Monday, March 16, 2009

Superstitious Taboos

These are some of the more common “taboos”, of living that are the superstitions of our belief systems. The motivation behind these cultural prohibitions is always good, but superstitions usually defy conventional logic. Should we dismiss them as outright nonsense? Or should we observe them because there is “nothing to lose” in doing so? Sometimes, however absurd, taboos can hide remnants of ancient knowledge of the old Masters whose hidden wisdom are greater than ours. Gathered here are some of the more common superstitious beliefs for you to observe, dismiss or ponder over.

 1. Mirror might steal your soul
Do not place a mirror directly facing your bed – this is a feng shui taboo as well, and the explanation from old feng shui masters is this always brings a third party into the marriage of the sleeping occupants of the bed. Superstition frowns on having a mirror directly reflect the bed, but here the reason given is that doing so causes the spirit of your sleeping soul to enter into the mirror and you may not be able to return to your body when you wake up in the morning. In other words, it could cause you to get “trapped” in the inbetween world that exists between sleep and wakefulness – a frightening prospect which some say can indeed happen. Another explanation is that the mirror attracts wandering spirits who come to steal your consciousness. Either prospect sounds scary, so it is better to avoid mirrors facing the bed.

2. When visiting a sick person
Never offer pears when visiting sick people in a hospital as this is a symbol that the patient will die. It is also bad luck to send red flowers, especially red roses, as this signifies blood. Many other Asian cultures also believe that sending red roses will cause death to occur. Best colours for hospitals are white and yellow, the colours of yang life.

Do not give presents in quantities of four. This is frowned upon because the number four sounds like “death.” The best kind of gift to send are boxes of sweetmeats and chocolates.

 3. Hanging laundry at night
Another major taboo handed down through the generations is never to leave laundry hung in the sunshine to stay there through the nocturnal hours. Always remember to bring the washing back in when dusk falls, otherwise wandering spirits will be tempted to “attach themselves” to the clothing and take over the personality of the person when he/she wears them.

There are stories of children behaving queerly after wearing clothing that had inadvertently been left hanging outside soaking in the yin energy of the night. Better remind yourself of this no matter how busy you are. Clothes (and especially underwear) left hanging out should ideally be thrown away.

4. Fringe can block your luck
The Chinese have a great aversion to covering the forehead with hair. This is said to create a serious block on your wealth luck and is especially applicable to men. Men’s foreheads are said to be the part of the face that attracts wisdom, success and good fortune. Covering it seriously affects good fortune coming your way. You will find that successful men often sweep their hair to one side. Obviously fringes on children are fine, as they have not yet started working life.

5. Meeting a funeral
If you meet a coffin-laden hearse as you make your way to work, it symbolizes big success coming to you in your job, or it can mean that you will be getting a promotion. The explanation here is that the coffin will take away all your bad luck, leaving you only with your good fortune.

6. Shaking away your wealth
Here is a taboo many of us have been familiar with all our life; the habit some people have of shaking their legs each time they sit on a chair. Perhaps the Malays also have this taboo, because the phrase “goyang kaki” or shaking legs is also something familiar to them.

Shaking your legs is like kicking your wealth away and if you do this habitually, it is believed to create the cause for all your prosperity to flow away from you. So no matter how stylish or cool it may look dangling and shaking your leg, refrain from doing this. Otherwise you can shake away all your wealth.

7. Things not to do at night
There are many taboos associated with the nocturnal hours. This is when yin energy descends on the world and the Chinese are especially mindful of wandering spirits who they believe roam freely after the sun sets. At night they say it is dangerous to pick flowers, as strange events will follow.

If you are in the garden where there are many dark bushes and tall trees, you should refrain from calling aloud the names of your loved ones or of your friends, or even your pets, as these imbue the people and animals concerned with the strange urge to hurt you. In the night, yin energy prevails and on dark nights when there is no moonlight, children are strenuously advised to stay indoors as coming out into the open where they are not protected by a roof above them makes them especially vulnerable. The antidote to darkness is light and this is why it is always safer to keep lights turned on even in the gardens, and well into the early hours of the morning.

