Feng shui handles five main elements in order to achieve harmony and balance in any space. These five feng shui elements are: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each one of them has its own characteristics and properties, and we will detail them in the following lines.
According to Chinese traditions, everything is constantly changing and interacting and that happens through these five main elements. Feng shui traditional knowledge and all its guidelines are based on these five feng shui elements. Therefore, when wishing to harmonize a place according to feng shui, these elements must be properly employed according to their characteristics and effects.
Those who are familiar with Western cultures know how many things are treated as taboo. Superstitious people will go to any length to avoid certain things that their culture considers as harbingers of bad luck. It is the same all over the world. Go to any part of the world and you will find, irrespective of caste & creed, there are certain things that are considered unlucky and certain things that are considered as lucky. It is the same with the Chinese too, but the difference between the Chinese and Western culture, especially with regards to their culture and the superstitions based thereon, are revealed starkly when it comes to number 13.
You will be amazed, if you are a European, to know that the Chinese consider the number 13 as lucky. It is widely known that Europeans treat Fridays and the number 13 as accursed, and if these two happen to come together like `Friday the 13th' it is treated as a very bad omen. On this particular day, people tend not to start any new work or not to embark on any journey. It is just the opposite with the Chinese people and this is due to the difference of culture. It is not that the Chinese do not have preferences for certain numerals. They love the numerical 8 and it is rumored that a phone number 8888-8888 fetched $300,000. This occurred in Chengdu, a Chinese city.
Do you recall the date of opening of the Beijing Olympics? It was on the 8th of August 2008 (08-08-08). If you thing that this was just a fluke and has nothing to do with the Chinese culture and its affection for certain numbers, you should check out the inauguration time of the Beijing Olympics. It was inaugurated at 8:08pm. This obsession for numbers is not prevalent in China only and one can also observe it in Singapore and Hong Kong and both these countries have a majority of Chinese people. Those who know about Chinese culture will tell you that these numbers are linked according to their pronunciation. They observe how a number sounds and then try to associate it with words that have a similar pronunciation.
The number 8 is pronounced as `"fa", which is how words like fortune and prosperity sound in the Chinese language. But what about number 13 which is considered unlucky by Europeans and why do the Chinese consider it as lucky? The number "1" when put in the "tens" sounds like "shi" which means definite in Mandarin. The digit "3" sounds like living, life or birth. Hence the number "13", the pronunciation of which is "shisan" in Mandarin, might mean, according to Chinese culture and traditions as "assured growth" or "definitely vibrant". This is the reason why Chinese people consider the number 13 as lucky. There are some other numbers too which are considered lucky by the Chinese because of they way they are pronounced in the Mandarin language，such as six,sixty,ninety-nine,nine,eighteen.
If you want more about this topic, please let me know!
In Asia countries, many ghostly sightings have been reported regarding hotel rooms. The people in Asia are very particular about choosing a hotel room. Genting Highland Pahang in Malaysia, an entertainment resort is regard as one of the most haunted place in Asia. Several people have committed suicide here either by hanging in their room or jumping down from the window of their room. Some rooms are not for rent no matter how much you willing to pay for. Another phenomenon is that a lot of hotels does not have the 13th floor, they will replace with it with the 14th floor. The 13th floor is considered to be the portal to the underworld. Spiritual entities could gain access into our world thru the 13th floor. I will avoid both floors because I knew that the 14th floor is actually the 13th floor in disguise. These phenomenons are not just across Asia but also in hotels in Las Vegas. According to my friends in Singapore, Singapore Polytechnics, a tertiary campus had their block 13 removed as it was rumor that many strange occurrences had happened in this block in the past. Below is some guidelines and taboos I have compile, it serve to educate the unwary.
