Myth Buster 9: Bonsai Plants are Auspicious

A few years back a cousin requested for my help because he was encountering some financial difficulty. While his situation is not yet critical, his financial growth became stagnant. This is worrisome because the projected financial growth of his business is not meeting its expectations. He is also especially worried because he was relatively newly married (about a year) at that time and his wife was pregnant with their first baby. So the stress that he must be feeling is quite expected.

My cousin has always followed Feng Shui and I know that he has good business acumen. On top of that, his wife, before they got married, was base in Japan as a financial consultant and from what I know she is also shrewd when it comes to business. So I really wondered what could be wrong.

I did the Feng Shui of the house and office of my cousin, and he clarified that they hadn’t done much of a renovation. He also clarified, that his wife whose hobby is to do gardening is taking care of their garden pretty well. I inquired about their garden because I know that my cousin’s financial luck is largely ruled by the South where their garden is. Unable to find anything wrong, I decided to go and pay them a visit. I thought maybe there’s a new house or building around their area that’s affecting their Feng Shui.

Everything seems to be fine around their house, and inside their house everything was pretty much done the way I suggested. But when I saw their garden, I saw that while it’s now more beautiful and properly taken care of there’s something that might have been affecting their financial situation. Bonsai plants. My cousin-in-law who lived in Japan for about 7 years got fascinated with bonsai plants and went to study how to make bonsai plants.

My Feng Shui experience didn’t really involve so much bonsai plants so I really can’t be sure whether it’s the one causing the stagnant ‘growth’ of the financial growth of my cousin. However, I specifically remember that when I was in one of my Feng Shui class in Hong Kong, my Feng Shui teacher and a classmate talked about bonsai plants. Our teacher was explaining why Bonsai are unlucky, and my Japanese classmate was saying that it couldn’t be true because Japan and most Japanese who loves Bonsai are actually lucky. I really didn’t remember much of their argument but I told my cousin that the bonsai plants might be the one causing their financial concerns.

Bonsai may be pretty to look at, but because they’re stunted plants they’re essentially inauspicious.

Base on my own understanding, this is because Bonsai plants, while they’re really exquisite and pretty to look at, and can be considered to be quite an art, they’re actually not naturally small, they were stunted. Technically speaking, you have to ‘destroy’ their natural growth process for them to be small, you affect their Sheng Chi. Sheng Chi basically refers to growth, and in Feng Shui anything that is ‘stunted’ is essentially bad.

Of course, my cousin and cousin-in-law gave the same argument that my Japanese classmate raised. I told them that I’ll try to research more about it and will get back to them regarding the matter.

I called up my Hong Kong Feng Shui teacher, but just to be sure I also called up my Feng Shui teacher in Singapore. While they both essentially follow different school of thought of Feng Shui they both agreed that Bonsai plants creates bad Feng Shui. They also said that my interpretation was correct.

After being validated, I then have to raise the question if Bonsai creates bad Feng Shui, why then is Japan very successful. They said that while Bonsai is quite famous in Japan, the truth is very few people has them at home, this is because it is very hard to take care of it. Also, Bonsai only affects the luck of the sector where it is located. The bad effect to my cousin is with his financial growth because it was placed in his luck sector. If it was placed in the descendant luck sector, then the effect could be the absence of a children or bad descendant luck.

They also both said that they believe that it is affecting Japan’s descendant luck. They both said that Japan’s population is quite old, their old people are more than the younger ones, economically speaking for a country this is not a sound situation. They also added that Japan’s youth are not as respectful to their elders compared to their neighboring Asian countries.

Going back to my cousin, since my cousin – in – law is really unable to give up her Bonsai plants, I just had them place at a different section of their house. A sector where both of them won’t be really affected. I would have preferred that they totally get rid of the Bonsais but then again it’s an art for my cousin – in –law and there’s some emotional attachment. However, when their financial situation improved again after they transferred the bonsais, my cousin – in – law was the one who decided to totally get rid of the bonsais.

Feng Shui Tips for a Safe Travel

In my previous post – SIGNS OF A BAD TRAVEL LUCK, I talked about signs and/or omens of bad travel luck. I will now share with you the things that you can do before your travel to avoid these omens and to ensure a safe travel.

In the old times, a Taoist and Buddhist will never travel without consulting a Feng Shui expert or the Tong Shu, a Chinese Almanac, to check what are the auspicious and inauspicious travel date. However, this practice is slowly fading away, even amongst Feng Shui believers. Nevertheless, I still check on auspicious or neutral travel dates, but I personally avoid inauspicious travel dates.

Other than looking for the auspicious or neutral dates, I also do the following ritual before I travel:

I go to the temple to light some incense for a safe travel. I also pray for my family who is going to be left behind.

On a piece of yellow paper, I put my name and names of my travel companion. Details of my travel like departure date, flight number, destination, address abroad, arrival date. Then I put this under an image of a Buddha or Bodhisattva in our altar at home.I burn the said once I’m back.

I start praying the three full mala of the Kalachakra Mantra –OM AH HUM HO HAM KSHAMALA VARAYA HUM PHAT – three times a day, three days before I travel. I continuously to do so while I’m abroad and until on the day arrive.

