A pair of Mandarin Ducks symbolize happiness in love and suggestive of romance, devotion, affection, conjugal fidelity, togetherness and enduring love. Mandarin ducks live in couples and mourn the loss of their mates, which is why the bird has long been regarded as the most traditional and the most potent symbol of love and married bliss in Feng Shui practice.
When placed in pair nearby their owners, Mandarin Ducks becomes a powerful cure to attract or enhance love and relationships. For singles, the pair of Mandarin Ducks will enhance your chances of finding love partners; for lovers, it will bring you marriage opportunities; and for married couples, a pair of Mandarin Ducks will hold out the promise of a marriage being gloriously happy with no separation between the spouses.
Here is how you can use the Mandarin Ducks to Feng Shui your way to a better life.
1. To enhance marriage, love and romance luck, Mandarin Ducks should be kept in a pair in the romance corner of the occupants of a home i.e. bedroom, living room, work desk or in the universal love corner, the South West based on the Pakua's Life Aspirations Theory.
2. If you are single, to attract a new partner the Mandarin Ducks should face each other and be placed on the side of your bed you get in and out of bed from.
3. If you are married, to preserve or enhance an existing relationship the Mandarin Ducks should be alongside each other and be placed on the nightstand on the husband’s side.
4. For a happy marriage and to ensure joyous unions, display the Mandarin Ducks symbol in your personal Nien Yen or Romance direction based on your Kua number (Eight Mansion Theory).
Never place Mandarin Ducks alone or separated from their mate. If possible, keep them well lighted.
Selasa, 27 Januari 2009
Feng Shui: energy
The following are some of the findings of Feng Shui studies in the old days, which may still hold true today:
1. It is not advisable to live near a graveyard or a funeral home. Sorrow is contaminating.
2. It is not advisable to live near a butchery. Killing destroys harmony.
3. It is not advisable to live near a whorehouse where evil energy hovers.
4. It is not advisable to live near a casino where crime sprouts.
5. It is not advisable to live near a hospital. Sickness destroys vital energy.
6. A house must invite ample sunlight and well ventilated. This allows the house to be filled with vital energy.
7. Avoid having a rapid stream running nearby. This disturbs the tranquillity of the neighborhood. Likewise a straight road with speeding vehicles has the same effect.
8. A straight road running directly towards a house is to be avoided. Evil energy is brought to attack the house.
1. It is not advisable to live near a graveyard or a funeral home. Sorrow is contaminating.
2. It is not advisable to live near a butchery. Killing destroys harmony.
3. It is not advisable to live near a whorehouse where evil energy hovers.
4. It is not advisable to live near a casino where crime sprouts.
5. It is not advisable to live near a hospital. Sickness destroys vital energy.
6. A house must invite ample sunlight and well ventilated. This allows the house to be filled with vital energy.
7. Avoid having a rapid stream running nearby. This disturbs the tranquillity of the neighborhood. Likewise a straight road with speeding vehicles has the same effect.
8. A straight road running directly towards a house is to be avoided. Evil energy is brought to attack the house.
The History of Feng Shui
Feng Shui may date back 6000 years to ancient China. Legend has it that during the time of the Yellow Emperor (Huang Di) in prehistoric China.
Feng Shui was originally used to choose propitious burial sites for the wealthy and palace locations for royalty. The ancient Chinese studied the signs the earth left behind (known as Geomancy), such as wind-worn trees, sharp protruding rocks or soft meandering streams. They thought the land's energy could make or break a kingdom. For instance, if the capital city was built on land with nourishing energy, the country would prosper; if it was built on land carrying malevolent energy, the country would suffer catastrophe. Likewise, if an emperor were buried on or near landforms with positive energy, his dynasty would last longer, and if he were buried on or near landforms with negative energy, his dynasty would fall.
At the beginning of the Chou (Zhou) dynasty (1122-207 BCE), King Wen first used the Pa-Kua to describe patterns of change in the natural world. By the eighth century BCE, the Chinese were using the Pa-Kua and the I-Ching to promote the flow of nourishing energy inside a city or a palace and thus bring the kingdom harmony and wealth.
The Han dynasty (206 BCE-219 CE) saw the founding of the art of Kan-Yu (Kan means "mountains" and Yu means "low places"), or the study of the energy carried in landforms. Kan-Yu was championed by the Taoists Huang-shih Kung and Ching Wu, who argued that geological bodies, particularly mountains and rivers, are filled with vital energy. The pathways of energy in mountains are called dragon veins, while those in waterways are called water dragons.
The three building blocks of Feng Shui was then laid down: i.e. the Compass, the Pa-Kua (in Cantonese) or Ba Gua (in Mandarin) (known in the west as Eight Trigrams), and the I-Ching (known in the west as the Theory of Change).
In the Chin dynasty (265-420 CE) everyday citizens started using Kan-Yu to choose sites for houses (Yang-domain Feng Shui) and burial grounds (Yin-domain Feng Shui). Since then, Feng Shui has been widely practiced till nowadays in China.
In ancient China, the Feng Shui master was a spiritual master as well. He studied the forces of nature, the direction and force of the wind and water, the surrounding elements, the qualities of yin and yang, the seasons, the earth energies, the quality of the land, the building materials, and the direction of the building in order to maximize the vital energy "Chi" of the dwelling. Each factor was crucial in building an auspicious place to live, worship or work.
Today, people all over the world are becoming aware of the importance of the many factors that affect the vital energy of buildings. However, many of us live and work in environments that were created without these factors in mind. Through the simple practice and learning some basic principles (tips) of Feng Shui, we can benefit in health, career, wealth, business, relationship, etc. It can be as simple as placing your couch in the best location in your living room, your table in the best location in your office, placing a tree in your garden/yard, or as complex as placing your house in the best location on your property.
Feng Shui was originally used to choose propitious burial sites for the wealthy and palace locations for royalty. The ancient Chinese studied the signs the earth left behind (known as Geomancy), such as wind-worn trees, sharp protruding rocks or soft meandering streams. They thought the land's energy could make or break a kingdom. For instance, if the capital city was built on land with nourishing energy, the country would prosper; if it was built on land carrying malevolent energy, the country would suffer catastrophe. Likewise, if an emperor were buried on or near landforms with positive energy, his dynasty would last longer, and if he were buried on or near landforms with negative energy, his dynasty would fall.
At the beginning of the Chou (Zhou) dynasty (1122-207 BCE), King Wen first used the Pa-Kua to describe patterns of change in the natural world. By the eighth century BCE, the Chinese were using the Pa-Kua and the I-Ching to promote the flow of nourishing energy inside a city or a palace and thus bring the kingdom harmony and wealth.
The Han dynasty (206 BCE-219 CE) saw the founding of the art of Kan-Yu (Kan means "mountains" and Yu means "low places"), or the study of the energy carried in landforms. Kan-Yu was championed by the Taoists Huang-shih Kung and Ching Wu, who argued that geological bodies, particularly mountains and rivers, are filled with vital energy. The pathways of energy in mountains are called dragon veins, while those in waterways are called water dragons.
The three building blocks of Feng Shui was then laid down: i.e. the Compass, the Pa-Kua (in Cantonese) or Ba Gua (in Mandarin) (known in the west as Eight Trigrams), and the I-Ching (known in the west as the Theory of Change).
In the Chin dynasty (265-420 CE) everyday citizens started using Kan-Yu to choose sites for houses (Yang-domain Feng Shui) and burial grounds (Yin-domain Feng Shui). Since then, Feng Shui has been widely practiced till nowadays in China.
In ancient China, the Feng Shui master was a spiritual master as well. He studied the forces of nature, the direction and force of the wind and water, the surrounding elements, the qualities of yin and yang, the seasons, the earth energies, the quality of the land, the building materials, and the direction of the building in order to maximize the vital energy "Chi" of the dwelling. Each factor was crucial in building an auspicious place to live, worship or work.
Today, people all over the world are becoming aware of the importance of the many factors that affect the vital energy of buildings. However, many of us live and work in environments that were created without these factors in mind. Through the simple practice and learning some basic principles (tips) of Feng Shui, we can benefit in health, career, wealth, business, relationship, etc. It can be as simple as placing your couch in the best location in your living room, your table in the best location in your office, placing a tree in your garden/yard, or as complex as placing your house in the best location on your property.
