Prosperity/ WEALTH Bowl: Background and How to Prepare One

Prosperity bowls, Wealth bowls, or Money Jars are basically containers that are filled with items or charms that are associated with attracting material abundance into one's life. Although this practice is commonly found in Buddhist households and establishments, it is not exclusive to only one Asian religion and culture; the practice of preparing wealth bowls is actually one tied to metaphysical principles (Feng Shui) and cultural superstitious beliefs on positive manifestations. 

Estimated Reading time: 7-8 min

CONTENTS:

I. Common Forms of Wealth Bowl
    1.1 Fruit Bowl
        1.1.2 Unlucky numbers
    1.2. Ingot Bowl
    1.3. Classic Wealth Bowl

II. How to Prepare Your Own Bowl
    2.1 Items to be put in the bowl
    2.1.2 Additional items for customizing your bowl
    2.2 Choosing and Preparing the bowl

III. Where to Place Your Wealth Bowls

IV. Blogger's take (Actual Example from Recycled Jar)


I. COMMON FORMS OF WEALTH BOWL

1.1 FRUIT BOWL:

Here's something that is considered a "wealth bowl" in a figurative sense, but is technically NOT one: The Celebratory Fruit Bowl table centerpiece. For many Asians who practice Feng Shui, preparing a fruit bowl isn't just about putting together your favorite fruits in the middle of the dining table as an edible and healthy centerpiece. It is also done to invite abundance into the home. Especially during special occasions-- New Year, birthdays, festivals, a certain number and type of fruits are put together in one bowl or basket to bring luck into the celebration, and hopefully, for the whole year, starting the day of the occasion.  Round fruits are generally considered lucky. Thus, oranges are usually staples in the lucky fruit bowl. 

The quantity for each type of fruit placed in one bowl are commonly 1,2,3,8, and 10. Some households who are not fixed on following traditional Feng Shui will overlook the numbers and fit in as many fruits as they can based on their preference, but the numbers 4 and 13 are still often avoided. 

The Unlucky numbers:

• Four: 四 (four) and 死 (radical for "death") are both pronounced as "si" in Chinese and many Chinese-influenced languages, so the number is often avoided in establishments and households  that are heavy on observing Chinese superstitions. 
• Thirteen: Not all Asian cultures see 13 as an unlucky number. However, countries that are heavy on Western superstitions and religious influences tend to avoid it. This may be because of the biblical association with the "Last Supper"; "In the Bible, Judas Iscariot, the 13th guest to arrive at the Last Supper, is the person who betrays Jesus. Meanwhile ancient Norse lore holds that evil and turmoil were first introduced in the world by the appearance of the treacherous and mischievous god Loki at a dinner party in Valhalla. He was the 13th guest, upsetting the balance of the 12 gods already in attendance." (History.com, Maranzani, 2021)

As a child, I have heard the elderly avoid both 4 and 13. They never really explained to me why the two numbers were considered unlucky. And whenever I asked, they will just tell me that it's a superstitious belief passed down to them by their own elders. Many of them, regardless of religion, observed the practice of dreading and avoiding the numbers like a plague.

As I grew up, I have noticed both numbers be avoided in different building floors in both Asian and Western establishments. Elevator buttons would skip on either 4 or 13. I remember a hotel in HongKong avoiding both. Their building could have a total of 23 floors, but have 1-25 on the buttons with 4 and 13 being absent on the dial pad. 

1.2. INGOT BOWL:

Have you seen those boat-looking gold pieces in Oriental-themed houses and Buddhist temples? These Chinese ingot called "yuan bao" (元宝) was once used as an actual currency until the Qing Dynasty in China. Over the years, the imagery of the boat-shaped Chinese nuggets remained, and was passed down for generations as a symbol of prosperity. The shape would be printed on stickers, carved out from crystals, manufactured from plastic, or cut out on colored papers for decoration during New Year celebrations to invite money to come in. It would also often be placed by an altar, a designated "wealth" corner, or by the cashier section in some business establishments.

More time has passed and FengShui item shops and ingot decoration manufacturers became more creative; they started making ingot-shaped containers with a lid on them (even I don't know when this became a trend). Just like the decorative imitations, the ingot bowls are commonly made of plastic (and painted in gold or silver), or of brass, while others are made from carved quartz crystals such as citrine. People would buy it, fill it with items associated with abundance, and then place it in the "wealth" corner of their homes and buildings.

