MANILA – The Chinese have several ways to attract good fortune, and one of them is through the practice of certain rituals involving everyday items.
Jeffrey Ventura on Kris TV (photo courtesy of CDODev.com)
On Friday’s episode of “Kris TV,” geomancer Jeffrey Ventura shared how to do rituals for prosperity, health and good luck as Chinese New Year nears.
Prosperity ritual
What you need:
One large bowl, wishing paper (can be bought in Chinatown for P10 per bundle), one whole cabbage, 32 pieces of candies, 18 pieces of kiat kiat (small oranges), in-shell peanuts, bean sprouts, 52 pieces of siling labuyo with stems
Kiat kiat Mandarin Oranges
How it is done:
1. Place sheets of wishing paper in a bowl, covering the bottom part.
2. Place the cabbage at the center and surround it with 18 pieces of kiat kiat.
3. Add 32 candies around the cabbage. Do not use candies that are spicy or those that contain chocolate as these are not “lucky.”
4. Add five handfuls of in-shell peanuts using your right hand. In-shell peanuts symbolize growth.
5. Add eight handfuls of bean sprouts using your right hand, spreading them over the other ingredients. Bean sprouts symbolize prosperity.
6. Still with your right hand, place 52 pieces of siling labuyo around the cabbage, with the stems inverted towards the bowl. This process symbolizes “planting” for your love and success.
7. Leave the bowl on your dining table for three hours. The best time to do the prosperity ritual is at6:30 p.m. during the eve of Chinese New Year.
Good health ritual
What you need:
One large bowl, wishing paper, one whole pomelo, 30 pieces of kiat kiat, uncooked long grain glutinous rice, white watermelon seeds, 18 pieces of candies, rock salt
Kiat kiat Mandarin Oranges
How it is done:
1. Place sheets of wishing paper in a bowl, covering the bottom part.
2. Place the pomelo at the center and surround it with 30 pieces of kiat kiat. The pomelo symbolizes health, and the kiat kiat are said to be able to “multiply” good attributes.
3. Using your right hand, add 15 handfuls of uncooked long grain glutinous rice, which symbolizes abundance.
4. Add seven handfuls of white watermelon seeds, still with your right hand, for good health and growth of success. If white watermelon seeds are not available, add pumpkin seeds instead.
5. Add 15 pieces of candies with your right hand. Just like in the prosperity ritual, avoid using candies that are spicy or those with chocolate.
6. Add seven handfuls of salt with your right hand to “energize our health.”
7. Leave the bowl on your dining table for three hours. The best time to do the good health ritual is at6:30 p.m. during the eve of Chinese New Year.
Money pot/good luck ritual
What you need:
One large bowl with cover, wishing paper, uncooked long grain glutinous rice, rock salt, in-shell peanuts, 18 pieces of 25 centavo coins, 17 pieces of P5 coins, 18 pieces of P10 coins, lucky coins (can be bought from Chinatown)
How it is done:
1. Place sheets of wishing paper in a bowl, covering the bottom part.
2. Add 77 handfuls of uncooked long grain glutinous rice using the right hand.
3. Add 32 handfuls of rock salt and three handfuls of in-shell peanuts with your right hand.
4. Still using your right hand, add the following: 18 pieces of 25 centavo coins, 17 pieces of P5 coins and 18 pieces of P10 coins. If you do not have these specific coins, just use coins in three denominations.
5. Add 18 pieces of lucky coins with your right hand.
6. Cover the bowl and leave it on the dining table for a week.
EXTREME Makeover” bus in Cagayan de Oro with Jeff Ventura and Tessa Prieto-Valdes
(Note: Jeffrey Ventura was born and raised in Cagayan de Oro City. The family owns the Ventura Store in Don A. Velez Street (facing the Tamparong building) where you can buy the charms listed in this article. They also have kiosks in all major malls for your convenience.) ABS-CBNnews.com