When it comes to giving gifts that bring life and happiness to the recipient, especially during the Christmas season, feng shui gifts are not exempt from the principle of different strokes for different folks.
Of major importance in a feng shui gift is its message, not only of goodwill but the fervent wish for the receiver to have a better life: good health, wealth, prosperity and happiness!
Here's a shortlist of popular feng shui gift choices per category:
Good Health Gifts - elephant figurine with nose trunk downward, any bamboo inspired artwork or painting or live plant itself, live pet turtle or stuffed toy turtle as well as figurines in any pose or of any material, Chinese calligraphy of the character Shou or image of deity of Sau (both symbols for attracting long life), food items depicting good health wishes (pomelo fruits, siopao buns, dumplings, and of course turtle blood wine or soup and for the recuperating fish head soup especially to one who has just given birth or operated on).
Wealth Gifts (as differentiated from Prosperity Gifts) - figurine or painting of the Chinese God of Wealth Tsay Tsim, Japanese God of Wealth Ebisu, or Guardian of Wealth Kuan Kung; also Chinese or Japanese Calligraphy and its varied interpretations for the character Wealth, or Health or Family. Unique wealth gifts are the tall or short wealth vase jars with or without decorative painting inscriptions.
Other popular wealth-inducing gifts are the Chinese Money Frog and the Japanese Money Cat but the one with right paw raised.
For wishing newly married godchildren to have kids, the Buddha figurine or image with five happy children perched on the Buddha is excellent; it is best for fertility issues.
Prosperity Gifts (differentiated from Wealth Gifts in the context that these attract prosperity or more prosperity) - various Buddha figurines or statues or paintings carrying guan po (Chinese ancient gold ingot money) are the most popular. Likewise any version of the Japanese or Chinese calligraphy of the character for prosperity either in a scroll painting, furniture design, table cloth or napkin set, as well as plates and glassware. Arowana fish either in figurines, live pet, or its popular arowana ring version is also good.
And if you want a simple cash gift - lai see - or the ampaw or red lucky money envelope containing auspicious cash amount (the more eights the better) such as 888 pesos or 8,888 or 88,888 or even 888,888 and beyond!
If giving a car or vehicle as gift, accentuate it with a lucky 168 or 168888 car plate number if possible, also 128 or 128888.
If giving away a house and lot or condo or townhouse unit, have it in a lucky address (say, at number 8, 28, 23, 88, 168 or 128! Avoid number 4, fourth floor, 44th floor or any numbered unit with 4 or 7 please (4 means death, 7 means conflict).
Feng shui gifts must come from the heart, conveying sincere wishes (even prayers) for the receiver. In other words, a feng shui gift must be a gift of love.
So as the Christmas season is fast approaching and as you are making Christmas lists, consider giving feng shui gifts.
Of course, the best feng shui gift in the world for any occasion: a feng shui gift cheque or gift certificate. You may send a feng shui master to do feng shui for a beloved's or friend's home or office or even both as a token of your love and caring. It's not a usual gift to give and can transform the life of the recipient for the better. Lucky Holidays!