West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick BorNei

Certified Red Ribbon Professional of the International Feng Shui Guild

Desert Chi Lacks Two Major Elements in Feng Shui

Recently on my trip to Arizona I gave a Feng Shui consultation for a friend’s daughter. Her mom was a very talented artist and took my art classes for several years through Southeastern Arizona College, called Cochise College for short. I worked for the college and surrounding colleges while we lived in the state, and I was blessed to meet hundreds of people over those 12+ years. Her mother was very talented, and I was able to hand over my position as an instructor to her when my husband and I had the chance to live in Hawaii while he was working for his company. I had not seen this little blonde girl of 3 or 4 for 25 years! My, how she had changed! A beautiful, petite, auburn-haired woman met me at the door of her home in a Phoenix suburb. When planning and scheduling my “Return to Arizona” fall workshops, I had located not only her mom in another Southwest state, but learned her daughter in Phoenix was looking for a Feng Shui consultant. My, how things fell into place easily when I listened to that whisper beckoning me to visit the desert again.

The daughter is a very talented singer and wanted to devote all of her time to this dream, but was still working away at another job to contribute money to the household. Her charming little girl of 8 was beginning to be the center of the household. I wanted to know why. I looked around and found the computer desk was out of commanding position, a no-no when trying to get any business off and running. The child was sitting in the commanding position at the dining room table when eating and began to act too commanding. Her bedroom was a bright blue, which gave her some Water and Air to help with the desert dryness, but her twin bed was placed in the middle of a wall lengthwise, with no headboard and her pillow open to the room. The doorway was across the room and behind her, giving her a feeling of abandonment and no support, which can lead to a child acting out. Many things were right about the house, but the things that were wrong were holding back the dream of being famous. In the front yard the entrance was narrow and hidden with a large dead bush at the doorway. The backyard, which is a big part of Wealth, Fame and Partnership, was overrun with two or three large dogs. They had made dust out of the backyard, and it was in much need of landscaping. All three Power Guas were sand and dirt. Yes, I have had tons of pets that I loved dearly, but have learned that when the line is crossed of who runs the family, the animals or the humans, human Chi begins to take a dip. The couple got busy that very day, and here is the report after only two weeks. A Water feature and lush green plants needed to be planted at the front and backyards, as the desert requires these two lacking Elements to bring balance and harmony to the home.

PS. I will write more about this trip later, but here is our email conversation two weeks after this consultation.

Hi Caroline,

I just wanted to thank you for coming over. I had a great time! My daughter took the new seating arrangements kind of hard the first night, but soon gave up the fight. We’ve started making changes, and I feel great. The Phoenix Music Awards turned out wonderful, and I got Best Female Rock Vocalist of the year! There was one thing I forgot to ask you so hopefully you can still help. My significant other wants to paint the outside of the house next and asked me to pick out the colors. He is doing the trim first. Is there a color that comes to you when you picture the house? I don't want to choose the wrong colors. Thanks, and I will be in touch about when I can start taking mentoring classes.

Hi to you.

It was my pleasure. Congratulations on your award! Sounds like you are embracing Feng Shui. Don’t forget the outside backyard to help the Fame, Wealth and Partnership stay strong! You only want to go upward in your Career. What did your daughter say about the Feng Shui suggestions?

There are several ways to have colors support the exterior of your home. I will give you my opinion, and then you can choose your own colors, as you need to be happy when you see your house when you arrive home! Yellow is always a winner for a quick sale, but....

Using the 5 Element color system is a wise choice. There are several combinations to use in this system to enhance the flow of your home. Color can help create a smooth household by following the constructive cycle. Begin at the ground level starting at the driveway, then continue to the walls, next the shutters and trim and then to the roof. For example, if the driveway is tan gravel or painted a LIVELY TAN (with some pink or red added to the paint), the color associated with Earth, and with no bottom trim is being considered, the exterior walls of the house should be WHITE, which is the color for the Metal Element. (I would add a touch of yellow to the white to make it glow, but not show.) Earth creates Metal. The shutters should be gray or BLACK (I would use black or blue black), the color of Water, which is produced by Metal. The roof should be a shade of GREEN OR BLUE GREEN, the colors associated with wood, which is fed by Water. I painted our house in California this supportive manner, and lots of money followed.

The desert climate should be considered since you live in the Phoenix area. The two Elements lacking in the desert is strong Wood (green and blue green) and Water (black or blue black or gray black). To bring in these colors would give strength and new growth in all areas of your life.

Remember, you can bring in all the other colors as decorative pieces. Use black pots in the front of the house, yellow chairs, red flowers, or if you want life to ease up, plant lavender for Wealth and relaxation.

The fence should be green or blue green. Please ask all the questions you want. How is your Mom?

Love,

C.

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.