Kamis, 22 Januari 2009
LEGENDA IMLEK/ Sin Cia (Xinnian/Chun Jie)
Konon di zaman dahulu kalah hidup seekor monster bernama nian (年) (*1) monster tersebut bertanduk tunggal, bermata besar dan berkuku tajam. Monster tersebut bertempat tinggal di dalam lautan, sepanjang tahun dia habiskan waktunya untuk tidur (seperti tidur musim dingin pada beruang). Namun setiap musim semi dia akan bangun dari tidurnya untuk mencari makanan. Makanan kesukaan monster nian tersebut adalah manusia. Bukan hanya memburuh manusia, monster tersebut juga memporak-porandakan ladang penduduk dan merusak panen.
Karena adanya monster tersebut yang memburu manusia setiap musim semi, maka penduduk selalu mengungsi ke dataran tinggi pada awal musim semi. Para penduduk selalu menyiapkan bekal makanan (*2) selama di pengungsian mereka, dan karena tidak ada yang tau bagaimana nasib besok mereka dituntut untuk menyelesaikan hutang piutang sebelum mengungsi (*3). Demikian juga para anak akan melakukan ronda selama orang tua mereka tidur (*4). Tidak lupa mereka diwajibkan untuk berkumpul (*5) bersama-sama dalam keluarga supaya bisa saling menjaga.
Keadaan tersebut berlangsung cukup lama, hingga suatu musim semi. Seorang pengemis (*6) melewati desa tersebut untuk meminta makanan, ia mendapatkan desa dalam keadaan kosong. Ia berjalan menelusuri desa tersebut untuk mencari orang yang bisa diminta sekaligus mencari tahu menyebab hilangnya penduduk desa tersebut. Akhirnya dia menemukan seorang nenek dan menanyakan penyebab lenyapnya warga desa. Sang nenek lalu menjelaskan soal monster nian dan pengungsian penduduk.
Sang nenek yang baik hati lalu memberikan makanan kepada si pengemis. Pengemis itu lalu bertanya, kenapa nenek tidak ikut mengungsi ?. Anak dan cucu saya telah menjadi korban tahun lalu, saya sudah tua sulit ikut mengungsi, jika monster nian datang saya akan melawan sebisa saya. Si pengemis menjadi iba pada sang nenek, lalu mengatakan pada sang nenek bahwa sesungguhnya mahluk tersebut takut pada tiga hal yaitu: Mahluk yang lebih besar dan seram daripada dia (*7), suara keras dan bising (*8) dan warna merah (*9). Lalu si pengemis meminta sang nenek menyediakan kain besar untuk membuat binatang-binatangan dan mencat depan rumah menjadi merah serta berpakain merah, lalu dia mengumpulkan batang-batang bambu supaya menimbulkan suara ledakan saat dibakar.
Setelah ditunggu-tunggu, akhirnya monster nian muncul si pengemis bergegas memakai kain yang telah dibuat menyerupai binatang monster serta minta sang nenek membakar batang bambu yang sudah disediakan serta memukul benda apa saja yang bisa menimbulkan suara bising. Mendapatkan sambutan demikian monster nian sangat kaget lalu terbang menuju khayangan dan tidak pernah kembali lagi.
Atas peristiwa kemenagan ini, penduduk desa merayakannya setiap tahun sebagai hari raya besar serta perayaan panen.Perayaan diadakan dengan cara meniru apa yang telah dilakukan oleh si pengemis dan sang nenek, juga sebagai tindakan pencegahan akan kembalinya monster nian. Para penduduk mendatangi rumah-rumah kerabat untuk mengucapkan selamat atas terbebasnya mereka dari ancaman monster nian. Sebagai balasan, setiap keluarga menyediakan minuman, kue-kuean untuk tamu mereka, mereka juga menyediakan permen bagi anak-anak dan kertas merah (*10) bagi mereka. Demikianlah perayaan tersebut turun temurun hingga kini.
===================================================
*1 : kata “nian” kemudian menjadi penanda waktu satu tahun
*2 : sebagai tradisi, orang selalu memenuhi gentong beras dan air juga penyediaan makanan lainnya.
*3 : tradisi membayar utang sebelum sin cia (tradisi ini sudah memudar sesuai jaman)
*4 : shou yue (守夜), begadang. biasanya main mahjong atau ngobrol sampai pagi
*5 : tuan yuan (团圆), tradisi kumpul atau tradisi mudik bagi yang merantau
*6 : konon diyakinin sebagai jelmaan dewa
*7 : Asal usul barongsai/tarian singa (舞狮) dan kemudian disusul tarian naga (舞龙)
*8 : Genderang dan petasan
*9 : Warna favorite pada hari sin cia, juga tempelan tulisan sanjak berpasangan dipintu (对联)
*10: Sekarang umum disebut angpao (红包)
Selain tradisi diatas masih ada banyak tradisi simbolik antara lain:
- Makan Ikan : Yu (ikan) yang berbunyi sama dengan Yu (Saldo), melambangkan saldo melimpah
- Makan daun bawang : Shuan (bawang putih) sama bunyinya dengan shuan (hitung/menghitung), melambangkan ada uang yang dihitung setiap tahun
- Kue China/Kue Keranjang : Nian Gao, gao (kue) mempunyai bunyi yang sama dengan gao (tinggi), melambangkan peningkatan kualitas hidup setiap tahun
- Segala manisan: melambangkan kehidupan yang manis
- Jeruk/Jeruk besar: Ju (jeruk mandarin) mempunyai bunyi yang sama dengan ju (segala yang positif/baik, antara lain: sehat, aman, tenteram)
dan tradisi-tradisi simbolik lainnya yang sangat banyak sesuai daerah dan suku masing-masing.
Karena adanya monster tersebut yang memburu manusia setiap musim semi, maka penduduk selalu mengungsi ke dataran tinggi pada awal musim semi. Para penduduk selalu menyiapkan bekal makanan (*2) selama di pengungsian mereka, dan karena tidak ada yang tau bagaimana nasib besok mereka dituntut untuk menyelesaikan hutang piutang sebelum mengungsi (*3). Demikian juga para anak akan melakukan ronda selama orang tua mereka tidur (*4). Tidak lupa mereka diwajibkan untuk berkumpul (*5) bersama-sama dalam keluarga supaya bisa saling menjaga.
Keadaan tersebut berlangsung cukup lama, hingga suatu musim semi. Seorang pengemis (*6) melewati desa tersebut untuk meminta makanan, ia mendapatkan desa dalam keadaan kosong. Ia berjalan menelusuri desa tersebut untuk mencari orang yang bisa diminta sekaligus mencari tahu menyebab hilangnya penduduk desa tersebut. Akhirnya dia menemukan seorang nenek dan menanyakan penyebab lenyapnya warga desa. Sang nenek lalu menjelaskan soal monster nian dan pengungsian penduduk.
Sang nenek yang baik hati lalu memberikan makanan kepada si pengemis. Pengemis itu lalu bertanya, kenapa nenek tidak ikut mengungsi ?. Anak dan cucu saya telah menjadi korban tahun lalu, saya sudah tua sulit ikut mengungsi, jika monster nian datang saya akan melawan sebisa saya. Si pengemis menjadi iba pada sang nenek, lalu mengatakan pada sang nenek bahwa sesungguhnya mahluk tersebut takut pada tiga hal yaitu: Mahluk yang lebih besar dan seram daripada dia (*7), suara keras dan bising (*8) dan warna merah (*9). Lalu si pengemis meminta sang nenek menyediakan kain besar untuk membuat binatang-binatangan dan mencat depan rumah menjadi merah serta berpakain merah, lalu dia mengumpulkan batang-batang bambu supaya menimbulkan suara ledakan saat dibakar.
Setelah ditunggu-tunggu, akhirnya monster nian muncul si pengemis bergegas memakai kain yang telah dibuat menyerupai binatang monster serta minta sang nenek membakar batang bambu yang sudah disediakan serta memukul benda apa saja yang bisa menimbulkan suara bising. Mendapatkan sambutan demikian monster nian sangat kaget lalu terbang menuju khayangan dan tidak pernah kembali lagi.
Atas peristiwa kemenagan ini, penduduk desa merayakannya setiap tahun sebagai hari raya besar serta perayaan panen.Perayaan diadakan dengan cara meniru apa yang telah dilakukan oleh si pengemis dan sang nenek, juga sebagai tindakan pencegahan akan kembalinya monster nian. Para penduduk mendatangi rumah-rumah kerabat untuk mengucapkan selamat atas terbebasnya mereka dari ancaman monster nian. Sebagai balasan, setiap keluarga menyediakan minuman, kue-kuean untuk tamu mereka, mereka juga menyediakan permen bagi anak-anak dan kertas merah (*10) bagi mereka. Demikianlah perayaan tersebut turun temurun hingga kini.
