Today’s communication with the world is but a click away. With the help of computers and the Internet I am able to help individuals with their e-mail questions quickly, at any location hooked up to the Internet. Feng shui consultations at any location are also available via phone and fax. The client makes an appointment, and then faxes a floor plan of their present home, office or property allowing me to view the drawing of the structure in question.

Many times I receive e-mail photos and floor plans of a proposed sale or lease. Modern technology allows feng shui decisions to be made quickly.

Recently I received a short e-mail inquiring if feng shui could help in the conception of a child. At first this may seem a crazy question for those who haven’t yet understood that the basis of feng shui involves not only the balance of the home, but balancing all nine aspects of ourselves. When our lives are in balance with the environmental, spiritual and physical, the trinity is completed and the DNA of life naturally forms. Career, wisdom, family life, wealth, fame, partnership, helpful people and travel and health successfully balanced enables crops to grow, animals to reproduce, towns to flourish and human life to multiply. Spiritual wisdom is part of the formula passed from the elders.

My beautiful website caught the young woman’s attention from across the world. When originally replying to this woman’s e-mail, I had no idea where she lived so I invited her to the Feng Shui Shoppe for a visit. E-mail doesn’t always reveal location so here is her response to my first series of questions.

Hi Caroline,

I responded back with the following advice.

I wish I could come and help you. Please understand that there are many schools of feng shui. They all work in my opinion, but I practice a form called Black Hat Sect. Professor Lin Yun is the master of this school of thought. With Black Hat, the Career zone always lines up with the front door to the house. Using the eight-sided bagua grid, we can then look to see where every aspect lines up with your home. We disregard the physical directions and only concentrate on your front door to determine the spiritual directions of the space. This would place Children and Creativity in the middle right side of the dwelling. Using physical directions is called Compass school. With the Black Hat bagua, Career is always "considered" north. The reason Professor Lin uses this method; he feels the sacred wheel of the bagua is always changing as life changes. The common sense of this theory is all houses can’t face south, the most auspicious direction according to Compass school. After 2000 consultations, I find very worthwhile success with Black Hat methods.

Now for your personal advice. Gain a few pounds; Stop thinking about trying so hard to get pregnant. Use warm romantic colors such as pink, warm rose, coral for the bedding. Two pink pillows and maybe curtains to darken the white walls. White is a yang color and you need a yin or female atmosphere. Wear pinks and rose colored flowing clothes to create a flow representing the water element. Earth needs to be added to the Partnership corner or the far back right corner from the front door. Remove any family pictures in the bedroom and hang a romantic picture for you and your mate to look at in the bedroom. The earth element I referred to previously might be a rug in yellow or beige or green tones. Even if the bedroom isn’t in the partnership gua or section, the room needs to have these qualities. Add a lovely round leaf plant to the Children and Creativity side (middle right area of the house.) Laugh and have fun, don’t be so serious. Eat nourishing greens and warm soups to bring in the water element into your body. Check for yin foods on the web for ideas since I’m not familiar with your foods. Adding the children’s toys to the correct Children and Creativity side is a good idea but make sure you choose one school of feng shui, and then stick with that. Another enhancement could be to the Family gua on the left middle of the house. A bamboo plant is a good choice for this area to represent flow and stability within the family group. Add a note asking for a wonderful healthy child without any problems or complications. Remove any mirrors reflecting on the bed also. A baby comes when he or she determines, so relax and prepare with healthy food and thought. Let me know if you have any luck. Caroline.

Hi Caroline,

Check out the updated version of my website www.fengshuiartistry.com and click on moongateschool for pictures of a feng shui’d home and suggested art for enhancement. E-mail your questions to Caroline@fengshuiartistry.com.

Drop by Tuesday through Sunday 1 — 5 p.m. at Caroline’s Arts and Feng Shui Shoppe at 129 First St. Suite K in Benicia to sign up for upcoming classes: Acrylic Painting and Color Vibration taught at the McBride Center in January 2002, Altars for All Occasions, Feng Shui Fountain Making. A children’s art exhibit will be held on December 7, 2001.

Note to Reader: Herbal suggestions are suggestions only. Please consult a medical doctor for medical treatment. The author and publisher are not responsible for any medical claims regarding the material presented.

Caroline Patrick is an artist, herbalist and feng shui consultant. She blends together these three talents into a unique practice.