I remember him telling me that where he was from, it was good luck to put them beneath your pillow when you were ill. And I remembered something similar. Peonies for good health. A willow branch for luck. Cotton stems for prosperity. The fleshy leaf of a jade to bring harmony. And a lotus for resilience. I can’t believe I didn’t think more about this coincidence before. “Where did you say you learned this tradition?” I ask carefully.
