West Meets East

West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

Feng Shui Vehicles

Everything is measured energy. While furniture, stoves, boats, cars, trucks and trailers are made with heavy materials, they are still masses of energy which are given a form by man’s creativity. Even when traveling we enjoy pleasant surroundings. Here are a few suggestions to take Feng Shui on the road. Add a spritz spray of orange aromatherapy to your motor home to lift the Chi of cranky travelers. This Feng Shui tip will lighten passengers’ spirits.

When talking about travel trailers I am reminded of the old TV series comedy of Lucile Ball and Desi Arnez’s vacation trip in one of the first recreational vehicles, which is a fancy name for a trailer, and the famous movie Grapes of Wrath, a story of the thousands of people escaping the horror of the Midwestern “dust bowl.” Everything changed for civilization when the wheel was invented. Dragging our belongings behind us in various modes of transportation, we continued to accumulate way too much stuff along the way and then had to build shelters to house the excess. That is probably when the phrase “Clear the Clutter” began, and Feng Shui was bound to follow as we overloaded our minds, bodies and the environment.

Here is a question pertaining to this subject.

Dear Caroline:

Hello from the beautiful coast of Oregon. How are things?

I have a question for you. Can a person possibly Feng Shui a motor home? I just got an American Eagle, 39 foot, that I plan to live in for a while, and I am curious to know if that is possible.

Thanks,

A Reader

Hi,

Thanks for your question. Yes, bringing harmony into a motor home is possible. I would look at this home on wheels two ways. One is as a vehicle and the second as mini home. This advice is certainly firsthand. After both of our children were in college, I ran away from home with my husband for a 14-year adventure, and I understand firsthand the feeling of living in different surroundings every few weeks or days.

We began with a 40-foot fifth-wheel and a giant truck to pull our home on wheels! It was an adjustment. Later we went to a smaller motor home, a 39-foot Winnebago. Although this smaller version gave us more freedom to wander and travel quickly, it was too small for a 30-year marriage. I would just get my canvas set up on the small table, hoping to paint a masterpiece, when it was time to clean up the mess and fix dinner. No matter how many jacks were installed at the factory for set-up support under the RV, it still shook the rig when someone walked across the “room.”

We enjoyed new friends and different scenery during this phase of our life. You will love traveling or setting up in a nice park while others mow and water the lawn. Happy trails to you!

The first consideration is, where is the “Mouth of Chi”? Some schools of Feng Shui thought consider the engine of the car or vehicle as the entry of Chi or “front door,” since this is where the action takes place and is thus the career zone of the whole car, but while the motor home is parked, I would consider the main doorway to the “living room” or kitchen as the Career side of the automobile-home. It may seem complicated, but it isn’t. While parked, just place the Bagua with the Career section or area at this door and follow around the motor home with the other sections or Guas lined up accordingly.

Place a 30mm round lead crystal between the driver and passenger’s seats on the visor clip or over the rear-view mirror for extra enhancement. Carry a travel kit of a crystal glued to the middle of a Bagua mirror that can be set on a table when the RV is parked. Bring along 5 Elements in a basket for quick Feng Shui adjustments, such as a silk or real flowering plant for the Wood Element, a candle for Fire, a round Metal object, perhaps a clock or ball painted gold or silver, Earth might already be the dirt in the plant, and mirror or two to suggest the reflection of water. One large bowl or basket could hold all 5 Elements. Art is also an easy way to bring harmony to any small space. I created accordion folding 5 Element Greeting Cards to use as a decorative object when set anywhere in any room as a balanced enhancement. You can find them on my website under Purchasing Art.

Another suggestion might be a few red candles to add the Element of Fire and a round white vase to bring Metal along on the journey. Finish this kit off with a small square yellow rug or tablecloth to ground your family with the Earth Element, for your home on wheels. Add a small red carpet for the entry rug, as the color red protects from unwanted negative energy and invites new positive opportunities. A wind chime to hang at the front steps when parked would be nice for comfort, clarity and to lift the Chi. Open the doors and windows every day or when possible to air out smaller living spaces.

Last, but not least, bless your home with a prayer of choice and throw rice or birdseed into the air to symbolize new life and growth. Next toss the grain around the wheels and over the vehicle in a rainbow or umbrella fashion as you visualize a safe and wonderful journey.

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

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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.