Whether changing jobs or purchasing a new home, feng shui, the art of placement can save you time and money.

Helping a client see with feng shui eyes allowed floor plan decisions to be made correctly. "Missing areas" of the house create a strain on the balance of the home reflecting the owner’s energy and belief patterns.

The bagua or eight-sided octagonal shape grid placed over the home for feng shui adjustment is always "moving" and changing as life moves us onto our purpose. Here are two e-mail messages asking for advice on this subject.

Hi Caroline,

Hi Linda,

Please check my website for a floor plan I have sketched, showing what I consider to be an easy flowing home. The way I understand your description of the house in question, the front left side is missing causing tension in the knowledge sector. If this missing area is filled in with wonderful landscaping this is good. But what type of trees and plants are filling in the space? Is there a false water-like path filled in with rocks? Any "water feature" should curve back toward the house and not toward the street. Where are the bathrooms located? This is the main question. Compass School form of feng shui indicates a south facing front door is auspicious or good. I practice Black Hat feng shui so physical direction isn’t required. After aligning the bagua over this house I could better inform you on a purchase. Eight is a good luck number meaning riches. Again I would need much more information about the backyard, lay of the land, neighbors, stairways inside and outside before I would recommend a purchase. Your last sentence is the one that cautions me to give any advice. Divorce leaves an invisible feeling or predecessor chi. Space clearing should be done. Painting and carpet cleaning helps. If you will fax me the floor plan I will advise you further. I usually will work with the client while they are looking for a home. They might fax me three or four floor plans followed by a scheduled consultation. I wish you luck.

Thanks, Caroline

Hi Caroline,

Hi,

Congratulations on your new venture! Sometimes it’s better to move on and enjoy the freedom to make your own decisions. I have always been a trailblazer. I remember something my brother said years ago. He was a college graduate but didn’t like his hard earned job and soon took a workshop called Carnegie Course. It would be compared to the Tony Robbins’s "you can do anything you desire" workshops. My brother was always a talker and when he completed the course, he announced to everyone who would listen "It doesn’t matter what I sell, I could sell pencils door to door and be a success!" He was right and he is a success. You just need to love what you do. I love what I do. Although I didn’t receive much support from my family on my latest pursuit I too have succeeded. You should learn what energy is connected with each color of clothing and educate you customers with this information. This is different than having your colors done. Summer, fall, winter, spring. What I’m talking about has to do with matching your wardrobe with some of the elements of the bagua. This would be a new approach to your business.

Yes, enhancing the front three career sections at the front of the house would certainly be a start for your new job opportunity. Advertising in the phone book, Grapevine, Weekender and local newspaper would help. Add your picture to your business card and ads. Placing three Chinese coins on a red ribbon nine inches long promote several things symbolically. The balanced round and square of the coin or the yin and yang, red for awakening the chi or energy and nine inches representing prosperity. Red flowers at the front door, a water feature at the right hand side of the front door or on the inside of the house (it MUST be kept running and clean), a crystal 30 — 50 mm, lead crystal (plastic won’t work) hung inside the foyer to expand the flow of the water gua or section of the house. A wind chime with a lovely high pitch invites higher thought into the home. Good luck. Now what are we going to do in the far back left corner of the structure inside and outside to promote wealth? May you have abundance in every area of your life. Give five people a day your blessing, whether on the freeway by letting them "in" or by a kind word. Check all the new additions on my website, from pictures of the shop to the last twenty newspaper articles on feng shui in my column West Meets East, www.fengshuiartistry.com and click on moongateschool.

Beginning this week at Caroline’s Arts and Feng Shui Shoppe, 129 First St. Suite K, Benicia, an exciting new exhibit of children’s artwork featuring the artwork of thirty talented fifth grade students from Mills Elementary School. The exhibit begins on December 7. Drop by during the Holiday Open House. Sign up for 2002 classes in feng shui, altar making, fountain making and art. Join our four-week art workshop at the McBride Center in Vacaville in January and February 2002 Acrylic painting for beginners to advanced students. Check the new updated website for more articles www.fengshuiartistry.com, click on moongateschool. For holiday gift giving consider a feng shui gift certificate or choose a book from our assortment of feng shui books.

Caroline Patrick is an Artist, Herbalist and Feng Shui Consultant. She weaves these three talents together in a unique practice.