A Charmed Life

By Katrina A. Holigores
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Last updated 07:01pm (Mla time) 12/21/2007
MANILA, Philippines—A New Year is approaching and a lot of internal and external spring cleaning is in order.

The “industry” of new age, or eastern as opposed to western philosophies have been on the rise in recent years, regardless of the fact that the belief in most of the practices have existed for centuries. Recently, I have picked up an interest in feng shui, which is not an uncommon word nowadays and when Wikipedia-d means “wind-water” ( literally) and when described it is the ancient Chinese practice of placement and arrangement of space to achieve harmony with the environment. Curiosity got the best of me even more when a friend came over one day accompanied what may best be described as a jingly-jangly sound (and no she wasn’t on Santa’s sleigh). She was wearing bracelets made out of semi-precious stones, crystals and some even had rather peculiar, mythical animal figurines on them. “They’re my ‘anting-anting’ (talismans) she gleefully exclaimed and proceeded to tell me how her luck had taken a rather positive, almost divine turn after a feng shui consultation and acquisition of bracelets. Having studied western astrology, the enneagram and other (ok weird) similar subjects, I made an appointment to visit Chains and Charms proprietor, Joy Lim, who had been (I later found out) practicing her feng shui craft for almost eight years.

Waiting auspiciously

Getting to Joy Lim’s Quezon city office (although she has other branches peppered all over GMA) was a rather complicated adventure for my Makati spoiled being, but, I got there and “prepared” myself for what would be the outcome. Perhaps I’ve just watched one too many movies that depict these geomancers or feng shui practitioners as aging, grumpy, wild-eyed soothsayers so I was really trying to hold my rather wild imagination at bay. I was though, surrounded by as many Buddha figurines, chimes, dragons, red and gold as far as the eye could see, which was amusing. “She has never renovated or changed this place,” explained Vangie Kua, her publicist and longtime friend. “It is where she found her first success.” As I looked around and took in walls that needed a paint job and floors that needed some loving I figured that there may be truth in “Don’t fix what isn’t broken” as this is a woman who sometimes has a waiting list of clients for weeks, even months and people are willing to wait hours for their appointment. Thankfully, my wait wasn’t very long and it was certainly worth it because when Joy Lim breezed in my grumpy-lady-with-too-much-black-eyeliner notions were dispelled. I was greeted with a woman of vibrant, warm and happy energy and found my own energy buoyed as I was ushered into an extension of the building that was her current office.

A different kind of bling

A tip: you need to come equipped with your birth details and from there, your Chinese Zodiac animal is identified and what number or “star” corresponds to you. Things may get a little technical at this point, but you are shown charts, photos and you can ask a barrage of questions.

“It was my grandfather who used to practice feng shui,” confides Joy. “I would just know about it as a hobby, the only time I started believing in it was when my first business failed. When I started applying proper feng shui techniques—things changed and since then I’ve been a convert, but always with the intention to help others by providing them with what they need to change their luck. First and foremost, none of this will happen if you don’t have faith in God-or a Supreme Being.” What she is most known for is her chains and charms bracelets, which she started making-using customized designs for her friends, and when they started to tell her that things were also changing for the better, she decided to go into it full-time. “The bracelets are like portable auspicious items that you can take with you—they help with personal energy and then I can recommend other things for the energy of your house.” Depending on your life concern at the time is what she will base what kind of bracelet to create for you. All her creations are made out of crystals and semi-precious stones and even the figurines she attaches are made of the same material. Rose quartz for example is good for attracting love and relationships, yellow citrine for money and success, a crystal sculpted golden rooster may be attached to a bracelet to attract your peach blossom luck in that particular area, or you may benefit from bracelets that have the “heavenly” DZI Tibetan charm. ( Rumored to have fallen from heaven and what is used by Tibetan monks) The bracelets, at the very least can make you feel more positive and if you are still unsure of what your concerns are there is always the Blessed Lucky Animal Sign Charm Bracelet. It is unique to the wearer and is created according to your sign, and carries with it blessings from heaven—this was her very first creation and technically her “best-seller.”

Luck be a lady

So, as I ended my session and walked away—jingling jangling all the way—armed with my new bands of luck and power (Wonder Woman would not have stood a chance) I couldn’t help but think that at the very least, I made a new friend, had some new accessories that would certainly be conversation starters and hey, if 2008 turns out to be bigger, brighter and better due to my wrist warriors then I would definitely be a very happy feng shui follower for life.

For information or to make an appointment: call Charms and Crystals at 742-2597. Or check out www.charmsandcrystals.com