West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

Marriage Problems and Feng Shui

Feng Shui is an easy way to bring harmony into your home. If done correctly, the balance is felt immediately; if done incorrectly, the occupants feel uneasy as things such as jobs, money, relationships seem to spiral downward, which is actually what is happening. The Chi or the flow of energy which should nurture the haven is stopped in its tracks. The unseen "breath of life" becomes stagnant and blocked similar to the blood in your veins being diverted or stopped.

Last week I answered many of this young woman's questions with more questions as my investigation continues to where the blockages could be happening. I feel the relocation was the start of the downward spiral for this couple. Blame and anger become part of the formula of the stagnant living space. Confusion and fear escalate as the problem intensifies.

Hopefully we can resolve some of the Feng Shui adjustments, but it seems a consultation is in order, so I can check the neighborhood, the plot shape, and the terrain. Here are some more clues to the problem which you may find interesting. Although I can't answer all of the woman's questions in this column, here are a few of my suggestions.

Your floor plan is great and shows you have a lot of talent. I will answer in a broader sense later, but at the moment, I don't understand the bagua mirror placement in the love corner. Are they facing outward?

Question: The mirrors are facing inward...the living room mirror reflects back into living room, deck back into deck. Are these unnecessary?

Answer: Are they plain or are they framed with the I-Ching signs on the outer portion? If the reflective surface pushes outward or inward, remove them immediately. The deck, if drawn correctly in size, doesn't need a mirror, and replace the one in the Partnership Gua with a round beautiful mirror showing the unity of the wedding band.

Please draw another floor plan including the downstairs, as tenants above or below a complex have an energy influence on your life. Is the corner missing as you first suggested or is it not shown correctly on your floor plan layout? Also check out what the mirror is reflecting, a picture of the two of you or the TV? The constant watching of a television in the Love area poses the question - are you inviting too many people's opinions into your marriage? Face a small mirror downward in the Marriage section facing toward the neighbor, with a loving note written on the back of the mirror via sticky note, such as 'balance and harmony reside above and below in this home.'

Question: See attachment for 2nd story split level...we don't understand the roommate's layout downstairs, but I can give you an idea. As for the love corner missing, the consultant told us that it was missing because the covered deck protruded out from the kitchen, causing it to be missing. I thought at first this might be weird because it's not exactly a room.

Answer: She could be correct, but according to the size indicated of the porch, it is likely an extension of Wealth.

The placement of the couch in the Partnership corner needs to invite the couple into the room (arrange it more against a wall) and not 'worship' the TV.

Question: Is it okay to have our backs against the long window? It seems like those are the only options.

Answer: Lower the blinds as you sit against a window to feel cozy. Open them in the day for the light, if you choose.

There are many cures which can only be suggested with the payment or exchange of the red envelope, did your consultant discuss these with you?

Question: No. What does that mean?

Answer: The Red Envelope is how payment takes place after the consultation. I provide my clients with a Chinese Red Envelope for the payment. This provides both of the parties with a unique blessing of Chi or energy using the color red as an action symbol.

A bat under the bed is really bad. Did he have one under the bed before? Why are you worried about an intruder, has this happened in the past?

Question: He is worried about intruders. Always has been, but it's never ever happened. For as long as I've known him, the bat has been there.

Answer: Why invite this type of energy? And why are you drawn to this energy? How about leaving it in a nearby closet if he feels uneasy. The space under the bed should be left uncluttered. For example one woman's marriage problems came from pasted divorced papers stored under the bed. Another woman was unable to conceive and we found old dusty empty suitcases under the bed, an Empty Womb symbol.

These things can get you started as I finish my other work, as I do like to leave you hanging. Don't push the guy he probably feels low at this point and maybe we can arrange a phone consultation to help things along.

Question: Yes, I'd really like that. Things got so bad this week that I returned to my hometown for the week. I hope to return home on Monday.

The litter box is in the Wealth Gua, not good.

Question: I don't know where else to put it. The doggie door only fits in the sliding glass door, and the deck is raised from the backyard so our dog can't go on the lawn during the daytime. She's really small, four pounds.

Answer: Put it as far over as possible from the Wealth Qua or triad, Cover it with a table and table cloth hanging over the edge, or get creative and enclose it in a bigger container and place plants around the tray like a miniature garden.

Question: Thank you so much, and I look forward to talking with you. Perhaps Monday or Tuesday will be good, just let me know your availability/cost.

Answer: I'm booked pretty solid, so I will call and give you a schedule.

Career profile for Caroline Patrick, author of THE POWER OF FENG SHUI ARTWORK IN THE HOME AND BUSINESS

Caroline Patrick has conducted over 2500 Feng Shui consultations and has documented many of these experiences in her weekly newspaper column titled WEST MEETS EAST, which has been a highly popular addition to the Benicia Herald’s newspaper each Wednesday for the last six years. Teaching is her passion and for the last 35 years Caroline’s range of subjects has included art, herbs and Feng Shui. Her classes and workshops fill with eager students learning ancient ideas in a modern format.

Her past and present teaching experiences include Cochise, Pima, Arizona Central, Solano and Skagit Valley Colleges in Arizona and California and Washington State. Santa Clara County Teachers Council Conventions, AMA Continental Congress Convention of Surgeons, and Medical Research Facilities have asked her educate their employees and spouses, and Feng Shui their facilities. She has appeared on television and radio.

Business owner of Caroline’s Arts and Feng Shui Shoppe in the San Francisco Bay Area for eight years, Feng Shui Practitioner, speaker, teacher, writer and author, Caroline has recently relocated to the Northwestern U.S. and lives on an island in the San Juans. Her current consultation business is called Caroline’s Feng Shui Concepts.

Caroline can be reached at: