By Caroline Patrick

Crystals and More

Feng shuing your home can be the best gift to yourself or someone else for the New Year. Watching the Chinese 2003 New Year Parade on television last night brought to life the colors and energy of the dragon, red ribbons, the noise of the drums, their symbolic meaning. Objects play a big part in the world of feng shui. Here is a recent email I received on one energy-producing object. I thought I would elaborate on the importance of using different types and shapes of crystals. Life is energy and the Chinese culture certainly knows how to stir up the chi!

Dear Caroline,

I was recently given a beautiful pointed lead crystal that is more than 100 years old. I was told to place it in a dish with salt and put it in the sun. My question is, where can I place this crystal? I put it in the window of my love and marriage area and within hours my husband & I had a silly argument, my oldest son got into a disagreement with some of his friends and my five-month-old son, who is normally very mellow, was screaming. At 3:00 in the morning, I took it down. Any advise for me?

Sincerely,

A Reader

Dear Reader,

Good morning, or I hope it is a good morning for you. Last week during Valentine’s Day, we had many questions about the love relationship or partnership section of the house. This qua or area of the home, according to Black Hat School of Feng Shui, is located in the far back right hand corner of your home. All schools of feng shui have a relationship area, so this answer applies to all of those schools which may map the home differently, but will enhance this yin or most feminine part of your home. Western styles of homes have not yet fully incorporated this science of harmony and balance into their home designs, so you will also need to treat the homeowners’ bedroom with the spirit of adult love and discipline even if it is not located in the far back right corner of you home. Creating a peaceful haven for the whole family, in my opinion, starts in this powerful section of the floor plan. The dynasty of the parents’ energy is most effective when this room is used by the mother and father. If your children seem to be ruling your life, give the idea of reclaiming this bedroom as your territory some thought.

Although, I haven’t seen this analogy considered in any books, after 2500

consultations, this action of my analysis holds true. There are many feng shui, objects when placed in certain areas of the home, will shift, enhance and activate the home’s energy. This invisible force has been given many names by many cultures, but the ancient Chinese studied this force of nature and have cultivated this energy over many centuries, have learned to work with and benefit from this powerful chi, or breath of life. This complex but simple action of "wind and water," is needed for all forms of life on the earth plane. I refer to this flow as the breathing of the dwelling, and there are many objects which can be used to activate this necessary flow.

One potent feng shui enhancement which brings sparkle into the room is a round faceted lead crystal. When used in the partnership room or the room located in the far back right corner of your house, the energy of this object creates an actual measured energy force within that space. Each facet reflects light or chi and brings to your space all of the rainbow colors. Each color has a related element, vibration and musical note. What an easy way to bring powerful chi inside the home. Round lead crystals come in all sizes and colors. There are nine sections or quas to the home, each space could use this most effective energizer to any room or window. When energy is blocked in certain areas of the home, the feng shui consultant will advise special placement of these feng shui cures.

As a consultant, I find this small but powerful crystal object is not taken seriously and is sometimes the last correction to be purchased. I always stress the most important cures in order of importance, to promote the change the client wishes, only to go back for a "tune-up" to find no crystals, mirrors or wind in place. These three objects fan the power. Why do you add gas to make your car mobile? These visual additions start the action needed for abundance. For flow in the area of career, knowledge, family, wealth, reputation, love life, children, hobbies and fun, people to assist your goals, sell a house, take a vacation or keep healthy, add the correction or addition to the appropriate area. Each aspect of our lives can enjoy the application of feng shui at home and work when the proper elements of water, wood, fire, metal, and earth are balanced correctly.

For example, don’t place a water painting or water feature in the earth or center zone of the structure. Too much water floods your health or the center earth qua.

Now as to your question about the pointed crystal? Any pointed object belongs in the fire zone of the house. This middle back area of the floor plan is the Fame or Reputation room inside the house and fire rules the cone-shaped energy. This pyramid energy continues into the backyard to the far end of the plot you own. Using a pointed crystal in the marriage corner could cause the action of sharp energy to point downward causing sha or arrow type chi to be discharged forcefully in a yin or soft female zone. Using a round lead faceted crystal will bring the curves of togetherness, similar in meaning to the wedding ring symbolizing unity.

The previous owner of the pointed crystal given to you, is also of importance. Who owned the object? What was the personality of this person? Placing it in sea salt is the perfect thing to do, as the crystals of the salt will absorb negative ling or unseen particles of stagnant chi.

Another simple way to defuse old energy is to place it under cold running water, as water is a perfect cleanser. You could also bury it in the earth, as the earth element has been used for centuries as a cleansing cure. The old energy of this piece could be affecting your family. You were wise to see or feel this as a problem, because women as a gender, have special intuitive natures needed for protecting their families.

As a consultant, I would also be checking for other clues to this disharmony. Remove old

clutter in the relationship qua. Remove children’s pictures, bills to be paid, exercise equipment, dog dishes, litter boxes, old clothes, shoes, ironing boards or objects denoting a single person, such as paintings of lonesome women. I think you get the picture? In this room place bamboo

plants for jealousy or inflexibility. Crystal mobiles, Stone objects of two equal images, pairs of ducks, zodiac animals of you and your mate, cranes, hearts, and round mirrors not reflecting on the bed. Separating the bath from the bedroom is important. And last but not least, rid yourself of an old mattress from a previous relationship. A consultant can help you with many unseen but problematic areas.

Space clearing has recently come into focus as a way to remove old thoughts, actions and dead energy from your living and working spaces. Karen Kingston, author of Clear Your Clutter translated into seventeen languages, is now an all-time bestseller and she will soon be in the Bay Area for more workshops to spread her 30 years of experience in the field of energy transformation. Denise Lynn has also written many wonderful books to share her expertise, and a newfound friend Maureen L. Belle, who combines her feng shui, Celtic and Native American "wheels" of energy, from her heritage, has written in a book called Gaiamancy. Check for their websites, and bookstores for class schedules. We also carry their publications at the shoppe.

I hope this information will help you in your quest for balance and harmony.

Please consider all or some of the many feng shui classes and workshops I will be giving this spring, five at Solano College and two local, Feng Shui a Home with Caroline. Log onto moongateschool.com for the schedules. Call or come by the shoppe for enrolling. I’m very glad you are following this ancient art of placement as it is truly a way to bring peace to the home,

city, country, nation and world.

Caroline Patrick

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, or enroll online.

LOCAL

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

March 29^th There will be a second class at a different home.

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.