Auspicious Living: Transforming Your Environment and Yourself to Enhance Positive Outcomes and More…

What is auspiciousness?

In general terms, “auspicious” refers to something that is favourable, promising, or conducive to success. In cultural and spiritual contexts, it often relates to events, dates, or symbols that are believed to bring good fortune, positive outcomes, and blessings. In short, auspiciousness is good fortune or fortunate blessings.

In feng shui, an auspicious arrangement might involve positioning furniture, decorations, or buildings in ways that attract positive energy (qi) and create harmonious environments. Auspicious dates and times are also selected for important events such as weddings, business openings, and other significant undertakings to ensure success and good luck.

For example, in feng shui, placing a water feature in an auspicious location in your home or office can be considered auspicious as it is believed to attract wealth and prosperity. Similarly, in many cultures, certain numbers, colours, charms or symbols are seen as auspicious and are used to promote well-being and success.

Auspicious feng shui locations are strategically chosen spaces that align with the natural flow of energy, or qi, to promote harmony, prosperity, and well-being. These locations are carefully selected based on various principles, including the orientation of the building, the surrounding landscape, and the internal layout. For instance, an auspicious home might be positioned with a clear view of a flowing river, symbolising the continuous flow of wealth and good fortune. Inside the home, key areas like the entrance, bedroom, and kitchen are arranged to optimise energy flow, ensuring that positive energy circulates freely while stagnant energy is minimised. By aligning one’s living or working environment with these auspicious locations, individuals can enhance their overall quality of life, attract favourable opportunities, and create a balanced, thriving atmosphere.

In the bagua model, the fortunate blessings (wealth) area of your home is an excellent auspicious space to position feng shui rituals.

Differences and similarities between “auspicious” and “luck”

The terms “auspicious” and “luck” both relate to favourable outcomes and positive experiences, but they differ in their nuances and contexts.

Auspicious” typically refers to conditions, signs, or events that are seen as promising and conducive to success or good outcomes. It often implies a deliberate alignment with certain favourable elements or practices. For example, choosing an auspicious date for a wedding means selecting a date that is believed to bring good fortune and positive energy based on cultural, astrological, or feng shui principles.

Luck,” on the other hand, is more about chance and the random occurrence of positive or negative events. Luck is often considered unpredictable and not influenced by specific actions or planning. It can be good or bad and is frequently viewed as a matter of fate or fortune beyond one’s control.

In summary, while both auspiciousness and luck involve favourable outcomes, auspiciousness is about creating or recognising conditions that are believed to lead to success, often through intentional actions or signs. Luck, however, is more about random chance and the unexpected nature of events.

Richard Wiseman, in his book “The Luck Factor,” explains how people can enhance their luck through deliberate actions and attitudes. He defines luck as the ability to be in the right place at the right time, doing the right things, which involves specific beliefs and ideas. These concepts can be related to thriftiness in several ways.

Firstly, thriftiness often requires planning and anticipating future needs and opportunities. Being thrifty means making conscious decisions that can yield benefits in the future, similar to intentionally creating conditions conducive to luck.

Secondly, both thriftiness and the luck described by Wiseman involve an active approach to life. Thrifty individuals plan their spending and investments to maximise benefits and avoid unnecessary losses. Similarly, lucky people, according to Wiseman, take steps to put themselves in situations that increase their chances of positive outcomes.

Lastly, thriftiness can help create more stable living conditions, which can increase a sense of control and life satisfaction. This can lead to a more positive attitude, which Wiseman identifies as a key element of luck.

In summary, thriftiness and the concept of luck described by Wiseman are linked by the idea of consciously shaping one’s life through planning, activity, and a positive outlook.

Lucky feng shui symbols

Lucky feng shui symbols

The Science of Luck: Aligning Yourself with Auspicious Circumstances

Richard Wiseman, in his book “The Luck Factor,” based on his scientific research, describes how people can enhance their luck through specific behaviours and attitudes. This concept of creating one’s own luck can be connected to the idea of auspiciousness, which often involves intentionally aligning actions and conditions to foster positive outcomes.

Firstly, Wiseman emphasises the importance of being open to opportunities and noticing good chances when they arise. This aligns with the concept of auspiciousness, where certain times, places, or actions are considered particularly favourable for achieving success. By being aware of and acting on these auspicious signs or moments, individuals can increase their chances of experiencing good luck.

Luck is: being in the right place, at the right time, doing the right things. But how? By being in the right state of mind – the luck factor mindset (which is in our control). 

