Spiritual Archives - Working 2 Live, Living 2 Travel

No crystal ball needed: Receiving a feng shui face reading

“You have lucky face. You be rich, after your three children. Good heart. Your husband is lucky man.” As Chris stood smirking to the side, the fortune teller at the Temple Street Night Market in Hong Kong continued to tell me how I was a woman who knew what she wanted and was very determined with my “tiger eyes.” After paying the 50 RMB (about 8 USD, which was a higher price than the other fortune tellers we stumbled upon later at about 30 RMB), we both walked away laughing in good nature.

I had just received my first fortune face reading, and the fortune teller, a middle-aged Chinese lady dressed in a traditional qipao that could bargain down a beggar, had used a form of feng shui to deliver a fortune spot on (determined) in some instances and completely off (there will be no three children) in others.

What is feng shui?

Literally translated. feng shui in English means “wind” and “water.” As all traditions in China, feng shui has a foundation in the three main religions of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. A belief system that adheres to elemental conditions affecting fate from birth, feng shui is about the energies in the universe that shape our fortunes.

Dating back to 4,000 BC, feng shui was considered a metaphysical science that aligned a human’s life with celestial bodies. Using astronomy as a guide, the Chinese structured homes and buildings based on the alignment of the stars to bring about the best use of qi, or life force, and the yin and yang, or polarity of forces. The Four Celestial Animals, or the cardinal directions provided by the star constellations, in historic times that guided feng shui were:

1. The Green Dragon of East that brought the Spring Equinox

2. The Red Phoenix of South that brought the Summer Solstice

3. The White Tiger of West that brought the Autumn Equinox

4. The Dark Turtle of North that brought the Winter Solstice

In more contemporary times, feng shui fell out of favor during the Cultural Revolution when it was classified as part of the Four Olds and banned in the mainland. Since the death of Mao Zedong, feng shui has grown once again in popularity, but it is still taboo in Chinese government to consult with feng shui experts. Today, feng shui is mainly seen as an interior decorating concept for more harmonious surroundings. This singular view, though, misses the complexities of the belief system.

What a feng shui face reading can tell you

On a particularly cool evening last fall, Chris and I attended a talk about feng shui face readings hosted by Janny Chyn of Shanghai Pathways. A feng shui master delivered a speech that was translated by Chyn on the many ideas behind what the structure of the face told about a person. Like the fortune I received, some of the beliefs were very plausible while others made little sense. In feng shui, as the environment and energies shape your fortune, the attributes of the following 10 body parts are used to predict your future.

1. Ears

The shape of the ears can tell a feng shui fortune teller how you were born. If the ear shape is that of swaddled baby, you spent most of your time in the womb upside down. If the outside of the ear is thick, you are healthy, smart and practice good nutrition.

2. Forehead

The wider the forehead, the more creative the individual. Wider foreheads allow for more energy flow.

3. Eyebrows

The thicker the eyebrows and more set together, the better the personal relationships the person enjoys. The wider apart the eyebrows, the bigger the heart of the person. Narrow eyebrows depict a picky person.

4. Eyes

Small eyes are signs of an introverted person whereas bigger eyes show more of an extrovert. When the eyes are watery or look to be laughing, this is a sign of love. Dark circles under the eyes of a woman are a sign of a female-nature disease. Eye contact in China is also important as direct eye contact leads to trust and non-direct eye contact signals a lack of honesty.

5. Cheeks

If a woman has high cheekbones, it is believed she likes to be in control. If the cheeks are discolored to a pale or darkish tint, there is a problem with the lungs and money mismanagement is common in the person.

6. Chin

The sharper the chin of an individual, the more likely he is to make bad decisions.

7. Mouth

A mouth turned more upward shows agreement where a mouth turned more downward is in disagreement. A thicker lower lip depicts a person who treasures friendships while a thin upper lip shows the person to be a good debater. A mouth not centered depicts an untrustworthy person.

8. Nose

A selfish person is said to have a long nose where a more agreeable person usually has a round nose. The bigger the nose, the more stubborn the person is believed to be.

9. Hair

Thick hair is a sign of a strong person who likes to direct. Thin-haired people tend to be more considerate. The shinier the hair, the more the person is believed to be in love. Red hair is a sign of happiness.