===================================================
*1 : kata “nian” kemudian menjadi penanda waktu satu tahun
*2 : sebagai tradisi, orang selalu memenuhi gentong beras dan air juga penyediaan makanan lainnya.
*3 : tradisi membayar utang sebelum sin cia (tradisi ini sudah memudar sesuai jaman)
*4 : shou yue (守夜), begadang. biasanya main mahjong atau ngobrol sampai pagi
*5 : tuan yuan (团圆), tradisi kumpul atau tradisi mudik bagi yang merantau
*6 : konon diyakinin sebagai jelmaan dewa
*7 : Asal usul barongsai/tarian singa (舞狮) dan kemudian disusul tarian naga (舞龙)
*8 : Genderang dan petasan
*9 : Warna favorite pada hari sin cia, juga tempelan tulisan sanjak berpasangan dipintu (对联)
*10: Sekarang umum disebut angpao (红包)
Selain tradisi diatas masih ada banyak tradisi simbolik antara lain:
- Makan Ikan : Yu (ikan) yang berbunyi sama dengan Yu (Saldo), melambangkan saldo melimpah
- Makan daun bawang : Shuan (bawang putih) sama bunyinya dengan shuan (hitung/menghitung), melambangkan ada uang yang dihitung setiap tahun
- Kue China/Kue Keranjang : Nian Gao, gao (kue) mempunyai bunyi yang sama dengan gao (tinggi), melambangkan peningkatan kualitas hidup setiap tahun
- Segala manisan: melambangkan kehidupan yang manis
- Jeruk/Jeruk besar: Ju (jeruk mandarin) mempunyai bunyi yang sama dengan ju (segala yang positif/baik, antara lain: sehat, aman, tenteram)
dan tradisi-tradisi simbolik lainnya yang sangat banyak sesuai daerah dan suku masing-masing.
ANGPAO kenapa jadi tradisi IMLEK??
Tanya:
Asal usul tradisi memberikan angpao sewaktu menyambut tahun baru Imlek.
Jawab:
Sejak lama, warna merah melambangkan kebaikan dan kesejahteraan di dalam kebudayaan Tionghoa. Warna merah menunjukkan kegembiraan, semangat yang pada akhirnya akan membawa nasib baik.
Angpao sendiri adalah dialek Hokkian, arti harfiahnya adalah bungkusan/amplop merah. Sebenarnya, tradisi memberikan angpao sendiri bukan hanya monopoli tahun baru Imlek, melainkan di dalam peristiwa apa saja yang melambangkan kegembiraan seperti pernikahan, ulang tahun, masuk rumah baru dan lain2, angpao juga akan ditemukan.
Angpao pada tahun baru Imlek mempunyai istilah khusus yaitu “Ya Sui“, yang artinya hadiah yang diberikan untuk anak2 berkaitan dengan pertambahan umur/pergantian tahun. Di zaman dulu, hadiah ini biasanya berupa manisan, bonbon dan makanan. Untuk selanjutnya, karena perkembangan zaman, orang tua merasa lebih mudah memberikan uang dan membiarkan anak2 memutuskan hadiah apa yang akan mereka beli. Tradisi memberikan uang sebagai hadiah Ya Sui ini muncul sekitar zaman Ming dan Qing. Dalam satu literatur mengenai Ya Sui Qian dituliskan bahwa anak2 menggunakan uang untuk membeli petasan, manisan. Tindakan ini juga meningkatkan peredaran uang dan perputaran roda ekonomi di Tiongkok di zaman tersebut.
Angpao apakah disebut angpao di zaman dulu? Bagaimana bentuknya?
Tidak. Uang kertas pertama kali digunakan di Tiongkok pada zaman Dinasti Song, namun baru benar2 resmi digunakan secara luas di zaman Dinasti Ming. Walaupun telah ada uang kertas, namun karena uang kertas nominalnya biasanya sangat besar sehingga jarang digunakan sebagai hadiah Ya Sui kepada anak2.
Di zaman dulu, karena nominal terkecil uang yang beredar di Tiongkok adalah keping perunggu (wen atau tongbao). Keping perunggu ini biasanya berlubang segi empat di tengahnya. Bagian tengah ini diikatkan menjadi untaian uang dengan tali merah. Keluarga kaya biasanya mengikatkan 100 keping perunggu buat Ya Sui orang tua mereka dengan harapan mereka akan berumur panjang.
Jadi, dari sini dapat kita ketahui bahwa bungkusan kertas merah (angpao) yang berisikan uang belum populer di zaman dulu.
Pemberian angpao apakah punya makna tersendiri?
Orang Tionghoa menitik beratkan banyak masalah pada simbol-simbol, demikian pula halnya dengan tradisi Ya Sui ini. Sui dalam Ya Sui berarti umur, mempunyai lafal yang sama dengan karakter Sui yang lain yang berarti bencana. Jadi, Ya Sui bisa disimbolkan sebagai “mengusir/meminimalkan bencana” dengan harapan anak2 yang mendapat hadiah Ya Sui akan melewati 1 tahun ke depan yang aman tenteram tanpa halangan berarti.
Siapa yang wajib memberikan angpao dan berhak menerima angpao?
Di dalam tradisi Tionghoa, orang yang wajib dan berhak memberikan angpao biasanya adalah orang yang telah menikah, karena pernikahan dianggap merupakan batas antara masa kanak2 dan dewasa. Selain itu, ada anggapan bahwa orang yang telah menikah biasanya telah mapan secara ekonomi. Selain memberikan angpao kepada anak2, mereka juga wajib memberikan angpao kepada yang dituakan.
Bagi yang belum menikah, tetap berhak menerima angpao walaupun secara umur, seseorang itu sudah termasuk dewasa. Ini dilakukan dengan harapan angpao dari orang yang telah menikah akan memberikan nasib baik kepada orang tersebut, dalam hal ini tentunya jodoh. Bila seseorang yang belum menikah ingin memberikan angpao, sebaiknya cuma memberikan uang tanpa amplop merah.
Namun tradisi di atas tidak mengikat. Sekarang ini, pemberikan angpao tentunya lebih didasarkan pada kemapanan secara ekonomi, lagipula makna angpao bukan sekedar terbatas berapa besar uang yang ada di dalamnya melainkan lebih jauh adalah bermakna senasib sepenanggungan, saling mengucapkan dan memberikan harapan baik untuk 1 tahun ke depan kepada orang yang menerima angpao tadi.
Asal usul tradisi memberikan angpao sewaktu menyambut tahun baru Imlek.
Jawab:
Sejak lama, warna merah melambangkan kebaikan dan kesejahteraan di dalam kebudayaan Tionghoa. Warna merah menunjukkan kegembiraan, semangat yang pada akhirnya akan membawa nasib baik.
Angpao sendiri adalah dialek Hokkian, arti harfiahnya adalah bungkusan/amplop merah. Sebenarnya, tradisi memberikan angpao sendiri bukan hanya monopoli tahun baru Imlek, melainkan di dalam peristiwa apa saja yang melambangkan kegembiraan seperti pernikahan, ulang tahun, masuk rumah baru dan lain2, angpao juga akan ditemukan.
Angpao pada tahun baru Imlek mempunyai istilah khusus yaitu “Ya Sui“, yang artinya hadiah yang diberikan untuk anak2 berkaitan dengan pertambahan umur/pergantian tahun. Di zaman dulu, hadiah ini biasanya berupa manisan, bonbon dan makanan. Untuk selanjutnya, karena perkembangan zaman, orang tua merasa lebih mudah memberikan uang dan membiarkan anak2 memutuskan hadiah apa yang akan mereka beli. Tradisi memberikan uang sebagai hadiah Ya Sui ini muncul sekitar zaman Ming dan Qing. Dalam satu literatur mengenai Ya Sui Qian dituliskan bahwa anak2 menggunakan uang untuk membeli petasan, manisan. Tindakan ini juga meningkatkan peredaran uang dan perputaran roda ekonomi di Tiongkok di zaman tersebut.
Angpao apakah disebut angpao di zaman dulu? Bagaimana bentuknya?
Tidak. Uang kertas pertama kali digunakan di Tiongkok pada zaman Dinasti Song, namun baru benar2 resmi digunakan secara luas di zaman Dinasti Ming. Walaupun telah ada uang kertas, namun karena uang kertas nominalnya biasanya sangat besar sehingga jarang digunakan sebagai hadiah Ya Sui kepada anak2.
