Since feng shui was introduced to the western world about twenty-five years ago, many good books have been written on the effects of its value. The confusion begins when different schools of thought give their version of where to place the bagua, or grid, on the structure. All schools of feng shui bring to the client ancient information to adjust your current living space.

Make sure your consultant has had the proper training and experience to "see" what changes or adjustments are needed for your home or office. Here is an email from a client using simple but effective "cures" which I suggested for her home.

Hi, Caroline,

I live in Vacaville. I have been researching and attempting to create "chi" in my household. I am an independent marketing consultant and I work nearby.

A friend recently told me about your shop and consultant work. I hope to visit your shop in the next few days…hopefully I will catch you if you’re in. I am interested in hiring you to do a consultation in my home.

Would you be willing to come to Vacaville? I would really like an on-site visit, because I really believe that with your help we can do a lot to improve the balance in our lives. On my own I have made some changes as suggested by books and articles I have read, however, I would like to take it to the next level and have an expert help me. Thanks.

A Client

Hi, Caroline,

You came by last week to do a consultation on my home.

I thought I’d give you an update on the happenings since I saw you last. I came by your shop last week and made some purchases but you were not in. I bought 3 crystals which are now up. I’ll be purchasing more in the next few weeks…I also bought mirrors, the Chinese zodiac, and a small Quan Yin.

You came by on Tuesday, on Friday my boss gave me a $2/hour raise. My partner also got promised a $10,000 raise. Hopefully it will come through by next month.

We purchased a new bedroom set…our first one since we’ve been married. I will be so glad to get the old (previous marriage set) out of the house.

Also, this is so weird (I think you knew it though). Do you recall asking me what was in the outdoor shed next to our partnership corner of the house? Well, I got to thinking…and a couple of months ago in an old file cabinet that my partner has had for about 10+ years I found some old love letters from an old (but very significant) other of my husband’s in a drawer in the cabinet. He had stuck them in with some old bills and stuff he had been keeping and never discarded.

Though my partner always says I’m his soul mate…I sometimes have dreams that he’s leaving me…or things to that effect. They are sometimes upsetting to me, but I’ve always discounted them as a lively imagination. I think those letters could be the cause of my apprehension. I told this to him and of course he thought it was funny. However, he’s agreed to have a letter-burning party with me soon.

Do you remember the large mirror you have told me to get rid of? The one that has been causing a lot of arguing around here? Well, when I told my spouse we needed to get rid of it…we had a huge argument. How about that. In any case, he did agree that we could get rid of it when I found something to replace it with.

I also put one of your helpful people pictures in the garage and made a little altar with business cards of the people that can help me and a letter regarding one of my legal cases.

Our son had a problem come up this weekend (he got a dwi ticket). He knows he did a stupid thing and will have to pay the consequences. Things had been going pretty well up to now for a couple of months for him. He has been working through a temp agency for a company and hopefully he will get hired on as a regular employee in the next month. Do you have any suggestions for ways I can help to increase his chances? By enhancing the career section of the house…will everyone get the benefits? I put a mirror and a chime in the tree in front of the house. I also put a chime in the entry way outside, not to mention the large crystal on the light in the entry.

I purchased a large picture to hand in the entry. It is really beautiful. It has a beautiful gold frame with black matting. It has a picture of a large long-stemmed rose standing straight up. Do you mind if I email you a picture of it? I hope it will be appropriate there. It is an original piece and was pretty expensive. The only thing I’m worried about is the thorn on the rose…however, it will hang right across from the crystal so I hope that will cancel any bad effects.

Yeeks, this letter got long really fast. Thank you for all your help. I hope you don’t mind these follow-up questions. I have been listening to the tapes in my car…they have been helpful in remembering things I need to do. I’ll be doing some more shopping in your shop…hope to see you there.

Sincerely, A Client

Dear Client,

Hi again, I’m impressed with your progress! Yes, all of the corrections and enhancements help the energy move through your living space and bring energy to these activated spots.

I’m sorry you had an argument with your husband about the fragmented mirror. This image is the first object noticed when entering your home. A few years ago I had one of these unusual mirrors also. When I began to learn the great power of reflective surfaces in feng shui, I had to get rid of a fascinating bedroom set left by previous owners of the house we purchased. My husband and I both loved the set, but feng shui had become part of our lives and so we understand how these pieces would affect our relationship.

Mirrors open spaces into other realms of opportunity. When sheets, squares, or staggered mirrored surfaces break up the viewer’s reflection, the person or persons in the house feel mixed up, thinking is unclear, and you feel pulled in as many different directions as there are mirror pieces. To feel whole and strong, we don’t want you to feel disoriented, and your mind going in ten directions. Headaches and dizziness will cause confusion. If I remember, the mirror in question was in the entry, up a few stairs, reflecting nothing. Careers, family and health zones were close to this section, so this simple lovely mirror could have an impact on all of these life stations.

