The Heart of Your Home

West Meets East ©Caroline Patrick 2001 • 9-3-01

Where is the heart of your home?

After last weeks visit of my wondrous grandchildren I’m still feeling a bit woozy. Chi follows children like magnets. It runs, jumps and swirls leaving a unique trail of energy. This land of energy is called "la-la land". Your body feels as if it has been pulled and jerked through a toothpaste tube. Sleep deprivation becomes normal, while videos, cartoons, little running legs, laughing and crying fills your day.

Macaroni and cheese begins to taste really good and you find yourself looking at boxes of this product to make sure you are choosing the right shaped macaroni. A Blue’s Clue or Rug Rats variety might be tasty.

My mind became mush as I uselessly folded washed clothes into piles of sizes. Our 18-month-old "Buddha baby" is about the same weight of his brother of three and a half years. After many lost hours of sleep, a size 2 shirt looks very much like a size 4 shirt. Who cares anyway, I thought as I chased down the toddler and dressed him in whatever size I could grab. As my mother would always say in her easygoing manner "Who would notice on a galloping horse?" Her reasoning had to do with if her slip was showing, but this adage seemed to apply as well to the present situation.

What does this rambling have to do with feng shui? Not much — I just wanted those young mothers, fathers and grandparents to know, these are days when you can’t keep up with the mess! Try to enjoy family when the opportunity presents itself. Play now, clean later becomes a motto. Nurturing these young boys is my current priority. Tomorrow I will shovel up strange smashed objects up off the floor, sleep and restore my chi later. This gridlock is only temporary, but when it turns into a daily routine, it’s time to regroup.

As a young mother, we formed a neighbor trade off. Each week we babysat other mom’s children as they ran those necessary errands. This gave each mother two three hour breaks each week. What you did with those precious six hours was your choice. Sleep, clean house, and grocery shopping were popular selections.

Kitchens always seem to be the biggest catchall. This "heart" of the home brings the family together to eat and catch up on the day’s news. It should be warm and cozy, where everyone feels comfortable. Aromatic cooking smells stimulate the senses and add a secure family feeling.

Cluttered countertops, refrigerator spillover, shelves bulging with outdated foods cause stagnant energy flow. Clean up overflowing trashcans, cluttered sink, littered floor, animal-feeding stations set in open spaces. Get rid of unused dishes and drinking glasses. Give away excess. Stop saving things for grown children. With today’s choices in décor, I promise you, they will probably want to choose their own patterns and colors. And why not? Each person has his or her own ideas and personal color energy.

Chi or energy slows down on those crowded counter tops. Clear spaces of too many utensils, gadgets, and storage jars. Store vitamins and herbs in dark cabinets for preservation. Wash windows to provide sun’s action energy. Rid yourself of broken appliances. Clear the decks and your family’s energy will soar.

Recycle under cabinets or place bins in the garage. Create spacious areas to grow and feel free.

Put love into food preparation. Provide an airy inviting location. Color, mood and lighting. Add spotlights to bring in yang energy.

Before my little boys come to visit, I spend a whole day, dumping unused things. Checking low passageways for accidents waiting to happen. Removing chemicals from lower shelves. Childproofing the home for little ones. This visit pushed me forward to unburden the kitchen once more of useless items. Five more garbage bags left the house. The children came, the children went, all too soon. The cleanup seemed easier this time. Each visit I prepare by decluttering, which gives me more time to dwell in "la-la land."

While driving the group back to the airport, I heard a familiar voice from the far back seat of the car. "Fan ma?" he called out to get my attention. (This is his wording for Grandma.) "Yes sweetheart?" I replied as I checked out his cute grin in the rear view mirror. "I like your house. It has good toys and I can see the choo-choo trains and boats and airplanes," he said. "Yes it does," I agreed. Next I heard a choo-choo train son being sung by my little guy, as his daddy joined in.

Catching a quick peek of mother little guy behind me smiling in his car seat gave me a momentary boost of grandma energy. I will need that boost I surmised as I thought of that messy house that truly needed a feng shui master to restore harmony and balance.

Come by Caroline’s Arts and Feng Shui Shoppe at 129 First St. to pick up your brochure for our upcoming Feng Shui Intensive Weekend. Registration is beginning now for this fabulous weekend getaway. Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28, 10 a.m. — 5 p.m. at the beautiful Embassy Suites in Burlingame. The nine story plant filled atrium will be the site of our luncheons. A special overnight room rate is available on a first come, first serve basis. Early bird registration fee $399. Call for more details (707) 748-1127.

Other Fall classes include:

Zen Power Garden — Create your own desktop sand garden. Sunday, September 16 10 a.m. — 12 p.m.

Watercolor Greeting Cards — beginners and advanced students welcome. All supplies included. Saturday September 22 , 9:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.

Location-Location-Location — How does your location affect your life? This class will be held at the McBride Center in Vacaville. Call 469-6671 to register. Special fee of only $30. Saturday, September 29, 6:30 — 8 p.m.

Feng Shui Secrets to Prosperity — the best office locations in your home or building and feng shui power placement of your desk and office equipment — business success. Register with the McBride Center in Vacaville 469-6671 for Thursday, October 11 10 — 11:30 a.m.

Caroline Patrick is an artist, herbalist and feng shui consultant. She combines these three talents into a unique practice. Herbal suggestions are suggestions only. Please consult a medical doctor for treatment of disease. Check out the website: www.fengshuiartistry.com and www.moongateschool.com for more classes and services available.