Gift-giving is a practice that conveys love, respect, and appreciation. Avoiding certain Inauspicious Feng Shui Gifts, items due to their negative connotations is part of respecting the recipient’s space and the energy you wish to bring into their life.
In Feng Shui, the intent is as crucial as the gift itself.
However, remember that these beliefs are cultural and personal. The most important thing is to give from the heart, aligning with the recipient’s tastes and preferences. Happy and thoughtful gifting!
Feng Shui is an old Chinese philosophy that has become popular all over the world because of its unique way of making our living areas more peaceful.
In Feng Shui, every item has energy, or “Chi,” that can affect your health, relationships, and wealth, among other things.
So, it’s important to choose gifts that bring good energy and avoid those that are thought to bring bad luck.
This blog talks about the top 16 things that Feng Shui says you shouldn’t give as gifts. It explains why and answers some of the most common questions people have about the topic.
16 Inauspicious Feng Shui Gifts Never To Gift
1. Things with Points
Sharp things like knives, scissors, or letter openers are a big no-no in Feng Shui. They stand for cutting ties or breaking up with someone.
Sharp items are also thought to carry aggressive energy, which could lead to fights and other problems.
2. Clocks:
In China, giving someone a clock is thought to be bad news because the word “clock” in Chinese sounds like the word “death.”
So, it’s seen as a sign that time is running out, which could mean the end of a relationship or an ominous message to the receiver.
3. Plants with thorns
Feng Shui says that plants are usually good gifts, especially those with rounded leaves.
However, you should not give plants with thorns, like cacti or roses. People think that the thorns will hurt the relationship between the giver and the receiver, leading to fights and miscommunication.
4. Handkerchiefs
In the past, people used handkerchiefs to wave goodbye to loved ones or at funerals to show that it was the last time they would see them. Because of this, they are linked with sadness and are not a good gift.
5. Umbrellas
In Feng Shui, an umbrella that can be opened or closed is a sign that a relationship may be coming to an end.
It’s also thought to be bad luck because the Chinese word for umbrella sounds like the word for “break up” or “separation.”
6. Glares
Feng Shui says that mirrors, especially ones that aren’t whole or that make the image look funny, are bad.
They can spread the energy and may represent a broken picture of the self or a skewed view of things, which can lead to confusion or a lack of understanding.
7. Green Hats
In Chinese society, a man’s wife or girlfriend has cheated on him if he wears a green hat. So, giving someone a green hat, even as a joke, is seen as an insult and could hurt your friendship with that person.
8. Shoes
Because the Chinese word for “shoe” sounds like the Mandarin word for “evil,” shoes, especially in pairs, are not a good gift. Also, shoes are a sign of going away, which could mean that you want the person to leave or walk out of your life.
9. Things that are black and white
Black and white are often linked with funerals and sadness in Chinese culture. So, giving someone something with these colors may make them feel sad or give them bad energy.
10. Conflict Reflections: Mirrors
Mirrors are a bad gift for Feng Shui.
In Feng Shui, mirrors have a lot of different roles. People think that if they aren’t put in the right place, they can bounce energy back at them.
How mirrors send out good energy
Broken or crooked mirrors that scatter reflections are especially bad presents because they could mean.
11. Pictures of Animals That Are Mean
Images of dangerous animals are used to show the danger.
Images or statues of fierce animals like lions, tigers, or wolves may seem strong, but in Feng Shui, they have aggressive energy that can upset the peace and balance of a home.
12. Unleash the Beast: Unwanted Repercussions
If you gave someone one of these things, it could mean that you want them to have trouble or stress, since these fierce creatures are often linked to danger and fear.
Art that shows loneliness or sadness
13. Getting a picture of loneliness: the artwork
Artwork often shows how strong feelings and events are. But those that show people being alone, sad, or hopeless are not good gifts, according to Feng Shui.
14. The Paintings of Melancholy: Sad Meanings
People think that this kind of art brings bad feelings into the living area, changing the mood and energy of the home as a whole. It’s better to give someone art that shows happiness, love, or wealth.
