WHITE FLOWERS TO REPRESENT METAL ELEMENT

People who are into Feng Shui would usually associate these beautiful flowers as symbols of love.  Besides romance, the Chineese believe that the peonies with their big, beautiful blossoms will bring prosperity.  That is why the flowers are incorporated into a lot of Lunar New Year decorations and imagery. 
When I went to a shop selling silk flowers yesterday morning, I saw that the management had in its stock a lot of new peonies.
I did not buy any peonies but bought white daisies instead.  I wanted to place them at the front of my house which directly faces east.  Those who are familiar with Flying Star Feng Shui would know that the East is deeply afflicted with the dreaded Five Yellow Star which is earth in nature.  One way to diminish the powers of the Five Yellow or Wu Wang is by using the metal element.  I chose the white flowers to put in the East since white is associated with the metal element.

POMELOES DURING CHINESE NEW YEAR

The pomelo is in great demand during the Chinese New Year as it has an auspicious sounding name in Chinese. In Cantonese, pomelo is “Loke yau" which means "existence of wealth".  That is why it is a popular item given as gifts to friends and relatives during festivals.   

When I was at the market yesterday morning, there were pomeloes aplenty for sale.  The smaller ones were sold at RM7 while the largest ones were about RM25. 

Here is a news article about the sale of pomeloes in Ipoh which is famous for this fruit.

Selling double: Lee showing the pomeloes at the stall outside the Sam Poh Tong Temple in Ipoh.

Pomelo sales hit a high as CNY nears

IPOH: Business has been bustling for pomelo sellers near the famed Sam Poh Tong Temple here in view of the Lunar New Year.

“Our sales have doubled,” said 18-year-old stall assistant Lee Pik Wen.

On normal days and weekends, she would sell about 10 to 30 pomeloes but “these days, we can sell almost 100 a day.”

Lee said most people buying for the Chinese New Year could buy up to 10 pomeloes at one go.

The cheaper pomeloes cost about RM10 for three while the more expensive ones could be about RM18 to RM22 for each fruit.


Asked about the talk that stalls here tend to employ pretty and young women to lure customers, Lee acknowledged that some stall owners would adopt such a practice.

”But business is almost the same for everyone here,” she said.

However, she cautioned that not all customers would go to stalls that were manned by young females.

”This is because some buyers would think that they would have to pay more if they buy from a pretty woman, which is not true,” she added.

There are about 25 stalls which operate along Jalan Raja Dr Nazrin Shah (previously known as Jalan Gopeng).

Lee said that some male customers did try to date her.

“They would ask for my contact number. But I don’t go out with them,” she said.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/1/26/nation/7868448&sec=nation

Prepare for Chinese New Year for Good Feng Shui All Year Long

The Chinese New Year is the annual celebration that coincides with the first New Moon of the year. For the Chinese, this is a very auspicious time -- a birthday, actually, of the New Year. This birthday, when observed correctly, is believed to usher in good luck and abundance all year long.

The Chinese calendar is based on a lunar and solar calendar. Under this system, a calendar month usually lasts 29.5 days, so over a period of years, there is a lag. Thus, the Chinese insert an extra month every few years, and which also explains why the New Year is on a different date each year, unlike the solar calendar, that is a fixed date each year.

There are many, many traditions associated with the Chinese New Year. One delightful belief is that if one of your plants blooms on New Year's Day, you will have prosperity in the coming year. Look around your yard. It's possible you have something blooming right now. Of course, here in the northern hemisphere it is winter, and most of our yards are looking pretty drab.
The Chinese New Year is Symbolic

The Chinese New Year is full of symbolism for ushering out the old and ushering in the new. Among the traditions is a ban on cooking in the kitchen on the first day of the Lunar New Year. This is because it's considered bad luck to have sharp objects such as knives and scissors out. Cooking - and having to cut things - could possibly cut off the good fortune for the rest of the year. So, why not give the kitchen a rest and take your family out for your meals this Chinese New Year?

However, the Lunar New Year isn't just about the cultural aspects of the year. In feng shui, it also represents a change in 'time' feng shui, known as flying star feng shui. In the days following the New Year, the directions take on new meanings as they relate to time feng shui. This means that some sectors will have difficult energy, others beneficial energy. You can get the full 2011 scoop here.

The Chinese typically celebrate for the first 15 days of the New Year. Although you may not have time to celebrate that long, simply preparing in advance for the New Year will help you to usher in prosperity and abundance at the time of the New Moon -- a time believed by astrologers around the world to have special power to make whatever you want to happen come true.

In the meantime, here are some ideas, and a schedule, to help you observe - and make the most of -- the Chinese Lunar New Year.