 8. Whistling at night
Avoid whistling at night. You could be taking a walk and feeling happy, and might start to unconsciously whistle a tune. According to the old folks, doing so is sure to attract the attention of wandering spirits who then follow you home. Well, the thought of whistling a tune in the darkness of the night is itself already a scary scenario. Better to use your iPod than rely on your lips for musical entertainment.

9. Ang pows should contain even number of dollars
It is considered very inauspicious to place odd numbered amounts of cash inside a red packet or angpow. On happy occasions such as weddings and birthdays, money wrapped as gifts should have even numbers and better yet should end in the 8 digit such as 118, 188 or 168. Odd number money is said to signify death.

10. Protecting your money luck
If you want to make sure money does not roll out of your home or shop, make certain not to sit on the counter where the cash register is placed. This is a really negative thing to do. In the same way, you should also never sit on a table that has your important documents and your safe placed inside one of the drawers. Also, never step on the threshold of any doorway into the home. It is said that the threshold is the pulse point of the house and stepping on it destroys its essence and its spirit. Some people say that the threshold is placed at the doorway to prevent wandering spirits from entering. Spirits are unable to cross the threshold. If you step on the threshold, you will be symbolically “breaking” the protection of the home.

Specially for men

11. Do not peer at a lady’s underwear either by chance or intention. This kind of “Peeping Tom” fun brings enormous bad luck and it is said that your life will be one of suffering and struggle all the way if you do this.

12. Men should never perform female responsibilities such as suckling the baby, sweeping the floor or washing the laundry. Doing these traditional tasks of women within the household is said to bring bad luck. Doing any of these tasks as a profession or business is however perfectly OK.

13. Men should never wash women’s undergarments as doing so can make it hard for the man to become rich. He will also become like a faithful “slave” to his wife. Men should never walk under a woman’s undergarments. So make sure you avoid going into a woman’s boudoir. These things stunts a man’s growth and brings him bad luck.

 For children

14. College going kids should avoid reading their text books in the toilet. This implies disrespect for the God of Education who then withholds his blessings. As a result, the child will lack good examination luck and will be hit by bad exam results. Allowing others to step on your text books have an even worse effect, as this creates the chi for bad luck in studies to arise.

15. When children eat, they should try to eat all the food given to them, as a clean plate or bowl is what will bring good exam results and a good looking spouse for later in life. Spilling rice all over the table is a definite taboo, as this causes the mind to become polluted.

 16. Be careful where you pee
The Chinese have always had this “pantang” and always remind their kids to never just pee anywhere they like. This is just such a dangerous thing to do because you could inadvertently be peeing on some wandering spirit, or on an ant hill or rabbit hole.

This causes you to inadvertently insult the land spirit living there and its retaliation can cause your genitals to become swollen and red, cause you to get sick and even make you suffer bad luck.

Next time you desperately need an outside toilet because you are traveling in a bus or car over long distances, choose a spot where the land is flat and there is no danger of there being any kind of ant or rat nest, then put your palms together and humbly seek permission from the land spirit to pee.

17. Crows bring bad news
When a pair of black crows suddenly confronts you i.e. looks directly at you from a tree or rooftop, look on it as a warning not to sign any important documents or meet anyone important that day. Cancel all your important appointments immediately as the crows are said to be the bringers of bad news. Colourful birds however bring news of good things coming while birds of prey such as eagles denote some authoritative or honourable title being conferred on you.

18. Seeing a rainbow
It is regarded as great good fortune to see and ‘catch a rainbow’, thus after, it is a good idea to scan the skies for rainbows, especially if the sun comes out soon after. That is when rainbows get formed. If you see a double arch, it is even more auspicious. Stories have been told of people striking it really rich after taking a picture where they are seen to be standing at the end of a rainbow. Using the camera to create visual effects like this is as good as the real thing. However, if you do see a real live rainbow, you should never point at it with your index finger, as this is said to draw all your bone marrow from you, making you prematurely hunched.