10. Face

A square face belongs to a serious person whereas a more round face thinks a lot and makes good decisions.

What does your face say about you?

According to feng shui, I’m a good person who makes good decisions and thinks a lot. What would your face structure tell a fortune teller?

-Monica

Religion in China Part 1: Confucianism

Religion in China has a long and varied history. Through devout ancient worship of ancestors to today’s atheist Communist Party, China has seen its share of belief structures. Today, only five religions are officially recognized by the Chinese government: Buddhism, Taoism/Daoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism. In this three-part series, I will be taking an individual look at two of the more unique religions in the country plus an unrecognized one that is widely practiced: Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism/Daoism.

A brief history of religion in China

In the ancient dynasties of China’s origins ancestor worship was the belief of the time. People set up elaborate altars to invite and respect family members who had crossed before them. Divination practices, such as oracle bones, were highly regarded.

Confucianism was adopted in the Han Dynasty. It was also during this time that Buddhism made its first appearance in the country, believed to come by way of India through the Silk Road. Emperors began to rule under a mandate of divine appointment, believing their placements were ordained by the gods.

Prayer ribbons flap in the breeze at the Shanghai Confucian Temple. Asking for favor, there are three main important goals in Confucianism: 1. To get married 2. To meet a friend/acquaintance in an unusual place 3. To find your name on the passing list for government employment exams. — Prayer ribbons flap in the breeze at the Shanghai Confucian Temple. Asking for favor, there are three important goals in Confucianism: 1. To get married 2. To meet a friend/acquaintance in an unusual place 3. To find your name on the passing list for government employment exams.

During the period of Many Dynasties, schools of Buddhism began to grow throughout the land, underpinned by the teachings of Confucius. It was also during this time that philosopher Lao Tzu developed the foundation for Taoism/Daoism.

Throughout the Tang to the Ming dynasties, these three religions enjoyed ups and downs, freedom and oppression depending on the whims of the ruling class. As the land became more open to foreigners during the Ch’ing Dynasty, Europeans introduced Christianity to the Chinese people. Under the Republic of China, religious freedom was enjoyed, and many religious structures, such as churches, synagogues, mosques and temples, were built.

After the Communist Party’s victory and the rise of Mao Zedong in 1949, the People’s Republic of China took a hostile approach to religion. Atheism became the designated stance of the nation, and many religious buildings were turned into government offices.

With the end of the Cultural Revolution and the adoption of the 1978 Constitution of the PRC, religious freedom with restriction has been granted in the country. An ongoing revitalization of religious structures can be seen throughout China, but some beliefs, such as Falun Gong, are perceived to be a threat to the government and still face oppression and human rights violations.

Who was Confucius?

During a time known as the Warring States, a low-level magistrate yearned for peace as many kings with their strong armies attempted to take over their neighbors (think Game of Thrones). He believed that to create a congenial society, people must develop respect for each other through gaining knowledge. If he could teach the barbaric warlords literature, art, poetry and music, then this knowledge would lead to the respect needed for peace.

The youngest and only able-bodied son, Confucius was born in roughly 550 BC to a 72-year-old father and 18-year-old mother after nine sisters and one sickly brother. Later in life, he would come into government work and befriend Lao Tzu, who would be an early mentor for him.

Encouraged by Lao Tzu, Confucius left government work to spread his teachings on how culture was needed to influence politics for peace. Though largely ignored, he did set up schools that taught his philosophies. As it so often happens, his teachings would not find fame or appreciation until after his death around 480 BC.

What is Confucianism?

Though I’m classifying the philosophy into the religious category for the purpose of this blog series, Confucianism is more of a humanism than a spiritual religion. The ethical system focuses on the scholarly study of humanities to become the best possible person. There are many teachings in Confucianism that deal with society, government, the state of humanity, life at home and much more. Entire series of books have been written on Confucianism, so for the sake of brevity, I will focus on two of my favorite Confucius quotes and how they relate to the philosophy.

1. Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.

As the cornerstone, Confucius always strove for knowledge. No matter how much you learn, there is always more to learn. No mater who you meet or what you experience, there is knowledge to be gained.

2. Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you.

