By Caroline Patrick

Feng Shui And The Northwest

Thank you for all of the wonderful phone calls visits and emails wishing me a wonderful and happy journey for the next phase of my life. It has been an exciting eight years living in Benicia. I have opened four art studios during my stay. The first two were near Arts Benicia, where a community of like-minded creative people live and work in rented spaces near the water. My second studio was a 200-square-foot office at the Command Post Building, a handsome old dwelling used in the 1800`s by soldiers protecting the entry of the Straits from enemy forces invading the United States by water.

I taught my first California art class in this small space and immediately felt at home. The room had a calm atmosphere which I sometimes felt the presence of a gentle soul looking over my shoulder while I worked on the drawings commissioned by a friend for her book Power Animals. Could it be the energy of the former Commander which occupied the office during his stay at the fort?

My first art class was to be given at this location, and I was nervous trying to fit twelve people into the limited space. The subject of the workshop was Flower Power. Many hours were dedicated preparing the flyer. The class was a success for many reasons, but the most rewarding one was because many of those original students became good friends. I have thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Benicia and will miss the daily encounters with everyone.

The third location for my art adventures was the Tannery Building on First Street. I had been looking for larger commercial space needed to teach art and also introduce the Art of Placement called Feng Shui. Although I had been quietly enjoying the fruits of Feng Shui in my life, the time had come to share my experience with this ancient balance of nature.

My final studio is the one most people will remember called Caroline’s Arts and Feng Shui Shoppe, also located in the Historical Tannery Building located on Benicia’s waterfront. Moving to the front of the large one-story complex automatically placed my shoppe in the Career Zone of the building, activating my career. Locations near the front of buildings give the owners advantages of better Knowledge and Career opportunities, while back and middle rental or leased spaces are okay, customers or Chi, {people energy} are drawn visually to location, color, and vibrations.

I hope I have been of value to my clients in finding abundance in their lives as I have using Feng Shui. The trinity of balancing the environment, your spiritual lessons and taking care of your health will bring a natural feeling of peace in your home and work place. I didn’t want to overstay my welcome in Benicia, and it is always hard to leave ‘family’ behind when moving on. Benicia has been a healing city for me and many others I have come to know. After 2500 consolations and close to 149 classes and many speaking engagements I can truly say I have been blessed by meeting you! Thank you for listening to me ramble and hopefully we have both learned by our experiences.

Packing boxes is never the fun part of moving, and I always dread the sound of the cellophane tape reaching its limits when stretched over a finished box. This week during a box-taping episode, I was startled by a woman’s voice. "Hi there, I’m so-and-so. I have been so looking forward to your classes. Where do I sign up for them? I’ve been so busy, but now I’m retired and my daughter –in-law is going to take some, too, let’s see art, Feng Shui, herbs and what else? I’m so excited!" My tired worn out packing body just stared at her blankly, and I could think how to respond to her excited chatter. Seeing my lifeless stare, she inquired, "Are you Caroline?" "Yes’" I muttered, then added "Where have you been?" "What do you mean?" she asked. "Just a minute," I requested as I picked up a pad and pencil and began to add up the approximate number of classes, workshops and talks I have given in the last eight years. "I’m sorry, I’m moving to the San Juan Islands in Washington State – and you have just missed 149 classes!" "But I’m ready now," she replied with a serious look. What can I say to that? In my tired, warped brain I began to get excited along with her and was trying to figure out how to run back down to Benicia to teach her art, herbs and Feng Shui.

Yes, it’s time to rest a while and play with those grandchildren who are also moving to the northwest. It’s time for me to take some classes myself. Time to watch it rain, paint a picture in my new studio on our land and find office space on the mainland for future consultations. You can still read my column EAST MEETS WEST in the Benicia Herald or catch it on my website under moongateschool. Have a great summer and read a few former ‘Golden Oldies’ columns, as I temporarily pack the computer into one of those big boxes. Don’t forget your consultations can be done by fax and phone. Email your request, and by September I will have a work number again. Please stay in touch.