How to Apply Feng Shui’s Lotus Symbol
Many of us are looking for ways to connect to nature in our homes as our lives get busier and more technology-focused. One way to get started on this is by using feng shui concepts. By utilizing the natural cycles, feng shui aims to improve harmony with the environment.
The knowledge of the natural world can be introduced into your house in a variety of ways. Working with meaningful natural symbols, such as plants or animals, is one of them. A common emblem that conjures up feelings of harmony, compassion, and tranquility is the lotus. Continue reading to discover how to improve the feng shui of your home by utilizing the lotus symbol.
Feng Shui Symbolism and Meaning of the Lotus
Beautiful lotus plants that thrive in ponds and lakes are well-known as symbols in many different civilizations. It features a sizable flower with petals that are white, pink, or red in color. All elements of the lotus plant are used for many things in China. The bloom is utilized for decorative purposes, although the plant’s other parts are useful for food and medicine. Its name in Mandarin is lian hua, though it is also occasionally referred to as he hua. The latter alias, which translates to “peace and combination,” shares a homophone with the words “and.” It is important to stress that feng shui is not a religion before continuing. However, because certain faiths follow doctrines that are comparable to those found in the traditional texts of feng shui, the two are frequently compared.
For instance, the Buddha is frequently seen in Buddhist art seated on a sacred cushion that is a lotus flower. This is not shocking considering that one of Buddhism’s eight most valuable items is the lotus.
It is not possible to bring a living lotus plant into your home, unlike many other flowers and plants. Instead, you can purposefully introduce a picture of a lotus into your space if you want to work with the symbolism of the flower. Here are some of the feng shui meanings of lotus.
Perfectionism and Purity
Buddhism is one of the wisdom cultures that feng shui borrows from. Because it can flourish and produce a flawless bloom even in the most noxious dirt, the lotus is regarded in the Buddhist tradition as a sign of enlightenment. One of the eight fortunate Buddhist treasures, it features several figures of sitting bodhisattvas and Buddhas.
Fertility and marriage
Lotus has come to stand for a peaceful union since its Chinese name combines two syllables that indicate connection and serenity. Lotus buds are frequently used as symbols of fertility and progeny in artwork and ornamental goods. Lotus seed pods represent fecundity as well.
Abundance
In addition, the abundance and fruitfulness of summer are connected to the lotus. This plant can give us a lot of things. It blooms and produces seeds simultaneously throughout the summer, and all parts of the plant are edible, decorative, or medicinal.
Kindness and Peace
The compassionate bodhisattva Quan Yin is frequently shown holding or seated on a lotus. The lotus has come to represent compassion because of the relationship between Quan Yin and this flower. “Jewel in the lotus” is the meaning of Quan Yin’s compassion mantra, “Om Ma Ni Pad Me Hum.”
How to Use the Lotus Symbol at Home
Having a lotus pond in your yard is quite fortunate if you live in an area with the right environment and have a pond. You can also include the image of a lotus in some areas of your home as the majority of us do not have access to this option.
Within the bedroom
To add more serenity and harmony to your life, place a picture of a lotus flower or flowers in your bedroom. According to feng shui, your bedroom is a representation of who you are, making anything you add there very potent. If you’re new to feng shui, a smart place to start is typically the bedroom. The bedroom is also tied to your connection with your partner, therefore hanging artwork in your bedroom that features a couple of lotus blossoms can represent a calm and contented union.
At the heart of the house
By placing a sculpture or image of a lotus in the middle of your house, you may also create harmony throughout the entire interior. According to feng shui, the heart of your home is a crucial spot because what you do there has an impact on the entire house. You can set the intention to bring harmony and peace into your home when you place a picture of a lotus here.
In Your Meditation Area
If you have a meditation space, you should use lotus imagery there. Your aim to connect with more calm and contentment can be supported by a lotus in this region. In spite of difficulties, your inner perfection and beauty are always present, symbolized by the lotus.
Lotus flower varieties and their symbolic meanings
White: According to Cho and Vose, a white lotus blossom symbolizes transcendence and purity. White is also associated in feng shui with the metal element, which has the capacity to “cut through” barriers.
Pink: Vose observes that in Hindu art, lotuses with pink or pink-tipped petals occasionally accompany deities. According to Cho, pink is also viewed in feng shui as a softer color that is linked to a welcoming feminine spirit.
There are five great Buddha families (Tathagatas) in Buddhism, one of which is known as Padma. Red-toned lotuses also symbolize fire energy, according to Cho, because the Padma dynasty is associated with the fire element. Flowers with this hue stand for creativity, passion, and expression.
The blue lotus (Nilotpala), which is always depicted closed, is described as “a particular emblem for Mahayana Buddhists to express the capacity of beings to understand their intrinsic Buddha-nature, which can subsequently “bloom” into complete bodhisattva-hood” by Vose. (In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is someone who is capable of attaining Nirvana but postpones doing so out of compassion for the benefit of others.)