One or two days beforehand:

Do a thorough cleaning. Sweeping and cleaning on the first day of the New Year is considered bad luck because it can sweep all the good luck out the door. The god of luck is said to avoid dirty houses. So keep your house clean all year long!

Make New Year Preparations. Organize, buy a new outfit, clean, declutter, re-arrange and refresh your decor.

Purchase flowers. Bulbs, such as daffodils or hyacinths, are especially auspicious. Display these bulbs or other flowers such as azalea, pussy willow, lotus, or peony.

Make annual feng shui placements. Put out remedies and enhancements. Have remedies from the past year? Put them outdoors in the sunshine to cleanse them or wash them in salt water.

On the day of the New Year, Thursday, February 3rd:

Go out to eat for your meals. For breakfast, have a big glass of orange juice (oranges represent gold). And if you just have to eat at home, make it finger foods. Cutting and chopping food represents cutting your luck -- and work.

Wear new clothes today. New clothes represent the new that you want to be bringing into your life. Put on something red for an extra boost!

Have a good day. The Chinese believe it's bad to start the New Year by swearing, yelling at the kids, or getting angry or upset. So, take the day off from worry and anxiety. It might not be a bad idea to avoid the newspaper or the TV news! Rent some funny movies to invite fun and enjoyment into your house for the new year!

Write wishes for the New Year. Write wishes on ribbons or paper and affix to a tree to let them blow in the wind, much like a Tibetan prayer flag.

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© K Weber Communications LLC 2002-2011
Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Red Lotus Letter Feng Shui E-zine and certified feng shui consultant in classical Chinese feng shui. Kathryn helps her readers improve their lives and generate more wealth with feng shui. For more information and to receive her FREE Ebook "Easy Money - 3 Steps to Building Massive Wealth with Feng Shui" visit www.redlotusletter.com and learn the fast and fun way how feng shui can make your life more prosperous and abundant

METAL TO DIMINISH THE ILL EFFECTS OF THE 5 YELLOW STAR

This is the garden set that I have been eyeing for some time.  It is made from metal and is white in colour.  The two chairs and one table cost RM1399.  Hmm ... perhaps if I have some money to spare I'd get it but in the meantime I will look at it longingly on display at the shop window.
In a year where the nasty Five Yellow Star is located in the East, the set would be a great remedy for this star for my house which faces this direction.  The Five Yellow Star is an earth element affliction. Any Feng Shui enthusiast worth his or salt would know that when this star is disturbed, it brings financial loss, obstacles to success and obstacles in relationship, severe illness and accidents.

As the Five Yellow is basically an earth element in nature, metal element cures are used to reduce its earth energy, as metal energy can weaken the earth energy.

ONG LAI: COME LUCK COME

At the market this morning, there were a lot of pineapples for sale.  The common ones were sold at about RM2.50 while the more exotic ones could fetch as much as RM9.00 each.

 In the Hokkien dialect the pineapple is called "ong lai" which translastes to mean prosperity comes. That is why it is one of the fruits that the Taoists use as an offering to their deities during Chinese New Year in the hope of getting more wealth luck to come their way.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST BURGLARIES IN THE RABBIT YEAR

During his annual Feng Shui Update, Master Jason Eng advised everyone to be extra cautious about being robbed or burgled in the coming year as the Number 7 Burglary Star will fly into the centre of the home.  This would mean that there would be possibility of a rise in crimes involving burglaries, robberies and thefts.  Jason said that one must be mindful of ones house as the would be burglars might attempt to enter the house via the roof since the star is located in the centre. 
My mum has prematurely moved all her Feng Shui Remedies (to counter the ill effects of the star) to the centre of the house.  Actually, she could do it a couple of days before February 4th.  One of the Cures is the Blue Rhino and Elephant Cure that she bought from the WOFs Boutique in Ipoh.  I am holding it in the above pictures.  Another cure for thefts or robberies are peacock feathers.  My mum has also placed them in the centre.  Actually, she has a lot more rhinoceros figurines but then they are still in the East of the house where the Burglary Star number 7 is still residing.
My colleague, Zainal, who is with the voluntary police force advised my friends and I to register as a member of Rakan Cop (Friendly Cops) and always keep in touch with them.  We could text them if we notice anything fishy happening in our neighbourhood or if we hear strange noises at night.  We can also inform them if we are going on vacation and they will send patrol cars to our area.  Before that, I had already installed sensor lights at the front and back of my house.  These lights would come on the moment it gets dark.  I have also placed an alarm lock at the back of my house.  The alarm lock for the front is spoilt as I dropped it and so I need to get another one. 
Which do you think are more effective, my mum's Feng Shui cures or my membership with Rakan Cop and also the sensor lights and alarms?

