From ladybugs to four-leaf clovers, there are plenty of good luck charms that have grown in popularity around the world. Many of these items date back to ancient times and have longheld traditions behind them. You may be surprised to hear that the color of your door or the wind chimes on the patio are believed to have something to do with your wellbeing. Read on to discover how things like peacock feathers and water fountains are believed to impact the energy in your home.
Different Plants Are Said To Bring Different Forms Of Luck
According to the Chinese tradition of Feng Shui, filling your house with certain types of plants can bring a variety of luck to the home. For instance, lucky bamboo is said to bring happiness, wealth, and longevity.
The rubber plant is said to also bring wealth, along with the money tree (Pachira Aquatica) and the money plant (Crassula Ovata). Flower lovers will be pleased to hear that orchids symbolize happiness, specifically in relationships, and peace lilies are believed to purify the air.
Painting Your Door In Accordance With The Direction It Faces
Feng shui isn't just about where you place items around your home; colors also matter! The Chinese practice calls for painting your front door in accordance with the direction it faces to help balance energies, thereby bringing harmony.
North-facing doors are painted blue or black, while South-facing doors are red or orange. West-facing doors should be gray or white, and East-facing ones should be brown or green. If your door faces Southwest, Eastnorth, or any other combination, you may want to talk to a specialist.
Fruit Bowls Are Believed To Bring Wealth
Placing a bowl of fruit on the counter or on the table as a centerpiece is a common practice in many households. But you may be surprised to find that in some countries, bowls of fruit are considered good luck.
That's because round fruits like apples and oranges are considered symbols of coins, so leaving them out is thought to attract money. Feng Shui also considers different fruits symbols of various things, like oranges for cleanseing and peaches for love.
Decorate With Elephants For Protection
Ancient traditions established the belief that elephants symbolize protection, wisdom, luck, wealth, understanding, and a number of other positive things. With all of those potential benefits, it's worth investing in a few elephant decorations.
Pin a beautiful elephant tapestry to your wall or add some throw pillows that feature elephant designs. Elephant charms have also become a popular trend for jewelry or keychains. This way, you can bring the luck with you wherever you go.
Mushrooms Are A German Luck Charm
It may be surprising to hear that a fungus is considered lucky, but that is the case when it comes to mushrooms. It all started with a strain of mushroom that only grows at the roots of Christmas trees, causing ancient Germans to identify them as lucky.
This strain is recognizable by its red and white speckles, which is how you get the lucky mushroom design present throughout Europe. As a result, it is a widespread practice in Germany to hang decorative lucky mushrooms around Christmas or exchange them as gifts.
Incense Is A Deodorizer And May Bring Some Tranquility
Many use incense to provide a soothing scent to their home or to deodorize unpleasant smells. It may be surprising to hear that different types of incense are believed to have varying effects.
For instance, Patchouli, Honeysuckle, and Bayberry scents are thought to be good luck for those in need of money. Those in need of protection might go for Bay, Frankincense, Cypress, or Dogwood. Gardenia, Coconut, and Lavender scents are all said to encourage feelings of peace.
Fish Symbolize Transformation And Rebirth
Fish bring a natural element to any home and can be soothing to sit back and watch. They also are believed to have numerous symbolic meanings, including rebirth, good luck, transformation, intelligence, and endurance.
Having a fishbowl is not the only way to rake in luck. Those who want something with less upkeep will sometimes hang up a painting of a fish or put out some decorative items that have fish on them.
Horseshoes Are Lucky Symbols
One superstitious practice is keeping a horseshoe around for good luck. It's similar to having a rabbit's foot around or a four-leaf clover. The legend stems from Irish folklore and has been around for more than 1,000 years.
There is one area of debate regarding the horseshoe, and that's which direction it should face. Some argue that hanging it face up prevents the luck from spilling out. Others believe that have it facedown allows the luck to pour onto those below it.
Crystals Are Thought To Have Healing Powers
If you walk into a spirituality shop, you're bound to find crystals of all sorts. The belief is that different types of crystals have healing powers in that they attract positive things into your life.
For instance, rose quartz is popularly regarded as a love magnet and also thought to encourage emotional healing. Amethyst is said to bring intuition and wisdom, while carnelian is believed to symbolize passion and creativity. Crystals make for beautiful decorations and jewelry.
Dreamcatchers Are Said To Ward Off Bad Dreams
Dreamcatchers are a Native American tradition that has become a popular decoration thanks to its whimsical appearance. They stem from the belief that good and bad dreams fill the air at night.
