West Meets East

West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

California Or Bust, or Feng Shui On The Road Again! (Part II)

Driving to California seemed like a good idea when I first began to plan a trip to the San Francisco Bay Area. As a Feng Shui consultant, Feng Shui artist and admirer of Feng Shui Master Lin Yun's teachings on the subject, I had decided to attend his 73^rd birthday banquet in San Francisco in early January. Since moving to Washington State, I have made new friends and found work teaching Feng Shui in the local college and city wonderful, but I miss friends in that area so planned the trip accordingly. I hadn’t thought too much about the weather, but I-5 never closes down for long periods of time since it is the main highway which connects the North and South of the Western United States.

By the time I got to Grants Pass in Oregon, a snow storm of magnitude had closed most all mountain passes in three states. Wow, the end of the year of The Monkey 2004, always the comedian, throwing a “monkey wrench” into every thing. It seems most of my clients, friends and relatives have tired of the monkey’s antics this last year. It has been a difficult energy to deal with, and personally I’m ready to greet the Rooster 2005. This time keeper will keep you on your toes, as the little hyperactive bird will crow every two hours keeping you awake and alert. My friend Barbara Pike, who worked at my shoppe in Benicia, California for many years, is the perfect example of Rooster Chi! She kept me on the “straight and narrow” and needed to be busy, busy, busy all the time. Loved by all, Barbara is now pet sitting, as her first love is animals. Honest and loyal is Barbara’s first name.

So.......back to the hotel and the gathering crowd of stranded people. Suddenly around 10 a.m., the manager announced that someone had just made it through the next pass and to hurry up, the mountain as it might be open for 2-3 hours. We all ran out the door as if in some crazy race, clearing the parking lot in no time flat! I felt smug behind the steering wheel as I fell in line with the rest of the families trying to get home after the holiday weekend. After an hour of easy driving, climbing higher and higher, snowflakes the size of oranges begin to cover the windshield. The beautiful white stuff memorized me as I listened to a tape of Caroline Myss's workshop on Intuitive Medicine. Suddenly red tail lights filled the sky and we all slid to a stop. Feeling helpless after two hours and a full bladder, I began to get very restless.

I put my boots on and ventured into the white parking lot in the sky. Probably 300 humans filled 200 cars as far as the eye could see. Everyone seemed to have the same idea. Dogs and kids were playing in the snow, and I was visiting with my neighbor, the truck driver. “What’s going on?” I asked. “Beats me, I can’t get any answer,” as he displayed his cell phone. “I thought all truck drivers were suppose to know,” I pondered. “This is a modern day Donner's Pass,” I muttered to myself. Just then cars begin moving. People grabbed kids and dogs and jumped into their wagons – I mean cars – as the mass exodus moved forward.

I drove like crazy, and too fast I’m sure, but I didn’t want to lose another day in the snow. My daughter had hot soup waiting at the end of the trail at Sacramento, and I again slept very well. Next day was turbo shopping with my favorite girl, and then on to Benicia to visit the Tannery. The holiday lights shone in the evening light, and almost everyone was still open for New Year shoppers. Then on to dinner with many friends. Colleen Smith as usual set a beautiful table, and gifts were exchanged as the night flew by. There is nothing like friends to make you feel wealthy. As usual it was a quick visit and a big hello to those I didn’t get to see. Next time?

Three days at the Culture Center puts you back into perspective about what is important in life: To serve others with your God-given talent. It is as simple as that. To love, have compassion, give up anger and regret, as those are the “cancers” which will kill the body and soul. Staying in a plain room, bed, desk and small rug and sharing a bathroom makes you grateful for luxuries and reminds you of what is really important. Eating, sitting next to visiting monks from India who are in charge of 250 orphans and raising monies for their cause, brings you back to basics. Laughing with Professor Lin and listening to him teach his God children about life was a privilege. He declared my new series called The 5 Element paintings enhancements, cures and corrections that can be used in the home for Feng Shui purposes, as they contain all the shapes, colors and energy needed for good Chi. That was a great gift for me, as he studied the five pictures I gave him at length. “They can be used the same as Catherine Woo's art,” he said. I was thrilled, as Catherine is the most gifted Feng Shui Artist in the world.

The banquet was beautiful, with friends from around the world to honor him for his deeds. Representatives from the United Nations and dignitaries flew in to share the night with a man that changed the world. Food, music and singing filled the rooms. Master Lin Yun is also a gifted artist, and he raffled off over 50 of the calligraphy works which he had done in the last few days. I could imagine the time and prayers that went into the works of art. Touching base with other Feng Shui consultants, friends and students was delightful.

We returned to Berkeley around 2 p.m. and the Center was again alive with energy. More cooking and another feast was being prepared. I couldn’t eat another bite. I returned to my cozy little room at the third floor, gently stuck my ear plugs into my ears and fell asleep before my head hit the pillow. The last thing I remember before drifting was – Did I really tell the head monk of the orphanage that I would come next year and teach the children art? Yes, I think I did.....Oh, my God, and he said they would be delighted and they would pick me up at some strange-sounding city near the Himalayas?

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.