chinatown

If your boss called you today and explained that you would have to ‘help out’ at another location, one that was a good 45 minute drive from your house, for the next two months– most people would fight the urge to tell their boss

‘exactly where to shove it.’

When I received this particular tid bit of news, I was so excited that I nearly fell out of my chair. My sister property, happens to be located off of Bellaire Boulevard which means I would be working right smack dab in the middle of

I could not wait to explore this amazing culture first hand. I counted the days until I left for my new adventure.

I had one hell of a time with the Street Signs…

especially since the signs in English never seemed to face the right direction.

With grocery stores, restaurants, gift shops, tea houses and literally everything – all insanely crammed into a couple of blocks worth of real estate, I counted down the minutes until my lunch break every day!

I found an amazing Gift Shop on the corner of Bellaire Boulevard and Rochester Road.

When I opened the door, I stood for a moment in utter shock and awe! Tissue paper fans, parrots, lanterns and scrolls were delicately hung from the ceiling. I giggled as hundreds of Maneki-neko figurines waved a warm welcome, all in perfect sync, as I entered.

Covering nearly every surface, I stood in awe of the incredibly detailed statues of Buddha, Jade Emperor (Yuhuang Dadi), Krishna, Lakshmi, Guanyin and even The Virgin Mary. Exquisite Tea pots, tea cups, hand carved Tibetan Altars, an endless selection of incense sticks, burners and Chinese fireworks of nearly every shape and size lined the walls of this intricate little store.

The shop owner warmed up to me immediately; she was eager to walk with me, show me her items and explain the purpose and meaning behind each one. I am eternally grateful for her knowledge and kindness.

After making a few laps around the shop together, making sure I had touched and viewed each item she offered, she allowed me to shop on my own with one last thought

Do not choose for yourself, for your choice is ignorant. The Gods will choose for you. They are wise. Listen…

We both looked around, to the various statues of deity surrounding the tiny shop. We stood for a moment in silence, allowing the Gods to speak. Finally, she looked at me and smiled,

“Ahhhhh… Yes! Pay attention! The Gods have something for you. Find it. Now, go!

I was in shock, anxious and actually surprisingly nervous. My palms began to sweat as I walked down the isles, inspecting every single item on every shelf with utter scrutiny.

What if I picked the wrong thing? How do I know what is “right” or “wrong”? I can’t even speak Chinese – I don’t even know what half of this stuff is!

I was beginning to panic. I glanced towards the door. Maybe I could slowly make my way to the exit without her noticing.

Not. A. Chance.

I took a few deep breaths and decided to just Roll With It…

How hard could it be?

As if right on Que, I saw it….

It was a beautiful statue of the Hindu God Ganesha.

I picked up the statue and felt a warmth and sense of pure joy overwhelm me immediately. I knew I had made the right choice. I could just feel it.

I began skipping (yes, literally!) to the register. I was so excited to show her what I had chosen. Nearly halfway to the register, I glanced down and saw this beautiful

Tibetan Offering Bowl

I couldn’t imagine how something so small and dainty could stop me in my tracks. There were literally hundreds of bowls, of all shapes, sizes and colors, lined on various shelves throughout the little store.

What was so special about this one?

I made my way to the register and handed over my items to the shop owner. She smiled and nodded in approval. She rang up my items and carefully wrapped them in tissue paper. She paused for a moment and looked up at the statues along the wall once more. Her gaze shifted back to me and she whispered

Come with me…

I followed her to the last aisle toward the very back of the shop. She lifted a beautiful silk tapestry and pulled out an intricately carved trunk with thick metal handles on both sides. She lifted the lid and I peered down to see strange octagonal shaped pieces of hand painted wood with various types of circular mirrors inlaid in the middle of each one. She looked up at me and said

“These are Bagua Mirrors. You will choose one, take it home and immediately hang it outside of your front or back door. Do NOT hang it inside your home! The Bagua will protect against Shar-Chi and will create good fortune and harmony.

I took a moment to examine each Bagua; to hold each one in my hand. Finally, I made my decision…

This would be MY Bagua Mirror.

The shop owner smiled and nodded. I asked her to explain the difference between the various types of Bagua Mirrors and what each was specifically used for. She explained that there are 3 Types of Bagua Mirrors:

The Concave Bagua Mirror – absorbs negative energy and Shar-Chi. If it is not handled properly, it could bring IN negative energy to the Bagua owner; which would cause conflict and turmoil in their life.

The Convex Bagua Mirror – reflects negative energy and Shar-Chi. If it is not handled properly, it could send negative energy to your neighbors and to those who enter your home; which would bring negative Karma to the Bagua owner.

The Neutral Bagua Mirror (MY Bagua Mirror) – balances ALL energy, by neutralizing it before it enters the home. This is the safest Bagua Mirror to own.

I am so grateful for the time I was able to spend in Chinatown. What may have seemed like an inconvenience at first glance, ended up being the most amazing two months of my Spiritual journey so far this year. The kindness, compassion and genuine giving nature of everyone I met while exploring Chinatown has had such an incredible effect on my life. I cannot wait for the opportunity to return and learn so much more!

I hope this inspires you to explore, experience and enjoy the amazing cultures that surround you!