Just before the flight, or the cruise, I visualize Sun Wukong at the front of the plane or ship, and is the one in control. To know more about Sun Wukong, please read – GETTING TO KNOW THE ‘GREAT SAGE, EQUAL OF HEAVEN’ MONKEY GOD CALLED SUN WUKONG!

I also always make sure that I have my WEALTH AND MASTER PROTECTION PENDANT with me. If you don’t have this you can also wear any Sun Wukong pendant. A Kuan Kong will also do. Aside from the WEALTH AND MASTER PROTECTION pendant, I also have my Kuan Yin pendant, Kalachakra Pendant, which is one of the symbols found in the WISH FULFILLING AND BUDDHA’S BLESSING MANTRA PENDANT.

Myth Buster 5: Arowana and Fish Horn are Lucky Fishes

Technically, this not a myth, taking care of Arowana and Fish Horn may bring luck to a person, specially if you got the a very auspicious looking Arowana or Fish Horn. The past decade or two saw the rise in the Arowana and Fish Horn business precisely for the belief and anecdotal testimonies that these fishes has brought so much luck to some people.

These testimonies, I would presume, are mostly true, because Arowana and Fish Horn are considered lucky fishes. In fact, a lot of professional Feng Shui consultants have capitalized on this truth that they started selling Arowana charms or Fish Horn charms.

Although, I’m writing about this belief under my Myth Buster series, this is actually a truth and not a myth, at least, technically, they’re not. There is truth to the belief the Arowana and Fish Horn is lucky fish. However, I don’t have either of the fish mentioned here.

Why? Because taking care of an Arowana and/or a Fish Horn would require me to have an aquarium. A tank of water! That will be detrimental to my Feng Shui because my Basket of Element as indicated by my Bazi shows that I have a very high weighting of the water element! As it is, without the proper Feng Shui cure for this, a high water element is creating some imbalance when it comes to my luck, and therefore I need to remedy it with Feng Shui. So having a tank of water around me such as an aquarium is like a Feng Shui suicide.

The only way of knowing whether you can have an aquarium is to check your Basket of Elements, which in turn can check only if you draw up your Bazi chart. In putting up an aquarium and taking care of fishes like Arowana and Fish Horn at home, it’s best to consult a Feng Shui expert.

Also, if you’re allowed to have an aquarium and take of auspicious fishes like the Arowana, Fish Horn, or Gold Fish, it is definitely inauspicious to feed them with live smaller fishes, worms, or even insects. I know this is what most experts recommend because this enhances the color and the beauty of the fish, however, in Buddhism; feeding them living foods create a lot of negative for the one who feeds them. You will just negate the entire auspicious blessing created by the beauty of the Arowana and Fish Horn.

The Mystical Mystic Knot

The Mystic Knot is one of the most popular and powerful Feng Shui tools, and because the Mystic Knot is truly mystical, it gained a resurgence of popularity in the last couple of decades.

I’m not sure as to when the Mystical Knot was first used in Feng Shui, and who was the first Feng Shui consultant or expert who incorporated it in Feng Shui. Unlike other Feng Shui cures or enhancers, not much is really known about the Mystic Knot. While it seems like it’s the infinity symbol (8) done six or eight times, the truth is nobody is really sure whether that’s really the case.

The Mystic Knot is also one of the auspicious objects in the Buddhist Eight Auspicious Objects and represents one of the main Buddhist teachings about endless birth and rebirth until we reach Buddhahood.

The Mystic Knot symbolizes a happy life filled with good fortune. Some Feng Shui experts say that this is a good symbol for long life or longevity. Personally, I don’t know whether it really has that kind of effect. However, base on experience and anecdotal stories from other Feng Shui experts and followers, it is clear that the Mystic Knot has the power to prolong whatever luck you are currently experiencing. The Mystic Knot works as an extension of good Feng Shui chi.

The Mystic Knot also has the ability to temper the effect of a bad Feng Shui but more than that it also serves a protection symbol if placed on the door and or windows.

The truth is the Mystic Knot is quite powerful that some people tend to exaggerate its true Feng Shui capabilities. While, I personally think its wrong, I still understand why some people and Feng Shui enthusiasts would say that a Mystic Knot is a powerful tool to protect marriage luck. Its infinity symbol can easily be interpreted as unending love. However, some of my Feng Shui teachers shared that when they recommended the Mystic Knot to some of their married clients, it didn’t have the expected effect. Some people also claim that the Mystic Knot is a powerful Feng Shui tool to create harmony. Again, this I think is another claim that needs more ‘investigation’ or research.

However, it is clear that the Mystic Knot is a good luck enhancer and cure of some Feng Shui afflictions or bad luck. It is also a good protection symbol if put on windows or doors. Recently, some Feng Shui experts has designed some bags where they put the symbol of Mystic Knot, I think this is an excellent idea because it will serves in the same manner as it does when placed on doors and windows.

Wearing a Mystic Knot pendant is considered auspicious, and like mentioned, it does jump-start or prolong one’s luck.

Paying Homage to Kuan Yin, the Buddha of Compassion!

I intentionally wrote 3 different posts about Kuan Yin (also spelled as Guan Yin, Quan Yin, Kwan Yin, Gwan Yin), because there is simply a lot to write about Kuan Yin. The first post is KUAN YIN: THE ONE WHO HEARS THE CRIES OF THE WORLD. The second post is UNDERSTANDING MERCY AND COMPASSION: THE TRANSFORMATION OF AVALOKITESVARA TO KUAN YIN.