Look familiar? The good ole’ golden rule (and just a side note, every religion in the world has some similar belief). In Chinese, there is a concept known as “ren” or 仁. It most closely translates to altruism in Western culture. Man may not be born good or evil, but his actions are what speaks and defines him.

Confucianism in China

Much of China’s culture, society and government has been influenced by the teachings of Confucius. As proper etiquette was so enforced in Confucianism, we still see this in the traditions of Chinese tea ceremonies. Until 1911, to obtain a job with the government, imperial exams were given that tested a person’s grasp of Confucianism concepts. The Communist Party’s ideal of keeping everyone the same pay levels comes from Confucius’ believe of equality among all people. The high regard for one’s parents in Chinese culture comes from the Confucius belief that loyalty to personal positions and relationships was of the utmost importance.

Religions in China Part 1: Confucianism — Confucius began from humble beginnings to reach a god-like stature after his death. His philosophy included lifelong learning, loyalty, respect and kindness

Throughout history, Confucianism has come in and out of favor in China. During the early 20th Century, Confucianism principles were blamed for China’s economic downturn. Scholars were ridiculed and persecuted during the Cultural Revolution. Presently, though, there has been a revival in Confucianism thought, even movements to change the Chinese National Teacher’s Day to Sept. 28, the believed birthday of Confucius.

Your thoughts on Confucianism?

Confucianism has not only influenced China, but scholars and societies around the world have put actions in place based on the philosophy. What do you think of Confucianism? What would you like to learn more about? Do you have a favorite Confucius quote?

-Monica

Get well soon: The healing power of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Get well soon: The healing power of Chinese Traditional Medicine — Maybe the oddest Chinese herb, this spider-looking species is half plant, half insect. The crossbreed can only grow on the plateaus in the Himalayan Mountains as the wind carries fungus spores and deposits them in the larvae of moths founds in the area. As the larvae and spore grow, the winter worm or summer grass is then harvested to be used as cough suppressants and other Yang supplements.

Western Doctor: What are your symptoms?

Chinese Doctor: How are you feeling?

Western Doctor: What is your temperature and blood pressure?

Chinese Doctor: How is your energy?

Western Doctor: Take these tablets three times a day for one week. Call me if you’re not better in seven days.

Chinese Doctor: Drink this tea each day for two weeks and concentrate on seeking balance. Come back in after two weeks and let’s see where your energy is.

The Philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Chalked up to a combination of being raised on Southern favorites made with too much Crisco and sugar; trying every dish under the sun as we moved around; and learning to live with a lackadaisical standard of cleanliness in food consumption has made my stomach an enemy of state to my body. My symptoms are in line with Celiac Disease. To spare you the messy details, we’ll just say when attacks occur, it’s not pretty.

At the height of the symptoms, I sought out treatment through Traditional Chinese Medicine as I wanted to experience a new form of medical care. I was seen and treated at the Body & Soul Medical Clinics, a mix of Western and Chinese doctors specializing in TCM. While I’ve been treated at the facility, I have learned and experienced a lot about this ancient form of medicine and health.

To start, there are two overarching concepts provide the basis of the practice:

Get well soon: The healing power of Traditional Chinese Medicine — The Yin and Yang are “inseparable forces that complement and depend on each other.” photo credit: easyflow via photopin cc

1. Yin & Yang

When I was in middle school, I loved to draw the Yin & Yang symbol. Half of my pre-teen jewelry collection had something to do with this emblem, but I really had no idea what it meant. It just looked cool.

After visiting the Body & Soul Medical Clinics and speaking with Dr. Doris Rathgeber, the general manager, it was explained to me, in the medical sense, as “inseparable forces that complement and depend on each other.” (As I have also learned in the spiritual sense, it can also mean there is good and evil in everyone.)

The Yin, the darker half, represents the inner source and the more female attributes. Organs classified in the Yin property include the liver, heart, spleen, lungs and kidneys. These are considered “solid and are occupied with the production, preservation and regulation of the body’s basic substances.”

The Yang, the lighter half, depicts the outer source and the more male characteristics. Organs in the Yang property include the gall bladder, small intestine, stomach, large intestine, urinary bladder, and major glands that work together with the lungs, spleen and kidneys to disperse liquid in the body. Characteristics of these organs “are hollow and have the task to receive, discern and excrete the body substances.”