1.3. Classic Prosperity Bowl:

A prosperity bowl can be made of wood, glass, clay, or porcelain. It often does not have lid, and is just any type of bowl  that has coins and sometimes rice grains in it.

II. HOW TO PREPARE YOUR OWN WEALTH BOWL

2.1 Prepare items you would like to place in your prosperity/wealth bowl:

• Rice Grains- Associated with bountiful harvest and being well-fed. A spoonful of rice grains is fine (UNCOOKED, okay? Don't go fermenting cooked rice in that bowl. This isn't a blog post on mold/bacteria-culturing or sake-making). 

*Note: Please don't feel obliged to include this ingredient in your prosperity bowl if you don't feel comfortable about it (I understand that in some households, this may be seen as an act of wasting food). Only do this if you can afford to spare some grains and are fine with incorporating food into your craft/ manifestation tools.

• Coins- It doesn't have to be old Chinese coins; you can use loose change or old coins of whatever currency is available to you. 
• Crystals/Gemstones- I recommend putting in once that are associated with abundance and business, such as jade, pyrite, garnet, tiger's eye, aventurine, and/or citrine.

2.1.2 Additional items to further personalize your Wealth Bowl:

• Charms associated with Prosperity and Abundance- this can be those little charms in the shape of coins, currency symbols, or even little, loose pieces of beads (such as pearls or random crystals you no longer use) from your trinket stash which you associate with looking and feeling more "luxurious".
• Image or little icon of deity or guardian associated with wealth- You can include a small picture or carved amulet piece of any deity, guardian, or saint which your religion or craft associates with wealth. 
• A wealth mantra- you can write a mantra inviting abundance into your life on a piece of paper and fold it.

2.2 Prepare your bowl/jar:

• You can use a bowl/jar made of plastic, porcelain, brass, or whatever material you have in mind. But remember that the more durable and weather-proof it is, the better. The container symbolizes what holds and will catch your wealth. It has to be able to withstand different environmental conditions.
• You can buy or use any available bowl or jar to your liking. If you have the time and money to spare, you can even find traditional wealth bowls with zodiac animal prints or mantra carvings on them. If you're feeling crafty, you can get a jar or a bowl and redecorate it as you see fit.
• Make sure the bowl or jar is completely empty and clean. If you decide to recycle old product containers, remove any sticker labels. You can also repaint it with your favorite color or any lucky color associated with money and riches (gold, silver, or green).

***Recommended but not mandatory: 

• Use a container with a lid. Closing the bowl/jar secures its contents from spilling or being grabbed by someone else-- both in a literal and figurative sense.
• Smudge or smoke-cleanse your jar before filling it.

III. WHERE TO PLACE YOUR WEALTH BOWLS

3.1 General rules

• Place in a well-lit area
• Avoid placing in spots next to doors or windows; you don't want your wealth "escaping" or getting sucked out by these big holes.
• Make sure there's a wall or a fence protecting one side of the bowl if you can't avoid placing it in open spaces next to large windows.
• Keep the are clutter-free at all times; treat it like a sacred space for gathering "Wealth energy"

3.2 "Feng Shui" Placements

• Simple placement: You may place your wealth bowl in the "Wealth Corner"; find the farthest left corner of the room across where the entrance door is located-- that's the simplified way of locating it. 
• Specific placement: For a more specific directional guidance, you may try referring to "Bagua maps" online (I'm in no way associated with this website, but I do find this guide very simple and helpful).

IV. My own take: 

I emptied a jar of expired moisturizer. I washed it three times, and made sure no oily residue was left. I removed the label and repainted it in five layers of metallic gold acrylic paint (both inside and outside, as seen on the photo above). I was feeling a little fancy, so once the final coat of gold paint had dried, I decided to get my little decorative stamping roller, coated it in white acrylic, and then rolled it on the sides of the jar. I painted on the lid as well, just because.

I then placed a handful of old rice grains into the jar (had to make sure it was free from weevil 😖). I grabbed a few loose coins from my travels and placed it on top of the rice grains. And then on top of that, I took out bits of crystals I no longer use: Lapis lazuli and clear quartz for making intuitive and clear decision-making, turquoise for calmness, and garnet and jade for attracting material abundance. Lastly, I added a red string as a form of protection from negative energies, as well as to attract the right connections in my business pursuits.

