Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

THE next few articles in my column are dedicated to a fascinating and vital aspect of feng shui we call "guardian animals." As a child, I dreamt a lot about guardian animals. We had many of these sculptures in our home and I always wondered what they were for and why we weren’t allowed to touch or move them. Before we get into the specific guardian animals that are used in feng shui, I want to remind you about the power of symbolism.

The art and the science of symbolism play a very important role in feng shui. Whether you are aware of them or not, symbols are all around you impacting your subconscious mind. As you receive visual information, your mind collects it and tries to make sense of it. This happens very naturally and involuntarily.

Humans and animals are, in a sense, genetically pre-programmed to respond to stimuli in certain ways, both for protection and well-being. Many studies with animals prove this. In a recent study recorded in National Geographic, monkeys were taken out of their natural habitat and trained to not fear snakes by showing them videos of their parents not being afraid of snakes. Yet, when they were put back in their habitat, they were instinctually afraid of snakes. In reverse, monkeys were shown videos of their parents being afraid of flowers. Again, when the monkeys were put back in their habitat, they were instinctually not afraid of the flowers.

Another interesting study involves Neuro-Economics, which reveals the power behind logos. For instance, Coke and Pepsi are very similar-tasting beverages, yet Coke sells better than Pepsi. People have a stronger impulse to buy Coke, perhaps because of the logo and the nostalgic feelings that symbol carries with it. The subconscious mind responds in very specific ways to symbols; and because your subconscious mind makes up about 95 percent of your mental power, your mind frame and the power of symbols is infinitely strong.

Symbolism is an integral part of the Chinese culture, which is evident in the written Chinese language. Each Chinese word is a symbol or picture that connotes a specific idea or concept. Oftentimes these ideas or concepts cannot be directly translated or justified in English because of the cultural experience that is necessary to understand the deeper meaning of these words. Thus, when we translate Chinese into English, a literal translation can be very misleading. The Chinese language communicates with pictures and symbolism, which is very much ingrained in the Chinese culture and philosophies. It is apparent in Chinese art, architecture, and music, that it is vital for people to have a deeper meaning or purpose. This power of meaning and purpose subsequently stimulates the mind at a subconscious level creating richness in life.