One of the many wonderful traditions which are observed for the Lunar New Year is to welcome The God of Wealth, popularly known as ‘Cai Shen Ye’.  

This year on the eve of the Lunar New Year, several of my colleagues and I joined Grand Master Vincent Koh and his wife Nancy, at the Goddess of Mercy Temple in Singapore to welcome the arrival of the God of Wealth.

The Chinese traditionally believe that those who pay respect to Cai Shen Ye will receive good fortune from his blessings for the coming year.  In 2010 he comes from the South East direction and arrived during the Lunar New Year Eve between 11.00 pm and 3.00 am.

This was a lovely event to be a part of and the gracious Singaporeans from the Goddess of Mercy Temple were very kind and helpful, ensuring that I was able to participate in all of the customs and offerings. This experience was further enriched by Master Koh who showed us around the temple and explained many of the deities, traditions and beliefs. 

How wonderful to find myself a part of such an ancient and rich culture and I look forward to the Year of the Tiger and the many blessings I hope are coming to all of us this year!

Hi everyone,

Just thought I would let you know that I have posted my ‘Year of the Tiger‘ article on my website.  This gives you a brief overview of the prevailing energies and influences for the coming year.  I hope you enjoy reading it! – Janene

Welcome to our new Blog page!

Our new Blog page banner came to us from a bundle of old 1920’s Chinese letters I found deep in the back room of a dusty shop off one of the busy streets near Shanghai’s Yuyuan Market. 

Once translated this lovely script was in fact a copy of a poem titled  ‘A SONG OF PURE HAPPINESS’ and describes the love story between the Tang Dynasty emperor Xuanzong and his high-ranking and famously beautiful concubine Yang Yuhuan.   

I hope you enjoy reading this wonderful old piece of Chinese literature and I thank Ye-ting Zang for translating it for me.  I also look  forward to sharing lots of Feng Shui facts and tips with you over the coming ‘Year of the Tiger’.  – Janene

Her dress reminds of clouds, and her beauty of peonies, 

The spring wind strokes her and on her dewdrops twinkle.

   If this celestial maiden is not seen on the mountain of the Mother Goddess, 

Would be met under the moonlight at the fairies’ palace.

 There’s a perfume moist from a shaft of red blossom,

And a mist, through the heart, from the magical Hill of Wu- 

The palaces of China have never known such beauty-

Not even Flying Swallow with all her glittering garments.

Lovely now together, his lady and his flowers

Lighten for ever the Emperor’s eye, 

As he listens to the sighing of the far spring wind

Where she leans on a railing in the Aloe Pavilion.