15. Wallets or purses that are empty
Promises Without Action: The Case of Empty Wallets
People often give wallets or bags as a sign of luck and good fortune, but not when they’re empty.
Why having an empty wallet is bad in “The Void of Prosperity“.
In Feng Shui, an empty wallet or bag is seen as a sign of a lack of trouble with money. It is always a good idea to keep a small amount of money in your wallet or bag to show that you will always be rich and successful.
Read- What to keep in wallet feng shui.
16. Number 4
The Unlucky Number: What ‘4’ Means
The number “4” is considered bad luck in China because it sounds like the word for “death.”
Why you should stay away from the scary number 4.
So, anything that comes in a set of four or that has the number “4” in any way is thought to bring bad luck and should be avoided.
A myth about clocks as gifts
In the world of Feng Shui and Chinese society, giving a clock as a gift is full of superstition.
“Giving a clock” in Chinese is called “sng zhng,” which sounds a lot like “attending a funeral ritual,” which is also “sng zhng.”
Because of this, people think that giving someone a clock is the same as counting down their life or wishing them bad luck.
Because of this, giving clocks as gifts has become a big no-no and is usually ignored.
Gifts that bring bad luck to a relationship
Keeping a friendship healthy takes thought, and this goes for the gifts you give as well. Feng Shui says that giving certain things to a partner can be bad for the relationship. These things are:
Sharp things, because they represent breaking ties or severing them.
• Umbrellas are a sign of possible separation or ends.
• Shoes: They show that you are going or walking away.
Handkerchiefs are a sign of saying goodbye and the end of something.
• Plants with thorns: People think that the thorns will cut the relationship and cause problems.
Even though these are old beliefs, they can help you understand how things can send messages and possibly affect relationships.
Gifts What Not to Give a Woman
According to Feng Shui and cultural views, giving some gifts to a woman is bad luck or just plain wrong. Some of them are:
Sharp items are a sign of breaking ties or getting into a fight.
• Shoes: Shoes mean leaving or going away, which could mean you want the woman to leave.
• Green hats: In Chinese society, this is a direct insult because it means being unfaithful.
• Handkerchiefs: Usually used to wave goodbye, they’re a sign of sadness or the end of something.
• Black and white objects: These colors are thought to bring bad energy because they are linked with death and mourning.
Keep in mind that these are based on traditional beliefs and may not always fit with current ideas or personal tastes.
Unlucky Feng Shui Gifts (FAQs)
Q: Do all of these rules apply to every single person?
No, not always. Even though these rules are based on traditional beliefs, it’s important to always take into account the recipient’s culture, beliefs, and tastes.
Q: Does it mean I’ll have bad luck if I get one of these gifts?
Feng Shui is more about encouraging good energy and getting rid of bad ones.
Now you know what are the unlucky feng shui gifts, explore below a few lucky gift options for various occasions.
- Exclusive 21: Unique Feng Shui Gifting Ideas For Christmas
- 25 Best Feng Shui Housewarming Gifts For Good Energy
- Exclusive 27 Feng Shui Gifts For Boyfriend To Celebrate Love
- Exclusive 16 Feng Shui Gifts For Couples Happiness and Luck
- Top 16 Feng Shui Gifts For Wealth & Prosperity
- 13 Exclusive Feng Shui Gifts For Good Health
- Top 30 Feng Shui Gifts for Business Growth and prosperity
Conclusion
According to Feng Shui, knowing what gifts mean and how they are used in different cultures helps us treat our relationships with respect and care.
But keep in mind that these are traditional views, and people may have different tastes or come from different cultures.
At the end of the day, the best gift is one that comes from the heart and shows the receiver that you care, love, and respect them.
With this thorough guide, you’ll be able to give thoughtful gifts that not only follow the rules of Feng Shui but also show how much you care about your relationships. Happy giving!
Feng Shui is a well-researched combination of art and science based on neuroscience principles. Bhawana Rathore is a passionate Feng Shui practitioner. She writes at FengShuitricks.com and helps people to enhance and balance their lives by sharing Feng Shui-related information on FengshuiTricks and YouTube Channel. Check out more. If you find the information useful, you can buy me a coffee here.