Both halves make up the whole existence of a person, and when an ailment occurs, the halves are out of proportion.

As part of this concept is the relationship between blood and qi, or the life energy. The most important substances in TCM, they work together to form the physical, mental and spiritual body. “Qi represents the active energy Yang, and blood represents the passive energy Yin.”

2. The 5 Elements

As in nature-bound philosophies, there are organic elements that affect our sense of well-being. In TCM, these elements correspond to a major organ system in the body:

Wood – Liver
Fire – Heart
Earth – Spleen
Metal – Lung
Water – Kidney

As these natural elements interact in a constant motion with each other, the body’s systems depend on each other for health. When they are out of sync with each other, disease occurs. Treatment consists of balancing these elemental systems.

Diagnosis with Traditional Chinese Medicine

In Western medicine, the body is observed and diagnosed in separation. If there is a problem with your foot, then just your foot is observed and treated. You take a Tylenol table for a headache and a Pepto-Bismol dose for your stomach. In the East, the body is considered as one energy system acting in a dynamic interaction with all elements. All of it must be considered to diagnose the problem.

In my first consultation at the clinic, the doctor observed my overall appearance, asked about my daily eating and sleeping habits, and performed a tongue and pulse measurement.

It is believed in TCM that the appearance of the tongue can speak to the functions of the inner body. On the back of the tongue, conditions of the kidney, bladder and intestines are shown; the right and left sides of the tongue are connected to the gallbladder and liver; the middle of the tongue relates to the symptoms of the stomach and spleen; and the tip of the tongue presents the case of the lungs and heart.

The pulse is checked in the hands and wrists. This diagnostic test tells the doctor about various workings in the body, such as energy levels, presence of dehydration and/or retention, and the possibility of blockages.

Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine

I (try very hard to) drink a Chinese medicinal herbal tea every morning. It’s absolutely disgusting. I was informed, though, the TCM belief is the more bitter the taste, the better it works. Mine should be working miracles then.

Herbs and organic powders are highly regarded in TCM for their healing properties. My morning tea consists of powders from plant-based ingredients such as rhizoma atractylodis and semen ziziphi spinosae. Other powders can come from insects, bird excretions, bones and horns.

I was also prescribed a series of acupuncture sessions to realign my qi along certain meridians in my body. TCM is all about balance, be it between the Yin and Yang, the 5 elements, blood or qi. In acupuncture small needles are used to open and redirect meridians so the qi can flow more freely. In my sessions, needles were placed in the top of my head, between my thumb and forefinger, around my navel, and the bottoms of my legs. The pain was minimal, with the sorest point being my hands, which I was told was most aligned to my stomach. Heating lamps were then placed above the needles, and I was left to rest with the needles in place for about 45 minutes at each session.

Other treatments I’ve read and been told about include cupping, placing warm cups on the skin to create suction that encourages blood flow; gua sha or scraping, using the horn of an animal to brusquely move across the skin to draw toxins out; moxibustion, the burning of mugwort applied directly or indirectly to the skin to promote the movement of cold spots and warm meridians; and various massage techniques that target meridians and unique problem areas.

Exercise in Traditional Chinese Medicine

What we call exercises in the West actually have a much deeper spiritual and medical rationale in the East. These movements, such as Yoga and Tai-Chi, were developed as a means to prepare or treat the body in spirit as well as physicality.

Participating in a Tai-Chi class in China and Yoga in the States, I have learned how the gentle and fluid movements help with a multitude of physical abilities, such as flexibility and joint health, while these practices promote mental balance through meditation qualities. It’s also a plus that Tai-Chi is basically martial arts in slow motion.

West v. East?

When I follow the prescribed treatments in my TCM regiment as directed (I’m not the greatest patient), I can very much see and tell the difference in my body’s reaction to foods and my mental wellness. However, I still want my direct, in-and-out, to-the-point Western diagnosis and fix-me-up-quick treatment. The goal now is to combine these two forms to find a balance.

What style do you prefer? Would you be willing to try the Eastern version of medical care?