Kuan Yin is also called ‘The Goddess of Mercy’, ‘Buddha of Compassion’, ‘Bodhisattva of Compassion’, ‘Guan Shi Yin’, ‘Kannon’ in Japan, ‘Avalokitesvara’ also spelled as Avalokiteshvara, ‘Chenrezig’, ‘Guanzizai’ are just some of the way she’s addressed.

However, allow me to share a few ways of paying homage to Kuan Yin. One way of paying homage to Kuan Yin is by inviting her into our house. It’s important that her image is placed on a ‘good’ spot. If possible, place her near the entrance, but do not put her in the kitchen, dining room, restroom and bedroom of married couples. Inviting her image to our home or office creates a lot of merit, and by simply having her image around us makes us closer to Kuan Yin.

You can also offer incense, clean water, flowers, fruits; lighted candles is also a very auspicious way of paying homage to the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

Wearing her image as pendant either in gold or a semi-precious stone like jade  is also a way of paying homage to Kuan Yin. It also gives us a visual representation of our ‘relationship’ to Kuan Yin that it helps us to become closer to the Bodhisattva.

My own Kuan Yin pendant has her sutra and other prayers written on the back. Any image of Kuan Yin will do, however, if you can get something that’s similar to my pendant the better. The bigger one has the shortest sutra in the world, the Heart Sutra that is largely associated with Kuan Yin. The smaller pendant has the White Robed Kuan Yin prayer. In Buddhism wearing or carrying sutras and prayers brings the same effect as if you saying it yourself. It has an effect of you continuously saying the sutra or prayer. You can also get a miniature Heart Sutra and carry it with your body, aside from being an homage to the Kuan Yin this serves as an instrument of your continues blessing from Kuan Yin.

Still another way of paying homage to Kuan Yin is by ‘sharing’ her with other people. Talking to people about Kuan Yin is one way of homage to Kuan Yin. You can do this orally or you can do this in written format. In the age of internet, this had become easier, because simply writing about her on your blog, or Facebook or Twitter account a lot of people get to know more about her. You can also buy several copies of the Heart Sutra or several of her images and share it to your friends and/or even strangers; it’s another way of paying homage to her.

There are many ways of paying homage to Kuan Yin, and you can come up with your own unique way of paying homage to her. However, I believe one best way of paying homage to Kuan Yin other than inviting her to our home or office and wearing her image as pendant is by chanting her mantra.

Reciting or chanting the mantra of Kuan Yin or Avalokitesvara is not only an act of homage, but it gives us a lot of merit from Kuan Yin. If you’re facing a big problem, recite her mantra and she will immediately come to your aid.

The Mantra of the Buddha of Compassion, Kuan Yin is OM MANI PADME HUM.

If you want to know more about Kuan Yin do read my first two posts about her. The first one is KUAN YIN: THE ONE WHO HEARS THE CRIES OF THE WORLD and the second one is UNDERSTANDING MERCY AND COMPASSION: THE TRANSFORMATION OF AVALOKITESVARA TO KUAN YIN.

Symbolic Script of the Mantra of the Buddha of Compassion

Myth Buster 4: Bats Brings Bad Luck!

Most people are afraid of bats, well, who can blame them bats indeed look quite scary. I personally am afraid of bats. Traveled once to Bohol and entered a bat cave and they’re really quite scary not to mention smelly!

However, bats are actually one of the most auspicious creatures! If a bat enters your house, it is a sign that something good is about to happen. If you are currently experiencing some misfortune, and a bat enters into your room or your house, or even if a bat appears on your window it’s a sure sign that something good is about to happen.

If you see a flock of flying bats, that’s a sign, that extreme windfall luck is about to happen. If a set of blocks went to live in a section of your house, that’s a sign that you’ll have continues luck.

If they went to the East side of your house or property that means you and your family will enjoy health luck and good family life. On the West, you’ll enjoy good descendant luck, one of the favored luck amongst Chinese. If they fly in to the South, your family or the head of the family will enjoy some fame and recognition luck. On the North, all members of the family will enjoy good career luck. In the Southeast, it means that the family will enjoy financial stability and may even be really rich. It The Southwest, will indicate the couples who stay in the house will have more love for each other. If a bat or bats went to stay in the Northeast, it means that the children in the house will do well in school. Lastly, if they in the Northwest, it means the father of the house will enjoy a good life.

When I went Bohol last year, I met this guy whose has tree full of bats. He was quite famous there because the locals actually believed that his property is haunted that’s why the bats went to stay there. This guy doesn’t believe in Feng Shui, but when I asked him why hasn’t he driven all the bats away. He shared that he believes that the bats has given him wealth luck. In fact, he now has a resort, and a lot of other properties since the bats have stayed in his property.

There’s nothing like having the real thing, but don’t ever cage a bat, because it will be bad luck. You can simulate this by inviting auspicious images of bat into your house. A bat with a wealth coin signifies wealth luck. Wearing a 5-Bat DZI will bring blessings and protect you from negative chi!

So the next time you see a bat don’t be afraid, instead, be thankful!