You both seem to have the same goals and are great partners. I just want to make things less hectic and "more clear." Hope this explanation helps "clear" up your trauma. Go to Costco to see if they have any huge mirror to bring in a view of the other side of the room where I suggested hanging a picture to double the image. A woman came into the studio today to show me a wonderful wall fabric tapestry she had purchased at TJ Maxx to hang in a similar place. It was an earth picture with gold, yellow, some green, blue and red, bringing in all the elements to provide a full correction for the center of the house in the health area.

With your son’s bed close to the wall, it is in the crib position. This keeps the teenager or young adult feeling the safety of a child. The bed needs to SLOWLY be pulled away from the wall, helping him become responsible. Did you take the car away from him? I took my daughter’s car away from her many times and she worked ten miles away. This created more problems for me, but after a while she got the message. Did I mention I made her find a way to work that didn’t include any of the family? She had to call her woman boss to pick her up and bring her home for two weeks. This was the only person I approved of to take her to work. She didn’t want to lose her job, so I think she had to reimburse her boss with some of her pay.

An eagle picture or some type of poster depicting birds in flight on the wall could help him take flight. Get rid of radio clocks for health purposes and open windows to allow new energy to enter the guy’s room. Use all five element colors to restore chi. Have a huge picture of you and your husband hung in the partnership/family room to gain their respect and view every day who is still in charge. Blockages occur when we try to keep everything under control. Our bodies give out when we allow cording (interwoven worry, and peace keeping). Lighten up, enjoy life and you and your husband go on a date.

One last word; the shed! Remove any old bills from this partnership section. What else is in this shed that tugs at your heart? I had one couple sleeping over their divorce papers stored under the bed. They didn’t know why they argued in bed all the time! Good luck and happy feng shuing.

Caroline

2003 Class Schedule – Solano College

March 1^st, Saturday, 10am - 12:30pm, $45 plus $15 materials – FENG SHUI MADE EASY – MAPPING THE HOME – MOVE YOUR STUFF, CHANGE YOUR LIFE

March 15^th, Saturday, 10am - 12:30pm, $45 plus $15 materials – FENG SHUI ROOM BY ROOM

April 26^th, Saturday, 10am -12:30pm, $45 Plus $15 Materials – FENG SHUI INTERIOR and EXTERIOR HOUSE PLAN for ABUNDANCE

May 17^th, Saturday; 10am -12:30pm, $45 plus $15 materials – FENG SHUI GARDENING – SUPPORT CAREER, KNOWLEDGE, FAMILY, WEALTH, FAME PARTNERSHIP, CREATIVITY AND CHILDREN, HELPFUL PEOPLE AND TRAVEL, AND HEALTH

May 3^rd, Saturday, 10am - 2pm with lunch break or bring sack lunch. $45 plus $15materials – FENG SHUI ART – PAINTING WITH CHI Acrylic

Call Solano Community College for registration.

LOCAL

March 8^th, Saturday, 10am -1pm, $125 prepaid one week in advance.

Meeting Location- Caroline’s Arts and Feng Shui Shoppe, 129 First St., Suite K, Benicia, CA 94510. Call (707) 748-1127 for sign up, space limited. For cancellation policy, please check website: moongateschool.com.

FENG SHUI A HOME

Caroline Patrick will take you through a local home for an on-site consultation! This is the first time she has shared this knowledge with her students. This valuable experience will give you information to use in your own home. Don’t miss this opportunity for visual understanding in the art of placement.

Each room of the home can also be feng shui’d. Children’s bedrooms reveal important information for parents to help their child feel secure and focused in life. Family situations and money cures will be pointed out as she takes you through the bagua of the house.

Caroline’s Arts & Feng Shui Shoppe

129 First St. Suite K

Benicia, Ca. 94510

Phone 707-748-1127

Fax 707-747-9315

1-5 daily, closed Mondays

All clients and students receive a 10% discount on their purchases at the Shoppe open 1-5 daily, closed Mondays.

Caroline is available for speaking and teaching engagements. For consultations, call to make an appointment.

Caroline is a feng shui consultant, artist, herbalist, newspaper columnist, businesswoman, author and teacher. She has conducted over 2500 feng shui consultations. She has taught art for over 35 years. Her weekly column West Meets East can be viewed on her website moongateschool.com. Caroline’s advise is only considered suggestions and she is not responsible for any problems relating from her suggestions.