbolize something that is happening in the moment; they tell us that the time is now.

We’re often asked whether it’s okay to use artificial or dried flowers. While it’s fine to have these in your home if you love them, we always recommend using fresh flowers for feng shui purposes. All of the teachings that flowers offer us about impermanence and being present get lost with artificial or preserved flowers that are no longer living. If you can’t get a hold of fresh flowers, you can work with flower imagery, but we invite you to consider the fleeting nature of flowers and reflect on what’s happening for you right now.

What do summer flowers represent in feng shui?

Summer flowers have different qualities from spring or autumn flowers. While spring flowers appear and fade away very quickly, summer flowers tend to be a bit more hardy since they have to endure the heat. Many summer flowers also tend to be bigger and bolder. Summer is the season of fire qi, and many of the colorful, showy blooms that emerge this time of year really embody this energy.

Where to place flowers in your home

In general, our advice is to put flowers anywhere that you spend time and can enjoy them. We love putting flowers in an entryway to welcome you and your guests and invite more qi into your home. You can also place flowers in your dining room to promote community and friendship, or in your living room for family harmony. Flowers in the bedroom can support the particular inhabitant of that bedroom, and flowers in the kitchen promote health and overall wellbeing. You can put flowers in the bathroom to lift the qi, which can help balance the draining water qi in that area. The center of your home is another great place for flowers; in feng shui, the center of your home is called the Tai Qi, and this area affects all areas of your life. Listen to this podcast episode to learn more about the Tai Qi.

Here are a few of our favorite summer flowers to work with in feng shui:

• Peony

  Peonies have big, bold, beautiful summer blooms that represent prosperity and abundance. In China, peony is considered one of the noble flowers, and it’s connected to gracefulness, elegance, cultivation, and nobility. Peonies are also the most fleeting of the summer flowers on this list; the short window when you can get fresh peonies is an exciting time and a reminder to enjoy the present moment. Bringing a bouquet of freshly cut peonies into your home feels especially luxurious and abundant! Placing it by your front door is a beautiful way to welcome guests as well as the qi coming into your home.

• Rose

  From a feng shui perspective, roses symbolize love, beauty, and romance. While roses are beautiful, they also have thorns, and this can be a reminder to use compassion and notice the beauty during difficult times. Roses also embody duality in the contrast between their soft, velvety petals and rigid, thorny stems. In the Tarot, roses are a common motif, and the color of the rose adds another level of significance. For example, red roses are connected to passion, while white can be a symbol of newness or purity. If you know how to lay the bagua, you can place roses in Kun, the area connected to partnerships. They are also a great addition to an entryway, similar to peonies! Need help laying the bagua? Download our free kit!

• Lily

  Lilies are very abundant in the summer, and several varieties of lilies bloom continually. In many cultures, lilies are connected to maternal or feminine energy. In Western art and iconography, a white lily often represents the Virgin Mary, purity, and newness. In China, orange and yellow lilies are symbols of a mother’s love and compassion. Lilies are another great flower to place in Kun, since this bagua area is connected to the mother and feminine energy.

• Lavender

  Lavender inspires regalness, abundance, tranquility, and ease. Its purple color is related to Xun, the wealth area of the bagua. Working with lavender can help us shift our mindset to cultivate more prosperity, contentment, and gratitude. It has also been used all over the world for calming and cleansing, and it can help to promote calm and sleep. In feng shui, you can use lavender to activate Xun and invite in the energy of abundance. It’s also a wonderful addition to a bedside table to promote tranquility and restful sleep. Just remember to use fresh lavender if your intention is to use it as a feng shui adjustment. Dried lavender can be a lovely addition to a bath or a sachet in your closet, but it doesn’t have the same qi as fresh flowers.

• Sunflowers

  Sunflowers are a great example of a late summer flower. They’re big and bold with strong, tall stalks. Symbolically, they connect to power, strength, and loyalty. It’s thought that sunflowers turn to honor the sun as it moves through the sky. They even look like little suns! Sunflowers have a lot of yang energy, and they represent vitality and happiness across many cultures. There are sunflowers on the Sun card in the Tarot, which symbolizes fire energy as well as joy and fulfillment. Bringing sunflowers into your home invites this big, bold sun energy into your life. Consider placing them in the center of your home so that their sunny energy can cast a warm glow that touches every area of your life and home. You can also place them in Li, the bagua area connected to the fire element.