Di zaman dulu, karena nominal terkecil uang yang beredar di Tiongkok adalah keping perunggu (wen atau tongbao). Keping perunggu ini biasanya berlubang segi empat di tengahnya. Bagian tengah ini diikatkan menjadi untaian uang dengan tali merah. Keluarga kaya biasanya mengikatkan 100 keping perunggu buat Ya Sui orang tua mereka dengan harapan mereka akan berumur panjang.
Jadi, dari sini dapat kita ketahui bahwa bungkusan kertas merah (angpao) yang berisikan uang belum populer di zaman dulu.
Pemberian angpao apakah punya makna tersendiri?
Orang Tionghoa menitik beratkan banyak masalah pada simbol-simbol, demikian pula halnya dengan tradisi Ya Sui ini. Sui dalam Ya Sui berarti umur, mempunyai lafal yang sama dengan karakter Sui yang lain yang berarti bencana. Jadi, Ya Sui bisa disimbolkan sebagai “mengusir/meminimalkan bencana” dengan harapan anak2 yang mendapat hadiah Ya Sui akan melewati 1 tahun ke depan yang aman tenteram tanpa halangan berarti.
Siapa yang wajib memberikan angpao dan berhak menerima angpao?
Di dalam tradisi Tionghoa, orang yang wajib dan berhak memberikan angpao biasanya adalah orang yang telah menikah, karena pernikahan dianggap merupakan batas antara masa kanak2 dan dewasa. Selain itu, ada anggapan bahwa orang yang telah menikah biasanya telah mapan secara ekonomi. Selain memberikan angpao kepada anak2, mereka juga wajib memberikan angpao kepada yang dituakan.
Bagi yang belum menikah, tetap berhak menerima angpao walaupun secara umur, seseorang itu sudah termasuk dewasa. Ini dilakukan dengan harapan angpao dari orang yang telah menikah akan memberikan nasib baik kepada orang tersebut, dalam hal ini tentunya jodoh. Bila seseorang yang belum menikah ingin memberikan angpao, sebaiknya cuma memberikan uang tanpa amplop merah.
Namun tradisi di atas tidak mengikat. Sekarang ini, pemberikan angpao tentunya lebih didasarkan pada kemapanan secara ekonomi, lagipula makna angpao bukan sekedar terbatas berapa besar uang yang ada di dalamnya melainkan lebih jauh adalah bermakna senasib sepenanggungan, saling mengucapkan dan memberikan harapan baik untuk 1 tahun ke depan kepada orang yang menerima angpao tadi.
Perayaan Tahun Baru Imlek
Perayaan Tahun Baru Imlek
Perayaan ImlekDalam jutaan orang Tionghoa yang ada di dunia ini, ternyata yang mengetahui sejarah dan asal usul Tahun Baru Imlek memang tidak banyak. Biasanya mereka hanya merayakannya dari tahun ke tahun bila kalender penanggalan Imlek telah menunjukan tanggal satu bulan satu. Jenis dan cara merayakannya pun bisa berbeda dari satu suku dengan yang lain.
Hal ini dikarenakan luasnya daratan Tiongkok dengan beraneka ragamnya kondisi alam, lingkungan baik secara geografis maupun demografis, belum lagi secara etnis. Ada yang dimulai dengan sembahyang kepada Thian dan para Dewa, serta leluhur, ada pula yang dimulai dengan makan ronde, maupun kebiasaan-kebiasaan lain sebelum saling berkunjung antar sanak saudara sambil tidak lupa membagi-bagi “Ang Pau” untuk anak-anak, yang tentu saja menerimanya dengan penuh kegembiraan.
Sebenarnya penanggalan Tionghoa dipengaruhi oleh 2 system kalender, yaitu sistem Gregorian dan sistem Bulan-Matahari, dimana satu tahun terbagi rata menjadi 12 bulan sehingga tiap bulannya terdiri dari 29 ½ hari. Penanggalan ini masih dilengkapi dengan pembagian 24 musim yang amat erat hubungannya dengan perubahan-perubahan yang terjadi pada alam, sehingga pembagian musim ini terbukti amat berguna bagi pertanian dalam menentukan saat tanam maupun saat panen.
Di bawah ini adalah beberapa contoh dari pembagian 24 musim tersebut:
- Permulaan musim semi
Hari pertama pada musim ini adalah hari pertama Perayaan Tahun Baru, atau saat dimulainya Perayaan Musim Semi (Chun Jie).
- Musim hujan
Di mana hujan mulai turun.
- Musim serangga
Serangga mulai tampak setelah tidur panjangnya selama musim dingin.
- dll (Masih terdapat 21 musim lain yang terlalu panjang untuk dibahas satu persatu)
Selain dari pembagian musim di atas, dalam penanggalan Tionghoa juga dikenal istilah Tian Gan dan Di Zhi yang merupakan cara unik dalam membagi tahun-tahun dalam hitungan siklus 60 tahunan. Masih ada lagi hitungan siklus 12 tahunan, yang kita kenal dengan “Shio”, yaitu Tikus, Sapi, Macan, Kelinci, Naga, Ular, Kuda, Kambing, Monyet, Ayam, Anjing, Babi.
Kesimpulannya, penanggalan Tionghoa tidak hanya mengikuti satu sistem saja, tetapi juga ada beberapa unsur yang mempengaruhi, yaitu musim, 5 unsur, angka langit, shio, dll. Walaupun demikian, semua perhitungan hari ini dapat terangkum dengan baik menjadi satu sistem “Penanggalan Tionghoa” yang baik, lengkap dan harmonis bahkan hampir bisa dikatakan sempurna karena sudah mencakup “Koreksi” -nya juga, sebagai contoh adalah “Lun Gwe”, merupakan bulan untuk mengkoreksi setelah satu periode tertentu.
Perayaan Tahun Baru Imlek merupakan sebuah perayaan besar bagi masyarakat Tionghoa. Menggantung lentera merah, membunyikan petasan dan menyembunyikan sapu adalah salah satu keunikan dari perayaan ini. Disamping itu, masyarakat Tionghoa juga akan mulai menempel gambar Dewa Penjaga Pintu pada hari-hari perayaan ini.
Perayaan ImlekDalam jutaan orang Tionghoa yang ada di dunia ini, ternyata yang mengetahui sejarah dan asal usul Tahun Baru Imlek memang tidak banyak. Biasanya mereka hanya merayakannya dari tahun ke tahun bila kalender penanggalan Imlek telah menunjukan tanggal satu bulan satu. Jenis dan cara merayakannya pun bisa berbeda dari satu suku dengan yang lain.
Hal ini dikarenakan luasnya daratan Tiongkok dengan beraneka ragamnya kondisi alam, lingkungan baik secara geografis maupun demografis, belum lagi secara etnis. Ada yang dimulai dengan sembahyang kepada Thian dan para Dewa, serta leluhur, ada pula yang dimulai dengan makan ronde, maupun kebiasaan-kebiasaan lain sebelum saling berkunjung antar sanak saudara sambil tidak lupa membagi-bagi “Ang Pau” untuk anak-anak, yang tentu saja menerimanya dengan penuh kegembiraan.
Sebenarnya penanggalan Tionghoa dipengaruhi oleh 2 system kalender, yaitu sistem Gregorian dan sistem Bulan-Matahari, dimana satu tahun terbagi rata menjadi 12 bulan sehingga tiap bulannya terdiri dari 29 ½ hari. Penanggalan ini masih dilengkapi dengan pembagian 24 musim yang amat erat hubungannya dengan perubahan-perubahan yang terjadi pada alam, sehingga pembagian musim ini terbukti amat berguna bagi pertanian dalam menentukan saat tanam maupun saat panen.
Di bawah ini adalah beberapa contoh dari pembagian 24 musim tersebut:
- Permulaan musim semi
Hari pertama pada musim ini adalah hari pertama Perayaan Tahun Baru, atau saat dimulainya Perayaan Musim Semi (Chun Jie).
- Musim hujan
Di mana hujan mulai turun.
- Musim serangga
Serangga mulai tampak setelah tidur panjangnya selama musim dingin.
- dll (Masih terdapat 21 musim lain yang terlalu panjang untuk dibahas satu persatu)
Selain dari pembagian musim di atas, dalam penanggalan Tionghoa juga dikenal istilah Tian Gan dan Di Zhi yang merupakan cara unik dalam membagi tahun-tahun dalam hitungan siklus 60 tahunan. Masih ada lagi hitungan siklus 12 tahunan, yang kita kenal dengan “Shio”, yaitu Tikus, Sapi, Macan, Kelinci, Naga, Ular, Kuda, Kambing, Monyet, Ayam, Anjing, Babi.
