10,000 Blessings Feng Shui Blog

Feng Shui Consultant's House on Chinese New Year's Eve

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Greet the Lunar New Year Like an Honored Guest with Feng Shui

 

The Chinese New Year begins on the New Moon and it’s believed that whatever happens this day determines your luck for the year… so welcome the energies of The Year of the Golden Rabbit with open arms, great joy, beauty and festivity as you would a beloved friend and honored guest!

1.  So, NO losing one’s temper, vulgarity, bad manners, swearing, slander, talk of death, harsh words, cooking, knives, dumping garbage, cleaning, sweeping, killing animals or borrowing money today.  If a dish is broken, say “peace throughout year” as quickly as possible.

2.  Say nice things to other people and have a beautiful smile for everyone!

3.  All day long keep: 

• the windows and doors open to allow new luck to fill the house
• the house well-lit!
• keep incense and red altar candles burning day and night to encourage longevity
• eat a minimum of two or more helpings of food at every meal as this symbolizes abundance of food for the New Year.  No eating meat, though, today, in honor of the Gods of Heaven and Earth coming.
• wish people “Gung hay fat choy!” (wishing you good fortune and happiness) at the same time placing your right hand in fist and cover with left hand, bow your hands twice.

4.  Wear your bright, new red clothes, shoes and purse! This is very auspicious as it symbolically leaves last year’s stale energies behind!

5.  Greet everyone with kind words and wishes.  The traditional greeting is “Gong Xi Fa Cai” or “Gong Hay Fat Choy” meaning “congratulations on your good fortune” or “wishing you a prosperous New Year by striking it rich”. 

6.  Make sure your first taste is of something sweet such as candy (!) or a sweet tea so that everything you say this year will be sweet and welcoming to the ears.

7.  Make sure to exchange Lucky Red Packets with your family members for money luck.

8.  Roll 8 cases or 88 or 8 single oranges (or baby kumquats) one by one through your front door (and every exterior door that comes into your home) and across your threshold as well as real coins, cash, gold chocolate coins and ingots into your home and business to symbolize filling them with an abundance of good luck and prosperity.  You can then share your oranges with guests and as gifts to neighbors.

9.  Then, visit temple to venerate the Gods.  Pay respect to the ancestors with luxury foods, incense and red candles.  Welcome the Deities of Heaven and Earth.  Then, visit your grandparents, then your parents then your friends.  Guests should bring gifts of oranges or tangerines with a red envelope, a potted flowering plant, candied fruits or New Years cakes. 

 MAY YOUR YEAR OF THE GOLDEN RABBIT BLESS YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES WITH GREAT FORTUNE + HAPPINESS!!!

 

 

Inspiring Videos for the Chinese New Year

 

1.  Welcoming the God of Fortune into the Home

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gbVjIjtMxw&feature=related

 

2.  A Mini-Parade in San Francisco

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGA4SVlqaNM

 

3.  Various Lunar New Year Customs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me-LH-fgS54

 

4.  A Special Dragon Dance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKsTts2KKJA&feature=related

 

5.  A Super-fun Kung Fu Welcoming the God of Fortune

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmR_VZMB41U&feature=related

Make Your Own Feng Shui Wishing Tree for the Chinese New Year

 

Make your very own “Wishing Tree”!  Although Taoist and Buddhist in its origins, this is a very popular ritual for everyone to do during the Chinese New Year as well as other festivals. Traditionally, they are placed outside (or, if it needs to be inside, near a window) so that the wind can carry your wishes to the Heaven Realm.

If you don’t have a tree to use, you could always take large branches and spray paint them gold and put these in a large vase stabilized with stones at the bottom.

Your tree could first be decorated with fairy lights or candle lanterns, if you wish.  Then, you have several variations to choose from:

1.  Write your wishes for the coming New Year on red and gold ribbons and then tie them to the branches of your Wishing Tree.  This is very similar to a Tibetan prayer flag, where your wish flutters in the wind.

2.  Write your wishes on red ribbon looped inside of a big golden medallion and then throw it up onto a tree branch trying to get it snag and stay. 

Here’s a short video to watch that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-fS-9CFkPE&feature=related

3.  Write your name, birth date and wish on bright red and yellow joss papers (or red paper or bright paper inside a red envelope) attached to an orange.   Throw up onto the tree and try to snag it on a branch so your wish ascends to Heaven.  If the wish stays in the tree, it will be granted!  Here’s a sweet video of this…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FDDyjrFN0k

4.  Throw coins at red cards inscribed with gold calligraphied blessings.  If you hit the card with a coin, you get the wish!  The coins are then traditionally given to charity.