The Happy Fat Buddha: A Representation of Maitreya Buddha’s Blessings

Happy Fat Buddha or Laughing Buddha

Happy Fat Buddha or Laughing Buddha, as he is famously called by non-Buddhists, is undoubtedly one of the most famous and recognized image of a Buddha. The Happy Fat Buddha is in reality not a Buddha, at least, not yet. He is currently a Bodhisattva and a future Buddha who’ll replace the existing Historical Buddha which is Gautama Buddha or Sakyamuni (also spelled as Shakyamuni) Buddha. The Happy Fat Buddha or Laughing Buddha is in reality known as the Maitreya Buddha.

Buddhist scriptures states that we are currently under the ‘era’ of Sakyamuni Buddha, which is the fourth Buddha to have appeared on earth, there have been 3 others before him. It is said that his arrival will be at the time of the low point of human existence. He will come at a time where in mankind has forgotten about the Dharma (Buddhist teachings). This is not totally impossible because as shown in what is happening in Tibet, under the rule of China, the original Dharma is being purged and destroyed, albeit with extreme resistance from Tibetans and other Buddhists, but unfortunately, still with a lot of success. This answers why even after several recitations of Mantras it is still bound to happen, because it was prophesied in the Buddhist scriptures. In China, Buddhism has really taken a lot of different interpretations that are watered down. Buddhism, as any other religion in China, is closely monitored and censored by the government. Same thing is currently happening in other parts of Asia, such as Myanmar.

Going back to Maitreya Buddha or Happy Fat Buddha as he is normally called, is said to come when mankind is in need to be reminded of the Dharma. At present Maitreya Buddha is at present said to be living in Tusita Heaven, a celestial place where celestial Bodhisattvas are said to reside. In Tusita Heaven, it is said in the Buddhist scriptures, Maitreya Buddha constantly recites mantras and sutras for us. He also continuously gets lessons in preparation for his coming to earth where he’ll achieve enlightenment within 7 days and become a Buddha so that he can impart to us the Dharma.

Typically pictured seated on a throne either cross legged or feet flat on the floor, signifying that he’s waiting for his time, Maitreya is originally pictured as a slim, handsome prince. He is also usually dressed as a Indian royalty (India being the origin of Buddhism). As representation of him being a Bodhisattva, it is not uncommon to see that he is also adorned with jewels. A Khata is usually tied around his waist much like a belt.

Maitreya Buddha pictured in his original image.

Another representation of Maitreya Budda.

The idea of him pictured as a Happy Fat Buddha came about of what he represents. The Maitreya Buddha represents wealth, health, love, happiness or joy, success, peace, and harmony. In short, he represents what each person aspire for.

There are several stories as to why the image of Maitreya Buddha became that of the Happy Fat Buddha or Laughing Buddha. In fact, Maitreya is derived from Maitri which means Loving Kindness.

One of the story states that the image of the Happy Fat Buddha came about because of the Chinese buddhist monk Budai. Budai either claimed or people saw in him the qualities of Maitreya Buddha (the written history about this are not clear) that when he passed away people started using his image as the image of Maitreya Buddha.

Another story claims that Maitreya one day visited earth to share the sutras, however, all the women are unable to absorb his teachings because all they can see is a very handsome young prince and they fell in-love with him. Seeing that his image causes women to be distracted he transformed himself to a fat bald man.

Still another story is quite simple. When Buddhism was introduced in China, they’re unable to comprehend some aspect of the teachings of Buddhism. For example, Kuan Yin is a female representation of Avalokitesvara, the ‘Male’ Buddha of Compassion. However, Chinese are unable to comprehend the idea of a very loving, gentle, compassionate MALE being,  to make it easier for the people to understand the character and teachings of Avalokitesvara, they decided to represent her with a female image called Kuan Yin or Kwan Sheer Yin (He or She who hears the cries of the world). Allow me to briefly share here that it is said that it is Avalokitesvara himself who instructed some Indian and Tibetan monks through a vision to represent him as Kuan Yin. This is not totally veering away from reality, because in truth, celestial Buddhist gods are androgynous, they are neither male or female, or it can be said they are both male and female. Since at that time Chinese always associates wealth and health with plumpness, and happiness, love, harmony with a happy face, these characteristics became the representation of Maitreya Buddha in China.

Personally, I believe that the 3rd story is the most plausible explanation.

When I come across a big image of the Maitreya Buddha as a the Happy Fat Buddha or Laughing Buddha, or when I pray to him, I usually rub his stomach to signify the asking of blessing. It's an affectionate gesture. However, never touch the head of a Buddha, because in Buddhism it is only monks, your elders or superiors who can touch the head of a person who is 'beneath' them.

Aside from ‘Happy Fat Buddha’, ‘Laughing Buddha’, Maitreya Buddha is also called ‘Metteya’, ‘Puy Lok Yah’ (Fookien term for The Happy Fat Father), ‘Mi Lo Fu’ in Chinese, ‘Mile (pronounced as Mee-Lay) Pusa’ also in Chinese, Miroku Bosatsu in Japanese, Mireuk Bosal in Korean, Phra Sri Araya Metrai in Thai.

Most of the images of the Happy Fat Buddha depicts him on a relax mode. There's another image of him on his legs. Either of the two images are considered very auspicious.

