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Business Slumps, Where Did It Go Wrong: Check Now if Your Ancestor’s Altar Offends Any of These 3 Taboos, Fix It Before It’s Too Late

If you believe in the power of Feng Shui, placing an unflattering photo on your altar can bring negative energy into your life. It is best to avoid this and instead choose pictures that bring joy and positivity.

Administrator

2 March, 2024

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Randomly placing altar photos without following the rules:

In feng shui and according to our ancestors’ beliefs, when placing altar photos, we need to follow the Male to the Left and Female to the Right rule. This means that the photo of the female ancestor must be placed to the right of the male ancestor, not the other way around. However, some families nowadays tend to place the photo of the person who passed away first on the inside, which is completely wrong.

In addition, when placing altar photos, we should also follow the hierarchy in the family. The photos of older ancestors should be placed higher, while the photos of younger descendants should be placed lower to demonstrate the order and respect within a family. Folks beliefs also suggest that placing the photo of the female ancestor to the right helps the man assert his central position. That is, thanks to the man being the pillar of the family, everything goes smoothly.

Placing altar photos off-center, aligned with the incense bowl:

In Vietnamese ancestral worship rituals, this is the most taboo thing that everyone must know. Altar photos are the thing that helps the one who passed away to establish his/her position on the altar. If the homeowner places them off-center, the person who passed away will not be able to find their place. So, that person can be “pushed out of the altar, only being able to watch other people “occupying” it. Of course, the living person will be scolded and punished by the deceased person.

Not only that, in spiritual beliefs, placing off-center means that the homeowner is disrespecting the deceased person, so he/she does not want to put him/her front and center. Meanwhile, the wandering souls outside can step into the empty space to “steal” the food that the homeowner offers.

Placing photos in the middle of the altar:

Many families often choose to place the photos of deceased family members in the middle of the altar. However, according to feng shui experts, the center of the altar is the position of the deities and ancestors, and no one is allowed to intrude. However, some people like to place the photos of their relatives in the middle, pushing the position of the deities outside. This is tantamount to saying that the person is more important than the deities and ancestors.

If you place photos of your parents, siblings… in the middle of the altar, it’s like saying that they have the highest central position. This will make the deities and ancestors feel offended and not offer protection to the homeowner, but only bring disasters. Therefore, homeowners should avoid this to ensure a favorable and harmonious life within the family.

Information is for reference and contemplation purposes only.

Frequently asked questions

The placement of altar photos should follow the family hierarchy, with older ancestors’ photos placed higher and younger descendants’ photos placed lower. This arrangement demonstrates respect for one’s elders and reinforces the family’s internal order. It is believed that respecting this hierarchy brings blessings and protection from one’s ancestors.

Placing altar photos off-center is considered a taboo in Vietnamese ancestral worship rituals. The position of the photos helps the deceased establish their place on the altar. If placed off-center, they may not find their designated spot and could be “pushed out.” This can lead to scolding and punishment from the deceased, as it indicates a lack of respect. Additionally, it invites wandering souls to intrude and “steal” the offerings meant for the family’s ancestors.

According to feng shui experts, the center of the altar is reserved for deities and ancestors. Placing photos of family members in the middle is considered disrespectful to the deities and can offend them. It implies that the person in the photo is more important than the divine beings. To maintain a harmonious relationship with the deities and ancestors, it is best to avoid placing photos in the center of the altar.