5.  You could also make a Tibetan version, where you cover a tree with birds, jeweled pendants, crystal spheres, lotus flowers, silk scarves and fruits.

 MAY ALL YOUR WISHES COME TRUE!

Feng Shui Practices for the Hungry Ghost Festival Month

 

During the seventh lunar month (which begins August 10^th, this year) it’s believed that the gates of heaven and hell are opened up and spirits are free to roam the earth where they seek food and entertainment. These ghosts are believed to be ancestors of those who have forgotten to pay tribute to them after they had died or who suffered deaths and were never given a proper ritual for a send-off are trapped between the realms and simply unable to move on.  Spirits from the Heaven Realm come to visit their descendants, as well.  Hungry ghosts are so desperate to be fed that if left unappeased can bring misfortune to those whose chi energy levels are depleted or whose luck is low.

People burn joss paper effigies of worldly goods such as houses, cars, cell phones, money and televisions to provide their comfort in the afterlife and please the ghosts.

There will be night-time performances of Chinese Opera and dramas are performed at night at very high volumes to please the ghosts and the front rows of seats are always left empty for them to sit!

All through the month, Buddhist and Taoists hold ceremonies to relieve ghosts from their suffering often throwing rice in the air in all directions to “feed the hungry ghosts”.

Traditionally, the Chinese believe that this is a time when travelling, moving house, starting a new business, signing contracts, buying real estate, getting married, swimming, taking evening strolls or giving birth (if at all possible!) are avoided.

Please see my accompanying blog post to see Feng Shui ways to protect yourself this month.

Here are some ways to honor the Hungry Ghosts:

1.  On the first day of the month (August 10^th), ancestors are honored with offerings of food, incense, and ghost money - paper money which is burned so the spirits can use it. These offerings are done at makeshift altars set up OUTSIDE the homes and businesses.

2.  Every night of this lunar month, burn sweet-smelling incense every night in front of the door to your home or you can circumambulate with it clockwise around each room as well as the entire home with your favorite prayer or mantra. 

You can use this Sanskrit one to Avalokiteshavara if you’d like: “Namah sarva tathagatha avalokite om sambhara sambhara hung.”

After you’ve completed your incense ritual, dedicate the offering to the spirit protectors and landlords of your land as well as to ancestral ghosts and wandering spirits and ask for their protection.

3.  On the fifteenth day of the month (August 24^th) it’s Full Moon and the time to give the ghosts a sumptuous feast to please them and bring good luck to your own family.  Taoists and Buddhists perform ceremonies on this day to ease the sufferings of the deceased.

4.  On September 7^th, two weeks after the Festival, put paper lotus candle lanterns outside your home as well as float them on the river to help the ghosts find their way back home.

 

Feng Shui Your Seventh Lunar Month: Ghosts, Zodiac, Elements and Mercury Clashes

 

Ghosts Visit, the Monkey and Tiger Fight, Mercury Goes Retro and the Elements Clash—this isn’t a Movie, it’s August 2010!

Alright my friends, fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a wild month!  The 7^th Lunar Month is typically the most dangerous and inauspicious month of the year so please be forewarned, be proactive and do your Feng Shui and then RELAX into it because negative energy is not absolute.

Since we can’t change the Heaven Fate (whereas we can affect change on Human and Earth Luck), here’s what we have to work with this lunar month:

 

In the Four Pillars astrology chart there will be a clash between wood and metal, which usually signifies violence and burglary.

 

Next, the Earthly branches themselves also clash involving the Monkey and Tiger, two natural enemies in the Zodiac.  This clash suggests serious problems surfacing in marriage or between lovers as well as traffic accidents.

Added to that, many Asians, Buddhists and Taoists honor the Hungry Ghost Month which begins this year on August 10^th’s New Moon and ends September 7^th.  The Hungry Ghost Festival takes place on Full Moon, August 24^th this year. You can visit my blog for ways to honor the dead. But be aware that the spirits are so desperate to be fed that if left unappeased, they can bring misfortune to those whose chi energy levels are depleted or whose luck is running low.

