West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

Island Retreat

I enjoy the weather in the Northwestern United States. Spring temperatures tease their way into summer: warm one day, cool the next, with maybe a surprise hot day of 72 degrees in the middle of the week. Not too hot, not too cold, but just right! I am not a summer person so I enjoy the gentle approach to the short growing season near the Canadian Border. Winds are brisk and cool near the water’s edge as you approach the gateway to the San Juan Islands of the Puget Sound. A simple picnic or walk with the grandchildren can easily become an unforgettable experience within seconds. Orca whales may suddenly explode upward from the frigid waters, lunging forward within easy view. Jumping and playing for an hour or more, these giant rare creatures’ performance becomes a private “first row seat.” The grandchildren soon become bored with the whale watching and I find they have wandered off looking for new baby grass snakes.

Our island home is a sanctuary for a different kind of lifestyle. It is as if time stands still and memories are being stored in space. There is no beginning and no ending. The children romp and play like the whales in the inlets, free of worry and stress. The world silently cycles in the Universe, while I indulge in tales of fantasy and delight. We explore hidden paths where deer pass by as eagles watch from the giant tree tops. After lunch their dad and grandpa stroll outdoors to watch the boys ride converted lawn tractors over the property and teach the little ones “guy stuff.” And so life is good for now and I savor each day while the children are young and innocent. I will never regret this special time given to me.

Natural herbs thrive in the forests of Washington State and I take this opportunity to pass on my love of teaching about the plants and what they can be used for. Stinging Nettles is a fierce weed when brushed against, but when dried or cooked, it will provide your body with almost every mineral and vitamin for needed for survival. Dandelion, a lush, bitter green weed, with its yellow blossom, full of vitamin A, is a miracle for liver detoxification and stimulates the bile for digestion. Along the path we find Plantain, a friend and first aid for bee stings and other bites when crushed and applied to a wound. Lovely bluish white plants with fuzzy soft leaves substitute for an outdoor Band-Aids. “Its name is Lambs Ears,” I tell my students. Giggles fill the air, as that explanation seems to strike a funny bone. Our next unexpected discovery is Licorice Root. A quick taste of the stem fills the boys’ mouths with an aroma of candy. Lemon Balm is around the next curve. Must be an escapee from someone’s lost garden. Wild Chamomile wands spill over in tangles along our treasure-hunt pathway.

Soon I hear their Grandpa yelling up the hill, “Are you taking the next ferry or not?” The clock begins ticking once more, civilization calls and the weekend is over. We run quickly now to gather our overnight clothes, Ziploc bags full of shells and stinky sand, wet shoes and dirty socks......time is once more speeded up and the real world of business and school demand a shift in reality. Suddenly everyone is tired, and cranky Chi has descended. “I don’t want to go, I want to sleep-over, I'm hungry, can we swing one more time?” Life continues, alarm clocks are reset and schedules resume, but there is always next week and maybe a couple of years before sports, dating and more important things take priority.

Racing to the ferry I hear the kids telling their dad, “Grandma showed us Lemon Bombs, Bunny Ears and Lion’s Heads and some baby snakes.” “Wow,” was their father’s reply as he responded to their new knowledge. La-La Land is a good thing!

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS 2006------sign up now------

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

2. FENG SHUI ISLAND TOUR---- on site evaluations in the San Juan Islands, WASHINGTON STATE

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.