West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

Gatherings and their Chi or Life Force of the Party!

Christmas is my favorite holiday. For as long as I can remember, I dreamed of meeting my Prince, getting married on December 25th and living happily ever after! Sounds good after all. And I continued to live in Cinderella La La Land, even when MY Prince, rode up to the door in a white 1951 Chevy sporting glass-pack pipes. You could hear the mufflers roaring in the distance as the Knight In Shining Armor approached the lake house.

Although raised on a farm, my future husband never liked horses. "They didn't pay for their raising," he spouted, repeating his father's objectivity about the pecking order of livestock on a working farm. Actually horses didn't like him, I found out one lovely holiday, when all of the relatives would gather and bring up those "good ole day's" stories. It took several years for me to learn the details of my beloved's beliefs, as he had six siblings and it took a while to hear about little Donnie's experiences! Donnie had many wonderful qualities, they agreed, "but those large four legged creatures had thrown him more than once," they said. Hurt feelings and a sore bottom revealed his prejudice on the subject.

The stories took a downhill turn as the "women folk" turned to kitchen cleanup and the men retreated to the living room. I think the contributing factor of these low-energy discussions came from overeating and who got stuck with KP, or kitchen duties, yet one more time. Tale Telling or gossiping is one of the big No, No's in the Chinese Ten Commandments, as it disrupts the Chi or energy of the person you are berating. Yes, there was a lot of Chi being taken away and disrupted, as secrets about "you-know-who did what?" were hashed over the kitchen sink. At least we were using Water to counteract the Fire of our tongues!

Gatherings of any kind have a Chi, or energy, of their own. This unseen flow of energy can feel high and light or heavy and dense. Walking into a room we can feel its presence. Recently I was invited to a gathering which met in an old city building. The hallways were bleak and dark. I had trouble finding the craft room, as there were no signs on the doors. This group had been working together for over ten years. After finding someone to ask directions, they responded by silently pointing a finger in the direction of the room. I opened the door quietly and entered. Everyone looked my way and stared. Finally I announced myself, as no one asked who I was. A woman across the art tables said, "I think I know you." I responded back by saying, "Yes, you invited me to come by and join." Now I had everyone's attention. I began to feel uncomfortable and decided to take a quick tour around the craft tables to see everyone was making.

Finally someone said, "Why don't you join us next week?" But before she could finish, another crafter quicker added, "She can't come next week, because it is our Holiday Party." "Why not?" another member asked. "Cause she would have to bring a present and a dish of food," she informed. Before I knew it, "cranky Chi" had filled the room. Four or more of the ten-year group were "at it." It was as if I was invisible, and this strange chaos suddenly took life. I was immediately back washing dishes in the kitchen of my former life. This energy had a taste, smell and feel that I was familiar with. I had three choices of response. One, to run; two, to revert to the old comfort zone of my former self, a young wife and mother using the gathering to gossip about those not present routine; or three, to join this group and change the Chi!

The news is, I haven't yet decided. I responded by laughing so hard, the noise disrupted the hardy discussion. This balanced personal energy allowed me freedom. My feelings were not hurt, as they would have been in my earlier experiences. Finally a very nicely dressed senior gentleman at the end of a table, looked up from his poetry reading and said to the group, as if I weren't present. "Why not invite her to the party? Don't we want new members? She can bring a present." Silence once more filled the space. Suddenly a high-pitched voice challenged his suggestion. "Well, she will have to bring food!" "We already have the food list filled, what will she bring?" another lady added. "Why would she want to bring food and a present to someone she doesn't know?" the third member asked.

And so the discussion continued. I walked out the door at some point in time and into the brisk festive air. Wearing a big smile on my face, I gladly whispered to myself, "You have come a long way baby!!!" Sending the light and love of Christ and ten thousand Buddha's over my shoulder to the building and the group, a thought fleeted across my mind. "What if Jesus came unannounced to join a group?" We all need to welcome new people into our groups. What new knowledge are we turning away with old judgments?

And has Cinderella lived happily ever after? I would be lying if I answered yes, but life continually twists and turns, and how you approach these opportunities is your daily choice. The twist was, we were married in November and not December 25th. The turn happened when my best girlfriend and I decided on a double wedding. Her other half had to report to the Armed Forces in December, and so we moved the whole wedding back a month, ordered a double cake with napkins announcing both Mr. & Mrs. We found a church of our faiths, with double staircases at the front of the church, cascading downward toward the pulpit. The brides would ascend downward in the winter evening candlelight and meet their future husbands at the bottom of the stairs and live happily ever after!

The real story was, my girlfriend broke up with her beloved three weeks before the ceremony, the cake order people got angry, my grandmother had a heart attack over the stress, the photographer wanted money lost, the napkins were used to wipe up baby messes for ten years, and we only had forty dollars left for a honeymoon. So we only made it a few miles from home before turning back. But all turned out well. Relatives came from near and far and exceeded our expectations. Children and babies came and didn't cry during the marriage. Friends brought extra food and love. The two cakes fed the unexpected and the Chi of the Gathering changed.

Caroline is a Feng Shui consultant, artist, herbalist, newspaper columnist, businesswoman, author and teacher. She has conducted over 3500 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 advice is only considered suggestions and she is not responsible for any problems relating from her suggestions. Please consult a physician for any diagnostic evaluations concerning your health.

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

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