The Doubting Thomases laugh. But I believe that there is truth in feng shui, my Catholic faith notwithstanding.
It's not that it can't hurt. Some say that they would try out feng shui because "what can you lose by turning your table this way or another"? But it can. Pointing your table in the direction of a disaster star could make your business go awry, result in health problems or even death.
That's stupid! my sister says. Sure, but better to be clever and protect yourself ... from the wrath of poison arrows!
You cannot, however, protect yourself just by reading books on feng shui. That was how my mom and I got started (and hooked). We bought books at the airport while waiting for a flight. Then she started charting for "auspicious directions" in our home and our rooms, and telling us what our auspicious colors and directions are.
She said that since I was a dragon, my element was fire and therefore my lucky color was red.
Turns out this was a terrible interpretation from the books! Your lucky color is not the color of your element but the color of the element that will fuel your element. So since fire is fueled by wood, I should have been wearing browns and greens - not red. Too much fire is a bad thing.
Two years into feng shui and my luck going up and down due to my hit-and-miss interpretations from various feng shui books, I decided to consult with a real master. Thankfully, the Mandarin Oriental Manila annually brings in Master Joseph Chau and Ms. Charisse Chuiudan, PR extraordinaire of the Mandarin, arranged a meeting.I first noticed his thick eyebrows (hehe), matched by his big smile. After making you feel at ease, he'll ask you your date of birth and time of birth.
This is one of the common mistakes of feng shui novices. You cannot base your interpretation just on a person's birthday. That would be an incomplete read. So you will actually have four signs: one each for your year, month, date, and time of birth. I had always thought that I was just a Dragon but it turns out I am also a Pig (indeed, haha!) and a Horse.
Another point to consider is that within each animal sign are your element signs. For example, you can be both a fire pig (for your year of birth) but also be a water pig (for your day of birth). So what you think would be a "bad" year for someone with the fire element may not necessarily be so as it may be balanced out by his own birthday's water element.
Master Chau himself started out by reading books about feng shui when he was a teenager. But he calls a book a 'dumb teacher' because it could not respond to his queries. "When I found that the books could not give me sufficient answers, I sought a feng shui master," he shares. As he grew in feng shui knowledge, he sought other masters as well and has since trained under five masters. Now he is himself a master, giving feng shui lessons and blessings around the world. And his son is also now a feng shui expert, leading blessings for the Chinese New Year as well.
He has been in the business for over thirty years!
So he gives practical advice. "You should change your glasses," he told me. "Why?" I asked, alarmed. I thought it was because they were black and therefore represented metal, which is not the best compliment for fire. But his reason: "Because it makes you look old!" he said. LOL.
But seriously, he also gave tips on where to position your desk, how to ensure that your money will not get stolen, how to increase your income, how to avoid jealousy and law suits, and other essentials for a better life! In 2013, I followed his advice. As the year unfolded, I was invited to represent two huge new clients, started a new (and so far successful) online project, traveled to Paris, and even managed to snag a singing (hehe!) award. Of course I thank God ... but I also note that I listened to Master Chau.
Of course the key to a divine life is to just submit yourself to the Lord :) But I think it best to also respect the mysterious powers of the elements and of nature ... with the guidance of a master - in my case, Master Chau.
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Master Joseph Chau will be leading the ceremonies and blessing at the Mandarin Oriental's Grand Midnight Countdown to welcome the Year of the Wooden Horse on Thursday, 30 January at 9:30 pm. Tickets to the New Year’s Eve event (and homemade tikoy!) are available at the hotel’s Chinese New Year desk at Tin Hau. Call (+632) 750 8888 or email momnl-reservations@mohg.com.