Secondly, Wiseman discusses the role of intuition and making good decisions. In many cultural and spiritual traditions, acting in alignment with auspicious times or conditions is believed to enhance the likelihood of positive results. This is similar to how Wiseman suggests that intuitive decisions can lead to favourable outcomes, indicating that an awareness of auspicious conditions can guide better decision-making.

Lastly, both concepts involve a positive mindset and proactive behaviour. Wiseman highlights that a positive outlook and resilience can attract good luck. Similarly, those who seek to act in auspicious ways often do so with confidence and optimism, believing that their actions will bring about good fortune. This positive approach can create a self-fulfilling prophecy where favourable conditions and good luck reinforce each other.

In summary, connecting Wiseman’s ideas about luck with the concept of auspiciousness involves recognising and acting on favourable opportunities, making intuitive and informed decisions, and maintaining a positive and proactive mindset. Both approaches focus on creating conditions that enhance the likelihood of success and positive outcomes. Read the summary of Richard Wiseman, in his book “The Luck Factor

Auspicious timing

Harnessing Auspiciousness: How to Attract Positive Energy in Your Life

Examples of auspicious behaviours and positive outcomes or auspicious circumstances and positive outcomes:

  1. Auspicious Behaviour: Choosing an auspicious date for a wedding
    Positive Outcome: The couple enjoys a harmonious and prosperous marriage, believing that the alignment with an auspicious date has set a positive foundation for their life together.
  2. Auspicious Circumstance: Placing a water feature in the wealth corner of a home according to feng shui principles
    Positive Outcome: The homeowners experience an increase in financial stability and opportunities, attributing their good fortune to the auspicious placement enhancing the flow of positive energy (qi).
  3. Auspicious Behaviour: Starting a new business venture during a time considered favourable by astrological signs
    Positive Outcome: The business thrives and grows rapidly, with the owner believing that the auspicious timing has contributed significantly to their success by aligning their efforts with positive cosmic influences.

Navigating Life’s Fortunes: Practical Tips for Embracing Auspiciousness

Developing the ability to see and capture auspiciousness in both personal and professional life involves cultivating awareness, intention, and proactive behaviours. Here are some ways to align oneself with auspicious circumstances:

  1. Increase Awareness and Knowledge:
    • Learn about different cultural and spiritual practices that identify auspicious times, places, and actions. For example, understanding feng shui principles or astrological timings can help you recognise auspicious moments.
    • Pay attention to patterns and signs in your environment that might indicate favourable opportunities. This can include natural phenomena, seasonal changes, or even patterns in your own experiences.
  2. Cultivate Intuition and Mindfulness:
    • Practice mindfulness and meditation to develop a deeper connection with your intuition. This can help you sense when a situation feels right or when an opportunity is particularly favourable.
    • Reflect regularly on your experiences and decisions to understand better when and why things went well. This reflection can help you recognise similar auspicious circumstances in the future.
  3. Set Clear Intentions and Goals:
    • Clearly define your personal and professional goals. Knowing what you want can help you recognise opportunities that align with your aspirations.
    • Align your actions with your goals, and take deliberate steps towards them. This proactive approach increases the likelihood of encountering auspicious circumstances.
  4. Create Positive Environments:
    • Surround yourself with positive influences and supportive people. A positive environment can enhance your ability to attract and recognise auspicious opportunities.
    • Arrange your living and working spaces to promote harmony and positive energy, following principles like feng shui. A well-organised and harmonious space can help you stay focused and open to positive opportunities.
  5. Be Open and Adaptable:
    • Stay open to new experiences and be willing to adapt your plans as opportunities arise. Flexibility can help you take advantage of favourable circumstances when they present themselves.
    • Embrace a positive mindset and maintain an optimistic outlook. Believing in the possibility of good fortune can make you more likely to notice and seize auspicious moments.

By incorporating these practices into your daily life, you can enhance your ability to see and capture auspiciousness, aligning yourself with circumstances that foster personal and professional success.

Luck clove

From Intuition to Action: Recognising and Seizing Auspicious Opportunities

To enhance auspiciousness in your life or endeavors:

  1. Cultivate a positive mindset: Focus on opportunities rather than obstacles.
  2. Set clear goals: Define what success looks like for you.
  3. Take purposeful action: Work consistently towards your objectives.
  4. Practice gratitude: Appreciate the good things in your life, which can attract more positivity.
  5. Surround yourself with supportive people: Their encouragement can boost your confidence and prospects.
  6. Learn from setbacks: View challenges as opportunities for growth rather than failures.
  7. Maintain good habits: Develop routines that support your goals and well-being.
  8. Stay open to opportunities: Be receptive to new possibilities that may arise.
  9. Visualize success: Imagine positive outcomes to help manifest them.
  10. Trust your instincts: Pay attention to your intuition when making decisions.