 19. Never sweep out, always sweep in
According to the Chinese, one should never use the broom to sweep outwards at the front of the shop. One should always sweep inwards from main door and then progressively work your way to the back of the shop. This pulls in the luck. In fact, always take note that traditionally, the front of the house is where good luck enters and the back of the house is where bad luck leaves. This fundamental concept does have implications when implementing feng shui recommendations.

20. Stepping on poo
If you step on poo, you can expect some good luck to come to you. It is the same when you dream of poo. Apparently this has to do with the body getting rid of its undesirable negativities. It is also believed that when a bird poos on your head, it means you are about to come into some speculative money.

Wedding taboos

21. Do not be a bridesmaid more than three times. Doing so creates a negative effect on your own marital luck, causing you to have difficulties finding someone to settle down with. Obstacles will manifest.

Another rule is that parents should never bring a “marital bed” into the home for the daughter until she is well and truly married. Doing so will spoil her chances of getting married at all. Those wanting to invest in an antique marriage bed should take note of this.

22. During chinese wedding dinners, steamed fish is usually one of the main dishes served. According to eating taboos, one should never turn the fish over nor break the fish bones when eating fish when it is served whole. This is sure to have a negative effect on the newlyweds.

23. Try not to have sex on the 1st and 15th days of the Lunar Chinese Calendar. These are the days of the new moon and full moon. While these are auspicious days, they are also days for sacrifice rather than for sexual indulgence.

 24. A bad omen
The Chinese believe that the breaking of plates and other ceramics is a very bad omen and if this happens to you, you should immediately counter it by saying, “Fa Hoi Fu Gui” which means “May Prosperity Blossom”. Once, one of our staff was celebrating his birthday and someone passed him an empty plate from across the table. As he reached out his hand to take it, the plate fell onto the table and broke into two pieces. He then picked up the broken half-piece and then dropped it again, causing it to break into two again. The next night he was involved in a very bad accident which smashed up his car! So next time something like this happens, do not forget to quickly counter it by saying something auspicious.

At the dining table

25. Never stick chopsticks vertically straight into your rice bowl as this a sign of ancestor worship and spells yin spirit formation, bringing bad luck.

26. Never point the spout of a coffee or tea pot directly at the patriach, as this denotes him as the “enemy” of the household. It causes him to leave and even set up a second family outside the home. Pointing the pot this way is also a challenging signal towards the person the spout is pointed to.

27. Do not hang the cooking wok upside down or reversed. This signifies there is nothing to cook and indicates the opposite of abundance. The same applies to cooking pots. So the western style of hanging their pots and pans suspended above the kitchen table is something the Chinese frown upon.

28. When eating, never point the knife or fork directly at someone, as this is a hostile signal and can cause the other party to have an accident.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Water Feng Shui - Water Features for Income & Wealth Luck

The classic statement, in the book of burial by Master Guo Pu, Jin Dynasty“the WIND disperse the QI and WATER will contain it”was the main study of classical feng shui students and masters for centuries.
In this context, qi refers to energy. Qi is carried and dispersed by wind and it is retained by water when it meets water. Wind is the transporter and water is the accumulator of qi.

Water is the most potent Feng Shui enhancer or remedy for good luck if place on the right location (Wealth Spot) and at the right time.Once your wealth spot for the house is located, you may wish to build or purchase a ready made water feature to activate your income and wealth luck. You have to be aware that there is a different between a flow of water and a body of water. A flow of water is an income enhancer and a body of water is a wealth accumulator. The water flow has to be oriented to flow towards a door or a window if placed outside the house. If placed inside the house the water must never be placed to flow out towards a door or window. For water flow inside the house orientate the flow towards the center of the house.

Beside is an example of a good water feature. The photo is taken from a window at the front side of the house. The water flow (income enhancer) towards the house (but not directly towards the main door) and ends in a deep large fish pond (wealth accumulator). The flow of water will activate a constant flow of income and the fish pond, a body of water, is a good wealth accumulator.
Please take note that the design has 6 level waterfalls ending in a single pond. This is a very auspicious water feature design.Important: Always keep the water clean with a good filtration system.

