West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick BorNei

Certified Red Ribbon Professional of the International Feng Shui Guild

Feng Shui Collage, You Can Do It!

Several years ago I gave what I thought was a “filler class”. Art classes can be very intimidating for many people who want to be creative, but are terrified of paint and canvas. I have taught art in many mediums and in my experience had seen some people become sick with fear before the brush made contact with the palette! Fear of criticism and failure keeps a large percent of hopeful artists, from ever trying. “How can I bring hope to those who want to try their hand at creating, but can’t or don’t know where to start,” I pondered.

Collage, or the art of piecing together pictures from magazines, photos or cutting colors out of books, reorganizing them into artwork, a pictorial story or shapes, seemed the logical solution. Paper, glue, magazines and scissors are a perfect choice. “Not intimidating, everyone is familiar with these childhood supplies,” I decided. I scheduled the class for adults only, as grown ups needed to play too. We can talk while we work and it will be a break from the usual demonstrations I prepared for the art classes.

To my surprise the class filled in a few days! I could only seat ten, but twelve women showed up and they were happily squeezed in. Four-week session seemed a proper amount of time for the experiment. The first week, people talked as they decided what the theme of their “painting” would be. They chatted about family, tore, trimmed and cut printed items from the discarded magazines. Then the room quieted as the women began the process of arranging the pieces. I began talking, feeling the needed to teach or entertain, but now felt the magic of the silence and let creativity fill the space. Soon the room shifted energy and patterns of their lives emerged, forming on the paper, visual stories. Standing above them I could see people cutting columns, triangles, squares, circles and wavy shape, while others used every shape and color. Glue was added and held the pieces and shapes together, creating a unified rendering of each person’s personality. WOW…I realized we were really on to something.

Each week another picture was finished in record time, giving me time to analyze the image according to the Feng Shui Bagua. We became fascinated with each analysis of each person. Using the same method of Mapping a Home for Feng Shui purposes, the eight Guas of the octagonal grid was placed over the finished picture. I was able to see how the Elements related to the balance or imbalances of the student. No one objected to the findings and only wanted to learn more. For example, in real life if the person was having issues with family, the left middle side of their picture, The FAMILY sector of the house or picture related to the WOOD Element, would be filled with round white objects such as balls, clocks, plates, or red pointed leaves, a candle or a flag, both symbols of METAL AND FIRE, two destructive energies when used out of sequence; METAL chops WOOD and FIRE burns WOOD, so it would indicate they might be destroying the nurturing of WOOD and its green color! Adding green plants, the color of green in a column-shaped curtain to the left side of the house and in the picture would nurture communication and harmony to the family. Clues to their life jumped from the images.

With each session, the pictures dramatically changed with no effort, as the person began to have attitude adjustments with no pain. Blockages began to melt. They learned to translate and analyze their own work. I continue to hear from those people today and how those four weeks changed their lives. The fill-in class was a hit. To see yourself on paper is an eye-opening experience.

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.