Family altars are sacred places that express the gratitude and reverence of future generations for their ancestors. Properly arranging and decorating the family altar according to feng shui not only brings peace of mind to the homeowners but also makes their work and health more successful and beautiful.
Experts say that there is one absolute thing that should not be left on the altar for long, the gold and silver horses.
In fact, many families have the habit of putting a pair of gold and silver horses on the altar, leaving them there all year round and only cleaning the altar at the end of the year. However, this is a mistake.
Why should gold and silver horses not be placed on the altar?
Burning paper money and gold and silver horses is a common practice in many places in Vietnam. Although these items can be placed on the family altar, paper money and gold and silver horses should not be left on the altar for long. After burning incense, homeowners should dispose of them immediately.
However, many families do not know this. They believe that there should always be gold and silver horses on the altar so that their superiors can witness their gratitude and bestow good luck.
In fact, in feng shui, this is taboo. It affects the business of the homeowner, making it difficult for them to succeed and encountering obstacles, resulting in a lack of money. Therefore, after burning incense, it is necessary to dispose of the gold and silver horses immediately, to avoid leaving them on the altar for a long time.
If the family has the habit of offering paper money and gold and silver horses from the first day of the Lunar New Year and leaving them until the end of the year to dispose of them, it is necessary to ensure that this gold is transformed on the day of sending the Kitchen God back to heaven. This ensures the smooth flow of money and luck for the homeowner. If forgotten to be transformed at the end of the year, the business of the homeowner in the next year will be stagnant and face many difficulties.
Also, never place paper money, gold and silver on the Buddha altar. This is an offering for the deceased, and offering it on the Buddha altar will detract from its solemnity.
In addition to gold and silver horses, there are things that homeowners should not display on the altar
Revolving incense stands
This is an item that should not be placed on the altar. Especially, do not insert the revolving incense stand into the incense bowl. Because from ancient times until now, only temples and shrines have revolving incense stands.
In addition, according to many feng shui experts, metal items such as bronze incense burners, candle holders, and iron sticks can have a negative impact on the homeowner’s health if inserted into the incense bowl. Therefore, during the Lunar New Year, if the homeowner wants to burn incense with a revolving incense stand, it should be burned outside or placed on a plate, not inserted directly into the incense bowl.
Artificial items
According to ancient beliefs, placing artificial items (fake flowers, fake fruits, counterfeit money…) on the altar will be disrespectful to the ancestors. Placing artificial items shows a lack of sincerity and frugality because people think these things can be left for a long time and require less cleaning…
The items placed on the altar must all be “real”, beautiful, and solemn to be able to ask the higher beings for blessings and luck for future generations. Therefore, don’t be too frugal and use fake items because offering fake items to the deceased means they will not receive them and will think that their descendants have forgotten about them. This will make the homeowner encounter many difficulties and challenges in life.
Sand should not be put in the incense bowl
The incense bowl should only be filled with ashes and not sand. This action will make the family be criticized by the ancestors and face many difficulties, family conflicts, and weakened health. The incense bowl must be filled with clean ashes burned from sticky rice straw or rice husk and must be carefully sifted to remove impurities.
Do not worship three extended families on the altar
As mentioned above, the altar should only worship gods, masters of the land, and the Kitchen God in the family, as well as worship the two extended families, paternal and maternal. No additional worship is allowed. The paternal extended family should be placed on the left, while the maternal extended family should be placed on the right.
Some families may set up an additional altar to worship ancestors who died young or great achievements (at a young age), which is completely normal and will make everything better.
Some types of flowers
A vase/ jar of fresh flowers is essential on the family altar. However, not all flowers can be placed there, especially the following types:
– Lily: Although beautiful and fragrant, it is prohibited to worship and burn incense for on the family altar because it is believed to cause separation and parting.
– Big flower: According to folklore, the shape of this flower resembles the sensitive part of women, so it must not be used. Moreover, this type of flower is also a place where many wandering souls reside, so it is dangerous and should not be brought into the house.
– Chrysanthemum: This flower looks fresh and beautiful, but it should not be placed on the altar because of its unpleasant smell, which will make the “higher being” unhappy.
– Orchid: The word “phong” in Vietnamese is close in meaning to romantic, free, so it is not suitable for worship.
How to Grow and Care for Gold and Silver Plants at Home: Meaning and Images
Discover the mystical power of gold and silver trees and their unique significance in feng shui. Learn how to plant and care for these special plants in order to bring luck and prosperity into your life.
2023 Lunar New Year Gift Ideas for Older Family and Friends
As 2021 approaches, families worldwide are gathering to celebrate the special bond between grandparents and their grandchildren. To show their love and admiration, these thoughtfully chosen gifts will bring a smile to the face of the elderly. Here, we have compiled a list of the 13 most meaningful Tet presents that can bring joy to our beloved grandparents.
7 Great Gift Ideas to Wish a Student Good Luck on Their Exam
Searching for a meaningful gift to encourage your college student as they prepare for finals? Look no further – this list featuring the best gifts for busy students is sure to hit the spot!
Discovering the Best Present for Opening Events to Bring Luck and Prosperity
For a successful start to a prosperous future, selecting the right celebratory gifts is key. This article offers meaningful, lucky, and unique ideas for the ideal presents to commemorate this special occasion.
Learn How to Grow and Take Care of Pentas Flowers
Get ready to explore the captivating world of paper flowers! Uncover the secret behind making these beautiful blooms and let us create a vibrant one together!
