STILL thinking of what to give your loved ones this holiday season?
Perhaps, traditional fengshui good luck symbols to attract fortune will do.
“We are aware that different charms and practices could help us attract good fortune, excellent career, harmonious relationships and healthy long life,” said Master Hanz Cua during an interview in Mandaluyong City.
Here’s a rundown of some of the traditional lucky fengshui symbols which you may want to consider as gifts this Christmas.
• Number eight (8) – The Chinese pronunciation of number eight is “ba” which is close to the sound “fa” meaning prosperity or to make a fortune. The number eight also has a perfectly symmetrical shape and connotes perfect balance, considered to be the ideal in fengshui.
“If you’d observe, other business owners would request or purchase special phone numbers with a few number eights in it. Number eight is believed to attract good fortune endlessly.”
• Mystic Knot – It is made of six (6) infinity symbols. This charm is also called as the endless knot or eternal knot, in Chinese it is “Pan Chang” knot. You can display the mystic knot as is, but others add several charms and decorations into it. Having mystic knots is considered to deliver you from misfortunes, and bad lucks, including sickness and dangers.
• Laughing Buddha – The Happy, Hotei or Traveling Buddha, but most regarded as “The Laughing Buddha” is an unconventional Buddhist monk but well-known and loved by people. It grants abundant wealth and good fortune, not only to the owner but also to their offsprings if this charm is correctly placed.
“On top of that, the Laughing Buddha is also believed to bring good and happy energy and blessings – the reason why you would often see it in establishments and homes.”
• The Lucky Cat – One of the adorable good luck symbols in fengshui, the lucky cat is actually from Japan, but fengshui practitioners adopted using Maneki Neko (its Japanese name) for wealth and prosperity. As advised by an expert, you should have the lucky or money cat because you like the energy or vibes it gives, and not just because fengshui told you so.
“It is usually placed at the entrance of establishments and houses to entice wealth and attract good fortune. The lucky or money cat is not limited to the miniature itself. You can also find it embroidered or designed in shirts, key chains, etc.”
• Fu Dogs – They are regarded to be the Imperial Guardian Lions. You would often see them outside the houses of royal or wealthy families as they also served as status symbols. Having them in pairs and placed at the front entrance of your house, they will be protecting you from dangerous people such as thieves and burglars.
• Three-legged toad – It is a great fengshui symbol for attracting fortune and wealth. Most three-legged toads have Chinese coin in their mouth. Check if the visible part of the coin is with the Chinese characters and have the three-legged toad face the room, and never an outside door.
• Turtles or Tortoises – In fengshui, turtles or tortoises are one of the four celestial animals or guardians. They are said to guard your home with good energy of infinite abundance, fortune, and stability.
• Elephant – The primary fengshui energies elephants are said to bring are protection, good fortune, wisdom, and fertility. They can be placed in your office or at your home. The elephant’s trunk in upward position manifests showering of good luck. If you are looking for a symbol of friendship and love, intertwined trunks of elephants are a good representation of such.
• Red Envelope – The red envelope or “angpow”, “hungbao” or “laisee” is a symbol of gratitude as its history can be traced back at Sung Dynasty. A young man helped the village people to fight against a demon, and in return, the villagers gave the man a red pouch with money. As time changes, the pouch became an enveloped designed with lucky icons in fengshui. Others believe that if you receive an empty angpow, it is still lucky and enough to attract good fortune.
• Chi Lins – Chi Lin is a mythical creature with the head of a dragon, horse for the body and with the scales or a carp fish. This might look weird and unpleasant at first, but Chi Lins are believed to protect you from different harm and bring you blessings of great wealth and prosperity. Chi Lins are also known as Dragon Horse and Chinese Unicorn.
