West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

Grounding Yourself

Digging in the Garden Can be Healing, Part 2

With all of these blessings, I am no different than others who experience day-to-day problems. This morning my mind was on overtime about many things. Friends who are sick, clients who need help, doubting myself on choices made, one grandson’s asthma, the other one’s friends moving away, irritation at a family member’s lack of compassion or understanding, saying things I should not have said, or pushing myself when I need rest, taking on too much, saying things I should say, etc. The little voice in the head keeps chatting and won’t shut off. “Enough already,” I loudly whispered. “You can’t change anyone, only yourself,” I repeated a few times to myself. “Thinking about it continually, it only attaches the problem to yourself and you become the problem!” “Yes, I know that,” I heard myself mutter. “So what are you going to do about it, self?” “Well, self, do Feng Shui first,” I replied to self.

I dressed quickly and went out into the crisp, early morning air. A night rain had loosened weeds around the front on the house. My husband had promised to take care of the vast yards if we bought the land but was busy with new projects, and so the beautiful gardens on the property were looking very neglected. This posed a problem with both of our Careers, as in Feng Shui terms, what you own is still you! Yikes!! And so my Career and our investments take a dip when the Entry to the home and business looks bad. The bushes had become twenty feet high over two years. The beautiful fountain he had maintained, but blackberries vines were reclaiming the territory, making new opportunities sticky situations and blocking energy by crossing over the second main path from the driveway. Solar lights had been hidden by the overgrowth. The bamboo we had planted last summer was suffering from the lack of sunlight, due to a bush that turned into a tree and was hiding the lucky plantings. Pine needles covered the porches and decks and the wind chimes were tangled under the growth.

I grabbed a broom and began sweeping fast and furious, getting more frustrated with the neglect, especially the broken promises. It reminded me of the farm life many years before, where I had been left to tend to eighty acres, two teenage children, a three-acre garden, and various forms of life which included two pigs, two calves, a dozen chickens, eight ducks, six dogs, two cats and any wounded animal the kids brought home. It was a zoo. I fed four to six people a night, worked at the college four days a week, and we lived ten miles from town.

The broom’s path broadened as my thoughts deepened remembering the difficult path I had chosen. Now with the pine needles eliminated, I pulled every weed in sight. After an hour of hard work, my muscles began to loosen and I could feel my negative thoughts fall into the Earth and soft soil. The continuous chitchat in my brain stopped running in circles and frustration blew away as I began to see the spaces around the front door gardens opened. New energy softly flowed over the property. I began singing an ancient chant over and over again filling the gardens with Chi, while the morning sun’s rays began peaking through the forest, under lighting the plants and small trees. The beauty was stunning. I stood and admired my work, realizing a smile had returned to my face. I had forgotten my problems and was ashamed of myself for having such a pity party. Something moved out of the corner of my eye, turning my head I could see my husband standing at the kitchen window smiling. In disbelief he shook his head side to side. He knows I dislike yard work and retired from the job several years ago. “It’s a good thing he didn’t see me a couple of hours ago,” I thought, “I would have given him a piece of my mind.”

Now I couldn’t leave the gardens alone. I had to finish to see the results. Four hours later, the entry to the house was beautiful. The pond could be seen. Water flowed up and over the cleared rocks. The sprawling bushes were now lovely trimmed trees. The non-spreading bamboo stood high in the sunlight, bringing good luck, protection of Family and happiness. The leaves caught a breeze and flowed easily in the wind, reminding me to be flexible but as strong as the trunks and sections of the treasured plant. My husband decided it was safe to come outside and brought me a drink of water. “Wow, it’s been a long time since he has waited on me” I thought. “Were you taking out some aggression?” he asked. I didn’t reply, but gave him a look he recognized. Just then the phone rang, and he rushed inside and returned with the car keys to the island car. “I’m off to pick up the first batch of kids. See ya.”

It was 10:30. What happened to the time? Quickly I jumped into the shower and my mind began running full speed ahead once more. “Stop it!” I demanded. I realized how grateful I should be. “We are healthy, all of the family is together for the first time in forty-five years, my son and daughter are not in a war zone. I have learned Feng Shui from one of the most wonderful, and gifted teachers of this century, Master Lin Yun, I have friends who love me no matter what, and I have choices, what more could I ask for?”

The kids jumped out of the island car, running to me with tall tales and necessary items such as toy dragons and favorite stuffed toys. I had only seen them two days before, but every day is a new day to them. Their arguing and grudges only last a few minutes. Fresh energy swirls around their fast moving bodies. The barbeque was started; homemade ice cream whirled in the outside mixer. They put on work gloves and began hauling off the cut limbs from the trimming, dragging them up the hill where they will be burned in a fall bonfire. This is “the spot” for talks with Grandpa and roasting hot dogs. My mind seemed clearer as the day filled with many chores. The big dinner filled the table as the sun began its constant journey to the other side of the island, creating a visual masterpiece of blues, oranges and some pinks. A pirate ship, re-created for a movie, sailed by the living room windows in a surreal way, taking tourists on a water tour, as I hemmed four sets pants and jeans for the kids.

We all have choices to change how we behave. If you are having problems dissolving your problems, work with the soil. It is a natural meditation, and gardening is recommended for healing the mind, body and spirit, especially for those people who have trouble grounding themselves such as air signs or those with an excessive Metal Elements in their birth-charts. For further information on this or other questions, email me at caroline@fengshuiartistry.com.

Caroline lives in the Northwest Region of the US, called The Puget Sound in Washington State. She is a Feng Shui Practitioner, writer, author and artist. She gives workshops in Feng Shui, Elements of Art, private mentoring for serious students, lectures and writes for newspapers. She combines teaching and traveling to other locations, here and abroad. Her 2007 schedule includes workshop and classes in the Northwest, Southwest, Midwest and Alaska. She is available speaking, teaching and consultations.

Please consult your physician for physical problems as this article only gives ideas and suggestions. Caroline is not responsible for anyone using these suggested plants or advice for cures or healing any problem either medical or Feng Shui claims. This column and article is for entertainment only. Please seek help from a qualified physician, naturopath, herbalist or other certified person for treatment.

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

caroline@fengshuiartistry.com www.fengshuiartistry.com www.moongateschool.com