AT out general membership meeting last January 26, Ipra Philippines started the year with a bang! Ipra members were treated to a wealth of Feng Shui advice on how to welcome the Lunar New Year. I am now happy to share with you some tips we gathered from that session.
Our special guest for that evening was Mr. Norman Cruz, a Feng Shui Network Accredited Member and an Affiliate Member of the International Feng Shui Association, a Feng shui expert and guru.
Norman started the session by giving general pieces of Feng Shui advice to the group. He said that 2022, the year of the Water Tiger ushers in optimism, growth and happiness. Mainly because it has been three years since we had a mixture of Water, Metal and Fire Elements in one sign and that is embodied in the Water Tiger this year.
Advice on the 5 Elements
THE elements Norman mentioned below were ranked based on the industry that will excel or will be promising this year. You may want to consider getting into these businesses or industries or even look for job opportunities that will suit you, depending of course on one’s resources and capacity.
Per Norman, the Metal element will be the luckiest element this year, and those industries primarily involving Metal include the following: Hi-tech gadget(s)—hardware and software and the manufacturing of such, construction, military, and engineering. If you are in any of the industries mentioned above or related to it, a big congratulations to you; it will be a good and auspicious year ahead.
Next is the Fire element which covers industries in the food business, entertainment and even the airline industry which are set to pick up this year.
Third, the Water element whose businesses are in or related to communications, public relations, consumer goods and transportation.
Fourth, the Earth element which is related to the mining industry or any business related to excavation.
The fifth element is the Wood element which affects agriculture business in general, that includes but is not limited to the growing or trading of crops, piggery, poultry and even the furniture business which are seen to get a little bumpy this year.
A question was raised: Would it be good to start a new business or venture this 2022? The answer is, ”it is better to think it out, first”. Instead, Mr. Cruz suggests to tailor fit or tweak your business in accordance with the lucky elements such as metal, fire and water discussed above. In other words, if you are in the agricultural side and doing crop trading, it is best to enhance your business by integrating Information Technology (IT) related processes as suggested by the Metal element. That in a way tweaks your business to a favorable element.
The 12 Animal Signs calendar
ACCORDING to Norman, the ranking of the Animal signs is based on 4 pillars. The Year of your birth which represents friends or people who will affect you for the year, the Birth month which affects one’s career, the date of birth for the relationship, such as the people you deal with. Fourth and last is the hour of your birth, that affects the relationship with your children and investments that you make.
Norman summarized and defined the character of each animal sign, as a glimpse of what to expect for the year.
Generally, Norman said, those born in the year of the Pig will be lucky in the month of November.
The Rooster will be a go-to person, solving others people’s problems. Take this as a positive act of paying it forward, my Rooster friends.
Those born in the year of the Goat will be a “loved person” in the month of July.
People born in the year of the horse will see an improvement in their career.
If you were born in the year of the Rabbit, you will encounter a lot of helpful people in the month of March.
Snake peeps will receive secret help in the month of May.
People born in the year of the Ox will be likeable and attractive to build relationships.
For the Tiger, this month—February—it is your year and you will have positive energy all throughout 2022.
If you are born in the year of the Dog, you will be creative and innovative this year.
Those born in the animal sign Monkey, will be problem solvers in 2022.
For our Dragon friends, the month of April should be used for self-reflection.
Those born in the year of the Rat will encounter a bit of challenges and changes in life for the year 2022.
How to use Feng Shui in the homes
Norman’s advice is to get a compass, even a compass on your phone will work. Put it waist level and stand in the middle of your house to identify the major direction points in your house—North, East, South and West.
Regardless of your animal sign, if you want to have new beginnings at home or on the personal level, stay at the North point of your house. Stay means, building your office or work station in that area or even trying to make an effort of spending more time in that spot. If it is not possible to be at that point, you can opt to put a water feature on that “North spot” like a fountain, aquarium or anything that symbolizes or has any water feature that will help enhance that area to suit your Feng Shui.
The Northeast spot is to keep cash flowing. Again, if it is not possible to stay in that area physically, you can put fire elements such as incense, candles, or any red colored item.
The East point is suitable for one to get what you want, more of a hunting location. If not physically possible to be in the area, place a fire element or red colored item in that spot.
For the southeast direction, it is advisable if helpful people will be made available to render assistance to you. If one cannot be there physically, Norman suggests putting a plant in a glass vase.
The South point is for happiness.
For the southwest direction, it is meant to avoid sickness. Alternatively, one can put metal decorative items in the area like barbels, metal statues and the like. In addition to this, in the Northeast corner of your room you can put your vitamins and supplements to avoid sickness and be healthy.
The West point is the best location for improved communication be it in the business, career or family.
The Northwest point is seen to get things done, or to initiate a new or existing project. One can also opt to put metal decorative items or metal elements in the northwest.
Finally, Norman suggests putting metal objects in the center of the house to avoid bad luck.
Feng Shui and the modern society
IN this modern age and time, people ask, does Feng Shui really work? My two cents on the matter: there is nothing wrong in believing in Feng Shui and executing what they suggest. This is not far from other customary practices that we have been doing in our own family celebrations like wearing a red shirt to feel lucky on one’s birthday party; placing round objects in our dinner table to welcome the new year, light some sparklers and play loud music to fend off the bad spirits. For me, what is important is that aside from these practices and customs that we do, it must always be coupled with discipline, hard work and determination in order to see positive results in our goals. Kung Xi Fat Choy!
PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premiere association for senior communications professionals around the world. Wilford Wong is currently based in Singapore and is working as the Chief of Staff to our Philippine Ambassador in Singapore. He is a PR practitioner with an extensive experience in government relations and corporate communications for two decades.
PR Matters is devoting a special column each month to answer our readers’ questions about public relations. Please send your questions or comments to askipraphil@gmail.com.