A nice water feature for a small living room. If there is a flow of water, make sure the water flow towards the center of the house. Never let the water flows towards any door or window.
Important: Always keep the water clean with a good filtration system.

An aquarium is a good water feature. It is very good for the inside of the house especially when water flow direction cannot be decided. This is because the aquarium does not have a flow of water but is a body of water. The body of water represent your wealth and this feature will enhance your growth of wealth when placed in the right location.
Have one that is proportionate to the room that is placed.
Important: Always keep the water clean with a good filtration system.

Tien (Heaven), Ti (Earth) and Ren (Man) - Trinity of LuckFor water feature to work well as a feng shui enhancer for income or wealth luck, the precise location and flow direction (Ling Shen) in relation to the main door (Zheng Shen) have to be determined. This is the earth part of the trinity of luck.
The location and direction of the main door (Ti - Earth) have to communicate with the people (Ren - Man). This is when the 4 Pillars of destiny (Paht Chee) of the people is important in fine tuning the feng shui of a place. With earth and man communication, the fortunate energy is ensure to always bring fortune to the people. Otherwise, a feng shui arrangement sometimes work and sometimes don't.
In addition to locating the wealth spot and best flow direction, the date and time (Tien - Heaven) of activation of the water feature will guarantee instant, long term effectiveness in bringing wealth and fortune to the people.
A swimming pool is a good body of water wealthy people likes to have in a home. Most people thinks that is a status symbol. Actually, these wealthy people have a swimming pool to protect and act as an enhancer to accumulate and grow their wealth.

Caution: Do not place any water feature in your home if you do not know precisely where your home's wealth or misfortune spot is. This is because you may unknowingly activate the bad spot instead of the good spot and bring misfortune to the house.

If you have placed a water feature in your home and money matter is a problem, your water feature is definitely placed on a wrong spot. As remedy, I would suggest you to stop the water feature and seek professional feng shui consulting from a classical feng shui expert.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Chinese Wedding Gifts

The delivery of gifts in a Chinese wedding is commonly known as ‘Guo Da Li’.

The delivery of Chinese wedding gifts is an affirmation of his intent to marry, a display of respect and also demonstration of the groom’s ability of support the family after marriage.

This is normally done within a month from the date of the marriage.

The gift from the groom-to-be would normally include the following:-

Dowry

Wedding Biscuits
Two pieces of red cloth
Seafood e.g. abalone, dried scallops, dried shrimps, dried squid, sea cucumber, mushrooms, shark fins, fish maw and the must have ‘fa cai’
Cooked chicken
Roasted pig (or a piece of it)
Big fish (signifies abundance)
Coconut (usually in pairs)

Wine (use to be rice wine but nowadays substituted with imported ones)

Dried fruits e.g. dried longan, dried lychee, dried plum and ground nuts
Others e.g. tea leaves

In this modern day the list of the gift are constantly simplified based on cost and environmental sensitivity. For example, the size of the abalone package has shrunk due to the high price and shark fins may be eliminated from the list in order to be politically correct!

The gifts are delivered by the groom to be accompanied by relatives. There is normally no ceremony and the groom-to-be will take this opportunity to update the bride and in-laws-to-be on the progress of the wedding arrangement. Since many relatives of the bride will be present, this is also an opportunity for the groom-to-be to chat and foster goodwill.

The acceptance of the Chinese wedding gifts is an affirmation from the women’s side of the marriage.

The bride-to-be has to return some gifts in acknowledgement and they would normally include tea leaves, fruits, a pair of trousers, belt, wallet (with a red packet inside), pair of shoes and the remains of the roast pig (after the bride’s family and friends have they way with it!).

Feng Shui Bagua

It is not uncommon to find a Feng Shui Bagua installed above the main door of many Chinese homes. This device usually made of wood and octagon-shaped has a mirror in the center and surrounded by patterns of broken and unbroken lines.

Many Chinese believe that the Feng Shui Bagua can block harmful ‘sha’ energies from entering the house and affecting the occupants.