I prayed over it, closed the lid tightly, and then I placed it in my designated altar/wealth corner. Here's what my jar looks like up close :)

I recommend looking up different ways of decorating wealth bowls online (and your nearest Asian lucky charms store if you have one available in your area). If you've never seen or tried making a Wealth bowl before, you'd be surprised how creative you can get with it :) 

Asian Hanging/ Door Charms and a Little Childhood Backstory

This babbling/ little background story is also available in my tumblr account @magical-dramatic-chaotic

**Feel free to scroll to the last paragraph of this blog entry to view what the image is about-- I'm mostly just babbling about the past here for the first five lines of this entry, anyway.

Among the living in the maternal side of my family, the only one who seemed most attached to her Chinese roots is my mother. She was particularly attached with Chinese superstitions and feng shui.

Throughout my childhood, I would roll my eyes wheneve my mother would be fussing over hanging amulets and lucky charms around the house. It particularly annoyed me whenever she made me burn incense before I went to school (or before I went to bed).

Many years later, here I am excitedly preparing for the Chinese Lunar New Year (February 1st) a month early on my own accord. 😂 Oh, and I now run a charms and trinket shop as a side hustle. So basically, I just clowned my childhood self 😂 🤡

 Oh, the little ironies of life. 😂😂😂

Here's a little something I got a week ago. I'm definitely going to get the 'prosperity bowls' and the 'tiger zodiac ingot' ready in a few days. Putting one in the house and in the office 😂🙏🎋

Image above: Two tasseled Chinese Hanging Charms. The artificial golden ingots and the Chinese coin is meant to symbolize and attract prosperity and abundance, with the tiger figurine on the top in tribute to the incoming Chinese Lunar Year of the Tiger (February 1, 2022) ; it is customary to hang these dangling types of charms by the door or by the window (much like wind chimes), to call in abundance and good fortune, as well as block away negative energies and bad luck.

 

A Little Babbling on Asian Religions, Schools of Thought, Metaphysical Practices and Culturally Passed Superstitious Beliefs

Background:

Someone (a seemingly concerned Western viewer) from my tumblr account went on a comment rampage about "cultural appropriation" when I posted about 红包 'hong bao' or red envelopes as a custom and as an evolving lucky charm in the local and international market. He complained about how I was openly sharing "sacred rituals" for Asians for random people to merely turn into "lucky charms". I don't think he even read the whole post (there's a difference between a ritual and a common, non-mandatory practice borne from cultural superstitions & traditions). I had to give a brief explanation at the end of that post about the availability and global inclusivity of the practice of Feng Shui and Asian Practices on the Laws of Attraction  as well (which, by the way, has existed for centuries). The "concerned" citizen's account was deactivated for whatever reason, so his rants was removed from my tumblr post's comment section. However, I think you can still find his "concerns" on cultural appropriation somewhere in the reblogs history of the post itself.

A half-assed differentiation on Asian Religions, Schools of Thought, Metaphysical Practices, and Culturally Passed Down Superstitious Beliefs:

While a part of me feels grateful over the fact that there are people from other nationalities concerned about protecting our culture(s), I feel the need to make some things clear for those who are interested (but are not yet quite familiar) in the topics mentioned in the title of this post.

That being said, although Religions, Schools of Thought, and Metaphysical Beliefs & Practices are related to each other by roots and influences, there are still  fine lines drawn between all of them. The three are seen as separate entities that intertwine by scholars, believers, and practitioners alike. 

To give some quick examples, I can come from a family who observes Shintoism or Taoism, but that doesn't mean I will follow every traditional rule of FengShui-- the former two are religions, while the latter is a form of geomancy; 

likewise, I can practice and even apply the principles of "ZEN" into my daily life without being a Buddhist-- the former is seen more as a Philosophy, while the latter is directly referring to the religion itself;

my ultra Asian uncle can attend my wedding and not bring a "red envelope" as a present (he can give me cash or a new car and it won't decrease his "Asian-ness"), while his American friend can give my niece a red envelope for her birthday and we will consider it a great gesture of generosity and not someone "ruining" our culture; 

a Christian man from Los Angeles can enroll in Yoga Classes opened by their Hindu neighbors without him being Hindu-- the former is considered an ideology beyond a physical set of exercises while the latter is a religion; 

a woman of Mexican decent who wants to study how divination is done in different parts of the world is allowed to find Eastern mentors who can teach them about I Ching- because again, it is a form of geomancy and is not exclusive to only a specific culture, nationality or religion... 

