Chinese New Year is essentially the celebration of spring, the
birth of another prosperous year. That is why, often, you will see greetings,
Chinese New Year art & decorations dotted with the bursting of little pink
blossoms and red lanterns.
As an ethnic Chinese growing up in a multi-cultural society, and
schooled within a non-Chinese language environment, I only appreciated the
Chinese culture much later on during my working life as a TV producer. And when
I was introduced to Feng Shui about 10 years ago & its concept of Qi
(energy), I realized that the spiritual masters of different racial & religious
backgrounds often taught universal teachings which was conceptually similar to
the Chinese concept and practices of Qi.
I was amazed that eons ago, the Chinese had understood about the
power & manifestations of the soul, relating it to our internal Qi as well
as the outward Qi of the physical earth. What is the energy you are vibrating?
Is it the energy of self pity, or the energy of pride? The energy of poverty or
the energy of wealth?
During Chinese New Year, you will hear wishes of prosperity,
good luck and abundance. Some people think that the Chinese are all about greed
and materialism because most are said to spend their lives in pursuit of money.
But after realizing the concept of Qi, I know now that the ancient Chinese was
on to something before the rest of the world began to understand.
They immersed their rituals and practises to reflect a fortunate
life, one of abundance and long life, which was not something to be embarrassed
about to want, but rather seen as a norm, a should-have and a desire that is
innate in every person.
Therefore, the practises of feng shui, of wearing red and
decorating our homes red to symbolize vigorous energy and prosperity; the
placing of blooming flowers and peaches, and the reverence to the magnificent
peonies, are among the encouraged practices, as merely having, wearing and
displaying these symbols is said to manifest the power of good Qi, which draws
all good things to us.
So, as I make myself walk the talk of manifesting and creating a
life of my desires, I now readily open to these practices, which I had once
rejected as old and unfashionable. After all, the truth had been out there all
along, but I am just beginning to discover it.
