Feng Shui is both an art and science. Originated from ancient China about some three centuries ago, a part of Feng Shui, known as symbolism Feng Shui is the knowledge of placing and arranging good fortune symbols in correct and proper position or direction so as to exert concealed positive Chi powers of a setting to benefit the lives of people. Symbolism Feng Shui is very easy to apply and potent too. Feng shui enhancers consciously placed in the right Feng Shui orientation of your home can help to harness the Chi or energy which harmonizes the area of its influence, bringing about good fortune, good health, prosperity and happiness to the practitioner.
Do you feel as if love is eluding you and you feel unwanted and unloved? Would you like to invite love energies into your life? Authentic love symbols dating back from ancient China are just what you might need. There are many symbols used in Feng Shui that have been proven for centuries to enhance love luck, romance luck, relationship luck and marriage luck. Here are some of them:
Mandarin Ducks – A pair of Mandarin Ducks symbolize happiness in love and suggestive of romance, devotion, affection, conjugal fidelity, togetherness and enduring love. Mandarin ducks live in couples and mourn the loss of their mates, which is why the bird has long been regarded as the most traditional and the most potent symbol of love and married bliss in Feng Shui practice. When placed in pair nearby their owners, Mandarin Ducks becomes a powerful cure to attract or enhance love and relationships. For singles, the pair of Mandarin Ducks will enhance your chances of finding love partners; for lovers, it will bring you marriage opportunities; and for married couples, a pair of Mandarin Ducks will hold out the promise of a marriage being gloriously happy with no separation between the spouses.
Rose Quartz – Rose Quartz is the most desirable of all quartz and is associated with love, romance and relationships. Widely known as the ‘Love Stone’, Rose Quartz is most favored for its ability in speeding up the process for those seeking true love, mending broken relationships and jazzing up your existing romance life. Rose quartz is also reputed to help with the comprehension of love, restores the love of self as well as love for others, and heals old emotional wounds while developing self-appreciation and love.
Double Happiness Symbol – The Double Happiness symbol, composed of two Chinese characters for "happiness" arranged side by side, is another time-honored symbol of marriage and conjugal happiness and reputed to be the most famous and powerful at it. If you look carefully, the two characters are linked together by two lines, which signify the inseparable bond between the lovers. The Double Happiness symbol is a talisman used in Feng Shui to enhance spiritual and physical love between two people; ideal for men or women searching for love, already in love or maintaining a steady relationships or marriage.
Mystic Knots – The mystic knot, also known by many other names such as the lucky knot, love knot, infinity knot, never-ending knot or Endless symbol, is one of the eight auspicious signs of Buddhism that resembles the number "8" interwoven together and can be done so endlessly. The number "8" itself is an auspicious digit for the Chinese because it sounds like "fortune’ and also on sideway, it is the symbol for infinity. Hence the mystic knot symbolizes a lasting togetherness, assured continuity of love and everlasting love, among other things. It signifies lasting togetherness as well as smooth passage through life for married couples.
Peonies – The Queen of all flowers and the national flower of China, the peony or ‘Mou Tan’ is also known as the 'Flower of Riches and Honor' in Chinese. The peony is the emblem of love and affection, feminine beauty and the amorous feelings of youth. Peonies are often referred to in romantic Chinese poetry and literature. In Feng Shui, the Peony is used to attract romance luck.
Dragon and Phoenix – The Dragon represents the ultimate ‘Yang’ symbol, male vigor, courage and bravery. It is magnanimous and full of vitality and strength. The phoenix, on the other hand is the queen of all the winged creatures and the ultimate symbol of feminine/Yin power. When the Dragon and the Phoenix are depicted together, they symbolize the perfect Yin and Yang symbol, a pair of lovers that are connected for all of eternity, a happy marriage that is blessed with success and prosperity as well as many filial children.http://buy-fengshui.com/index.php
Friday, April 11, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Modern Kabbalah
The Ari was a landmark figure in the history of Kabbalah. He transformed the centuries-old Kabbalistic method so that Kabbalah was no longer a wisdom reserved for unique individuals with divine souls. The method he created was a preparation for the modern age, when masses of people would begin using the wisdom of Kabbalah for spiritual ascent.
The Ari was born as Isaac Luria Ashkenazi, in 16th century Jerusalem. He lived at the dawn of the technological era, when the Middle Ages were being rapidly replaced by the Renaissance, and the first sprouts of a new civilization began to emerge. But humanity was not undergoing just technological and cultural development. People also began to develop spiritually, to yearn for spiritual elevation and to discover the source of life. Precisely this new desire that emerged in humanity allowed the Ari to reshape the Kabbalistic method, in order to adapt it to the new spiritual desires of the masses.
Beginning with a very young age, he became interested in sacred texts and devoted all his time to studying Kabbalistic texts, such as the Holy Scriptures. Very quickly, he absorbed all the Kabbalistic knowledge that was attained before him and became a renowned spiritual teacher at the young age of 35.
The Ari headed a Kabbalistic school in a small town in Northern Israel called Tzefat. There, he expounded his spiritual attainment and the wisdom of Kabbalah, but he did not simply teach the things others before him had attained. He presented the Kabbalistic wisdom in a completely new way, and later generations would study the spiritual world using primarily his books.