--These are just some basic examples that I hope can give those who are not familiar with the topic an idea on the differences between Religion, Cultural Practices, and Schools of Thought. For those who may be interested in this topic or wish for a more scholarly explained set of examples and definitions, I always encourage you to do a little reading during your free time. Who knows what new doors it might open for you :)

So yeah, no matter your nationality, religion, or color, if you are interested in learning common Feng Shui practices AND you have the confidence that it doesn't go against your religion and/or personal values, you're always free to learn more about it. The whole point of Feng Shui is to work with the flow of energy in order to bring balance and harmony into one's life. Official publications both online and in print, as well as  guidance from self-professed "Masters" are available to all the "seekers" and "learners" in this day and age of globalization. Oh, but just be extra careful and do your research should you decide to hire or consult one of the so-called "masters" and "experts"-- some of them are seriously "sus". I suggest studying the basics first so you get a feel on whether or not you're getting sincere and legitimate service. 😖

*Note: I may continue to add more references and definitions for the convenience of this blog's future readers when I have the time . Feel free to check back or send me academic definitions and sources that will add more clarity to the content for people who are interested in this topic :)

Chaos Magick: A Quickie Centered on the 4 RULES

A quickie on Chaos Magick and an implied explanation on why the fuck people who  practice it come off as either too dark and structured or too chaotic and lax. 

Founded by: Austin Osman Spare (30 December 1886 – 15 May 1956) 

Classified as: Contemporary Magical Practice

The Whole Point of this Post: Chaos Magick is a RESULTS-BASED magic.

Reference: Chryssides, George D. (2012). Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements (2 ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-8108-6194-7.

THE FOUR RULES OF CHAOS MAGICK

1. THERE ARE NO RULES.

Basically, we don't follow a specific principle; no traditional rules or sequence is mandatory.

2. NOTHING IS TRUE, EVERYTHING IS PERMITTED.

The boundaries of what can and cannot be done is up to the practitioner. Wanna mix a few practices from Shintoism with those from Paganism? Aight, my dude. Knock your socks off. You want to support gods who are typically associated with death and darkness, yet you want to keep a plant-life heavy ritual life?  A magician of darkness with a dainty cottage core vibe? We don't see why not (I guess, you can go ask Persephone about that).

3. BELIEF IS A TOOL FOR ACHIEVING EFFECTS.

"It's the thought that counts" doesn't just apply to giving or receiving presents. The reason for the freedom given by ONE and TWO is the THIRD rule. Generally speaking, it matters little which rituals you choose to follow, which principles you set for your chosen practices--- what matters most is what you believe in, and the amount of focused intention you are willing to put into your magick. Perhaps, we can say that Chaos Magick is very "Manifestation-centric".

4. THE FOURTH RULE IS THE FIRST RULE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE SECOND AND THIRD RULES.

All these four rules are linked together. And these set of rules are the only ones you must always remember should you decide to delve into Chaos Magick (if you haven't yet). In other words, delving into Chaos Magick is no different from having a cool teacher enter the class room with no specific lesson plan in hand. And then the teacher tells you that you may choose whatever you want to do with your time, as long as you show up for her class and she manages to get viable results out of you for your score card-- although it goes without saying that you're on your own if you get yourself into trouble based on your independent course of actions.

For those who strictly follow a specific and strict teaching or a set of traditional principles who might hear about Chaos Magick for the first time, they might think, 'Well, sounds like a bunch of baloney'. 

But since the core of chaos magick are these four rules, and considering that many of us are already too far gone into the rabbit hole, we might no longer give a flying fuck about those types of opinions. For many of us, we keep our point of view on magick and manifestations simple: If it works, it works~

-Kara Xin

Spell Work: Making "BLUE" SALT for Manifesting and Protecting Peace

So you might have already heard of using salt for different types of rituals and spell work. Salt, used for cleansing negative energies, has been used in different cultures and religious practices for "banishing" of and protection from all sorts of evil. And even without the superstitious and spiritual associations, salt remains highly relied on by people all over the world for culinary and medical purposes.