Placing the image of Maitreya Buddha, either as the handsome young prince or as the Happy Fat Buddha or Laughing Buddha helps generate his blessings of happiness, harmony, love, peace, wealth, good health, etc. However, in the Philippines it is easier to get his image as the Laughing Buddha. Also this particular image also gives a psychological effect for all those who see it. It reminds us to be happy, it reminds us to become positive, and at the very least, because of how he looks as the Happy Fat Buddha, it creates an atmosphere of happiness and harmony.

You can place his image either on your altar, or any parts of your house except in the bedroom (for married couples) and or in the rest room.

This is from my personal collection. I wear this pendant everyday. In choosing an image of the Happy Fat Buddha to be worn as a pendant, always look for the face. Make sure that it has happy jolly face.

Wearing an image of the Maitreya Buddha as a pendant is also very auspicious and serves as an homage to him. In return, you get to tap into his blessings.

A Personal Testimony: Tapping Into Buddhism, Taoism, and Feng Shui for a Positive Outcome of a Delicate Situation.

This is a personal testimony.

I don’t really want to talk about my own experience on this blog, because I feel that it might be a little too self serving.

However, I thought, what the heck. You can either believe or not and it wouldn’t matter to me because this is personal and it really wouldn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Besides, when I started this blog, I vowed that I’ll write about anything I feel like writing without thinking of whether it well be read or not.

Anyway, being born under the sign of the Ox, I know that I have good financial/business/career luck this year. However, I know I have to be careful about being hot tempered because this might impede this luck. On top of that, my Bazi chart shows an overflowing of the water element, and given this is year also is also overflowing with water, this really becomes bad for me.I know I have to take extra Feng Shui care if I want to be constantly lucky.

Unfortunately, after taking so much ‘bullshit’ from a the marketing person of a client, I wasn’t able to heed my own advice and lost my temper and ‘fought’ with the said marketing person. Because of this, they decided to withhold payment and started asking me to submit a lot of several irrelevant materials and an audit report. I submitted all of their ‘requirements’, however, when they ran out of things to ask me to submit, they just ignored my calls and messages. Left, unpaid is my last monthly retainer for my marketing consultancy work worth Php 85,000.00.

I know that I have to meet with them and iron things out and have them pay me. However, a friend who also works for this company said that the marketing person has badmouthed me to the owners that the owners are now also ‘angry’ with me. She also said that the company has decided to withhold payment and they would be even willing to go to court.

I’m on the losing end here. Because the marketing person and the owners are cousins. On top of that, my Feng Shui-Bazi chart shows going to court will be bad for me. On top of that, I get to lose Php 85,000.00, a very substantial amount.

I requested my friend to put in a request for me to have a meeting. The date has to be Feb. 9, 2012 between 11AM- 1PM.

Why Feb. 9 because looking at the chart, Feb. 9. 2012 is a good day for the RAT, an ally, and also a bad day for the HORSE. Amazingly, the marketing person and the owner are both born in the year of the RAT.

Why between 11AM and 1PM? Because those are the 2nd best auspicious hour of the day for me.

On top of that, the night before, and on the day of the meeting, when I was on my way to the meeting, I recited the mantra of Amitabha Buddha – OM AMI DEWA HRIH, the mantra of Kuan Yin – OM MANI PADME HUM, the mantra of Sakyamuni Buddha – OM MUNI MUNI MAHA MUNI  YE SOHA, the mantra of the Goddess Tara – OM TARE TUTTTARE TURE SOHA, the mantra of the 8th Dark Orange Tara Bestower of Supreme Powers – OM TARE TUTTARE TURE AH NAGA SOTO HUM PEH SOHA, the mantra of the 7th Black Tara Crusher of Disputants – OM TARE TUTTARE TURE BADE BERTHANG WARAN NAYA JO SOHA, the mantra of the White Dzambhala (Jambhala) – OM PADMO KRODA ARYA DZAMBHALA HRIH DAYA HUM PHAT, the mantra of White Dzambhala – OM DZAMBHALA DZALIN DRAYE SOHA, and also repeated called on SUN WUKONG, and Kuan Kong. Furthermore, I wore the images of Rooster (being the most auspicious sign this year) and the Rat. I also wore a Prayer Wheel pendant, which is not a Feng Shui material, but is being used as such. I also made sure that I’m in red shirt to compliment my missing elements.

Prayer Wheel Pendant

Oh, I will not go into details, but the outcome of the positive was extremely positive. They decided to pay and apologized for what happened.

2012 Year of the Water Dragon Feng Shui Flying Star Forecast

The past few posts I talked about the 2012 Feng Shui Chinese Zodiac Forecast for the 12 Animal Signs – RAT, OX, TIGER, RABBIT, DRAGON, SNAKE, HORSE, SHEEP / GOAT, MONKEY, ROOSTER, DOG, PIG / BOAR. However, it is important to know that your luck for the year is not solely determined by your animal sign because it is equally important to look at the place where you live and where you work. Your luck is also determined by the Flying Stars of your house/office.

First, what are Flying Stars? Flying Stars or Xuan Kong is basically a discipline or branch of Feng Shui that studies the annual movement ‘stars’ or chi of a location that may affect your profession, health, career, finance/wealth, physical energy, psychological energy, spiritual energy. In Feng Shui the energy of your house and of your workplace is as important as your animal sign. The truth is Flying Star is also applied to the village, town, barangay, municipal, city, country and for the really good ones they can actually foretell the ‘fortune’ of the country by applying the Flying Stars concept in the world map.