But as fate would have it, he taught for just a year and a half before passing away at the age of 36. Of all his students, he felt that only one student had understood him enough to continue studying his spiritual teaching. This student was 28 year old Chaim Vital, and in the year and a half he had studied with the Ari, he wrote down everything he heard. When the Ari passed away, Chaim Vital was the only disciple allowed to continue and publicize the Ari’s work.
All the existing texts of the Ari’s Kabbalistic teaching are the notes Chaim Vital took during that year and a half. They comprise about 20 volumes, of which the most important text is The Tree of Life. This text examines the origin of all life and the essence of Creation or man. Most importantly, it talks about the general force of Nature that governs everything and brings everything into existence. The Ari called this force "Upper Light." Here is an excerpt from the book The Tree of Life:
Behold that before the emanations were emanated and the creatures were created, The Upper Simple Light had filled the whole existence. And there was no vacancy, such as an empty atmosphere, a hollow, or a pit, But all was filled with Simple, Boundless Light. And there was no such part as head, or tail, But everything was Simple, Smooth Light, balanced evenly and equally, And it was called the Endless Light.
The Ari’s great achievement was that he renovated the entire Kabbalistic method that existed before him for thousands of years—the method of attaining the Upper Light. Before him, the method was intended only for special people whose souls already possessed unique spiritual qualities. After the Ari, the method could be used by the masses, by anyone who truly desires spiritual ascent, regardless of age, gender or nationality. Thanks to the Ari, anyone can now engage in the wisdom of Kabbalah, find out about the purpose of Creation, and attain a sensation of the Upper Light.
Moreover, the Ari paved the way for Kabbalah to become a modern science. He was the first Kabbalist to expound the wisdom about the spiritual world in a modern, scientific language. Before him, Kabbalists had stated the same knowledge in a mysterious, concealed language of legends, fantastical stories and the like. Their texts could be properly interpreted only by other Kabbalists, and remained hidden to the uninformed reader.
Thus, the Ari laid the foundations for modern Kabbalah, creating a method that responded to people’s new spiritual desires in his generation. The Kabbalistic method used in the world today by millions of people is also based on the Ari’s work, and his book The Tree of Life remains a fundamental textbook used by modern students of Kabbalah.
The Ari was born as Isaac Luria Ashkenazi, in 16th century Jerusalem. He lived at the dawn of the technological era, when the Middle Ages were being rapidly replaced by the Renaissance, and the first sprouts of a new civilization began to emerge. But humanity was not undergoing just technological and cultural development. People also began to develop spiritually, to yearn for spiritual elevation and to discover the source of life. Precisely this new desire that emerged in humanity allowed the Ari to reshape the Kabbalistic method, in order to adapt it to the new spiritual desires of the masses.
Beginning with a very young age, he became interested in sacred texts and devoted all his time to studying Kabbalistic texts, such as the Holy Scriptures. Very quickly, he absorbed all the Kabbalistic knowledge that was attained before him and became a renowned spiritual teacher at the young age of 35.
The Ari headed a Kabbalistic school in a small town in Northern Israel called Tzefat. There, he expounded his spiritual attainment and the wisdom of Kabbalah, but he did not simply teach the things others before him had attained. He presented the Kabbalistic wisdom in a completely new way, and later generations would study the spiritual world using primarily his books.
But as fate would have it, he taught for just a year and a half before passing away at the age of 36. Of all his students, he felt that only one student had understood him enough to continue studying his spiritual teaching. This student was 28 year old Chaim Vital, and in the year and a half he had studied with the Ari, he wrote down everything he heard. When the Ari passed away, Chaim Vital was the only disciple allowed to continue and publicize the Ari’s work.
All the existing texts of the Ari’s Kabbalistic teaching are the notes Chaim Vital took during that year and a half. They comprise about 20 volumes, of which the most important text is The Tree of Life. This text examines the origin of all life and the essence of Creation or man. Most importantly, it talks about the general force of Nature that governs everything and brings everything into existence. The Ari called this force "Upper Light." Here is an excerpt from the book The Tree of Life:
Behold that before the emanations were emanated and the creatures were created, The Upper Simple Light had filled the whole existence. And there was no vacancy, such as an empty atmosphere, a hollow, or a pit, But all was filled with Simple, Boundless Light. And there was no such part as head, or tail, But everything was Simple, Smooth Light, balanced evenly and equally, And it was called the Endless Light.
The Ari’s great achievement was that he renovated the entire Kabbalistic method that existed before him for thousands of years—the method of attaining the Upper Light. Before him, the method was intended only for special people whose souls already possessed unique spiritual qualities. After the Ari, the method could be used by the masses, by anyone who truly desires spiritual ascent, regardless of age, gender or nationality. Thanks to the Ari, anyone can now engage in the wisdom of Kabbalah, find out about the purpose of Creation, and attain a sensation of the Upper Light.
Moreover, the Ari paved the way for Kabbalah to become a modern science. He was the first Kabbalist to expound the wisdom about the spiritual world in a modern, scientific language. Before him, Kabbalists had stated the same knowledge in a mysterious, concealed language of legends, fantastical stories and the like. Their texts could be properly interpreted only by other Kabbalists, and remained hidden to the uninformed reader.
Thus, the Ari laid the foundations for modern Kabbalah, creating a method that responded to people’s new spiritual desires in his generation. The Kabbalistic method used in the world today by millions of people is also based on the Ari’s work, and his book The Tree of Life remains a fundamental textbook used by modern students of Kabbalah.
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