You've heard of using "sea salt", even "pink salt". Both occur naturally in nature. Sea salt obviously comes from, generally speaking, the sea. Pink salt's name is actually "Himalayan Sea Salt", and from the name itself, comes from Himalayan origins (although both types can be modified and created these days through artificial means). If you're familiar with using salt for spell work and other spiritual practices (or  perhaps you're just a naturally culinary and cultural savvy fellow), there's a chance that you've also heard of "black salt"-- salt mixed mainly with charcoaled materials. But what's not often spoken about is "Blue salt".

Matey, just tell me what the fuck is "Blue Salt"

Aight. Getting to the point, "Blue Salt" actually exists. The 'real' blue salt is called "Persian Blue Salt", and from the name itself, hales from somewhere in the Persian region (Northern Iran) source: https://guide.michelin.com. In the context of spell work, however, it is basically just salt colored in blue through organic or inorganic means, with the intention of creating a 'tool' against evil eye and protecting one's 'peace'. Blue salt is also associated with healing. 

Technically speaking, when it comes to salt magic, all salts are used with the intention to repel negative energies (spirits, even). So I'd like to focus more on the specific aspect of 'Protecting and Manifesting Peace'.

If you have access to Persian Blue Salt, you may use that one, too. But if not, you may create your own. What matters most is to remember your intentions behind creating it.

Dyeing in Blue

• Natural Pigments: The blue pigments may be derived from natural sources such as flowers and herbs. Some people use dried blue flowers by crushing them into powder. 
• Kitchen Ingredients: Berries (crushed), Tea (brewed into a strong concentrated amount) or Food Coloring.
• Other Sources of Pigments: Ink, watercolor, oil paint, and pretty much any other types of paint (highly recommended for artists and those who work closely with creative crafts. Especially those who use art as a form of emotional and psychological therapy). Just be mindful that the salt's consistency and moisture will be affected depending on the type of paint you choose to use. If you use acrylic paint, latex, or even nail polish, it will help to use the odorless variety. Also, take note that those types of paints will basically "coat" your salt granules instead of soaking them through. They leave a rubbery film that may stick to your jars/bottles.

You can mix more than one source of  blue pigment to dye your salt. If you feel that you don't have enough flowers to turn your salt blue, or if using berries give you a color too dark for your liking, don't hesitate to make adjustments in your dyeing process. 

Additional Ingredients --Not a must, but if you have the time, I highly recommend it. 

(*Belief and Focused Intention are the main tools of the person writing in this blog, so expect to read a lot of recommended 'personalization' tips and a lack of 'fixed reference' on any religious or spiritual school/principles :) )

To further personalize your Blue Salt/ "Peace Jar", you may add things that you personally associate with peace and calmness. Feel free to throw in bits and bobs that bring you a sense of security and joy. Remember, the whole point of making the Blue Salt is to manifest and protect your Peace as well as your emotional (and perhaps, spiritual) healing. Here are a few suggestions:

• Flowers: You can add blue flowers for more color (and even aesthetics if you have any plans of adding the jar as a form of decoration, too). Butterfly pea, hydrangeas, lavender, delphinium--you name it. Feel free to top the salt with non-blue flower petals, too. I recommend adding in preserved or dried flowers so you don't have to worry about any insects which the decomposing process may attract (plus the decomposition may affect the salt's color, too even if you choose to shut your bottle tightly with a lid).
• Herbs: Oregano, rosemary, sage, basil... You can mix in more than one type of herb in your blue salt, if you'd like. Aside from symbolic associations, the herbs can also add a pleasant smell to your concoction.
• Essential oils: Essential oils make great addition to your Blue Salt if you choose to seal your jar with a permeable material, such as mesh cloth or gauze. Although it's not practical if you have a limited supply of essential oil (if you're working on a budget, the good quality ones can be expensive, especially for the younger spell casters), or if you are choosing to tightly shut your jar with an airtight lid (I mean, who's gonna smell that). But hey, it's your jar, so go knock yourself out with your customizations as long as it makes you happy and it's not going to trigger anybody's allergies. 
• Crystals: You can mix in bits of your favorite crystals, or even excess crystals from old trinkets and broken bracelets. It's a plus if you use ones that are associated with peace and tranquility (such as amethyst, blue aventurine, sodalite, or turquoise).
• Charms: If you are going to mix in other objects, it would be ideal to put in ones that are made of glass or plastic materials. You can use metal charms, too. But please be mindful that metals will rust overtime. And with salt as your main ingredient, the corrosion process will speed up.
• Written Prayers or Sigils: Cut a piece of paper, write your intentions for calling in peace or washing away tumultuous energies. If you have a sigil or any guides you draw inner strength from, write their name or symbol in that small piece of paper, too. You can fold the paper and bury them in your blue salt.

