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Wednesday, January 08, 2003
Cacdac: The ancient practice of feng shui
By May Anne Cacdac
FILIPINOS have this penchant towards believing superstitions. How they can fuse their beliefs of the sciences and the metaphysics is a wonder to foreigners and to the Filipinos as well.
One particular race that has great influence on the lives of the Filipinos are the Chinese. Pinoys have been in close and constant touch with these people for thousands of years now.
The Chinese came here to trade and many of them have settled here, embracing the Pinoy culture through marriages and trade. The Pinoys have embraced the Chinese culture as well.
The Chinese influence is mostly evident in the food Filipinos love to eat. Pancit is a staple in every birthday celebration. Siopaos are a favorite pasalubong.
However, if there is one great influence of the Chinese on the Filipinos, it is the ancient practice of feng shui (pronounced feng shwee).
A local feng shui expert says feng shui was originally applied in choosing gravesites. The Chinese believed that the location where family members are buried affect the lives of the generations to follow.
Nowadays, feng shui is mostly used almost like a blueprint for houses and buildings to be built. Just like an astrology chart for the house, it is the position of the bodies in the solar system at the time of construction that produce an energy that affect the people living or working in the building.
A professionally trained feng shui practitioner can reveal how compatible you are with your own home, how you can make minor adjustments to your living space which can improve income or health, and can even ease family tensions.
Some features of a feng shui consultation may include the best location or direction for work stations, best sleeping positions, interior decorations, including furniture placement that can obstruct the flow of "CHI" (energy currents), landscaping, and best rooms to use for certain functions.
Feng shui also offers inexpensive solutions to problems. It is in the use and manipulation of the five natural elements (water, wood, fire, earth and metal) which can bring about positive changes in an environment and even personal relationships. These same elements are referred to as well in Chinese healing like acupuncture.
One of the most important aspects of feng shui consultation is the diagnosis of the building's magnetic field and this can only be executed with the knowledge and use of the "lo-pan."
"Lo-pan" is a complex compass made especially for feng shui divination with information printed or engraved on it.
Feng shui is also used to eliminate dangers in the environment. This is a recent addition to the practice of feng shui since the ancient times and environment posed no real threat to the people.
It is no wonder that Filipinos have adopted the ancient practice of feng shui. It is fast gaining recognition and use in the country.
In a fast-paced environment, where stress level and competition is high, any prescription with a history that goes way back and deemed with high effectiveness, is welcome.
For the Filipinos, whose roots are seated on tradition, tapping into the wisdom of feng shui has brought them security, peace of mind, creativity and most importantly, prosperity. |
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