West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick BorNei

Certified Red Ribbon Professional of the International Feng Shui Guild

Where to put the Christmas Tree, According to Feng Shui Aspects

Dear Caroline,

Where do you think the Christmas tree has to be placed inside the house? Which sector? And I wonder about placing another Christmas tree outside of the house ... where?

Thanks in advance, I enjoy and I agree with the Western School. I couldn’t find the answer on your website.

A Reader

Dear Reader,

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. Magic fills the air as people celebrate the birth and renewal of life. Under the cold forest floor or beneath the frozen snow, new life is forming, pushing upward toward the promise of light as the seasons and cycles circle once again like the spinning wheel of the Bagua. Each slow movement brings a new energy into your home as the aspects of life are recorded in walls, floors, ceiling and rooms. Using Feng Shui to direct those energies improves the celebration.

First, give the house a boost of Chi by giving away excess. Make trips to thrift centers or give new toys to organizations asking for your help. This creates an open slate for new things to happen in your life. The way I get motivated is similar to getting prepared for birth! To let the guys in on a secret, women possess a natural instinct for housecleaning, whether they want to or not, two weeks before giving birth. They begin this erratic behavior as the new little one is ready to arrive, cleaning everything in sight and eating spaghetti at midnight. Why? Because Mother Nature is demanding a “clear the clutter or there will be no room in the inn” marathon. “Wise,” I would say. My birthing days are long past, but I still have an urge to clean the refrigerator two weeks before the big day, in an unplanned cleaning craze. Thank goodness it isn’t planned, or I would be depressed thinking about all of the work involved.

But, back to the value of lights adding cheer and uplifting Chi to your home and property. As you know, some people leave their Christmas decorations up year round. Why? Because they feel good, at least for a while, until dust finds every last one of the little sparkles and coats the room with a Yin cloud of darkness. The Yang energy from the lighting is now more like a Halloween house of dimly lit monsters.

There are several ways to add energies to your living spaces; sound, light, running water, color, living plants, fragrance, and weight such as rocks or statues. SOUND in the form of lovely music, bells, gongs, wind chimes and musical instruments. LIGHTS from crystals, candles, mirrors, flashing lights, outdoor and indoor lighting and special season lighting. WATER fountains, waterfalls and pools for good fortune. COLOR is powerful on walls, clothing, lighting, living plants and artwork. MOVING OBJECTS bring the flow of Feng Shui to any space. FRAGRANCE is immediate when using for health problems, celebration or to change the energy of a room.

The scents of pine needles, the cooking of traditional foods your family enjoy, and a tree to celebrate the growth of life that is to come. A faith of rebirth which we can not see yet because it is hidden below the “snow” and the promise of change when “letting go” of old things, ideas and angry thoughts and actions.

Place your tree in any sector of the home or outside that needs strengthening, needs a cure or celebration, as the symbol of the tree is the Family Tree. Our lives and the lives of those who came before us set traditions of the WOOD ELEMENT. The WOOD sector or Gua that holds this Green energy is located to the middle left area of you home when using the Front Door of the house as the starting point, looking inward. Any healthy lush tree or plant is a natural choice for symbolizing flexibility, health, and strength of the FAMILY Triad.

Other sections to consider placing the Christmas tree are the CAREER, KNOWLEDGE, or HELPFUL PEOPLE AND TRAVEL areas which are all located at the front third of the home, which is usually the living room. Another special choice is the far back middle space called the FAME Gua. This is a natural space for the pine tree, as the cone shape of the tree represents FIRE and the color is Red. Red is used extensively is the Chinese traditions as the color draws the Chi to the powerful bright color and promotes luck and blessings to those who wear this auspicious Chi enhancer. Or why not a white tree with purple bulbs in the WEALTH GUA for far back left corner of the house to attract money to the household.

Choose any space to place your trees just as long as pathways in the home aren’t blocked. As a child I was allowed to cut a small tree for my very own room. My dolls sat in chairs around the gaudy delight, and I tried to round up all our dogs and cats and “make” them enjoy my celebration by bribing them with treats to stay long enough to see my creation. Tomorrow my grandchildren will be decorating our Holiday Tree. We have been making toilet paper roll wonders and colored paper chains, cut in strange shapes but nevertheless, just as beautiful as store bought bulbs, as children process as special natural Chi called excitement which makes every item magical.

Please relax as much as possible if you are a Christmas baa-humbug person, as you drown the Chi for the rest of us. Remember, it is all over quickly. Make memories that will bring joy to others. Your children will remember each holiday as a measuring stick and an example of how to celebrate to treat others. Put your cranky Chi away, think happy thoughts and turn on the lights to lift any area of your life!

Caroline

Caroline Patrick BorNei is a certified Feng Shui Practitioner and a Red Ribbon Professional of The International Feng Shui Guild. Her abilities as a consultant and artist are widely known in the US and abroad. Caroline has completed over 5000 consultations for individuals, large and small businesses. Return clients appreciate the value of her suggestions both mundane and transcendental, providing support on multiple levels. As a college art instructor for many years, Caroline understands the power of color; its symbolism and the visual effect images have on individuals in their surroundings. Her home base is Portland, OR where she continues to write, teach, paint, do illustrations and give herbal medicine making classes. She is available for Feng Shui consultations; Feng Shui art consultant, advises builders, architects and mentors a few serious students.

Call (503) 208-2960 or email caroline@fengshuiartistry.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.

Caroline’s “West Meets East” weekly newspaper column can be read from archives on her website www.fengshuiartistry.com.