The Final Step: Sealing

It is a common practice for spell casters to seal their spell jars on the lid with wax by dripping a candle around it; make sure that you close the jar or bottle tightly with a lid before doing this. If your chosen container doesn't have a lid (or if you're using a recycled bottle and the lid/cap has long gotten lost), feel free to use other materials such as cork board pieces or even cut out coasters. Please note that you can't use sheets of soft and thin plastic materials as a substitute lid if you will be using hot wax to seal your jar. The heat will melt thin plastic sheets.

Non-traditional ways to seal your Salt Jar: You can use a cloth, a piece of stainless screen (the fine ones with very small holes), or gauze to close your jar/ bottle. If you don't want to use candle wax, you may tightly seal it with a ribbon, a thread or even a twine. Or just leave your Blue salt concoction open in a bowl, or store them in any accessible container; that way, you can also use it for sprinkling in certain areas of your home. You can then make it a part of your anti-negativity and space blessing rituals.

Lastly, don't forget to pray over/ charge your blue salt with your intentions!

My take:

I used a mixture of brewed butterfly pea flower, watercolor, and mica pigments to dye the sea salt; the blue that came from my old stock of dried butterfly pea was too dark for my liking (it looked teal, even with a minimal amount used), so I decided to take some "blue" from my arts and crafts stash. I have this old stock of my favorite flower tea, golden edge rosebuds, and I decided to sprinkle them over my blue salt. I then put in a few loose turquoise beads and some of my favorite chipped crystals and gemstones into the mix.

I'm honestly not much of a candle user (plus the place I live in have sensitive smoke detectors-- goodbye to even attempting fire-scrying), so I decided not to use a spell candle. I used a red thread for sealing the jar instead. Not just because I like the color and think that it will make a great contrast to the coolness of the blue salt and the white cover, but also because the red thread is commonly used as a protective amulet, good luck charm, and a soul bond symbolism in many religions and culture (such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Feng Shui).

Additional Recommendations:

Plain sea salt, pink salt, black salt, blue salt... Honestly, I recommend you to get creative because why not? Think of an intention, pick a color-- even mix colors, or layer them in accordance to your intentions and make your own salt jar when you find the time and have the energy for it :) 

Things I Wish I Knew Before Growing Succulents Indoors

The year 2020 was truly crazy. Enough to drive a lot of already crazy people even crazier. While I enjoyed staying indoors, months of not taking my occasional nature trips have begun to make me feel a little "off". Dramatic as it may sound, I felt a slow sense of melancholy creeping in me despite keeping myself busy with work and other hobbies.

I had always adored plant life, but I finally succumbed into the plant-shopping trend by the middle of that year. By early 2021, I was experimenting with different types of plants I can possibly grow indoors. And hearing about succulents being "Easy to grow and easy to propagate", I hopped in the succulent-parenting trend without doing ANY research on how to take care of the desert cuties. I thought to myself; "plants are plants. Gardening is gardening. Some light, oxygen, and water on these cute leafy things and that oughta do it." Boy, was I wrong. Well, not really. All living things that thrive on land will need those three to survive. But I left out some absolutely important factors to consider when giving the dessert plants those three necessities. 

If you've ever killed one indoor plant after another despite thinking that you have enough knowledge. enthusiasm and/or experience in gardening, then perhaps you've also overlooked a few things on this list;

1. Adjustment Period: Just like humans, did you know that succulents need to get accustomed to the changes in their environment, too? If the plant was propagated and taken cared of in a sunny outdoors environment, and then was suddenly brought into a dimly lit and cool room, its survival rate may suddenly drop. The same thing can happen if a plant was grown in an indoor environment and then was suddenly brought outdoors to get exposed to the harsh rays of the summer sun and the strong winds that often accompany rainy days. 

Left to right: Campfire, Flapjack, Campfire, Mendozae, Moonstone, and Pink Jellybeans;

I got these succulents for my mother. It was placed in a dimly lit area, and eventually became too leggy.