Taboo 1
Avoid the room on the extreme corner or room near an exit. This is because unwanted entities like to lurk in these areas
Taboo 2
Avoid room with number 13 with it or the compounding number that added up to number 4. Eg room 1012 as 1+0+1+2=’4’
Taboo 3
Always knock on the door before entry to the room. This serve as a friendly gesture to the ‘occupant’ in the room in inform that you are taking the room.
Taboo 4
When entry into the room, flush the toilet immediately. This is to flush always all the bad things.
Taboo 5
If you feel a sudden of cold draft of air when entry to the room, immediately change for a new room.
Taboo 6
Avoid a tall tree blocking when views from the windows. This will cause eerie hallucinations in the night. In Asia culture, the older a tree is, the spirit residing inside will be more powerful.
Taboo 7
Look for some signs, it could be a charm, talismans, bible or any religious symbolic items. Do not pick up any of these items for souvenirs. It is best to change the room immediately.
Taboo 8
Cover the mirrors in the bedroom, this is to avoid ‘something’ staring at you from the other side. Some room decors have their mirror place in from of your bed. Imagine the first thing you see when wake up is a distressed view of yourself. It would probably freak your own self out.
Taboo 9
Place your shoes in facing in opposite directions.
Taboo 10
Pad on your pillows three times each and flip over for a good night sleep.
Taboo 11
Don’t leave any beds unattended if you are sleeping alone with two beds in the room by placing items all around to claim ownership.
Taboo 12
Leave the bathroom light on all the time and don’t close the door when not in use. Spiritual entities like damp and dark places. I also leave the TV console on as well as it create a livelier environment.
A lot of stories had been written about the Banana Tree Spirit. I am sharing my personnal encounters. The spirit of banana tree is well known in countries of South East Asia such as China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and especially among the Chinese communities. The myth originated from old villages during our grandfather generations from the 1930s. What is the banana tree spirit? Banana tree spirit is believed to be supernatural beings that possess magical attributes. The banana tree spirit is different from the common Chinese folklore spirit where the soul leave the body of a decessed and remains to roam the land. Banana tree spirits are special beings that can reside in any creation of nature, particularly in deep forest. It is not transform from a soul of a dead person. It is a natural spirit with higher level of inteligence. The spirit of banana tree is usually more sinister and evil compare to a common spirit.
It was told to me by a Bomoh (A Malay priest) that beside banana trees, there is spirits in rocks, water and soil. The banana tree spirit is believed to take form as a young attractive female girl. The bomoh does not quite agree with this but he couldn’t conclude any answer either. These spirits are usually not harmful but certain taboos we must follow when hiking the jungle to avoid agitate these spirits.
When I was a kid in the 60s, I used to live in a Kampong (Malay term for village) in Kluang JB. There were dozens of banana trees near the loo. In those days, we do not have the convenient of toilet facilities, the toilet is shared among neighbors in the same kampong. We have to travelled pass a distance from our home to the loo to carry out our business. The proximity of street lamps was about 50m apart. The path will be in almost darkness as early as 7 pm in the evening. When we do our business, especially the big one, we have to endure the 15mins in that confining wooden hut. The leaf of the banana tree will keep flapping on the openings on the top of the toilet with its shadows flickering in the half lit environment as if it has a life of its own. We had become used to it. I have heard legends about communicating with the spirit inside banana trees.
The next unbelievable thing that came across my mind is that I would try it. I was still afraid though so I find a friend in the same kampong to accompanied me; his name was Ah Leng in short. We seek a bomoh from other village for directions as we knew that the bomoh here would have discouraged us from communicating with the unknown. We get red threads and tie a needle to it at one end. We coiled the thread on the flower bud of the banana tree and piece the needle into the bud. The other end we would tie it to our toe. The bomoh described that, a young women would appear in our dreams and seek out the owner of the thread; she would ask to remove the thread as it is causing her pain. In return she could grant us our wishes. We do not have any specified goals in mind but just to seek out the thrills due to curiosity. Ah Leng and me each tie to different banana tree as we believe the chances of succeed would be higher. Soon we map out the ground and fell asleep. I woke up in the middle of the night. Ah Leng soon woke up when I called out to him. Neither one of us had experienced anything unusual It was getting very chill and uneasy for me. We thought that it was rather foolish to experiment with this kind of thing so we call it quit. Ah Leng accidently pin himself with the needle when trying to release it from the tree. He makes use of the leaf on the tree to wipe his wound for the substitute of tissue paper. We leave the place and returned home.
