West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

Children and the Future

I’m spending some time with my grandchildren before school begins. The boys are 5 and 7. We collected leaves and herbs from the island house yard, then I ironed them in wax paper and we put together SUMMER LEAF NOTEBOOKS. Their drawings were rich in color which only children can “see,” and the art renderings were added between each page to divide the examples. Colorful memories of their travels to the ocean, train rides, bowling, Chuck E. Cheese Birthday party of a friend, mountain hiking and mountaintop viewing, including Mt. St. Helen’s as the Fire Element energy blew smoke the day of their visit. Going to a county fair and a trip to Canada, followed by some canoeing. The Northwest is full of adventure for grownups and children alike. We recorded the year on the front of each book, Summer 2005.

The weekend before, we picked blackberries and made jelly the way my mother did. As the juice cooks, three drops will form on the spoon, and when the jelly is ready the three drops will separate, then run together marry in a thick “sheet” of hot liquid, which falls back into the kettle. Hot jars were lined up on the counter to divide the summer nectar.

Then we decided we must have bread to go with the jelly. So out came the yeast and flour. I divided the dough into two pieces and they loved talking to the dough and, as boys will, giggling, hitting and kneading the mixture. Next the pans full of dough were put into “the island car” (an old model automobile which is used to pick up guests at the ferry), as the heat from the closed-up car was the perfect temperature to make the dough rise. So now the children think bread is made in a car!!!

My son, their father, has introduced several tapes of religions of the world, Where Babies Come From and Be Careful of Strangers videos and CD’s this last week ... so they are “full” of this and that ... information before real school starts. It seemed a bit of a crash course. The first day the oldest son decided he would be a Christian, and the next day Buddhism was at the top of his list. As he described the differences in the theology while we picked another batch of blackberries, his thoughts on the subject were deep and childlike at the same time. “Why not be a Christian one day and a Buddhist the next,” I thought, “there is a concept.” A lesson we could all benefit from, as the world is so small and the continual wars are as ancient as greed and power.

Remembering the innocence of children, my mind drifted back to China to the day I played and drew pictures with three children who lived next to a temple. I was a complete stranger sitting on a bench when I was blessed by their company. We stared at each other for several awkward minutes, until I began drawing pictures on notepaper. Within a few minutes they were literally leaning against me and on me, as kids do, looking at my picture of the universal dog, rabbit, cat and dinosaur. Giggling dirty hands and faces touched mine. I decided in a moment that their little germs wouldn’t invade my body and make me die! I would just enjoy the gift. I gave them paper and we had a “picture party.” We exchanged pictures when it was time to leave. Two of the children climbed on a bench and waved a long good-bye. The youngest child ran after me until the parents who were working on the temple grounds swooped him up and returned a squalling 2-year-old boy to their care. What logic do we feed our children to be prejudiced and judgmental, as it is not the answer.

Children are children in any part of the world; if you aren’t listening to them, shame on you. Make memories, do good deeds to make up for past issues on which you had to be right. Empty yourself out with meditation, then make your prayers. If you pray or ask for change with the glass completely full of past or incomplete anger, there is not room for change.

A child is already empty, what a miracle! It is your responsibility to make sure how his/her mind is filled. What part of the home is your child’s bedroom? Some are better than others for their comfort. A middle bedroom to the left or right of a house is a great place for a secure, safe feeling, as the child feels protected in the Family or Children and Creativity Gua. What are you feeding them ... big issue for brain power. Try old fashion Cod Liver Oil (lemon flavor) to boost your child’s immune system. I took this advice of a woman pharmacist last spring, and I have had excellent results from this forgotten remedy. Hide it in juice with a teaspoon of protein powder for the kid who won’t eat in the morning. Clothing color can enhance or deplete up-growing Chi or energy for knowledge.

Educate yourself. Balance your home and use the 5 Elements of Wood, Fire, Metal, Earth and Water to increase Family awareness and stability. Make it a game to Feng Shui your children’s rooms as the new school years begins once more.

CAROLINE'S COMING TO TOWN !!! Mark your calendars. I will be coming to Benicia for consultations, please email me for an appointment, October 4th through the 7th.

OCTOBER 6th at 7-9 PM, $54 fee ....Workshop on WEALTH, Design details that cause HEALTH problems. All new exciting material from Caroline’s continued studies with Grandmaster Lin Yun and others. Call 360-424-1501 to sign up.......LOCATION to be announced.

Check with Gina Waters at her shoppe in the Tannery Building (next to coffee place) for upcoming flyers.

WHAT IS CUSTOMIZED FENG SHUI MENTORING?

· It is for those wishing to study with me privately. ONE ON ONE.

· The cost is $350 for three hours a month, through phone, email and faxes.

· A six-month commitment is necessary.

· 27 red envelopes (first month only) and the first month’s payment of $350 due on the 1st of each month.

· A monthly mentoring date is set for at least one to two hours of phone conversation, at different intervals.

· Packets of hard-copy material are sent for you to study each month. Emailing and faxes will be part of the course also as we go over floor plans.

· The material is copyrighted, but I will give you permission to share a lot of the information.

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.