The founder of Flying Stars assigned a specific number to each of this energy, and succeeding generation assigned a name depending on the effects of this energy. The name may vary a little from one Feng Shui consultant to another but they’re basically the same. It is also important to understand that the Tai Sui (Tai Suey) God and the 3 Killings are not part of the Flying Star concept. However, in discussing and determining the Flying Star of the house we include both the Tai Suey and the Three Killings in the equation because they also occupy the one of the nine squares in the Lo Shu Square.

The nine Lo Shu Square are – EAST, WEST, NORTH, SOUTH, SOUTHEAST, SOUTHWEST, NORTHEAST, NORTHWEST, CENTER.

To understand more about the Flying Star, I suggest check out Wikipedia. The offer a brief but clear explanation of the Flying Star. They’re also a lot of books that solely deal with Flying Stars Feng Shui.

THE FLYING STARS OF THE 2012 YEAR OF THE WATER DRAGON IS AS FOLLOWS:

1. AUSPICIOUS STARS

Flying Star 4 aka Romance and Scholastic Star flies to the EAST

Effects: Romance luck is heightened if your room is on this side of the house. For single people, you might have the possibility of finding love. For partnered people, you might find your love getting more ‘fragrant’. However, for married couple the effect might be too fold – First, you might find yourself loving each other more deeply, but, there might be the possibility of a third party getting involve also. It is also called the Scholastic Star because it also has a good effect on Scholastic pursuits of a person. Meaning, students may become more studious, and professionals might find themselves understanding documents better.

Feng Shui Enhancer: For single persons you can put a Rose Quartz Mandarin Ducks on your bedside. For married couple, you can  hang the character of the Double Happiness on your headboard. To safeguard yourself from a third party, tie an Amethyst Geode with Red String on the foot of your bed.

Rose Quartz Mandarin Ducks

Feng Shui Tip: Do not put too much water features on this side of the house this year because it might cause sexual scandals or promiscuity.

Flying Star 1 aka White Victory Star flies to the SOUTH

Effects: This star or chi or energy brings luck to all your endeavors.

Feng Shui Enhancers: Victory Banner / Horse.

The Victory Banner is considered as one of the 8 Auspicious Object in Buddhism.

Flying Star 6 aka Heaven’s Blessing or Mentor Luck Star flies to the CENTER

Effects: It sets the ‘tone’ for the year. Meaning, if you continuously to do good the more blessed you’re going to be. This also means even if you’re Animal Zodiac luck is not so good like the Dog, you will continuously have help from Heaven (Buddhas, Deities, Bodhisattva or Saints). This also means that you’ll be lucky enough to have people who will help you to achieve your goal.

Feng Shui Enhancers: Crystal Balls / 6 White Jade tied with a Red String

Flying Star 8 aka Wealth Star flies to the West

Effects: It gives you abundance and ‘bottomless’ pocket. This star is not just about money wealth but this is also about abundance.

Feng Shui Enhancers: Faux Gold Coins or Bars or Ingots, Wealth Deity (Maitreya Buddha or Kuan Kong or Sun Wukong)

Sun Wukong aka Monkey God aka Pilgrim aka 'Great Sage, Equal to Heaven' is a very powerful wealth and protector god. He is one of the few deities worshipped both in Taoism (also spelled as Daoism) and Buddhism.

NOTE: To know more about the Monkey God Sun Wukong, read my post about ‘The Great Sage, Equal to Heaven’.

Flying Star 9 aka Future Prosperity or Multiplying Star flies to the NorthEast

Effects: This is neither a good or bad star. It only means that whatever you ‘sow’ so shall you ‘reap’. This basically multiplies whatever karma you accumulate. If you do more good things you’ll have more good luck in the future, but if you continue to do a lot of bad things, you multiply your negative karma as well.

Using the Feng Shui tools mentioned above you can enhance the auspicious stars but all Feng Shui consultants/experts will stress that it’s more important to subdue the negative stars/chi/energy of the Flying Stars. If you’re on a tight budget, you need to subdue the negative stars first before you enhanced the auspicious ones.

2. THE NEGATIVE STARS

Flying Star 7 aka Violent Star flies to the NorthWest

Effects: This star brings hostility and loss through robbery, theft, or even manipulation. This star also directly affects the Patriarchs which means it affects the leaders as well. This means they may face danger with metal arms or face violent death.

Feng Shui Protector: (Only one of the following items will do.) Image of Sun Wukong [Monkey God], Image of Kuan Kong [also spelled as Guan Gong], Mantra Plaque, Elephant with Rhinoceros Image. For people whose room is in the NorthWest and for Patriarchs (which includes leaders, head of the family, entrepreneurs, businessman, CEO) it is advisable to wear an image of Sun Wukong, Kuan Kong or a Mantra Pendant. The WEALTH AND MASTER PROTECTION PENDANT is also advisable.

Kuan Kong / Guan Gong / Guan Ti / Guan Yu / Guan Sheng Ti Jun

Front side of WEALTH AND MASTER PROTECTION PENDANT. This is an image of Sun Wukong.