We had to move it outdoors. It's doing better now.

• Outdoors to Indoors: Keep the plant in a brightly lit place, and then after two weeks, move it into a "sufficiently lit" area. For example, if you got your succulents from an outdoor environment, you can leave it by your porch, a well-lit backyard, or veranda. Always make sure the area is pest-free and  don't forget to place the plant back indoors during heavy rains. After two weeks, you can now place your plant in a well-lit indoor area; ideally, near the windows. You can also use 'grow lights'. 

Reminder: Succulents are desert plants, so always remember: although you can get them accustomed into a more mellow-lit area, NEVER place them in "low-light" areas or the "almost-no-light" areas. If you will keep succulents in your bedroom (just as I do), make sure they get a minimum of five hours light and good ventilation.

• Indoors to Outdoors:  If you have a succulent that has been taken cared of indoors for some time, it's most likely smaller and thinner compared to the ones that were grown outdoors. Especially if the succs were grown with very minimal light exposure. You might think that giving it an everyday dose of outdoor sunshine and occasional showers of rain water would be a good change. And you're right. But NOT RIGHT AWAY. The skinny (and probably leggy) stems and leaves might not be able to withstand the gusts of natural wind and the scorching heat of the mid afternoon sun. Try taking your potted succulents outdoors for a few hours, and then bringing it back indoors for the first two weeks. After that, move it to a shaded area outdoors. As always, make sure the spot you place it in is pest-free and has good ventilation.

2. Watering habits:

• Schedule: Scheduling is great because it prevents plant caretakers from both forgetting and over-watering plants. But do you know what's even better? Basing off watering needs on the moisture of the soil. Yep. It's best to feel that top soil, especially the first inch -- on different sides of the pot. If you're using fungicide or powdered pest control on the soil of your potted plants, try using a 'moisture meter' so you don't have to get into contact with the chemicals. 

Tip (optional): Have a 'wall thermometer' or a digital indoor temperature detector- this would help you estimate how often you need to water your plants. If you notice that it's getting a little too hot and the temperature is higher than normal, you might notice that the top soil dries faster than cooler seasons. If so, you might need to amp up your watering schedule from once-every-two-weeks to a weekly basis. 

• Water distribution: Rule number 1: DO NOT SPRAY ON THE DAMN LEAVES. PLEASE.  Succulents are desert plants, they thrive in dry environments. Long term exposure to moisture will definitely cause rotting on the leaves and the stem. If you watch basic "how-to-repot-your-succulent" guides on YouTube and you see the youtuber confidently attack the surface of the succulent with abundant squirts of water from their spray bottle, stop watching that video tutorial right away. Succulents absorb water from the roots. Always direct the water onto the soil. Nowhere else. Except maybe on the person in front of you (if there's one) if they talk too much while you are busy tending to your plants.
•  Cleaning the leaves: If you see specks of dust on the leaves or petals of your succulents, dust them off with a brush. If you're trying to remove white spots (those could be insects, or those could also be web from the spider mites-- yikes) use cotton buds soaked in alcohol (--neem oil works, too) and gently remove it.
• Dry/wrinkly leaves: If the leaves are beginning to get wrinkly, chances are, the succulent is dehydrated. Still. DO NOT SPRAY ON THE DAMN LEAVES. Spraying from the top will not magically bring your shriveled succulents leaves back into plump liveliness. Instead, put your potted plant (with drainage holes at the bottom) on a shallow bowl or basin filled with two to three inches of water for three hours or until the water is absorbed (some people leave the potted plant on the basin for 24 hours-- I do it this way, too). Make sure to put the potted succulent back in a brightly lit place with good air circulation.

3. Pesticides/ Insect repellants: If you're the type to rely on spray-on pesticides, make sure to use a spray nozzle with really fine holes, or just step three feet away from your plant before you go along with your insect repellant routine. Make sure to "mist" the pesticide instead of spraying it like you're some kind of rain fairy. Better yet, use powdered insecticides or insect repellants instead. Use a soft paint brush to dust it on the leaves and the stem.

4. Soil: The quality of soil and the air circulation in your pot has immense effect on the growth and overall health of your succulents.

