The altar is a sacred space, a spiritual connection between the living and the deceased, and a place of reverence where descendants express their piety to their ancestors. In feng shui, the items placed on the altar not only hold aesthetic value but also significantly influence the family’s fortune, prosperity, and health. Placing taboo items on the altar can bring misfortune to the homeowners, including financial loss and unwanted gossip. The following are items that should never be placed on the altar, as superstition suggests that they are signs of impending bad luck.
1. Artificial Flowers and Fruits: Loss of Fortune and Dishonesty in Spirituality
Many families use artificial flowers and fruits for convenience or to maintain a vibrant altar. However, in spirituality, offerings are a display of sincerity and must come from a genuine place.
Artificial flowers and fruits imply insincerity and dishonesty, leading to the rejection of offerings by deities and ancestors, which can bring sadness to the family.
From a feng shui perspective, artificial items carry negative energy, hindering wealth and blocking good fortune from entering the home.
Artificial items on the altar also tend to collect dust and negatively impact the worship space.
Recommendation: Opt for fresh flowers like chrysanthemums, gladioli, and lilies, and offer ripe, non-wilted fruits with reverence and sincerity.
2. Sharp Objects: Symbol of Killing Energy, Causing Discord
Items with sharp edges, such as knives, scissors, nails, and metal decorations, should be avoided on the altar. In feng shui, these are symbols of killing energy, disrupting peace and positive energy flow.
Having these items on the altar can lead to frequent arguments and a lack of harmony among family members, impacting the family’s happiness.
3. Scattered Cash and Hell Money: Inviting Misfortune and Financial Loss
The altar is a solemn place, not a storage area for cash, wallets, or hell money (joss paper) at inappropriate times. Leaving real money or hell money on the altar for extended periods can result in:
- Financial loss and declining fortune.
- Loss of sanctity in the worship space.
It is advisable to burn hell money during specific occasions like the full moon, the first day of the lunar month, holidays, death anniversaries, and avoid cluttering the altar, maintaining its tranquility. Incense should be extinguished on the same day.
4. Spoiled Food and Stagnant Water: Polluting the Altar
Leaving offerings without cleaning up or letting water and food stagnate on the altar invites negative energy and shows disrespect.
Spoiled fruits and wilted flowers are considered bad omens, weakening the home’s energy. Murky or sedimented offering water indicates a decline in the family’s fortune.
Tip: Change the water daily, regularly check the condition of fruits and flowers, and maintain a clean and fragrant altar to preserve wealth and good fortune.
5. Misplaced or Tilted Incense Burner: Sign of Unstable Fortune
The incense burner is a sacred object, a “spiritual address” connecting the living and the dead. If it is misplaced or tilted, or if the ashes spill out and are not properly cleaned, it could indicate:
Deities and ancestors may not be at peace, leading to bad luck, loss of fortune, and difficulties in the family’s endeavors.
Increased risk of misfortune, illness, lawsuits, and gossip.
Note: When cleaning the altar, it is advisable to seek permission and light incense before touching the incense burner. Use a clean cloth to gently wipe it.
Reference for spiritual exploration
