Myth: A Plant is not even considered to be big enough to be counted as a Wood remedy in Feng Shui.

This is an excerpt of what a so-called (un-named) Feng Shui Professional had to say about “Lucky Bamboo” on her internet site.  She tries to make people believe that of all of the “Feng Shui Cures” Lucky Bamboo is one of the very best.  And as these plants (she called them ornaments) are still to be found in local flower shops all over the country she is flabbergasted that most people do not give the lucky bamboo the attention it deserves.  I wonder if she implies that as soon as people see the “real value” of lucky bamboo it will be taken off the shelves?

She argues that most owners of these wonderful Feng Shui bamboos fail to give the lucky bamboo the proper care.  In her eyes it is a fact that some of the lucky bamboo plants are barely clinging on to life, because their owners are much too focused on work in order to take care of the plants.  This Feng Shui Professional is saddened because aside from the fact that lucky bamboo does not only carry good luck, yet furthermore makes a great ornament. “It would be a shame if we just let them die out”, she says.  I agree – it would be very sad to let any plant just die of starvation.  She specifically finds it odd since lucky Feng Shui bamboo is very resilient and easy to maintain.

Well, maybe this “Feng Shui Professional” is correct that the owners really have neglected the lucky bamboo far too much – especially if the plant has died.  She considers bamboo plants from a Feng Shui point of view to be very lucky because she believes that they signify growth and vitality giving homes a peaceful Chi (energy) as well as giving people ideas how to stay flexible in their lives.  Oh yes, another revelation is that lucky bamboo encourages simplicity in peoples lives because the energy of the lucky bamboo can help rejuvenate them.

At this point I have to say it flat out:  I am the proud owner of a lucky bamboo, and as a Feng Shui Consultant I come across many articles about the subject of Feng Shui, but this one is about the most ridiculous one I have read since……  okay, since yesterday.  When I look at my lucky bamboo in my office it does not give me any ideas on how to stay flexible neither did it ever rejuvenate me.  It is what it is: A PLANT!  A plant not even considered to be big enough to be counted as a Wood remedy.  (The Five Elements are: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal)

Getting back to the article we should all consider ourselves to be lucky when we find bamboo plants growing in our backyards producing a sound that soothes and comforts us, while at the same time acting like a “natural bamboo wind chime”.  Honestly?  I do not want this “natural bamboo wind chime” in my back yard because as pretty as a bamboo hedge might is – the messy leafs shedding off the plant would not help the “Chi” of my swimming pool.

At this point in her article the advice gets even worse, underlining her lack of knowledge on the subject of Feng Shui.

As she must have heard about the “Five Elements” she now goes on to give precise advice how to dress up this little innocent plant to become the powerful Feng Shui machine it is supposed to be.   According to her as the lucky bamboo represents the Wood element we need to add the other four elements.  As the Wood element is embodied by the bamboo itself, you can simply add Earth by placing some rocks and soil to the arrangements.  As you are feeding the plant with water you just added the element of Water; tie a red ribbon around the plant to add the element of Fire.  And by placing the plant into a glass pot you added the element of Metal according to her.  Glass is Metal?  Tell this to a scientist…..!   Oh, last but not least: If you are using the “old fashioned ceramic pots”, you can add metal coins to it……. according to her article.  Amazing!

But as much as she was flabbergasted that people do not take care of their plants: I am totally flabbergasted by the following:

“The number of bamboo stalks in an arrangement indicates on what aspects a person wants to focus on.  If you want luck in happiness, get three stalks (for the arrangement). Five stalks (of the lucky bamboo) represent improvement of health and longevity; get two stalks to improve your luck on love / marriage.  To achieve wealth and other resources, get eight stalks.  For a good overall fortune, you need to get nine stalks.”

What People are saying on Twitter

Unfortunately this Feng Shui folklore has created a lot of missconceptions and the Internet has been the best tool to spread them. These are some examples that we find pretty often on Twitter:

What Feng Shui really is

This article I found on the internet is only one example on how so-called “Feng Shui Professionals” mislead the public.  All it is: Wishful Thinking…  Feng Shui is not to be confused with “Numerology” as implied by how many stalks of “Feng Shui Bamboo” one needs.

The variety of misleading information is over-whelming.  At this point I would like to point out that it is not the lady who wrote the article is to blame.  To blame are the inventors of “New Age Feng Shui” which found its roots in the 1980^th.  It is a quick money making scheme with a very well organized marketing.  Thousands of books exist on the subject – and the only reason these books were written is, because they are easy to write.  As much as people desire to lose weight while eating as many hamburgers as possible, people like to believe in fast and easy answers like bamboo or crystals, especially when it comes to Feng Shui.

Feng Shui is not based on any religion, not based on whether a person believes in it or not.  Feng Shui is a fact we all have to live with.  Some people have good Feng Shui in their environment – others suffer from negative Feng Shui.  The good news is that the Feng Shui of any home or work place can be adjusted.  But it can only be adjusted by understanding the real concept:

“Feng Shui has been practiced for more than 2,000 years.  It is based on the understanding of the solar system.  Energies are in constant change.  Therefore it is important to understand that buildings have different Feng Shui Energies based on the year of construction and an exact 15 degree compass reading.  Every floor plan is different, and people have different requirements.  There is no such thing as one Feng Shui approach fits all houses.  This is why it is important to find a trust-worthy Feng Shui Professional who is able to calculate the energies of a building.”

A Plant is not even considered to be big enough to be counted as a Wood remedy in Feng Shui. This Feng Shui folklore however has created an atmosphere for remedies such as bamboo flutes, red painted front doors and water fountains everywhere among others that have no foundation in the science of Feng Shui. they have no or little effect on the flow of energy / “Feng Shui” within a building and, at best, can be regarded as placebo.

About the Author

Mike Schnippering is the founder of Feng Shui at Work. In 1996 he studied Feng Shui with Master Sang whose ancestors can be traced back to ancient China. He is committed to the true art and science of Feng Shui. His Feng Shui practice has taken him to various parts of the United States, Germany, France, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.

Related posts:

1. Feng Shui – - Lucky Bamboo and what it really is

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