Feng Shui Foibles
Question
Shalom, Kavod HaRav! So, a friend of mine brought some little cacti plants from AZ & was suspiciously eager to get rid of them. She originally intended to gift them to Indian family across the street, but they politely declined, citing their culture. As a committed Yid I know (& she knows) that goyishe “spirituality” is a bunch of shtuyot, but she says she now can’t shake it off & the cute little cactus plants now seem to be tainted to her. Being a good friend, I took one home. Rabbi Google was silent about their significance in Judaism, but did enlighten me that, according to Feng Shui, they bring bad energy into the home due to pricklies, & some more neutral info actually attributed endurance & resilience to this plant as a symbolic virtue (positive things & very Jewish characteristics, I guess). Have you ever heard of any badness associated with cacti in Judaism? Kabbalistic sources? I just want to ensure I verified all my sources & be able to present my friend with Rabbinic refutation (though she agrees with me in principle that us, observant Jews, don’t believe in that narrishkeit). Toda Raba! Please email me at anyemets@hotmail.com with response. -Chana
Answers
Feng Shui is something that should be avoided as its origins are based in idol worship. However, I am not sure that your friend’s cacti are included in the recommendation to avoid Feng Shui. Personally, I think that if the cactus plants were grown for commercial reasons there is no problem with having them in your home.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team