A New Day

After 3 months long of being "jobless", I finally started my first day in a new company. The day was not heavy but somehow I left office at 6pm, which is unusual for me!! Looks like I have to get use to working late now. Well, now I can totally understand the phrase "Getting out from your comfort zone needs a huge effort!" Hopefully, I will get use to it real soon. =)

Yesterday was a day where I did nothing, intentionally, so that I won't be striving hard for the year of 2010! This is one of the superstitious practice of mine. =) I picked up this practice as I remembered reading an article that says on auspicious day or important dates, one needs to spend the day leisurely - welcoming the positive and good energy into your life! Though it is not scientifically proven but there is no harm practising it, right? =) I'll keep you posted if it is working!

Another good news to share - my friend has delivered a baby girl today! Both mother and baby are doing fine now. Can't wait to see them! It has been quite a while since I last held a newborn. Now am wondering which lovely name will the parents name her.

Lastly, I would like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for the well wishes (no matter it's via SMS or FB)!! =) God bless...

Believe It or Not?

"Don't stay out till late night." Be extra careful when you are driving late night." Don't go for water activities if they are not necessary." - these are the few reminders from my mum lately as the lunar 7th month is approaching. Being grown-up in a typical & reserved family, I was warned to be extra cautious during the 7th month where the "Hungry Ghost" festival is celebrated among the Chinese.

Well, recalling these warnings, are they just merely indications to us so that we will be safe & sound? Or are they solely beliefs, superstitions in our culture?

• "Be extra careful when driving out late night" - aren't we supposed to practice this when we are on the road all the time?
  
• "Avoid water sports or activities during the 7th month" - what is the reasoning behind this? Lunar 7th month is also the monsoon in east coast, some of the islands are even closed for public use.
  
• "Keep the sun-dried clothes before sunset." - to avoid the 'beings' from borrowing them. This is what I was told. Why would one leave their clothes out when there is no sun?
• "When you smell the fragrance of Jasmine flowers, say your prayers!" - this indicates the presence of the 'beings'. It could be a passerby who adores Jasmine immensely?
  
• "Wash your legs before going to bed." - else the 'beings' will accompany you to bed & you'll have sleepless & restless night. Err...the elders want the bedsheets to be clean & last slightly longer?

There are plenty more dogmas that I've heard of. Am I supposed to adhere to each & every one of them? Hmmm...sometimes we have to act according to rationality rather than blindly following these ideologies passed from generations to generations.
However, sometimes there are phenomenons that took place where no one could explain, even science could not identify the cause. So, what could they be afterall? It's an individualistic perception, whether to believe it or not.

Needless to say, knowing me, I do hold on to the beliefs & myths. I do learn a lot from these beliefs & of course I have also seen the unexplained extraordinary scenes. =)

Superstitions...

Yesterday marked the longest total solar eclipse in 21st century. It lasted as much as 6 minutes and 39 seconds in some parts of Asia. This phenomenal is visible only in Asia this time around. Millions grabbed the once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness the phenomenon - where the moon moves directly in between the sun & earth, covering it completely to cast a shadow on earth.

As a number of excited viewers all set with gears (e.g. binocular, sunglasses), waited patiently & cheered when the eclipse took place, there were many who totally stayed away from the outdoor. In India, there was a special trip organized where a travel agent chartered a flight to fly a handful of enthusiastic passengers at the specific time to view the eclipse up close. Of course the fare was charged at a premium rate.
However, there were believers who stayed indoor throughout the sun eclipse, as they believed the occurrence of this eclipse emits negative energy as well as brings disasters to the world. There's a saying that phenomenon of the sun eclipse depicts a dragon & demon eating up the sun - taking away all the good vibes from the country. In eastern country, the eclipse depicts a death of an emperor. Some astrologers predicted that this eclipse will bring war.

There was a pregnant lady being told (by her elders) to stay in her room, curtained all the windows & chant prayers to protect her baby during the sun eclipse. They believed the sunlight would harm her baby - resulting the baby to deform, having unusual birthmark & premature birth.
A local well-known astrologist advised the people to fast during the sun eclipse (local time 8 - 10.30am) to collect more merits. It is believed that during these hours, the energy on earth are extremely low & negative. Thus, by fasting it could help to improve one's luck.
It was also stated that viewers will be in bad luck for 20 years if they managed to catch a glimpse of the eclipse!!

How true are the above statements?? Is it a belief in different cultures or ethnicity or is it purely a superstition?? Of course for myself, well-noted for being superstitious, stepped in to workplace before 8 & fast for that 2.5 hours. =) Luck improved?? We will see ;)