4 Things to Remember for Prosperity in 2024 for Your Ancestral Altar

Avoid placing altars in unfavorable positions

According to feng shui beliefs, placing altars in bad positions can significantly impact the family. During the arrangement of the altar, it is advisable to avoid placing the altar directly in front of the door, regardless of whether it is the bathroom door, bedroom door, or kitchen door.

This not only creates aesthetic issues but also relates to negative energy, not creating a clean and pure worship space. Avoid placing altars under the bed, in the kitchen, or the toilet; avoid unfavorable positions such as above the headboard, above the bathroom walls, or near busy doors and windows.

Properly arrange altars according to feng shui principles

Properly arranging altars is an important factor in creating auspiciousness for the family. The basic principle is to follow the yin and yang law, in which the images of men and women are arranged according to the principle of “Man on the left, Woman on the right” when facing the altar. Arrange the Five Elements and worship items according to the Five Elements (Metal – Wood – Water – Fire – Earth).

Avoid placing aggressive animal statues such as tigers or lions in the altar area. To avoid “quang sat” situations, avoid using red chandeliers or red lightbulbs. The best lighting in the worship space is gentle, with a subdued tone.

For households worshiping Buddhas, it is recommended to place the Buddha altar in the highest position separate from altars for other deities and ancestors. Keeping them separate maintains respect and religious practices.

Create a worship space not dominated by positive energy

The worship space, or the altar room, is a place dedicated to honoring and worshiping Buddhas and deities. In designing this space, priority should be given to yin energy over yang energy, creating a peaceful and calm atmosphere.

Therefore, avoid too many windows in the altar room. This can result in excessive light and wind, which can intrude forcefully. Light and wind often carry yang energy, and the worship space needs protection from their fluctuations.

The altar room should also be maintained at a cool temperature, avoiding heat or stress. A hot worship space means excessive yang energy, contradicting the principle of prioritizing yin energy as mentioned. For households with an altar room on the upper floor, attention should be paid to installing additional cooling systems.

Limit the presence of objects that generate negative energy on the altar

Differentiating between objects that generate natural positive energy and objects that disperse negative energy is important in the worship space. This is why natural materials such as copper and wood are usually preferred for use in this area. Avoid placing objects that accumulate negative energy on the family altar, especially artificial materials such as plastic or silk flowers and clay incense. These non-natural objects can compromise the purity and respect of the spiritual essence in the worship space.