The other side of the WEALTH AND MASTER PROTECTION has the words 'Great Sage, Equal to Heaven' in Chinese characters at the top, followed by the 3 Celestial Guardians (Pi Yao - good for Tai Sui, Chilin, Fu Dog), then at the bottom are the image of the Ksitigarbha Fireball and the 5-Element Pagoda. Currently, I'm also looking into making a JADE WEALTH AND MASTER PROTECTION PENDANT, that is because Chinese loves jade.

Flying Star 3 aka Argumentative Star flies to the SouthWest

Effects: May cause relationship problems, numerous bickering, litigation, quarrels and problems/conflicts with authority. Matriarchs are also affected by this star regardless of whether they stay in the SouthWest or not.

Feng Shui Protector: Ksitigarbha Fireball (place this is the SouthWest section of the house or room). For Matriarchs and/or if yur room is in this section of the house you can wear or carry the Ksitigarbha Fireball pendant/key chain. It will also be nice if you can wear a Maitreya (Happy Fat) Buddha pendant.

Ksitigarbha Fireball is a good Feng Shui tool to counter the effects of the Argumentative Star.

Flying Star 2 aka Illness Star flies to the North

Effects: As the name implies, this star causes illness and to some extent it can be fatal or terminal. Also affected by the star regardless of whether they stay in the North section of the house are the middle son and people under the year of the Rat.

Feng Shui Protector: Wulou or Holy Gourd or Image of the Medicine Buddha. For people who stays in this section of the house or office, and for the middles sons and people born under the sign of the Rat it is advisable for them to wear a Jade Wu Lou pendant and/or a Medicine Buddha pendant [preferably with Mantra].

The Wu Lou or Holy Gourd is one of the best tool to fight the effects of the Illness Star. As much as possible try to get something that can be opened and hollow inside. You can then place the following items inside-3 tablespoon of Rock/Sea Salt, 1 tablespoon of incense ash from a Taoist or Buddhist temple, small unburned incense, Medicine Buddha mantra, and an paper amulet from a Sun Wukong or Kuan Yin or Kuan Kong temple. After putting everything inside seal it and tie a red ribbon around the Wulou. If this is not possible an ordinary Wu Lou works as well, the addtional 'ingredients' is just to make it more potent.

Flying Star 5 aka Five Yellow Star flies to the SouthEast (Furthermore, the Tai Sui God is also in the SouthEast corner.)

Effects: The 5-Yellow Star is the worst of all the negative stars. It brings 5 different kinds of misfortunes and to make things worst, the Tai Suey is also in the SouthEast section.

Feng Shui Protector: AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE MOVE OUT FROM THIS SECTION. Five Yellow Pagoda, Image of the Goddess of the North Star [Dou Mu Yuan Jun] which has been blessed in a Taoist Temple [available by request], Image of Piyao. For people who stays in this section of the house or building, as mentioned, please move out. You also need the following Feng Shui tools-FIVE ELEMENT PAGODA PENDANT, PIYAO PENDANT or DOU MU YUAN JUN [GODDESS OF THE NORTH STAR] PENDANT. The WEALTH AND MASTER PROTECTION PENDANT is also a good Feng Shui tool.

Five Element Pagoda

Dou Mu Yuan Jun (Goddess of the North Star)

Feng Shui Tip: Keep the SouthEast as quiet as possible – no watching of TV, no renovations, keep the lights to a minimum, no playing in this section, no crystals, no digging, no burning of anything, no cutting. If your main door is in the SouthEast, try to use another door, if this is not possible please make sure you put plants flanking your main door and hang a 5-Element Pagoda on your door. Also put an image of a Piyao or Dou Mu Yuan Jun on top of the door.

The 3 Killings flies to the South.

Effects: If you notice the Flying Star 1 or White Victory Star is also in the South. This only means that whatever success the White Victory Star brings ‘may be’ negated by the 3 Killings. However, despite of the name, it is quite easy to deal with the Three Killings and as long as you put the Feng Shui tool to protect you from the 3 Killings you’ll be safe from this energy. .

Feng Shui Protector: Three Celestial Guardians (Place in the South section of the house, room or office). For people who stays in the South section you can also wear the image of the 3-Celestial Guardians or carry their image as a key chain.

The Three Celestial Guardians are mystical celestial beings.

Please note that the official date of the Year of the Water Dragon is on Jan. 23, 2012, thus this will take effect on that day. There is another school of thought that regardless of the date of the Chinese New Year the Flying Stars moves to their new section on Feb. 4 every year of the Western calendar. I personally don’t believe this. I think this is just a tool for Feng Shui experts to make everything easier. It doesn’t make sense that everything else in base on the Lunar Calendar except the movement of the stars.

Feng Shui-Chinese Zodiac Forecast for 2012 Year of the Water Dragon (Part 1)

Allow me to share with you my own Feng Shui forecast for each of the Chinese Zodiacs for the coming year of the Water Dragon. This is base on my own reading. I actually enrolled in several intensive Feng Shui and Bazi class in HK and Singapore, but more on that next time. For now, just let me share with you my own Feng Shui reading for 2012. Please note though that this is a generalized ‘prediction’ for each sign. For a more accurate personal reading, one has to know one’s Bazi or Four Pillars. For this I need to have your Birth-year/month/day/time.

