My Mother's Day Feng Shui Ritual

Plants and flowers make this Taurus mama happy!

By Maria DeSimone

Each year, when my kids ask me what I want for Mother's Day, I offer the same immediate response: "I want to play in the dirt."

You see, plants are a huge part of my personal Feng Shui Mother's Day ritual.

My son, Vincent, who has both Jupiter and Saturn in Taurus and Venus in Virgo, understands. He remembers being a small child and gardening with me in our once gorgeous back yard. He can recall digging in the dirt and helping me plant seeds or pick fresh salad. He would help me water the garden, and he actually took pride in it. I do believe that boy has green-thumb potential.

My daughter Annamaria, on the other hand, who has no Earth in her chart, doesn't get it. This Leo with Libra Rising wishes her mom would want to go shopping. You know. Like a normal girl.

Regardless of the excitement level (or lack thereof), my kids recognize that Mother's Day is "mother's" day, and for years they've patiently indulged my traditional dirt fest.

My Mother's Day plant shopping ritual

We pile into my car early in the morning and take the hour-long drive to the affluent North Shore of Long Island. Here, there happens to be an absolute gem of a nursery. In fact, I think it is world famous. When I tell you this place is completely breathtaking I'm making an understatement. Rare, exotic plants, trees, flowers, vegetables, herbs and fruit trees are everywhere, along with your everyday greenery.

There's an entire section devoted to ornate sculptures, waterfalls and any other type of outdoor accessory you could dream up. There's outdoor furniture, gardening tools and other essentials. Everything is displayed in the most elegant, picturesque way possible.

For a few hours each Mother's Day, I truly feel like I've walked across the gates of heaven.

Mother's Day is typically Taurus

Isn't it interesting that Mother's Day falls each year when the Sun is in Taurus -- the sign most connected to Mother Earth? My Sun is in Taurus and I have always felt most at peace when outdoors. Mothers everywhere are gifted with plants or flowers -- symbols of life and beauty -- on this day.

Like many Taureans, I'm a big fan of gardening. Unfortunately, since 2007 I haven't been able to enjoy my back yard. The ugly residue of my divorce leaves me in a situation where I can no longer stand to be in it. That's because my next door neighbors happen to be my ex-in-laws. Yeah, I know what you're thinking right now. What a dumb newlywed move that was! Good point, well made.

Anyway ...

When I was happily married my back yard was a haven. There was a gorgeous pond-less waterfall with climbing ivy, the most amazing peony bushes, a pear tree and my once-famous vegetable patch. I spent hours in my yard writing, reading, gardening and entertaining. Even sleeping.

Living in Queens, N.Y., however, the homes are close together. Neighbors are separated only by a fence, and you can always hear and see what your neighbor is doing in their yard. Not a problem when you're on happy terms with your neighbors, but when you're not it can get nasty.

Suffice it to say that I no longer have any capacity to experience peace or joy in my back yard. Until I'm able to afford to purchase my own home and leave this area, I'm left to reminisce about my outdoor gardening days.

My Feng Shui consultant to the rescue

But all is not lost, thanks to indoor plants! In fact, my Feng Shui consultant (yes, I have one of those, too!) taught me how to maximize the potential of strategically placed plants, flowers and even trees in my home to take full advantage of Chi (energy flow) and gain a feeling of serenity.

I have to say that my Feng Shui consultant was instrumental in helping me learn how to feel as much "at home" as I possibly can while I'm living in this energetically sticky situation.

I learned how to protect my home from anyone's negative energy using various "cures" from the art of Feng Shui. I also learned how to attract more money, career success, honors and even peace with and for my children by strategically placing plants (part of the element of Wood in Feng Shui), Fire, Metal, and Water in specific areas of my home.

The Bagua (energy map of your home) is a fascinating tool to become better acquainted with. Once mine was presented to me by my Feng Shui consultant, I was taught that one of the easiest ways to promote good Chi in your home is through plants and flowers. Thanks to Feng Shui, I once again found a way to enjoy playing in the dirt. Before this, I had largely ignored indoor gardening.

You can still garden indoors!

Thanks to my first Feng Shui consultation, however, my Mother's Day tradition never had to miss a beat. Since then, my visits to the luxurious nursery each year have yielded a collection of the most gorgeous and rare house plants. I get to stare at them every day. They adorn my living room, office, bedrooms -- even my kitchen.

Now that's how you make a Taurus mama happy on Mother's Day! Even though I don't yet have my own piece of "peaceful" land outdoors, thanks to Feng Shui I've learned how to make indoor gardening almost as satisfying.

Eventually, when I am an official home owner, you can bet the first thing I plan on doing is maxing-out the positive Chi of my new crib with the help of my Feng Shui consultant. Well, that might be the second thing on my list.

I might need to sit in the yard and make a few mud pies first. Yep, I definitely have my priorities straight.