The dreamcatcher captures these dreams, holding on to the bad ones and letting the good ones drift down the feathers and to the sleeping person. In the morning, the sunlight burns off the nightmares that were caught. That's why some believe it is more effective to keep them in the window or above a bed.
Rounded Living Rooms Help The Flow Of Energy
Another Feng Shui tip is to keep things circular. The living room layout should have a circular formation and furniture should feature rounded corners. The design should also minimize clutter, a rule of thumb is to add decor that doesn't feel too busy and thereby overwhelming.
The tradition also suggests making the coffee table a focal point, preferably a rounded one. Rugs, mirrors, and clocks are also believed to bring good energy into the room and boost your luck.
The Hamsa Hand Is A Protective Symbol
The hamsa hand is a protective symbol stemming from ancient Middle East. The shape of the hand is either like a human hand, or one with two mirroring thumbs, like the one pictured here.
It is believed to bring good fortune, happiness, and health, while also warding off any evil. It's suiting, then, that some people have a hamsa hand as a doorknocker. Others will hang up decorative hamsa hands or where them as jewelry.
Tortoises Are Believed To Attract Good Fortune
People don't just keep tortoise figurines around because they're adorable. In ancient China, tortoises were seen as a symbol of longevity, which makes sense considering they can live to be well over 100 years old.
Some believe that keeping a tortoise around can bring positive energy into the home. There are plenty of stunning photographs of tortoises swimming underwater that look gorgeous on a wall. There are also paintings and other decorative items that feature the lucky creatures.
Koi Ponds Are Thought To Bring Prosperity
We already mentioned that fish have significant symbolism, but koi fish are uniquely recognized in both Chinese and Japanese culture. According to ancient mythology, the koi transforms into a dragon once it swims upstream in the Yellow River.
In Japan, the koi is their national fish and known as warrior fish. People sometimes hang up pictures of the fish or create a koi pond to bring luck, prosperity, and strength by opening up the flow of positive energy.
The Om Symbol Is Thought To Keep Away Bad Omens
The Om symbol, also known as Aum, is thought to act as a shield from negative influences and bad omens. It is also a sacred sound uttered during meditation and sometimes during yoga sessions.
Since yoga has helped encourage the spread of Eastern philosophies in Western culture, you'll often see yogis where the Om symbol on their workout attire or yoga mats. It is also a popular jewelry charm and household decoration in the form of paintings or tapestries.
Peacock Feathers Symbolize Awareness And Confidence
Peacock feathers have worldwide symbolism for numerous things. Most obviously, they represent beauty as well as confidence since these feathers are what the peacock uses to attract a mate.
Since they look like the third eye, some also relate them to wisdom and spirituality. Peacock feathers are a beautiful addition to the home when placed in a vase on their own or added to a bouquet. They also make for lovely paintings and suite a variety of room decors.
Wind Chimes Are Believed To Attract Happiness
Wind chimes are a popular choice for home exteriors and in balconies or gardens because they create a soothing sound that can aid in mindfulness and meditation. They are also said to bring good luck, prosperity, and fortune.
To use wind chimes to open the flow of money, Feng Shui recommends places them in areas that impact your wealth. For instance, someone might hang one outside the window of their home office or near a studio.
Water Fountains Are Said To Attract Luck To Your Front Door
In Feng Shui, the flow of water is believed to induce positive energy. That's why many believers in the tradition will have a water fountain near their front door as it is believed to bring good luck into the home.
There are very specific Feng Shui rules when it comes to water features around the home. For instance, they should be placed in an eastern direction. They also should not be under a staircase or in a bedroom.
Mirrors Are Said To Bring Wealth
Mirrors can open up any space by giving the illusion of a larger space. When placed opposite a window, they can bring the outdoors in, enhancing a sense of being one with nature.
Some believe that mirrors can also bring wealth when placed in the right spot. Similar to wind chimes, they are said to enhance the flow of money to a certain area, which is why some keep a small mirror in their cash drawer.
The Color Blue Signifies Wisdom
If you're trying to decide on a color scheme for a room, you can't go wrong with blue. The soothing color is often associating with depth since it is the color of the ocean.
It also is sometimes tied to faith and thereby truth, wisdom, and intelligence. Blue furniture, paintings, decor, dishes, pillows, and more can make a room feel serene. Perhaps the simplest way to add blue to a home is to get a bouquet of blue flowers.