By incorporating these practices, you can create more favourable conditions and increase the likelihood of positive outcomes in your pursuits.

Auspicious Charms: How Lucky Charms Work Like a Charm

Lucky charms have existed across cultures throughout history, and they continue to be popular today. A few years ago, Richard Wiseman (The Luck Factor) conducted an experiment to scientifically test the effects of carrying a lucky charm. One hundred people were asked to carry a lucky Victorian penny for just over a month and to use it as a reminder to ‘think lucky.’ The results were remarkable, revealing significant psychological benefits from the charms. The penny provided individuals with an increased sense of security and a more positive outlook on the future. The charms encouraged participants to adopt a lucky mindset, with over 30 per cent reporting an improvement in their luck. Interestingly, at the end of the study, 70 per cent of participants stated they would continue to carry the charm.

Tip: Carry a Charm
It could be a lucky coin, a gemstone, or even just a pebble. Choose a lucky coin, a gemstone, or even a simple pebble – something that has meaning to you, contextualised for auspiciousness and luck. Add it to your keychain, keep it in your pocket, or place it somewhere visible in your daily routine. If you don’t carry anything but your mobile phone, make sure your screen wallpaper features a lucky charm image to keep the positive vibes with you always. Let it serve as a constant reminder to stay open, happy, opportunistic, optimistic, and embrace the luck that comes your way.

Richard Wiseman suggest this image as a reminder to attract more luck.

 

Mindfulness and Auspicious Living: Cultivating Awareness to Capture Good Fortune

Based on the search results, there is evidence to suggest that wearing/keeping a lucky charm can potentially improve mental well-being in several ways:

  1. Increased confidence and self-assurance: Studies have shown that people who carry a lucky charm tend to perform better in tasks and feel more confident. This boost in confidence can have a positive impact on overall mental well-being.
  2. Reduced stress and anxiety: Having a talisman or good luck charm may help alleviate stress and anxiety by providing a sense of protection or support.
  3. Improved performance: Research has demonstrated that people perform better when they believe they have a lucky charm with them. For example, a study found that students who were told they had a “lucky” golf ball performed better than those who weren’t.
  4. Enhanced optimism: Carrying a lucky charm can promote a more optimistic outlook, which is associated with better mental health outcome.
  5. Increased willingness to take calculated risks: Lucky charms may have a “fear-blocking” effect, allowing individuals to be more likely to take calculated risks and strive for higher goals.
  6. Heightened self-awareness: Some charms, like mood rings, can help individuals become more aware of their emotions, which can be beneficial for those struggling with mental health issues.
  7. Placebo effect: The belief in the power of a lucky charm can create a positive psychological effect, even if there’s no inherent magical property in the object itself. Read about placebo effect

It’s important to note that the benefits of lucky charms are primarily psychological and stem from the individual’s belief in their power rather than any inherent magical properties. The positive effects are likely due to increased self-efficacy, optimism, and a more proactive approach to opportunities. While lucky charms can provide a mental boost, they should not be seen as a substitute for professional mental health care when needed. Instead, they can be viewed as a complementary tool for enhancing overall well-being and promoting a positive mindset.

References

Aurah, C.M. (2013) The Effects of Self-efficacy Beliefs and Metacognition on Academic Performance: A Mixed-Method Study. American Journal of Educational Research, 1(8). 334-343. doi: 10.12691/education-1-8-11

Bandura, A. (1989). Regulation of cognitive processes through perceived self-efficacy. Developmental Psychology, 25(5), 729–735. Doi: 10.1037/0012-1649.25.5.729

Damisch, L., Stoberock, B., & Mussweiler T. (2010). Keep Your Fingers Crossed! How Superstition Improves Performance. Psychological Science, 21(7), 1014 –1020. doi: 10.1177/0956797610372631

Keinan, G. (2002). The Effects of Stress and Desire for Control on Superstitious Behavior. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28(1), 102–108. doi: 10.1177/0146167202281009

Taher, M., Pashaeypoor, S., Cheraghi, M. A., Karimy, M., & Hoseini, A. (2020). Superstition in health beliefs: Concept exploration and development. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 9(3), 1325–1330. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_871_19

Posted in Feng shui concepts.