West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

Feng Shui and the Placement for a Pet’s Ashes

This is a question I am asked a lot, so I thought it was a good time to give some suggestions on the subject. Hi Caroline,

Hope all is well with you. I had a question for you. We have the ashes of our dearly beloved cat who died a year ago. What are the considerations for Feng Shui with something like that? Is it a good idea to have them around, should they be dispersed at some point, etc.

Also, just checking, have you sent out any email announcements lately? I haven’t received anything from you since your class in Benicia in January this year. Just want to make sure you have my correct email address, which is the one I sent this message with. Can you check your mailing lists?

Thanks......

Hi there,

Good to hear from you. I’m sorry about your pet. I get this question quite often and I have not come up with a standard answer. Our culture has its own ceremonies about the process of passing on to a heavenly realm when our bodies have completed their “mission.” We feel a strong connection with our little creatures, as most of them become family members or friends. I have visited some homes where pet snakes and other living things are also considered part of the family. My friend Barbara who used to help me at the gallery and Feng Shui shoppe has a pet and home care business called I CARE PET AND HOME SERVICE. She is a rare treasure for anyone wanting this specialized service. Her stories are unique and filled with “tails” you wouldn’t believe! From adventures of chasing a pet duck who ventured too far, to feeding time for snakes, she is so busy giving medical care, love and walks to these mostly furry house pets, that she has little time for herself nowadays. I also have owned many pets and farm animals during my life, so understand your concern and question.

Feng Shui has many rules for the living and dead. Feng Shui’s origins came from the tradition and science of finding perfect grave sites for their loved ones. Even if the ancestor was not loved, honoring the dead is a must for many cultures, as an energy called Ling Particles of the deceased can “haunt” the living and cause many things to go wrong, if the deceased is not happy with his resting place or grave site. It is not my place to pass judgment on any culture or tradition, but only to give the reason why burying the dead for some cultures at least 10 miles away from the home of the living is a good idea.

I understand many people use pet cemeteries to place their animal’s remains and then others have them cremated so when the “owners” changed location, the ashes can be moved along with the family. My favorite way to honor any ashes, whether human or animal, is to create a special altar with pictures, favorite objects, candles, etc. It could be designed on the “cute-side” for a pet. For loved ones, chose a beautiful corner of a room, with lights, a bell, golden cloths, a lovely container filled with the ashes, a crystal, and an ancient Chinese coin representing the round and square shapes of Yin and Yang placed inside the container or box.

A woman client who had lost a son when he was 16 asked this question. I explained it was probably best to have an outside Altar or Place of Remembrance on their property where she could walk to, sit on a bench and rest. She was not willing to do this, so a place was created in the Helpful People and Travel room of the house, or the section to the front right of the floor plan, inside a closet. It was a private area where she could shut the door or open it when she wanted to have time with his energy. This Gua or Helpful People sector is called the Heaven Triad. Energy from all realms, living and those who have passed on, give help and guidance to the living residents. Pictures or statues of angels are nice to include in this corner.

Recently she emailed me that she had indeed taken the ashes outside on their wooded property in the Family side of the yard. Their yard was very large with private winding paths and trees. She placed a bench in this sector which is located to the middle left side of their land. She placed the box of ashes inside a concrete container so they couldn’t be disturbed. The email indicated that the woman had another memorial gathering for his friends and then felt it was time to move on with her life, but loved the short walk to be with her son.

So there are a couple of suggestions which I have given. If you feel that things aren’t moving in your life, you might take note where the ashes have been placed. I don’t feel the Career, Wealth, Fame, Partnership, Children or Health sections of a home are a good place for the ashes, as we don’t want “dead” energy in these areas of our floor plan. So let me know what inspiration you come up with.

I will send you an email of my last newspaper column which gives info on my schedule. I haven't been back to that area since the class in January. I do a lot of consultations by phone and also have a Customized Feng Shui Mentoring Series for serious students. Hope to see you again soon.

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS 2006------sign up now------

1. ART classes and workshops ---- from 6 weeks to Saturday All Day Workshops!

2. FENG SHUI ISLAND TOUR---- on site evaluations in the San Juan Islands, WASHINGTON STATE

Where is the entrance or “Mouth of Chi” to the Island?

Please email caroline@fengshuiartistry.com for more information on classes or to purchase her greeting cards.

For Pet Sitting call Barbara Pike at “I Care Pet Services,” 707-745-3420

There are many Feng Shui products available online, but here are my favorites where I personally shop, www.yunlintemple.org for the finest quality; www.harmonydesigns.net ask for Shelly; www.fengshuishopper.com ask for Marina; and www.fengshuifusions.com . All items are cleared and blessed.

Caroline Patrick Caroline's Feng Shui Concepts Mt. Vernon, WA

360-424-1501

caroline@fengshuiartistry.com www.fengshuiartistry.com www.moongateschool.com

Caroline Patrick, Feng Shui consultant/practitioner, teacher/speaker, Feng Shui artist and writer, lives in the San Juan Islands, off the coast of Washington. Her weekly newspaper article called WEST MEETS EAST is a popular Feng Shui advice column. She enjoys answering your questions, when possible. Some questions will be chosen for publication with the permission from the reader. Enjoy her new 5 Element attached-folding cards which can be used as a Feng Shui enhancement or correction in any space. Larger prints of several selected paintings are also available. For consultations, speaking/teaching engagements and art evaluations contact her at caroline@fengshuiartistry.com or visit her websites at www.fengshuiartistry.com and www.moongateschool.com.

Any suggestions given in this column are only for entertainment. Please contact your physician for any medical or herbal advice or diagnosis. Caroline Patrick is not responsible for any misuse of her advice or suggestions.