The pattern on the Feng Shui Bagua is that of the early heaven arrangement with Qian (three unbroken lines) on top and Kun (three broken lines) below. The mirror in the center can be convex or concave.

Can it the Feng Shui Bagua really block ‘sha’ energies from entering a premise?

The jury is out. Many practitioners especially those with Toaist root believe in the power of the device whose blocking power can be made more effective if it is blessed (‘hoi kong’). On the other hand many classical Feng Shui practitioners do not believe in its ‘supposed’ power.

Nonetheless, this has not stopped many Chinese families from installing it just in case.

A unique problem crops up in urban areas where houses and apartments are built quite close together. Many Chinese believe that the device install in the house opposite theirs can reflect the ‘sha’ into their house. In response, they install even bigger one to reflect the ‘sha’ back. This can go on an on and it is not uncommon to see killing ‘woks’ and ‘forks’ coming into play to supplement the Feng Shui Bagua.

How did the Feng Shui Bagua gain this ‘sha’ killing reputation?

Nobody knows but an explanation was postulated by a Feng Shui researcher not so long ago.

According to this researcher, the ancient Feng Shui Bagua does not have a mirror in the center.

Instead it has a copper plate, both convex and concave versions are available, that is polished to a shiny finish.

Copper is metal and it has the ability to neutralize earth based energies of earth based ‘sha’ such as the Five Yellow.

Is this the real reason? Your guess is as good as mine.

Do I use the device in my practice? I do not. There are other effective ways to avoid or block ‘sha’ energies without resorting to the Bagua. Installing the device is not neighbor friendly and it does not contribute to good relationships which is one of the objectives of applying Feng Shui in the first place!

Monday, March 17, 2008

Feng Shui Tips

Make your own Wealth pot for wealth luck - fill a pot with coins, crystals, animal figurines and rice. Hide the pot in a cupboard.

Slip coins tied with red thread among your work books. Chinese coins are symbols of wealth, and red thread activates the Qi of the coins.

Gold ingots are powerful symbols of wealth attainment. Pop your gold ingots anywhere you like in areas where you perform your work activity.

The crane is very famous for health and longevity. Put up crane pictures in the bedroom, dining room and kitchen.

Jade tortoises, coins and wu lous are very auspicious since they are health-rich Feng Shui items.

Place these items close to you in the bedroom.

Mirrors in the bedroom are perfectly fine during the day, but it is inauspicious if you can see yourself in the mirror lying down at night.

The smiling Buddha is a good feature for children. Place this venerable image at an elevated height in the bedroom.

Feng Shui-wise, there should be no tapering walls along the driveway to your home. A depletion of finances is bound to occur.

Incorporate ascending steps towards the entrance door. If for your doorsteps follow downwards instead, hang a wind chime between the door and stairs.

There shouldn't be any stairs at the entrance area of the home. A round rug at the foot of the stairs will allow the Qi to circulate.

Hanging a coin sword is very auspicious in generating Wealth luck, but do not hang two swords or knives in a criss-cross fashion.

To welcome in the most positive type of Qi, keep your home entrance area neat, spacious and smelling nice. Avoid the undesirable clutter of shoes.

If you are a single male, display items or photos that represent the presence of females/Yin.

If you are single female, some Yang images or displays that shows male masculinity will be beneficial.

If you wish to enhance your relationship with your children, sleep with your head pointed at your Yan Nian direction.

If you have been trying for children, check if there is any offending structures that is sending out poison arrows towards your main door.

If you hold a superior position in the office, sit in the corner farthest from the entrance of the room to gain a "command" position.

Do not let your child sleep on a bed with the headboard resting on a wall with a toilet at the other side.

To enjoy general good luck, sleep with your head pointed towards your personal Sheng Chi direction.

Feng Shui Tips

Put your aquariums only in living rooms, offices and studies, not in bathrooms, kitchens or bedrooms.

For a harmonious relationship between couples, display images or real bunches of peony flowers in the living room.

Sunny Yang colors are not good for bedrooms, since its strong properties will make it hard for you to sleep. Use pastel colors insteads.