I registered to join the Rakan Cop last Thursday

The Rakan Cop notebook which I got from my friend

BAZI READING FOR 2011

I had a Bazi consultation session with Feng Shui Master Jason Eng yesterday afternoon.  Actually Jason's schedule was rather packed for the day.  Earlier in the morning he gave Bazi consultations for quite a number of people but had to leave at around 1.00 p.m. as he needed to give a talk at Parkson Grand at 2.00 p.m. 

Anyway, Jason was kind enough to accomodate me and agreed to analyse my Bazi at 4.00 p.m. after his talk.  Actually, this is one of the perks one gets after purchasing a ticket to his Annual Feng Shui update talk.  I have been fortunate to have my Bazi analysed by Jason for three years already.

Are you curious as to what Jason said about my luck for the year based on my Bazi?  Yes? No?  Couldn't be bothered?  Any which one you choose, I am more than willing to share with you what he told me.  Heh!  Heh!

According to Jason's reading of my Bazi chart, I have entered the luck period.   Yeh! Yeh!  That means I have a lot of wealth luck coming my way.  Yahoo!  BUT, my chart is somehow weakened by two not so favourable elements side by side with my Water Pillar which might also affect my health, the eyes and heart in particular.  Nevetheless, I still have quite a lot of wealth luck.  I would be able to harness more of such luck if I make an effort to seek it out.  Yeah!  Jason did say that I would do well with things connected to the wood industry which implies education and journalism.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that the publication of my book would see the light of day this year.  That would be something that would make this a successful year for me.

CAI XIN IMPERSONATOR

Children and adults alike would get very excited when they see a  man dressed as Santa Claus making an appearance at a shopping mall during Christmas time.  Likewise, they would feel the same excitement on seeing a Cai Xin (God of Prosperity) impersonator making his rounds.
Like almost everyone else, I waited for my turn to have my picture taken with Cai Xin when I saw him make an appearance at a shopping complex this afternoon.  My Aunt Linda said that to see Cai Xin (albeit an impersonator) would be a good sign.  Hmm ... is that so?

FENG SHUI TALK FOR PATRONS OF IPOH PARADE

Besides the Creative Balloon Designs for Chinese New Year, Parkson Grand Ipoh also invited Feng Shui Master, Jason Eng to present the Annual Outlook for the Year of the Rabbit as one of its festive highlights. 

When I went with my mum and aunt to the shopping centre to view the Balloon Dragons, Jason gave his first talk for the day at 2.00 p.m.  This Feng Shui talk was delivered in Cantonese.  Jason told me that he would give a second talk at 8.00 p.m.  For this session, the medium of delivery is in the English Language.

BALLOON CREATIONS

Besides the two majestic dragons fashioned from balloons, there were other balloon creations on display at the shopping complex.  They looked so cute and adorable that many of the shoppers whipped out their handphone cameras to snap photos.

MAJESTIC BALLOON DRAGONS

I read about the balloon dragon decorations which were specially created for the Chinese New Year at Ipoh Parade in Ipoh from the newspaper and made a beeline to the shopping complex when I reached Ipoh this morning from Sitiawan.  I was really curious to see for myself how the dragons look like. 
Hopefully, the pictures I took would show how majestic and stunning they looked.  Believe me, they look even more stunning if seen live.
The balloon dragons are done by renowned balloon master, Mr Stone Chang from Taiwan with assistance by the artists from Beauty Balloon.  From the info that was displayed, Mr Stone Chang is someone whose skills have been acknowledged internationally and he has also won some honours for his work.

SKILLFUL PARKING

The neighbours staying a few doors away from my house in Sitiawan must have good parking skills.  Look, they managed to park three cars in the porch.  I salute them for managing to squeeze three cars in such a small space.

PLANTING NGA KU (ARROWROOT)

On Friday, the boys in my class were in a festive mood because they would be having a one week break from school.  Quite a number of them said that they wanted to come to my house in Ipoh to visit me on the first day of the Chinese New Year.  At first, I thought it was okay but when I realised that a few of them would be travelling by motorcycles from their hometowns which were not in Ipoh, I told them not to come as it would be very dangerous.  Each year there would be a lot of accident cases during festive seasons and I would not want anything to happen to any one of my students.  If they had said they were coming by bus or their parents were sending them, then I would have welcomed them with open arms.  Instead, I told them I would be giving them a treat when school reopens. 

After class, the boys helped me to plant Nga Ku or Arrowroot in a pot in the school Herb Garden.  During Chinese New Year, one of the common practice is to plant Nga Ku to signify growth when spring comes.  However, I don't think the Nga Ku would sprout any shoots on the first few days of the lunar new year, perhaps towards the 14th or 15th day.  We'd have to wait and see.  Anyway, my boys were very enthusiastic about doing the planting and everyone wanted to plant one Arrowroot bulb.