Burning Incense to Ancestors: Avoid Offering These 3 Types of Fruit — Delicious and Beautiful but Harmful to Feng Shui

In many cultures, especially in East Asian traditions, burning incense and offering fruits to ancestors during rituals is a time-honored practice. It symbolizes respect, remembrance, and the wish to maintain harmony between the living and the spiritual world. However, while the intention behind these offerings is always pure, not every fruit is suitable for such sacred occasions. Some fruits, although delicious and visually appealing, can bring unintended negative energy or disrupt the balance of feng shui in your home or altar space.

Feng shui, an ancient Chinese art and science, teaches that the arrangement and selection of objects, including offerings, influence the flow of energy, or "qi." Inappropriate offerings can inadvertently invite bad luck or weaken the positive energy that ancestors’ blessings bring. This is why it is crucial to know which fruits are best to avoid when burning incense and making offerings to your ancestors.

In this article, we will explore the three types of fruits that you should avoid offering during ancestor worship. Despite their tempting appearance and delicious taste, these fruits can be harmful to feng shui and the overall spiritual atmosphere. Understanding these can help you maintain a harmonious and auspicious environment for both your ancestors and your family.

1. Watermelon (The Large and Small Melon)

Watermelon is one of the most refreshing and beloved fruits, especially in hot seasons. Its vibrant green rind with unique patterns makes it visually attractive, and its sweet red flesh is a favorite for many. However, in feng shui, watermelon is considered unsuitable for ancestor offerings.

Why is watermelon harmful to feng shui?

• Energy Drain: Watermelons are large fruits that carry an abundance of water energy, which, when placed in the offering tray, can absorb or drain the positive energy around the altar.

• Shape and Size: The round but bulky shape can block or disrupt the flow of qi in the space. Feng shui values balance and unobstructed energy circulation, and the watermelon’s size may cause imbalance.

• Symbolism: In some interpretations, watermelon seeds symbolize scattered energy or a fragmented family, which is undesirable when seeking harmony and unity in ancestor worship.

If you love watermelons, enjoy them as a family treat, but avoid placing them as offerings during incense burning rituals.

2. Fruits with Thorny Skins (Like Durian or Rambutan)

Fruits such as durian and rambutan are known for their delicious taste and unique textures. Despite their popularity, they carry thorny or spiky skins, which feng shui experts advise against offering to ancestors.

Why should you avoid thorny fruits?

• Negative Energy: The thorns or spikes are believed to symbolize conflict, obstacles, or harsh energy. Offering such fruits can inadvertently invite struggles or disputes within the family.

• Energy Blockage: Just like physical thorns hurt when touched, thorny fruits can metaphorically ‘hurt’ the energy flow in your sacred space.

• Incompatibility: Ancestor altars require peaceful and smooth energy flow. Thorny fruits represent roughness and aggression, which conflicts with the spiritual harmony sought during rituals.

Instead, opt for smooth-skinned fruits to represent a gentle and respectful offering to your ancestors.

3. Overly Sweet or Fermenting Fruits (Like Overripe Bananas or Grapes)

Fruits that are overly sweet or at the stage of fermentation, such as overripe bananas or grapes, are best avoided when offering incense and prayers to ancestors.

Why avoid these fruits?

• Decay and Negative Vibration: Overripe fruits emit a scent of fermentation or slight rot, which creates an environment of decay and stagnation. In feng shui, this is symbolic of deteriorating energy.

• Health and Cleanliness: Offering decaying fruits can be seen as disrespectful, and it may attract pests, dirt, or unpleasant odors that disrupt the sacredness of the altar.

• Symbolic Meaning: Fermentation and overripeness can symbolize aging, decline, or the end of cycles, which is not an auspicious message to convey during ancestor worship.

Always ensure that fruits offered are fresh, vibrant, and wholesome to represent vitality and longevity.

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What Fruits Are Suitable for Ancestor Offerings?

To maintain good feng shui and honor your ancestors properly, it is best to choose fruits that symbolize abundance, harmony, and prosperity. Some commonly recommended fruits include:

• Apples: Symbolize peace and safety.

• Oranges and Tangerines: Represent good luck and wealth.

• Pomegranates: Stand for fertility and abundance.

• Peaches: Symbolize longevity and immortality.

• Pears: Represent purity and honesty, but some feng shui practitioners avoid pears as they are associated with separation in Chinese culture, so this varies by region.

Choosing fresh, round, and colorful fruits without thorns or unpleasant smells will help create a positive atmosphere that attracts blessings and protects the family.

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Tips for Preparing Fruit Offerings for Ancestors

• Freshness: Always select the freshest fruits available. Avoid bruised, damaged, or overripe fruits.

• Cleanliness: Wash fruits thoroughly to remove dirt, pesticides, or residues.

• Presentation: Arrange fruits neatly and harmoniously on clean plates or trays.

• Quantity: Avoid overcrowding the altar with too many fruits. Three to five types are usually sufficient.

• Remove Seeds: In some traditions, removing seeds symbolizes removing obstacles.

• Respect: Place the offerings with reverence and maintain a peaceful environment during rituals.

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Conclusion

While burning incense and offering fruits to ancestors is a meaningful tradition to show respect and maintain spiritual connection, it is important to be mindful of feng shui principles to avoid unintentional negative energy. Watermelons, thorny fruits like durian and rambutan, and overly sweet or fermenting fruits may be tempting but are best avoided for their potential to disrupt harmony.

By choosing appropriate fruits and maintaining the altar’s cleanliness and order, you invite positive energy, blessings, and protection for your family. Understanding the deeper meaning of these offerings strengthens the bond between generations and ensures that rituals are both spiritually fulfilling and energetically balanced.

Respecting these guidelines enhances the sacredness of ancestor worship, fostering peace and prosperity in your home.