-Monica

Boas festas! Holidays in Brazil

Yesterday, our family and friends celebrated Christmas with gifts, big dinners, quality time together, and, my personal favorite, a continuous marathon of “The Christmas Story” on TBS. While that was happening, we were on our way to the beach town of Natal, which means Christmas in Portuguese, and we’re looking forward to New Year’s on an Amazon adventure.

While enjoying the hottest Christmas we’ve ever experienced, we did miss our family and friends (especially our new niece’s first Christmas). We’re glad to see through Facebook, though, it looks like everyone had a great time.

Boas festas! Holidays in Brazil — Panettone is a traditional Christmas cake, much like the U.S. fruit cake.

Celebrating in Brazil

Christmas in Brazil is similar to the U.S. Decorations are put up, gifts are given, and children are warned to be good for Papai Noel (Santa Claus). At work, Secret Santa or amigo secreto is a huge celebration. The entire office participates, and a dinner is held to exchange the gifts where each participant gives a speech describing their secret friend. Everyone then tries to guess who the person is before he receives his gift.

Unlike the U.S., though, Christmas isn’t the biggest holiday for Brazil. We’ve been told Carnival is what it’s all about. Unfortunately, as Carnival is in February, we won’t be here to experience that. If the shows we’ve seen, however, that imitate Carnival are any indication, its going to be an amazing party. There are plenty of parades featuring samba schools and elaborate costumes. In the U.S., Mardi Gras in New Orleans is the closest comparison.

Other holidays in Brazil we have experienced include the country’s Independence Day, Our Lady of Aparecida and/or Children’s Day, Day of the Dead, Republic Day and Black Awareness Day. Many holidays center around the Catholic religion as it’s the largest for the country.

Independence Day in Brazil is celebrated September 7, and it commemorates the country declaring its independence from Portugal in 1822. We spent the holiday in Rio de Janeiro where we saw military members and equipment on their way to participate in a parade.

Our Lady of Aparecida, also known as Children’s Day, is a celebration of the Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Brazil, and children held October 12. We celebrated in Foz do Iguaçu by attending a festival full of kids activities.

November 2 is Day of the Dead or All Souls Day, a part of the Catholic tradition where families remember their past loved ones by visiting cemeteries and cleaning the graves. Unlike in the Mexican culture where the holiday is celebrated with parties, Day of the Dead in Brazil is a very somber day. We visited the city cemetery in Curitiba where we bought some flowers for old graves that didn’t look like anyone had been to for awhile. It was a great experience that I had wanted to participate in for a long time.

The former royal palce of the king of Brazil before the country was declared a republic is now the Museu Paulista of Universidade de São Paulo. — The former royal palace of the king of Brazil before the country was declared a republic is now the Museu Paulista of Universidade de São Paulo.

Republic Day is observed November 15 and commemorates the end of the Empire of Brazil and the proclamation of the Republic of Brazil in 1889.

Black Awareness Day is observed November 20 and is celebrated in honor of dark-skinned Brazilians and the end of slavery, which was abolished in 1888 by Princess Isabel. Similar to Black History Month in the U.S., this day recognizes the contributions that those of African descent have made to Brazilian society.

Other holidays in Brazil we were not here for include Tiradentes’ Day April 21 that celebrates the death of the national martyr who aimed to establish an independent Brazilian republic and Labour Day or May Day May 1 like our Labor Day in the U.S. observed each September.

No ghosts or goblins here

My favorite holiday is Halloween, and Chris’ is Christmas. Halloween isn’t actually celebrated here in Brazil as for a long time it was seen as evil by the church and kept out. Known as dia das bruxas here, it’s literal translation is “day of the witches.” Though many don’t dress up (costumes are popular in Brazil, though, for kids and costume parties) and there is no such thing as trick-or-treating, the holiday has gained in popularity here in recent years with the introduction of more expats. With the shunning of Halloween, ghost tours, one of our favorite travel activities, are also not widely available in Brazil.

What’s your favorite holiday?

-Monica

Working 2 Live, Living 2 Travel

Category: Spiritual

What is feng shui?

What a feng shui face reading can tell you

What does your face say about you?

A brief history of religion in China

Who was Confucius?

What is Confucianism?

Confucianism in China

Your thoughts on Confucianism?

The Philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Diagnosis with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Exercise in Traditional Chinese Medicine

West v. East?