The RAT…

will have a good year. Money luck will be good a stable with the possibility of new financial opportunities coming your way. You should be more aware of opportunities and ‘open doors’, because you’ll surely have a lot of these. You just need to guard yourself from being greedy. Also you should make sure not to get too high profile because jealousies from other people might cause some negative energy.

You also have a good mentor luck this year. Meaning, there are a lot of people who might come your way to help you realize your dreams or help you earn more money.

However, people born under the sign of the rat should take care of their health, because you’re are affected by the illness star and the 3 killings.

Feng Shui Protection: Jade Wulou (Holy Gourd) / Medicine Buddha Pendant

Feng Shui Enhancers: Ruyi and Kuan Kong Pendant

A sample of a Jade Wulou or Holy Gourd. I personally prefer a jade wulou with a darker shade of green. This picture was lifted from Google images.

This is a sample of a Medicine Buddha pendant. This is similar to the one released by Lillian Too. Photo lifted in Google images.

THE OX…

will have a good business/professional/career/financial luck this year. But this luck becomes conflicting because of your tendencies to become hot tempered and swell headed which may cause a lot of negative energies and wash out your good celestial karma.

People born under the sign of Ox should be very careful getting into arguments and delicate legal matters because these things might cause misery to you.

But as mentioned, you will have good financial luck and like the rat there will be a lot of stable, long term money making opportunities for you. However, the similarities with the rat’s luck doesn’t end there, because you will also have to watch out for your health. Be extra careful and avoid getting sick, also there’s a possibility of an accident. To prevent this, try to donate blood during the first lunar month of the Chinese calendar or donate money to a charity.

Feng Shui Protection: Jade Wulou (Holy Gourd) / Medicine Buddha Pendant and Kuan Kong Pendant and Ksitigarbha Fireball (Pendant/Key Chain)

Feng Shui Enhancers: Ruyi(pendant or keychain), Mystic Knot (pendant or key chain)

Kuan Kong also spelled as Guan Gong is a warrior god. He is a very good protector and wealth god.

In choosing a Kuan Kong it's important that you look at the face. The 'braver' the face the better. Also, I prefer dark colored stones or gold Kuan Kong, because Kuan Kong is basically a red face god. I veer away from the white jade variety. Photo lifted from Google images.

Ksitigarbha Fireball helps protect the bearer from the 'argumentative' star. Picture lifted from Google images.

Place a Ruyi on top of your work table or beside your bed.

Wear a ruyi pendant to continously 'carry' its power.

Ruyi DZI bead. You can also wear this as a pendant or as bracelet mixed with some semi-precious stones. For this year red stones works best.

THE TIGER…

has financial luck this year. But it is not strong and stable, which means money may come easily but it may not be a big amount and/or you may lose the money as easy as well. However, the main solution here is for you to be work harder and try to be more conscious in how you spend your money.

Feng Shui Protection: Mystic Knot (pendant or key chain)

Feng Shui Enhancers: Golden Deity (a Buddha or Bodhisattva or Deity made of gold or gold plated. My suggestions are Kuan Yin, Sun Wukong [Taoist and Buddhist Monkey God], Kuan Kong, Dzambala, Tua Peh Kong, Maitreya Buddha [also known as the Happy Fat Buddha], Tara, or Che Kong.)

Mystic Knot

Green Tara

THE RABBIT…

will have a better luck this year compared to last year. However, this is a ‘slow process’ and you will need to work hard to ‘erase’ the negative energies of the past year. You will have to look and work hard for opportunities to open up for you and you will have to ‘grab it by the horn’. You cannot be timid but neither you can be to bullish without weighing properly weighing the situation.

Health wise may be a little bleak also. You might be constantly wear down by minor illnesses that may not be serious but may cause long term discomfort.

On the love front – a single rabbit may continue to have a flat line, while a married or a partnered rabbit will have to be careful in having a third party get involved in their partnership.

Feng Shui Protection: Jade Wulou (Holy Gourd)/Medicine Buddha Rooster with Fan Pendant or Figurine/Double Happiness Pendant, Mantra Pendant

Feng Shui Enhancers: Mystic Knot, Kuan Kong Pendant/Maitreya Buddha (Happy Fat Buddha) Pendant/Kuan Yin Pendant

The Double Happiness symbol is a powerful Feng Shui tool to enhance and/or safeguard your love life.

Maitreya Buddha or more commonly known as the Happy Buddha or the Fat Buddha is actually the future Buddha. Maitreya Buddha symbolizes abundance, wealth, happiness, peace, and good health.

Kuan Yin is one of my most favorite Deity or Bodhisattva. I personally have several gold, jade, and other semi-precious stones Kuan Yin pendant.

On my next post I’ll discuss the other signs-DRAGON, SNAKE, HORSE, SHEEP, MONKEY, ROOSTER, DOG & BOAR(PIG). Almost all the Feng Shui Enhancers and Protectors mentioned in this post are available in Ongpin. I can also help you avail some of the charms. Unless specifically specified any kind of material will do except the ones that are made of plastic. But remember, semi-precious or precious stones like jade, high-quality jade, ruby, diamonds, etc. are better. Gold, platinum being precious metals also enhances the Feng Shui charm’s energy.