Kesimpulannya, penanggalan Tionghoa tidak hanya mengikuti satu sistem saja, tetapi juga ada beberapa unsur yang mempengaruhi, yaitu musim, 5 unsur, angka langit, shio, dll. Walaupun demikian, semua perhitungan hari ini dapat terangkum dengan baik menjadi satu sistem “Penanggalan Tionghoa” yang baik, lengkap dan harmonis bahkan hampir bisa dikatakan sempurna karena sudah mencakup “Koreksi” -nya juga, sebagai contoh adalah “Lun Gwe”, merupakan bulan untuk mengkoreksi setelah satu periode tertentu.
Perayaan Tahun Baru Imlek merupakan sebuah perayaan besar bagi masyarakat Tionghoa. Menggantung lentera merah, membunyikan petasan dan menyembunyikan sapu adalah salah satu keunikan dari perayaan ini. Disamping itu, masyarakat Tionghoa juga akan mulai menempel gambar Dewa Penjaga Pintu pada hari-hari perayaan ini.
Senin, 19 Januari 2009
Bagi bagi ANGPAO di EX PLAZA INDONESIA
Hai Guys..please welcome on 24 January 2 days before Imlek ceremony.... to celebrate IMLEK with me... at 19.00-21.00,- we will share our happy together , and i have big surprise ..big angpao...:) BIG OX angpao....see you there
Senin, 05 Januari 2009
20 visualisations to health, wealth & happiness
Your inner mind has great power to enhance your life, bringing an avalanche of success and a flow of abundance. When you master the ability to keep images of victory and prosperity vividly in your mind, your outer reality merges magically with your inner power. It is then that the supremacy of your mind and the vividness of your imagination combine to bring all your needs, desires and wants into magical reality. Such is the power of visualizations. To master the techniques of mental imaging, you need to tune inwards and mentally remove all stains of outer negativities.
Practise visualizing images that show you surrounded by personal abundance; and picture yourself letting go of negativities. This is how luck works. It starts by making the mind positive and strong. Here are 20 easy ways to visualize your way to health, wealth and happiness.
1. Think of the sun
You can cheer yourself up just by thinking of sunny days. Coming out of the winter, the sun is especially embracing. And even in countries that get bright sunshine all year round, people never tire of the joy of sunshine. If you find yourself feeling down, depressed or low for any reason at all, visualize the sun and its powerful yang energy filling your entire being with strength and happiness. Better still, if there is sunshine outside, step outdoors and let yourself physically soak up the energy of the sun. You will feel instantly energized.
2. Shrug off negativities
Shrug off thoughts that eat into your self-confidence as if they were bits of fluff – as if they were nothing more than minor misdemeanors of the mind. Visualize your shoulders lifting and your head tilting as if to get rid of this kind of thinking. Negative thinking not only robs us of our confidence and self worth, they also make us needlessly afraid.
3. Radiate a silent power
Tap into unseen forces within you. Reach inside for the wisdom, strength and the power of silence. Use your inner force. Think of it as a bright, white light inside you. Feel it move along the meridians in your body, lighting up your heart, your throat, your head, and you will soon start to exude an effortless strength that speaks volumes. Tap the power inside yourself so that it may show up on the outside, in what you say, what you do and how you do it.
4. Pretend you are the best
The mind is a powerful tool, probably more powerful than any physical attributes or in-born talents you may have. So utilize the power of your mind as fully as you can. Start by pretending you are the best in whatever you are pursuing. If you are looking for career advancement, pretend you are the best in your field. If you are looking for first-rate exam results, imagine you are the top student. Reality begins with but a single thought. The more you think of yourself as the best, the nearer to your fantasy you will find yourself, until it becomes reality for you.
5. Take a new perspective
Try looking at an old routine in a new way. Or try looking at someone you see each day in a new way. Make yourself do this consciously. When you start to take control of your mind like this, you will be amazed at the fresh new insights that come to you, which can lead to some most exciting discoveries.
6. Keep initial goals easy
The secret to continuing success is simply to break down big goals into a series of little ones, and start with the easy goals while you slowly make your way up the learning curve. This strategy makes achievement a lot easier and more attainable. Everything can be broken down into smaller and more manageable parts; you just need to make the effort to do that breakdown in your mind. Once you have a plan, keep focused on the path you draw out for yourself, and your ultimate goal will come within reach.
7. Be careful what you wish for
Every positive thing you have read about the power of the mind is true. Fantasies can become realities if you just go on picturing them over and over again in your mind. But sometimes manifested fantasies don’t turn out so good in the reality. So before you go wishing for things, be sure they are what you really want! In the harsh light of reality, fantasies can sometimes become nightmares!
8. Nothing is a coincidence
All of life’s coincidences are in reality not coincidences at all. When you live in a state of constant awareness, it is not difficult to find the linkages between every event and every circumstance that happens, and every person who appears in your life at any moment in time. Everything happens for a reason. Think through the last few days of your life, all the thoughts that crossed your mind and all the things that happened. Then meditate on them and try to link them all. You might begin to realize some insights you had earlier missed!
9. Music affects you more than you think
Music will change the energies and the vibrations around you. Happy songs lift the spirits, while melancholic music makes you feel depressed, unhappy and lethargic. Sometimes when you feel sad for absolutely no reason at all, you’ll find you’ve been listening to unhappy music. If you catch yourself doing that, switch to a happy tune and you will soon notice the difference. It is a good idea to make it a rule never to listen to melancholic music, as constantly playing something downbeat is like chanting a negative mantra!
10. Avoid negative people
In life, you will always come across the odd person who will make comments that annoy you, knock your confidence or make you doubt your self-worth. If you come across such a person, take what they say with a pinch of salt and imagine their negative comments evaporating into thin air or rolling off you like water off a duck’s back. Such people can only get to you if you let them. So don’t let them. You are stronger than that.
Practise visualizing images that show you surrounded by personal abundance; and picture yourself letting go of negativities. This is how luck works. It starts by making the mind positive and strong. Here are 20 easy ways to visualize your way to health, wealth and happiness.
1. Think of the sun
You can cheer yourself up just by thinking of sunny days. Coming out of the winter, the sun is especially embracing. And even in countries that get bright sunshine all year round, people never tire of the joy of sunshine. If you find yourself feeling down, depressed or low for any reason at all, visualize the sun and its powerful yang energy filling your entire being with strength and happiness. Better still, if there is sunshine outside, step outdoors and let yourself physically soak up the energy of the sun. You will feel instantly energized.
2. Shrug off negativities
Shrug off thoughts that eat into your self-confidence as if they were bits of fluff – as if they were nothing more than minor misdemeanors of the mind. Visualize your shoulders lifting and your head tilting as if to get rid of this kind of thinking. Negative thinking not only robs us of our confidence and self worth, they also make us needlessly afraid.
3. Radiate a silent power
Tap into unseen forces within you. Reach inside for the wisdom, strength and the power of silence. Use your inner force. Think of it as a bright, white light inside you. Feel it move along the meridians in your body, lighting up your heart, your throat, your head, and you will soon start to exude an effortless strength that speaks volumes. Tap the power inside yourself so that it may show up on the outside, in what you say, what you do and how you do it.
4. Pretend you are the best
The mind is a powerful tool, probably more powerful than any physical attributes or in-born talents you may have. So utilize the power of your mind as fully as you can. Start by pretending you are the best in whatever you are pursuing. If you are looking for career advancement, pretend you are the best in your field. If you are looking for first-rate exam results, imagine you are the top student. Reality begins with but a single thought. The more you think of yourself as the best, the nearer to your fantasy you will find yourself, until it becomes reality for you.
5. Take a new perspective
Try looking at an old routine in a new way. Or try looking at someone you see each day in a new way. Make yourself do this consciously. When you start to take control of your mind like this, you will be amazed at the fresh new insights that come to you, which can lead to some most exciting discoveries.
6. Keep initial goals easy
The secret to continuing success is simply to break down big goals into a series of little ones, and start with the easy goals while you slowly make your way up the learning curve. This strategy makes achievement a lot easier and more attainable. Everything can be broken down into smaller and more manageable parts; you just need to make the effort to do that breakdown in your mind. Once you have a plan, keep focused on the path you draw out for yourself, and your ultimate goal will come within reach.