One week had passed, I thought it was a fail experiment in which I would never consider trying again. I was suddenly shocked to learn that Ah Leng had passed away yesterday. It was caused by a heart failure diagnosed by the doctor. Though it was a scientific conclusion, I was feeling very uncomfortable.
I was petrified and seek help from the bomoh here. It was upon my arrival, the bomoh started to ask me questions as if he knew why I came here for and insisted that I speak the truth in details. The bomoh soon provided me with the answer that I have been expecting. The death of Ah Leng is caused by something else. He told me that we did not successfully engage in communicating with the spirit. However, Ah Leng’s death was caused by a spirit residing in the forest. The bomoh woudn’t tells me what it is but only described to me that Ah Leng had offended the spirit when he wipe his blood open wound onto the tree. He told me that I was not in danger but he offer to recite some chant to shield me.
I have lived till today but I couldn’t come out with solid conclusions for the death of Ah Leng 30 years ago. I believe it is the banana tree spirit. There is some taboo that I would like to offer for jungle tracking. I have being following these taboos closely because I would rather show my respect to the nature and not offend them. Who know what the consequences might be?
Taboos
Taboo 1
Do not litter especially expandable items that you have used before. Show some respects.
Taboo 2
Do not pick up anything either. If you pick out anything from the forest, bring it to a Feng Shui shop or Monastery. There will cleanse the memories of your new founding.
Taboo 3
Never answer to a call from behind your back by turning your head. Turn your whole body around to answer in full swing if you have to.
Taboo 4
Always carries a stick with you. This serve two purposes, first is to protect you against stray dogs. Secondly, there is a cultural myth on tall dark trees, when you see shadows moving that is very tall resembling trees. Break the sticks and shorten it gradually as you journey.
Taboo 5
When lost in the forest even you are sure of the way, use your undies to cover your head leaving the holes to see. Your vision then will be “uncovered”.
Taboo 6
Never shine your torch light directly onto trees.
Taboo 7
Don’t use real names when calling to each others in the forest. Use a simple code like “Oei, Halo” Your partners should response the same way. If he response in “Hey” when you shout “Oei”, head towards the direction where the source of sound came from immediately.
Taboo 8
Never pee onto trees or ground, ask for permission like as if asking permission from a living person before doing so.
Taboo 9
Do not rests under a tree because it looks a great shade or especially stands out among the rest; ask to excuse you to the tree if you have to.
This is a blockbuster horror from Philippine, directed by Chito Rono in 2004. The story revolves around Kris Aquino’s character, Joy Ramirez, who brings home a Ba Kua, a Feng Shui mirror left by a mysterious stranger on a bus. Joy hangs it on the wall of their new house and soon realizes that it brings her and her family unexpected guests into the house. Despite the title, this show actually does not have many things to do with Feng Shui besides the Ba Kua. Below are the embedded videos from YouTube.
This blog provides Feng Shui information and logical tips. All materials in this blog are not intended to replace professional advice from a qualified Feng Shui practitioner. It is presented for educational and expand the knowledge of Feng Shui to people. Feng Shui Trader made every effort to present accurate information about Feng Shui on this blog; however, we are not responsible for any of the results you experience with your Feng Shui as a result of applying any the material presented on this blog.
Terms of Use
NOTE: You’re welcome to “reuse” the resources in this blog as long as it remains complete and unaltered with a link to Fengshuitrader.blogspot.com and would appreciate that you subscribe to trader.Thanks you for your supports