And if that wasn’t enough, there’s another Mercury Retrograde coming August 20^th lasting until September 12^th.  This affects travel, communications and computers.

 

So please, my friends, it’s imperative to be extra careful when driving your car, walking out and about at night (especially on lonely streets) or when travelling.  Watch out for mischief, accidents, theft and losing your possessions. 

 

Below are some easy-to-implement Feng Shui practices to offer you peace of mind and safety this month.  Wherever you see a price, you can order the cure directly from me and I’ll pop it in the mail for you—just send me an email at info@10KBlessingsFengShui.com

 

1.  Perform an ACT OF CHARITY by feeding the spirits with burning incense and joss papers:

·     Everyday sandalwood incense $3

·     Temple grade incense $30

·     Joss papers for Hungry Ghosts $9

 

2.  Place PROTECTION AT YOUR FRONT DOOR:

·     Place a Buddha, Mary, Jesus, Kuan Yin or a traditional Chinese protector such as Kuan Kung facing the front door

 

·     Put a copy of Grandmaster Lin Yun’s calligraphy created by mantra and prayer for protection, peace, happiness and auspiciousness to be hung or worn next to your body or placed in your home’s front entrance. $3

 

·     A string of firecrackers symbolically blasting away harmful “sha” energies from your home or business. $12

 

·     Ritually prepared for you, these symbolic “Five Buddha Firecrackers” safeguard your home and business and prevent burglary or accidents with protection and power. $27

 

·     This natural wu lou or bottle gourd is a receptacle for dissolving negative energy as well as protecting you and your home. Exquisitely hand-painted with either Kuan Yin or Buddha and activated by a red silk cord and tassel.  A ceremony of mantra and mudra is performed on your behalf. $27

 

 

3.  Carry or WEAR PROTECTION ON YOUR BODY:

·     Cinnabar jewelry.  Bracelets Cinnabar bracelets $12

·     A beautiful red cloth amulet with protective calligraphy from a Buddhist temple to wear for your protection. $3

·     A Kuan Yin Prayer Pouch with a brass medallion and a section of the Lotus Sutra from a temple in China.  You can add your own written prayer into the pouch then wear or hang in your auto or home for protection. $12

4.  Add or renew your DRIVING SAFETY CURES in your car

·     Hang an image of Kuan Yin from your rear-view mirror for protection. A beautiful image of the 1,000-armed Goddess of Mercy from a Buddhist temple. $9

·     Hang a faceted round glittering Swarovski crystal sphere (on 9” increments of red thread) from the rear view mirror visualizing light from the 10,000 Buddhas protecting you and all drivers $9

·     The Kuan Yin Prayer Pouch has a brass medallion and a section of the Lotus Sutra from a temple in China.  You can add your own written prayer into the pouch then hang in your auto for protection. $12

·     If you wish, you can receive three secret driving cures from the BTB tradition—the fee includes the ingredients plus instructions $27 plus 3 red envelopes

·     The 10 Mantra Treasure Gourd is hung in your car to prevent accidents and absorb any killing chi, this natural wu lou or bottle gourd is a receptacle for dissolving negative energy as well as protecting you and your car. Exquisitely hand-painted with either Kuan Yin or Buddha and activated by a red silk cord and tassel.  A ceremony is performed on your behalf. $27

 

5.  WEAR BRIGHT COLORS—red --the color of luck, protection and energy-- is the very best of all!

 

6.  IF YOU STAY IN A HOTEL, place a bowl of salt next to (or beneath) the bed and empty each morning.

 

7.  Aside from being PROACTIVE FOR THE MERCURY RETROGRADE such as backing up your computer, avoiding signing contracts, double- checking appointment times, expecting travel delays and having back-up plans for your phone, computer, letters, faxes and emails, please also implement these Feng Shui cures:

·     Put a small container of sea salt somewhere close to your computer

• Place a circle of bright red material down and on top of that, place a mirror the same size. Now put a 3D string of the 12 Zodiac animals (beautifully carved jade on a 22-inch knotted red cord. $18) on top of the mirror and place all of this beneath your landline phone set or beneath your cell while it’s charging.