7. Be careful what you wish for
Every positive thing you have read about the power of the mind is true. Fantasies can become realities if you just go on picturing them over and over again in your mind. But sometimes manifested fantasies don’t turn out so good in the reality. So before you go wishing for things, be sure they are what you really want! In the harsh light of reality, fantasies can sometimes become nightmares!
8. Nothing is a coincidence
All of life’s coincidences are in reality not coincidences at all. When you live in a state of constant awareness, it is not difficult to find the linkages between every event and every circumstance that happens, and every person who appears in your life at any moment in time. Everything happens for a reason. Think through the last few days of your life, all the thoughts that crossed your mind and all the things that happened. Then meditate on them and try to link them all. You might begin to realize some insights you had earlier missed!
9. Music affects you more than you think
Music will change the energies and the vibrations around you. Happy songs lift the spirits, while melancholic music makes you feel depressed, unhappy and lethargic. Sometimes when you feel sad for absolutely no reason at all, you’ll find you’ve been listening to unhappy music. If you catch yourself doing that, switch to a happy tune and you will soon notice the difference. It is a good idea to make it a rule never to listen to melancholic music, as constantly playing something downbeat is like chanting a negative mantra!
10. Avoid negative people
In life, you will always come across the odd person who will make comments that annoy you, knock your confidence or make you doubt your self-worth. If you come across such a person, take what they say with a pinch of salt and imagine their negative comments evaporating into thin air or rolling off you like water off a duck’s back. Such people can only get to you if you let them. So don’t let them. You are stronger than that.
Jumat, 02 Januari 2009
A Dozen Hot Tips to Feng Shui Your Workspace
Yohan Suyangga (January 2009) FengshuiJakarta.blogspot.com
People who work spend most of their waking hours at the office, so it is imperative to have a harmonious work environment. Functioning in a properly feng shui-ed office makes a world of difference to productivity and interpersonal relationships. It makes you enjoy coming to work. Harmony at the workplace diffuses bitchiness, reduces politicking and minimizes gossip - things that can cause much unhappiness. Good feng shui in your personal space helps you achieve recognition and promotion.
Given these benefits, can anyone afford NOT to ensure their workspace has been properly feng shui-ed?
1. Watch Your Back
Anyone who wants to harm you will find it easier to stealthily creep up on you when you are not watching and hit you from behind. So it makes sense when feng shui repeatedly warns you to watch your back. Make sure you have good back support where you sit.
If you are in a desk job, ensure the back of your chair is placed so there is a solid wall behind you. Sitting with your back to the door is incredible bad news. But a window directly behind you can also be bad. Close such windows with heavy blinds and display support symbols of career success behind you.
These are the dragon tortoise , the turtle, or a painting of a mountain. Get one that does not have water painted into the scenery.
2. Avoid Sitting Facing A Wall
A desk that is placed facing a wall acts as a barrier to promotion. If you cannot move your desk, hang a picture of scenery featuring an open field to symbolize your own personal "bright hall". Or hang on image of a phoenix on the wall in front of you to symbolize being faced with many opportunities. This will help counter the negative effects of facing a wall, and will create the cause for you to change desk to one with better feng shui.
3. Display A Rooster
The rooster is the best symbol to use to counter office politics. If you are constantly dodging underhanded tactics from co-workers, display a rooster with a prominent beak and comb to peck away at unwanted politicking. Another good symbol to use is the jade cicada, best worn as a bracelet.
4. Display A Crystal Sphere To Absorb Negative Chi
Nothing ensures harmony and more efficiently than crystal spheres. Place six in various sizes in the space you have consciously defined as your own. This will ensure your hours spent at work are pleasant and rewarding. Crystal spheres have great, active power in this period of 8.
5. Avoid Being In A Confrontational Setting Arrangement
Position your work desk so you are not directly facing anyone else. It is better to have your back to someone than to be positioned facing another person directly, because facing someone constantly will cause confrontational energies to build up between you and that person. Even if you work for someone and cannot change the layout of the entire office, try to ensure that at least your own desk is positioned to avoid this.
6. Choose The Right Chair
The chair you sit in at work will have a bearing on how well you do in your career. Because you have to sit in it for long periods at a time, especially in a desk job, get a chair that is ergonomically designed to prevent back and neck strain. Herman Miller chairs are wonderful office chairs because they are specially designed to minimize aches and strains, allowing you to sit at length without getting tired or uncomfortable. Chairs meant for visitors on the other hand do not need to be overly comfy, lest they overstay their welcome! When picking sofa sets and settees for meeting areas, go with something not too comfy, for the same reasons. Harder sofa sets also generate a more dynamic type of chi energy more suited to the workplace.
7. Do Not Sit Too Near To The Door
Sitting too near the door, especially the front door in an open plan offi ce, is an unprotected and vulnerable location to occupy. If the office lay-out is such that someone has to be nearer the door than others, and that someone happens to be you, try to sit such that you avoid having your back to the door. Make sure you can see the door at all times, so you have a view of people approaching. Make doubly sure you have the necessary support symbols with you to counter the negative effects of such a desk location. At the next opportunity to move desk, do so!
8. Tidy Up The Clutter
A cluttered desk is the surest way to dull your efficiency. Make it a point each morning to spend just 10 minutes clearing your workspace. Do not let newspapers, books and stationery mess up your space. People who say they prefer an "organized mess" have not enjoyed the joys of a tidy desk and will marvel at how efficient they can become if they work in a less cluttered manner.
9. Beware Of Hidden Storage
While you tidy up your desk, it is easy to simply shove unwanted documents and papers untidily into drawers and cabinets where they cannot be seen. Although this improves the outward appearance of your desk, over time, this can build up into stagnant energy that harms your success at work unseen. Do not neglect your drawers and filing cabinets. Make it a point to every now and then go through and organize your drawers. Throw away what you don't need.
10. Avoid Sharp Edges
Make sure you don't have sharp edges that point directly towards where you sit. Sharp edges are poison arrows that send harmful shar chi or killing breath towards you. The killing energy sent your way will not just hamper your career success; it could also cause you to fall ill, get cheated or get blamed for everything.
11. Work With Good Lighting
A well-designed office is one where lighting is well-designed. Natural lighting is best, so have as many windows as possible. However, half windows are better than full-length windows for areas where work desks are located. Full-length windows bring in too much yang energy, making it difficult to concentrate and creates a feeling of vulnerability. Basement offices with few or no windows are seldom auspicious. To supplement natural light, best is to use full spectrum lighting, which simulates natural daylight bringing b etter visibility, health and efficiency. Another way to characterize light is white versus yellow light. White light is better for offices, because the overly cosy ambience created by yellow light slows down productivity.
12. Sit Facing Your Sheng Chi
The best direction to ensure career and business success is to tap your Sheng Chi by sitting facing that direction. Find your sheng chi from your Kua number using the Eight Mansions formula. If you cannot tap your Sheng Chi, try and sit facing one of your other three auspicious directions. It is defi nitely a MUST to carry a handy compass at all times so when you attend meetings away from the comfort zone of your desk, you can make it a point to sit facing a good direction. This will give you an edge when you interact with people. Make this a life long habit.
People who work spend most of their waking hours at the office, so it is imperative to have a harmonious work environment. Functioning in a properly feng shui-ed office makes a world of difference to productivity and interpersonal relationships. It makes you enjoy coming to work. Harmony at the workplace diffuses bitchiness, reduces politicking and minimizes gossip - things that can cause much unhappiness. Good feng shui in your personal space helps you achieve recognition and promotion.
Given these benefits, can anyone afford NOT to ensure their workspace has been properly feng shui-ed?
1. Watch Your Back
Anyone who wants to harm you will find it easier to stealthily creep up on you when you are not watching and hit you from behind. So it makes sense when feng shui repeatedly warns you to watch your back. Make sure you have good back support where you sit.
If you are in a desk job, ensure the back of your chair is placed so there is a solid wall behind you. Sitting with your back to the door is incredible bad news. But a window directly behind you can also be bad. Close such windows with heavy blinds and display support symbols of career success behind you.
These are the dragon tortoise , the turtle, or a painting of a mountain. Get one that does not have water painted into the scenery.
2. Avoid Sitting Facing A Wall
A desk that is placed facing a wall acts as a barrier to promotion. If you cannot move your desk, hang a picture of scenery featuring an open field to symbolize your own personal "bright hall". Or hang on image of a phoenix on the wall in front of you to symbolize being faced with many opportunities. This will help counter the negative effects of facing a wall, and will create the cause for you to change desk to one with better feng shui.
