West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

Communication with the Family Tribe

Human emotions are very powerful and can overwhelm us at times. Our hearts are the containers for these feelings and you will hear them explained in phrases such as “my heart is so full it is overflowing”; “heartache”; “stabbed in the heart”; “heart sick” ; “open heart”; “joyful heart”; “heartland”; and “broken heart.” Some cultures describe love as “you are in my heart,” or when trying to forget a relationship they might say, “I am trying to erase you from my heart.”

During childhood we learn ways to cope with emotions depending on how we are raised. Our “family tribe” imparts familiar traditions of behavior, discipline and approval. Some families impart joy, love, and tenderness no matter the circumstances, while other family units are mean, cruel and uncaring to each other. Being rich or poor doesn’t seem to determine the outcome. These are some of the conversations that recently came up during a visit from my brother.

Spring began as usual scheduling some Feng Shui and Art Workshops. I had invited a few “Feng Shui Friends” to the Northwest to investigate the San Juans, which are islands in the Puget Sound, and locate the “Mouth of Chi” or entry to each island. This is determined by the State Ferry routes and harbors as the Chi or energy follows the vessels and boats. Then we mapped the islands with the Bagua or eight-sided octagonal format. Now the island came alive with all the aspects of Feng Shui or the energy of Wind and Water. Now when I give a consultation for an island client, I can see what energy the client’s house is using. Are they in the Career, Knowledge, Family, Wealth, Fame, Partnership, Health, Children and Creativity or Helpful People and travel section of that island?

We had a wonderful time on land and sea for the four-day adventure as they are my family. We understand each other and are familiar with who likes to cook, clean up, sleep late or get up early. Working and playing together is easy and fun. It seems they just arrived and now it was over, at least until next time. I didn’t want them to leave as my next guest scheduled to visit was my sibling. My comfort zone began to dissolve as I hurried to clean up the house for my brother.

Our family life had its ups and downs, which he later chose to ignore or forget. When I would ask him to fill in the blanks of our childhood, his usual response was “I don't remember” or “I don't want to talk about it.” Being six years older and the only sibling, frustration bubbled-up in my heart each time he refused to answer my questions. His anger as a child left me with bruises on my arms when I tried to follow him and his friends. He was my hero, but when I got too close his fists left me in tears. Telling mother wasn’t an option as her reply was, “he’s just a boy, he didn’t mean it”; so I learned to keep my distance from both of them. I’m sure everyone reading this has a similar story. You adjust to a situation. Although we are now 60 and 70 something, his intimidation is still alive and present. Although I have done the prayers, affirmations, therapy and release, the bitterness and anger are near the surface.

Adjusting the Family Sector of my home keeps things “pleasant” between us. He is powerful, rich and handsome. Doing prayers and the Heart Sutra Mantra, and detaching from all attachments the last few years has brought peacefulness to my heart. But as the time grew near for the visit, my nervousness increased, I realized I had more “work” to do. I asked for one last “dose of peace” before the door bell rang. Just then he knocked. I opened the door to a white-haired handsome man that I still didn’t know.

For some unexplained reason he had come to talk about our childhood, and over the next two days I began to feel my heart healing. He listened as I gave my side of “the story.” “Please fill in the blanks,” I asked. He did, to my surprise. Compassion began to fill the room, as I heard about our childhood through his eyes. I heard it in a detached compassionate way, behind a telescope of time, though his eyes. “Daddy was in a terrible explosion during his Marine days, which put him in a hospital,” he said. “It was a military secret. He was treated for shell shock for many months, while his platoon was sent overseas. All of his buddies were killed there,” he explained. This gave some insight of why my brother was whipped with a belt and then beat me up and then, I guess, I kicked the dog, as they say. We talked for hours about the good and bad times, my anger at losing my inheritance to him and why. He didn’t know I was present when, with the stroke of a pen, my Dad gave all the business to him, trying to erase the guilt of the whippings and what Daddy suffered from his stepfather.

The blockage from my heart began to open. I wish I had known more sooner, but I wouldn’t have been in a place of acceptance any sooner. It has taken me many years to mellow, as they say. Feng Shui knowledge is more than moving furniture so the Chi can flow. It has given me the tools to heal and be free. Each Gua or section has an energy, an Element and a body part. Using Feng Shui for Family communication is a gift I never expected to learn, but it did present itself to me and now it is my pleasure to help my clients. For more information on how Feng Shui can help you heal communication issues, give me a call.

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS 2006------sign up now------

1. ART classes and workshops ---- from 6 weeks to Saturday All Day Workshops!

2. FENG SHUI ISLAND TOUR---- on site evaluations in the San Juan Islands, WASHINGTON STATE

Where is the entrance or “Mouth of Chi” to the Island?

Please email caroline@fengshuiartistry.com for more information on classes or to purchase her greeting cards.

This site is great. GO TO www.fengshuifusions.com for all of your Feng Shui shopping needs, ask for Amanda and tell her Caroline sent you. She has great energy and that is important........ or order by phone, 1-800-792-9927,

Caroline Patrick Caroline's Feng Shui Concepts Mt. Vernon, WA 360-424-1501

caroline@fengshuiartistry.com www.fengshuiartistry.com

www.moongateschool.com

Caroline Patrick, Feng Shui consultant/practitioner, teacher/speaker, Feng Shui artist and writer, lives in the San Juan Islands, off the coast of Washington. Her weekly newspaper article called WEST MEETS EAST is a popular Feng Shui advice column. She enjoys answering your questions, when possible. Some questions will be chosen for publication with the permission from the reader. Enjoy her new 5 Element attached-folding cards which can be used as a Feng Shui enhancement or correction in any space. Larger prints of several selected paintings are also available. For consultations, speaking/teaching engagements and art evaluations contact her at caroline@fengshuiartistry.com or visit her websites at www.fengshuiartistry.com and www.moongateschool.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.