·     Also tie a nine inch piece of red ribbon around any cord that attaches to your phones ($3 for a bundle of red silk ribbon)

·     Hang a 50mm clear glittering faceted Swarovski crystal sphere (hung on 9” increments of red thread) in the center of the room where your computer and phone are or directly above your desk $45

·     Or you can hang a metal wind-chime instead in the same places as above $27 for a temple bell crafted by the renowned Woodstock Bell Company in brass

 

8.  BURN INCENSE DAILY to purify your car, home and business—don’t forget to open the windows so the old energy leaves and the breeze carries in fresh, new life-force.

 

·     High-quality sandalwood incense made of natural herbs, resins and oils for purification, meditation, prayer and healing from a temple in San Francisco. $30 for 100 sticks

·     Everyday quality sandalwood incense made of natural herbs, resins and oils from China in a beautiful vessel. $3

 

 

 

 
 

 

New Moon Feng Shui Prosperity Ritual

 
Here’s another ritual you can do to celebrate the New Moon of fresh beginnings.  This one is for setting an intention for prosperity.

Print and cut out a check from www.abundancetapestry.com and fill out as you desire.  Place it in the prosperity corner of your desk (far upper left hand corner) beneath an image of a waterfall (the water element is related to cash flow in Feng Shui).  Seal with the Three Secret Reinforcements, if you know them.

 

See other ritual ideas under “Feng Shui for New Moons” on this blog.

 

Wishing you many blessings!

 

 

Feng Shui Your Treasure Map: Your Visual Wishing Jewel

 

Today’s New Moon in Aries is a very powerful one to harness the cosmic chi of new beginnings and create a Feng Shui Treasure Map or what I like to call a Visual Wishing Jewel.  Since we Feng Shui our life for our future, where we wish to go, a Vision Board or Treasure Map is a perfect visual embodiment of our wishes and prayers.

 

There's so much written about vision boards (if you're new to this practice, give it a Google search!) that I want to share with you ways to really energize and quicken your living affirmation with some very powerful Feng Shui tips.

Preparing Your Feng Shui Visual Wishing Jewel:

·     Create a supportive and energetic atmosphere in which you create your treasure map.  Light candles and incense, play meditative or uplifting music, wear red, do it alone or with loved ones.

·     Ideally, initiate your board on the new moon in Aries but any new moon, birthday or auspicious day at an auspicious time is just great.

·     Make sure to put your own image at the center.

·     Use the Bagua map for an energetic correspondence and placement of your images for relationship, prosperity, health, spiritual deepening and so on (if you need a copy of the Bagua, drop me an email.)

·     You can begin the ritual in the far left middle section which is the "Jen" or "Zhen" gua (or area) of spring, new beginnings, and governs your enthusiasm for living, growing and taking action for your desires and dreams.

·     Activate your board with light through tiny mirrors and glitter and the color red (such as three coins on red ribbon or a red envelope) for auspicious good luck.

·     You can fill a red envelope with a piece of red or gold paper on which you write some specific goals, prayers or affirmations and affix this to the front or back of your board.

·     Remember to include the Heavenly Benefactors and Energies which you can represent through pictures of deities, clouds, stars or angels.

·     A wonderful affirmation to write on your board in red ink is "The tide of Destiny has turned and now everything comes my way."

·     If you know the Three Secrets Reinforcement, finish with this ritual.

 

Placing Your Feng Shui Visual Wishing Jewel:

·     Always place your vision board in front of you (representing your future and where you're going) whether it's in your bedroom or office.

·     Look at it daily and, ideally, upon waking and before sleeping.

·     You can activate it further with down or up lighting or placing it on an altar.

·     Create mini-versions to carry in your car, purse, briefcase, day planner and so on.

New Moon Wishes with Feng Shui

 

This month, the New Moon falls on January 15th.  As we sit between the Solar New Year and the forthcoming Year of the Tiger (February 4^th) and Chinese New Year (February 14^th), this is an incredibly potent day to set strong intentions for the year. 

 

Here are three ideas to make the most of this special day:

 

1.  Toss three handfuls of a mix of five different grains (or birdseed) onto the earth sowing your heart’s desires and wishes.

 

2.  Get a red helium balloon and write your prayer or goal (with a black marker) and release to the Sky Dragons.  Keep an eye on your wish until it disappears into heaven.

 

3.  In red ink on pretty paper or black ink on red paper, write down three goals for this next year.  Read it aloud 3 times a day (first thing upon waking, at noon and again before sleeping).  I like to keep mine in a red envelope.  Do this for 9 consecutive days.  Keep the wishes where you can see them often and burn when your wishes come true.