3. Display A Rooster
The rooster is the best symbol to use to counter office politics. If you are constantly dodging underhanded tactics from co-workers, display a rooster with a prominent beak and comb to peck away at unwanted politicking. Another good symbol to use is the jade cicada, best worn as a bracelet.
4. Display A Crystal Sphere To Absorb Negative Chi
Nothing ensures harmony and more efficiently than crystal spheres. Place six in various sizes in the space you have consciously defined as your own. This will ensure your hours spent at work are pleasant and rewarding. Crystal spheres have great, active power in this period of 8.
5. Avoid Being In A Confrontational Setting Arrangement
Position your work desk so you are not directly facing anyone else. It is better to have your back to someone than to be positioned facing another person directly, because facing someone constantly will cause confrontational energies to build up between you and that person. Even if you work for someone and cannot change the layout of the entire office, try to ensure that at least your own desk is positioned to avoid this.
6. Choose The Right Chair
The chair you sit in at work will have a bearing on how well you do in your career. Because you have to sit in it for long periods at a time, especially in a desk job, get a chair that is ergonomically designed to prevent back and neck strain. Herman Miller chairs are wonderful office chairs because they are specially designed to minimize aches and strains, allowing you to sit at length without getting tired or uncomfortable. Chairs meant for visitors on the other hand do not need to be overly comfy, lest they overstay their welcome! When picking sofa sets and settees for meeting areas, go with something not too comfy, for the same reasons. Harder sofa sets also generate a more dynamic type of chi energy more suited to the workplace.
7. Do Not Sit Too Near To The Door
Sitting too near the door, especially the front door in an open plan offi ce, is an unprotected and vulnerable location to occupy. If the office lay-out is such that someone has to be nearer the door than others, and that someone happens to be you, try to sit such that you avoid having your back to the door. Make sure you can see the door at all times, so you have a view of people approaching. Make doubly sure you have the necessary support symbols with you to counter the negative effects of such a desk location. At the next opportunity to move desk, do so!
8. Tidy Up The Clutter
A cluttered desk is the surest way to dull your efficiency. Make it a point each morning to spend just 10 minutes clearing your workspace. Do not let newspapers, books and stationery mess up your space. People who say they prefer an "organized mess" have not enjoyed the joys of a tidy desk and will marvel at how efficient they can become if they work in a less cluttered manner.
9. Beware Of Hidden Storage
While you tidy up your desk, it is easy to simply shove unwanted documents and papers untidily into drawers and cabinets where they cannot be seen. Although this improves the outward appearance of your desk, over time, this can build up into stagnant energy that harms your success at work unseen. Do not neglect your drawers and filing cabinets. Make it a point to every now and then go through and organize your drawers. Throw away what you don't need.
10. Avoid Sharp Edges
Make sure you don't have sharp edges that point directly towards where you sit. Sharp edges are poison arrows that send harmful shar chi or killing breath towards you. The killing energy sent your way will not just hamper your career success; it could also cause you to fall ill, get cheated or get blamed for everything.
11. Work With Good Lighting
A well-designed office is one where lighting is well-designed. Natural lighting is best, so have as many windows as possible. However, half windows are better than full-length windows for areas where work desks are located. Full-length windows bring in too much yang energy, making it difficult to concentrate and creates a feeling of vulnerability. Basement offices with few or no windows are seldom auspicious. To supplement natural light, best is to use full spectrum lighting, which simulates natural daylight bringing b etter visibility, health and efficiency. Another way to characterize light is white versus yellow light. White light is better for offices, because the overly cosy ambience created by yellow light slows down productivity.
12. Sit Facing Your Sheng Chi
The best direction to ensure career and business success is to tap your Sheng Chi by sitting facing that direction. Find your sheng chi from your Kua number using the Eight Mansions formula. If you cannot tap your Sheng Chi, try and sit facing one of your other three auspicious directions. It is defi nitely a MUST to carry a handy compass at all times so when you attend meetings away from the comfort zone of your desk, you can make it a point to sit facing a good direction. This will give you an edge when you interact with people. Make this a life long habit.
Feng Shui Love Tips for Valentines Day
By Yohan Suyangga (February 2009)
Valentines Day is just around the corner! Befitting this lovely occasion, here are some tips on how to make this Valentine's Day a memorable one for each one of you!
Tying the Knot This Year
For those who are tying the knot this year, the OX Year is an excellent year for getting married and what's even more special about this year is that St Valentine's Day (14th Feb) is actually on the Eve of the Chinese's New Year's Valentines Day (15th Day = Feb 15) which means that Valentines can last for 2 days instead of 1 this year! So those of you who have found or met someone already, or are engaged to be married this year, Congratulations!!! Well Done!!! Those who haven't found someone, - don't worry - here are some feng shui tips that can increase your probability of finding someone to love and to love you!
Throwing Mandarins into the Lake (To Fetch a Husband)
Traditionally, 15th Day of Chinese New Year (Feb 10th this year) or Chap Goh Mei is the night single ladies perform the ritual of throwing mandarins into the lake to ask the God of Marriage for a suitable beau! If you have been trying all these years to find a man, perhaps this is your chance to seize the auspicious luck for marriage brought by the Year of the Sheep! Obtain 3 mandarins and on each one, write the three most important traits of a man you want to marry. Silently ask the God of Marriage (who resides on the Moon) to send you a beau with those special traits you specified and then throw them into the lake which reflects the silver rays of the full moon! You need to remember that this is a ritual that only single or divorced women can do - do not attempt to do this if you're still married (even if you're separated!).
Introducing Feminine Energy in a Male Bedroom
While single ladies can throw mandarins into the lake to ask for a man, what do single men do? Well, if you're a male seeking to find a lady and have not had much success, look around your bedroom or apartment to see if your living space looks too male or in feng shui we call this too Yang! These are objects that reflect predominantly male interests such as guns, ships, cars, military equipment, hard colours, hard furnishing, hard leather chairs, deep/dark coloured furniture, posters of sports stars, pictures of war, etc. A room like this will only attract other male friends into your home! You need to start introducing some female or Yin energy into the room so that women are also attracted to your home. Introduce soft furnishings, softer lighthing and colours, posters of the dream girls you'd like to be with, sculptures, paintings of women, etc. If you're looking seriously for a woman to marry then be careful not to display types of women that you're likely NOT to marry as you don't want to attract the wrong kind of woman !!
Avoid Dark Red Roses with Thorns
Though it is the classical romantic bouquet to send during Valentine's Day, dark red roses actually have quite negative feng shui meaning! The colour red (apart from being used in marriage) symbolises bleeding and this has really negative connotations especially when the occasion concerned is all about celebrating love, companionship and happiness. The energy embued in bringing red roses with thorns are even more undesirable, so if you're planning to send flowers to your mate this year, avoid red roses with thorns. Roses by themselves are not bad - in fact pink, yellow, peach or cream roses (with thorns removed) have wonderful symbolic meanings associated with young love!
Red Lights in the Southwest
Energise the Southwest of your Living Room and Bedroom with Red lights! This is the ultimate conjugal secret for those wishing to have a more active social life inside and outside the bedroom! A friend of mine recently separated from her husband and was a little apprehensive that her separation would leave her alone and without companionship. On the very same week she moved into her flat, she purchased a pair of red lights which she placed on both sides of her double bed (which was on the Southwest corner of her bedroom). Since then, there have been not 1 but 4 different men knocking and calling at her door and one of them has already offered to take her on a trip to Europe!! If you don't want to use red lights, red candles are perfect too! This becomes doubly effective if used with Rose Quartz crystal mandarin ducks and paintings of Red Peonies in the Southwest!
Facing Your Love Direction on a Date
Everyone has a personal love (Nien Yen) direction depending on the date they were born. According to 8 Mansions Formula, each person's personal Nien Yen direction brings them happiness and good luck associated with marriage and matriarchal presence. For men, the Nien Yen direction helps you attract a good and gentle wife who will bear you many sons and take care of your parents. For women, the Nien Yen direction brings you opportunities to establish yourself as the Head wife of a household, and attract a man who will bring you happiness and prosperity through marriage. So if you've managed to ask someone special out for a dinner date on Valentine's, make sure you're sitting facing your Nien Yen direction on this date to maximise your feng shui luck for happiness! Who knows, this person might likely be the one! (Find out what your Love Direction is here.)