If your main door faces any structures that causes Shar Qi (such as tall buildings, sharp edges, the end of a T-junction etc), plant some trees.

If possible, sit facing your Sheng Chi direction at work or sit facing one of your other 3 best directions.

Hang two, six or seven bells strung with red thread on your doorknob to activate wealth and luck for your business.

Are there any sharp corners or edges pointed at you? Hide it with a soft material such as a curtain.

Fresh air and sunlight are the best cure for moldy, stale Qi in the bathroom. If you have windows, do open them daily and allow in the sunlight.

Always have a wall behind your back and avoid a desk with windows behind you. This ensures that you are 'supported' in all your career endeavors.

To up your child's academic luck, position the study table so that he or she faces the Tien Yi direction while studying.

Beware of Shar Qi (killing breath), such as sharp wall edges, directed at you or your child in the bedroom - cover them up with curtains.

Hang a crystal by your window in the office or simply place one on your table to activate positive Qi as well as disperse negative ones.

Do not let your child sleep or study in a room located above a garage or below a toilet. This will distract his studies.

A cluttered home or office is not conducive to good Qi. Provide plenty of storage boxes to store away clutter, and purify the home with incense.

Cranes are auspicious images of a long, fruitful life. Place a crane figurine in the areas where you and family spend most of your time together.

Don't install any water features and spiky plants such as cacti in sleeping areas as they are considered bedroom Feng Shui no-nos.

Miniature ships are symbols of wealth attainment. Point the mast towards the interior, not facing a door or window.

Furniture arrangements in the office should be in a neat position so that Qi is able to flow smoothly. No odd angles and protruding anomalies!

On the right of your desk, place a dragon facing your window. This symbolizes the dragon 'chasing' his pearl - good for career.

Feng Shui Tips

Feng Shui Tip # 1 :
Never give your loved one white roses. Reserve these flowers for mature people only.

Feng Shui Tip # 2 :
Display a pair of mandarin ducks to symbolize happiness and fulfillment for lovers.

Feng Shui Tip # 3 :
Never display a solo mandarin duck. This implies that you wish to be single forever.

Feng Shui Tip # 4 :
If you are single, make sure that the décor in your home is not excessively feminine.

Feng Shui Tip # 5 :
Never place a water feature such as an aquarium or desktop fountain in the bedroom.

Feng Shui Tip # 6 :
Peonies symbolize a happy love life and marriage luck.

Feng Shui Tip # 7 :
Fresh flowers in the bedroom is not conducive to harmony and love. Put them elsewhere outside the bedroom.

Feng Shui Tip # 8 :
Sleeping with the legs pointed towards the door symbolizes being 'carried out' to the netherworld.

Feng Shui Tip # 9 :
Hang a painting of a phoenix to activate career luck.

Feng Shui Tip # 10 :
Qi Lins and Fu Dogs can protect you from harm. Place a pair by the entrance with their heads facing outside.

Feng Shui Tip # 11 :
Avoid open or exposed shelves behind or in front of you in the office.

Feng Shui Tip # 12 :
Never sit with the door behind you in the office.

Feng Shui Tip # 13 :
Display calligraphy of prosperity, good luck and fortune in the east, southeast, north and south areas.

Feng Shui Tip # 14 :
A huge pile of papers on your work table symbolizes a 'mountain' obstructing good Qi from coming to you and your work.

Feng Shui Tip # 15 :
Tuck Chinese Coin tassels in books and ledgers to stimulate good business.

Feng Shui Tip # 16 :
Place a picture of a mountain behind you in the office.

Feng Shui Tip # 17 :
Tortoises are known as symbols of longevity and good health. Place tortoise items in the bedroom and by the bedside.

Feng Shui Tip # 18 :
Soften poison arrows caused by protruding wall corners by placing a potted plant.

Feng Shui Tip # 19 :
When hanging decorative swords, sabres and knives, angle the tip towards the windows or door.

Feng Shui Tip # 20 :
Guard your relationship from third party intrusion by taking away mirrors from the bedrooms.