Feng Shui Flowers – The Peony

I simply love this time of the year in Calgary. We’ve usually had our summer’s highest rainfalls (though this year we had serious overkill) meaning the countryside all around me is lush and green. At the same time one of my favorite flowers is blooming like crazy in the yard, my peonies.

I have 11 peonies in my yard, and besides being one of my faves they are also one of the best, though temporary, Feng Shui Flowers. Peonies are so highly revered by the Chinese they are said to be ‘The King of Flowers’. They are often depicted in Chinese and Japanese art.

In Chinese culture the peony is a symbol of feminine beauty, elegance and fertility. Their softly abundant petals and lovely feminine colors exude femininity to me. Their fragrance is also divine and wafts through a room, bringing the Feng Shui enhancement of scent to any space they are displayed. I always cut fresh bunches to place around the house. Since they bloom for such a short period I want to make sure I get to enjoy them indoors and out.

If you want to use Peonies to enhance your Feng Shui, they can be used to enhance relationship, to encourage fertility, and for a boost to reputation (reputation and nobility are other qualities symbolized by the peony). Fresh peonies last for just a short time so for a longer lasting enhancement, silk ones would work too. Peonies are one of the few flowers that translate really well into silk. Some silk peonies are so real looking, it would be hard to tell them apart from real ones.

Here are the varieties of peony that I grow:

Sword Dance – a Japanese variety with dazzling pink-red outer petals, with a creamy white center

Karl Rosenfeld – a classic red double

These two firey beauties would be perfect to display in the Reputation gua of the home or office, activating fame energy.

(The coral girls)

Coral N’Gold – just like she sounds. This beauty starts out deep coral (top left) but fades (lower) to yellow eventually

Coral Sunset – intensely coral with yellow stamens (right)

The corals would be great enhancements for someone trying to find love as peach is the perfect Feng Shui color for that aspiration. However, once love is found it’s time to turn to pink for longer lasting relationship chi.

Mystery Pink – that’s not her name, I got this lovely pink double from a friend’s yard in Mount Royal.

Auguste Desert – brilliant rose red, each petal rimmed in a silvery border.

Raspberry Sundae – a gorgeous soft pink interlaced with creamy yellow. Yummy!

All of these pink girls would be wonderful to enhance relationship. Though a bouquet of reds and whites together could also be great.

Another mystery, this one white.

In general, white flowers are not considered to be the best for Feng Shui. However the scent of white flowers is usually the strongest of all flower colors so adding them to a metal zone could still be a great temporary enhancement.

One ancient story states that the moon goddess created this flower to reflect the moon’s beams during the night. If you’ve ever viewed light colored peonies near dusk, they really do seem to glow.

I have a personal affinity for moon energy, maybe that is why I have such a love for the peony too!

Mia