Remove Mirrors from the Bedroom
Finally, if you're bringing home your date for the night, or consumating a love relationship in the bedroom, I really recommend that you hide or remove your mirrors! Mirrors in the bedroom are really not advised for any type of relationship whether you're starting out or reliving a romance especially if you're pretty serious about this person! Mirrors are often said to reflect a third party in the relationship, symbolising a another person always coming in between two people. This often means an 'extra marital affair' but sometimes the third person can be anyone such as a discouraging relative, a green-eyed friend, etc...Two's a Company, Three's a crowd! Remove your mirrors, hide them or cover them up!
Valentines Day is just around the corner! Befitting this lovely occasion, here are some tips on how to make this Valentine's Day a memorable one for each one of you!
Tying the Knot This Year
For those who are tying the knot this year, the OX Year is an excellent year for getting married and what's even more special about this year is that St Valentine's Day (14th Feb) is actually on the Eve of the Chinese's New Year's Valentines Day (15th Day = Feb 15) which means that Valentines can last for 2 days instead of 1 this year! So those of you who have found or met someone already, or are engaged to be married this year, Congratulations!!! Well Done!!! Those who haven't found someone, - don't worry - here are some feng shui tips that can increase your probability of finding someone to love and to love you!
Throwing Mandarins into the Lake (To Fetch a Husband)
Traditionally, 15th Day of Chinese New Year (Feb 10th this year) or Chap Goh Mei is the night single ladies perform the ritual of throwing mandarins into the lake to ask the God of Marriage for a suitable beau! If you have been trying all these years to find a man, perhaps this is your chance to seize the auspicious luck for marriage brought by the Year of the Sheep! Obtain 3 mandarins and on each one, write the three most important traits of a man you want to marry. Silently ask the God of Marriage (who resides on the Moon) to send you a beau with those special traits you specified and then throw them into the lake which reflects the silver rays of the full moon! You need to remember that this is a ritual that only single or divorced women can do - do not attempt to do this if you're still married (even if you're separated!).
Introducing Feminine Energy in a Male Bedroom
While single ladies can throw mandarins into the lake to ask for a man, what do single men do? Well, if you're a male seeking to find a lady and have not had much success, look around your bedroom or apartment to see if your living space looks too male or in feng shui we call this too Yang! These are objects that reflect predominantly male interests such as guns, ships, cars, military equipment, hard colours, hard furnishing, hard leather chairs, deep/dark coloured furniture, posters of sports stars, pictures of war, etc. A room like this will only attract other male friends into your home! You need to start introducing some female or Yin energy into the room so that women are also attracted to your home. Introduce soft furnishings, softer lighthing and colours, posters of the dream girls you'd like to be with, sculptures, paintings of women, etc. If you're looking seriously for a woman to marry then be careful not to display types of women that you're likely NOT to marry as you don't want to attract the wrong kind of woman !!
Avoid Dark Red Roses with Thorns
Though it is the classical romantic bouquet to send during Valentine's Day, dark red roses actually have quite negative feng shui meaning! The colour red (apart from being used in marriage) symbolises bleeding and this has really negative connotations especially when the occasion concerned is all about celebrating love, companionship and happiness. The energy embued in bringing red roses with thorns are even more undesirable, so if you're planning to send flowers to your mate this year, avoid red roses with thorns. Roses by themselves are not bad - in fact pink, yellow, peach or cream roses (with thorns removed) have wonderful symbolic meanings associated with young love!
Red Lights in the Southwest
Energise the Southwest of your Living Room and Bedroom with Red lights! This is the ultimate conjugal secret for those wishing to have a more active social life inside and outside the bedroom! A friend of mine recently separated from her husband and was a little apprehensive that her separation would leave her alone and without companionship. On the very same week she moved into her flat, she purchased a pair of red lights which she placed on both sides of her double bed (which was on the Southwest corner of her bedroom). Since then, there have been not 1 but 4 different men knocking and calling at her door and one of them has already offered to take her on a trip to Europe!! If you don't want to use red lights, red candles are perfect too! This becomes doubly effective if used with Rose Quartz crystal mandarin ducks and paintings of Red Peonies in the Southwest!
Facing Your Love Direction on a Date
Everyone has a personal love (Nien Yen) direction depending on the date they were born. According to 8 Mansions Formula, each person's personal Nien Yen direction brings them happiness and good luck associated with marriage and matriarchal presence. For men, the Nien Yen direction helps you attract a good and gentle wife who will bear you many sons and take care of your parents. For women, the Nien Yen direction brings you opportunities to establish yourself as the Head wife of a household, and attract a man who will bring you happiness and prosperity through marriage. So if you've managed to ask someone special out for a dinner date on Valentine's, make sure you're sitting facing your Nien Yen direction on this date to maximise your feng shui luck for happiness! Who knows, this person might likely be the one! (Find out what your Love Direction is here.)
Remove Mirrors from the Bedroom
Finally, if you're bringing home your date for the night, or consumating a love relationship in the bedroom, I really recommend that you hide or remove your mirrors! Mirrors in the bedroom are really not advised for any type of relationship whether you're starting out or reliving a romance especially if you're pretty serious about this person! Mirrors are often said to reflect a third party in the relationship, symbolising a another person always coming in between two people. This often means an 'extra marital affair' but sometimes the third person can be anyone such as a discouraging relative, a green-eyed friend, etc...Two's a Company, Three's a crowd! Remove your mirrors, hide them or cover them up!
Feng Shui For The Children Room
Children are always growing and are usually full of energy. It is thus best to use more yang than yin features in bedrooms for children. This means more light and more noise. Avoid hanging fierce looking pictures or figurines like wild animals.
Bad placement of the bed and study desk will cause problems to the child’s health and performance in school.
For children, the sitting and sleeping directions are the two vital factors in getting feng shui right.
1. Arrange the children’s bed to face their Fu Wei direction. It is not necessary to tap the wealth direction, since they have not yet entered the job market. Instead, activate for good health and study luck.
2. Focus on the study desk. Make sure they are tapping their Fu Wei direction when they are studying or doing homework.
Things To Take Into Consideration When Arranging The Study Room
1. Do not place the desk with a window or a door behind the chair.
2. Do not have a tree growing too near to your child’s bedroom.
3. Do not have a protruding air conditioner or exposed beam on top of the desk.
4. Avoid sharp edges of cupboards, pillars and protruding corners.
5. Do not have open shelves in the bedroom.
6. Do not place the study desk between the door and window.
7. Make sure the NE sector of house is not affected by a toilet, storeroom or kitchen. If it is, place a 6-rod metal windchime to exhaust the afflicted earth energy there.
Feng Shui Enhancers for Study Luck
1. Place a crystal globe in the NE of the room. Turn the crystal globe 3 times a day.
2. Place a 7 level pagoda in the NE of the study desk to bring good examination luck.
3. Give your child a personal crystal point. The crystal should sit on the study desk when he/she is studying, and under the pillow when he/she is sleeping. Place it on the study desk while studying. Your child should carry the crystal point into exams.
4. Place 5 different colours of glitter lamps in the NE sector of the bedroom to activate for study luck.
Bad placement of the bed and study desk will cause problems to the child’s health and performance in school.
For children, the sitting and sleeping directions are the two vital factors in getting feng shui right.
1. Arrange the children’s bed to face their Fu Wei direction. It is not necessary to tap the wealth direction, since they have not yet entered the job market. Instead, activate for good health and study luck.
2. Focus on the study desk. Make sure they are tapping their Fu Wei direction when they are studying or doing homework.
Things To Take Into Consideration When Arranging The Study Room
1. Do not place the desk with a window or a door behind the chair.
2. Do not have a tree growing too near to your child’s bedroom.
3. Do not have a protruding air conditioner or exposed beam on top of the desk.
4. Avoid sharp edges of cupboards, pillars and protruding corners.
5. Do not have open shelves in the bedroom.
6. Do not place the study desk between the door and window.
7. Make sure the NE sector of house is not affected by a toilet, storeroom or kitchen. If it is, place a 6-rod metal windchime to exhaust the afflicted earth energy there.
Feng Shui Enhancers for Study Luck
1. Place a crystal globe in the NE of the room. Turn the crystal globe 3 times a day.
2. Place a 7 level pagoda in the NE of the study desk to bring good examination luck.
3. Give your child a personal crystal point. The crystal should sit on the study desk when he/she is studying, and under the pillow when he/she is sleeping. Place it on the study desk while studying. Your child should carry the crystal point into exams.
4. Place 5 different colours of glitter lamps in the NE sector of the bedroom to activate for study luck.
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