In certain East Asian metaphysical systems such as Feng Shui and the Five Elements Theory, black represents the water element, associated with wisdom, depth, and flowing opportunities—particularly in career and professional pursuits. Wearing black during important business meetings or job interviews is believed to attract positive energy linked to job success. To increase its potency, black is often paired with red, a color that symbolizes fire, energy, and vitality. The combination of black and red is thought to create a dynamic yin-yang balance—water nourishes and fire stimulates—thus channeling both flow and drive. People may choose to wear black suits with red ties or incorporate both colors into accessories and workplace décor to channel fortune and ambition. Red elements may include charms, bracelets, or even red lipstick to enhance personal power.
Financial Superstitions
This superstition dictates that all personal debts should be settled before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. According to the belief, any lingering financial obligations carried into the New Year could result in continued money struggles, unpaid bills, or even new debts. Individuals observing the practice rush to repay loans, outstanding utility bills, and even informal debts to friends or family members. In extreme cases, people avoid borrowing anything—even an item as small as sugar—on January 1st to avoid setting a tone of dependence or financial lack for the year ahead. The custom is often paired with other New Year’s traditions that symbolize abundance, such as serving lentils or coins, to further enhance financial fortune.
In the feng shui tradition, each compass direction is associated with a specific aspect of life. The north direction governs career and life path. Practitioners believe that enhancing this sector can improve job opportunities, professional growth, and success. The white narcissus flower, symbolizing purity and new beginnings, is traditionally considered to carry auspicious energy. To apply this superstition, one must identify the north section of the home—using a compass or a feng shui bagua map—and place a fresh or artificial white narcissus flower there. For maximum effect, it is often recommended to clean the area beforehand and consider adding supportive water elements (such as a bowl of clean water) near the plant, since north corresponds with the water element in feng shui’s five-element system. The flower should be kept fresh or energetically maintained to continue attracting positive chi toward one’s career.
In many cultures, the color gold is believed to attract wealth, success, and abundance. It is often incorporated into rituals, décor, and personal accessories believed to enhance one’s fortune or protect financial well-being. For example:
– In Chinese traditions, gold is combined with red during Lunar New Year celebrations to invite prosperity and ward off bad luck. Decorations often feature gold coins, ingots, or dragons outlined in gold.
– Wealth altars or feng shui areas in the home often contain gold-colored items or actual gold objects such as replica bars or gold foil charms.
– Offerings to deities associated with wealth, such as the Chinese god of fortune (Caishen), frequently include gold-colored items or objects wrapped in gold paper.
The use of gold is not just aesthetic—it is rooted in the belief that the color’s vibrational frequency aligns with abundance and prosperity, thus inviting financial success when used intentionally.
The custom of placing money—usually a small denomination such as a coin or note—into a purse or wallet before gifting it is a widespread superstition across many cultures. The gesture is believed to ‘seed’ the item with prosperity, encouraging future wealth to fill its compartments. Omitting the money risks symbolically giving away emptiness or poverty, potentially cursing the recipient with financial hardship. Some interpretations recommend using coins for continuity (as they do not expire), while others suggest a higher denomination to ‘set the bar’ for the recipient’s fortune. The money should remain untouched in the wallet for at least a day or two to allow its symbolic meaning to ‘take root.’ This belief is particularly prevalent during birthdays, weddings, graduations, or New Year celebrations where financial luck is a traditional aspiration.
According to this superstition, the directional orientation of a house—specifically one facing due north—can negatively influence the well-being and fortune of its inhabitants. This belief is particularly common in Vastu Shastra, the traditional Indian system of architecture that assigns symbolic meanings to cardinal directions. In poorly interpreted or misapplied forms of Vastu, some believe north-facing homes obstruct wealth accumulation or create energetic imbalance. The superstition typically manifests during the home planning phase, where homeowners consult astrologers or Vastu practitioners to avoid ‘inauspicious’ orientations. Some variations assert that poorly placed entrances in the north can disrupt energy flow (prana), while others associate the north with the deity of wealth; if not properly honored, financial loss may ensue. However, in formal Vastu, north is actually considered auspicious when properly aligned, indicating this superstition may arise from regional misunderstandings or folk adaptations.
According to this folk superstition, the way a person sleeps can influence their financial fortune. Stretching one’s limbs outward while lying in bed is thought to symbolize openness, confidence, and a readiness to receive abundance, thereby attracting financial prosperity. In contrast, sleeping curled up in a fetal position symbolizes withdrawal or insecurity, metaphorically closing oneself off to opportunities and wealth. Believers may consciously choose to sleep in an open posture, with arms and legs spread out, especially before important financial ventures or decisions. There are no specific rituals or objects required—only the physical posture matters. While largely symbolic, the practice also aligns with modern psychological interpretations of body language, where open gestures are linked to confidence and receptivity.
According to this belief, the sensation of itching in one’s palm foretells incoming or outgoing financial events based on which hand is affected. If your left palm itches, you are expected to receive money soon—from a gift, unexpected gain, or windfall. Conversely, an itch in the right palm suggests that you will soon spend or lose money, often linked to bills or necessary purchases. Some people try to encourage the ‘good’ outcome—such as rubbing a lucky object on their itching left palm or refraining from scratching the right one to avoid financial loss. The superstition has slight variations in different cultures, with some even reversing the meanings of left and right hands. The belief typically focuses on spontaneous itching rather than any medical condition.
This superstition dictates that if one sees feces — particularly human excrement — in a dream, it portends an imminent arrival of money or financial fortune. The feces are symbolically interpreted as physical manifestations of wealth or abundance, despite their unpleasant appearance in real life. The more vivid or overwhelming the feces appear, the greater the wealth that is believed to come. In some traditions, the dreamer doesn’t need to take any specific action; the dream itself is a sign of luck. Some culturally specific interpretations suggest that touching or even stepping in feces in a dream enhances the positive financial outcome. This belief remains primarily symbolic and varies in interpretation based on gender, societal role, and regional culture.
According to traditional dream lore, particularly in Middle Eastern and South Asian cultures, dreaming of holding gold in your hand is seen as a highly auspicious sign. Gold is universally associated with wealth, power, and prosperity. The act of physically holding it in a dream is interpreted as a message from the subconscious or a spiritual realm, indicating that the dreamer will soon receive money or material gains. This superstition is often shared among believers who consult dream dictionaries or spiritual guides. The type of gold—coins, bars, or jewelry—may further influence the meaning. For example, gold coins could symbolize earned income, while gold bars may reflect unexpected inheritance or windfalls.