• Drainage: I keep mentioning "ventilation" in this post, but ventilation is not just limited to the air circulation around your plants. It's also an important aspect where the roots are. Making sure your pots have holes underneath will prevent moisture from building up and causing root rot. The holes allow the excess water to drip naturally from the soil. 

Tip for beginner succulent parents: Mixing in perlite, pumice, and/or even sawdust into your soil is also a good way to make your potting medium lighter, and thus, promote more air circulation around the roots. Note that perlite is very "light" and may rise to the surface of your soil mix as you water it overtime. Pumice is a good alternative as it is heavier, but you can also mix the two for better aeration.

• Acidity: Succulents can be very resilient and could withstand even the shittiest of soil so long as it is not lodged in water and it gets sufficient light exposure and freedom from pests. However, just like any type of plant life, they are not immune to fertilizer burns. Minimize your use of fertilizers, as it can throw the soil's ph off balance. High acidity can burn the roots.
• Health: Acidity and air circulation are parts of this, but when I say "healthy" soil, I mean, you also have to make sure that it is free from fungi and parasite. If you notice that your hands or any part of your skin itches when it gets into contact with the soil on your pot, or if your plants keep rotting no matter how healthy it once was for the first two weeks (and no matter how well you tried taking care of it), then there's a high chance your soil is contaminated. Take your plant out of that soil immediately. And remember: DO NOT RE-USE THE SOIL WHERE A PLANT DIED FROM ROOT-ROT. Unless you "treat" or detoxify the soil first. 

That's it for now. I'll make another post about DIY soil treatments later on. I'll put the link here, too so you guys are free to save this post and check back later if you'd like. Happy indoor-planting~ :)

The Catch When Working with Spirits, Part 1: Synchronicities and... Noodles

I once did a reading for a young friend. I asked her what kind of reading she wanted. When she found out I also do readings as a form of mediumship, she said she'd like to have a try and "ask" a few things about a lover who had passed on. I agreed and we proceeded with my usual reading routine. As always, I kept it simple; I asked for the guy's name (or whatever she prefers to call him),  followed by the name he had always called her as, and then I proceeded to ask her all the questions she wanted me to ask him. I also asked her if she had other messages which she wanted me to let him know. (Ahahaha, take a shot everytime I mentioned the word "ask" in one paragraph.)

Synchronicities and... Noodles

One of the most interesting thing when using tarot, especially when you connect with souls and/or spirits, is how their personalities would show through the cards and the things around the reader/medium during the "conversation". There's also the ever-interesting occurrence of synchronicities among different decks, and how the same cards would fly out of the deck/s no matter how many times you put it back in the pile and how many different ways you shuffle all the cards. 

All those things happened during the reading. But days prior to that, as I prepared my head space and my tools to "sense out" her lover (I was waiting for a deck I ordered to arrive as I wanted to use it for that reading), I started getting repeating words and flashes of random images inside my head. You know what the big word was? NOODLES. All sorts of images of noodles kept repeating for days inside my head. It was probably one of the most random, funny, and nearly annoying things I have ever experienced. I would be in the middle of work, then bam "noodles" would echo in my head. I would be about to sleep, then bam, an image of noodles in a black bowl flashes at the back of my mind. 

Yep. N O O D L E S.

I didn't actually bring it up to my friend until after I finished the reading. In fact, I had no intention of mentioning it as it just sounded so silly. I didn't even bother asking the guy like, "hey, does this happen to have anything to do with you?" But as I finished relaying his messages to her, a voice inside my head mentioned "noodles" again, so I just had to do it. And so I finally said "noodles". 

I know, that sounded silly. I also expressed that to her.

My friend was surprised. And then she laughed. It turned out that the reason for this was simple: The guy loved noodles. She said she knew he liked eating it, but she never knew he loved it that much. I mentioned all the types of noodles that kept popping in my head to her. I started describing certain ways the noodles were plated, and that one particularly stood out to me; she said they used to eat that type of noodles in the college cafeteria together after classes.

A few days later, she told me she dropped by the college cafeteria again and had the noodles in commemoration of him. A part of me melted at that; it's funny how the everyday little things we take for granted can be the ones that bind us to the things (and people) most important to us beyond time and space.

No matter in flesh or in spirit, us humans are truly such funny and sentimental beings. 

-Kara Xin

>>> Continuation: The Catch When Working with Spirits, Part 2: Consistencies and Irregularities (to be posted soon)