West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

New Uprising Energy

The last few days I have begun to feel different. The sun is actually shining. The Yang energy of light forces the transition of the next season. The ancient Chinese New Year Celebration of the Lantern Festival brings to a close last year’s energy and ushers in The Year of the Fire Dog. Light and warmth of the coming spring are celebrated at the full moon with joyous lightings of the lanterns made for this occasion. Fire brings action, forward movement of human, animal and plant life, harnessing nature’s power to produce food, comfortable shelter and solar power.

We forget the delicate balance of Earth’s qualities. I could talk about greed, politics and war, which is the opposite side of Fire’s determination, and how this could lead to the destruction of the planet, but there are plenty of voices to warn about our self-destructive ways! My purpose is to invite balance and harmony into your immediate surroundings. I continue to receive emails from people missing the energy of my Feng Shui Shoppe, as it was a “place” to visit and feel good. I blessed the space each day, played music and asked that only positive customers would enter. This “feeling,” as they call it, was an atmosphere created by Feng Shui principles which can be used in your home for that same “feeling.” Love your home by clearing space. Discard old things such as papers, clothes and excess items. Open windows and doors, play music, blow the old stale energy from the house, then say a prayer to bless the home.

Learning a few basic rules of this system can transform the planet one home at a time. Whether you use Chinese enhancements or your own loved objects such as artwork, furniture, treasure boxes, bells, jewelry, mirrors, wind chimes, books, flowers, your own culture’s sacred items or a real crystal chandelier, Feng Shui can be applied. Fire and Earth are the most lacking Elements in the American home. This causes low energy, frustration and stress. The colors of Red and Yellow bring vitality to any space. Good lighting over a child’s desk can help his grades. The up-glowing torch lights are good in some spaces where energy needs to be lifted, but not to invite friendliness and conversation. Yellow invites good Health and grounding for those with headaches and digestion problems. Use Yellow and Red foods in the diet, and I don’t mean Twinkies and red devils food cake!

Here are some suggestions for embracing the New Uprising Energy of Spring. First, understand you must love all of your surroundings and belongings. Back the truck up to dispose of things that don’t fit this description. After discarding all of the heavy feeling stuff, stand back and take inventory of the new you. List the remaining possessions in five columns, starting with the element of Wood. Wood symbolizes Family life. Family pictures, fabric with stripes, some furniture, plants and the color green. Next Fire. Candles, lamps, pictures of wild animals, cone-shaped objects and the color red. Metal is next, which might be furniture made of metal, sculptures, plates, bowls, globe-shaped things, round clocks, metal tea pots, coins, etc. and the color white and pastels. Earth is represented by square objects made of the Earth. Think Mexico; tile, the color yellow and earth colors for Health. The last on the list is the Element of Water. Black or dark blue objects with wavy movements or maybe a water feature with actual moving Water. Water brings money to our doorstep. How inviting is your front door? You can use mirrors or paintings of water. Now you understand the need to represent nature in any space to create that “feeling” or flow of Chi in your environment.

Next, place the Bagua or template over your home to find these sections or areas of your floor plan. (Go to my websites to find a Bagua.) Each Gua section is given a name. There are nine areas of the home. Each area can be energized by placing an object relating to that Gua. Example: Fire in the Fame area of the home or candles on a dining room table decorated with a wild animal table setting. Napkin holders with carved animals, etc. One year I gifted my daughter with a jungle theme table setting which contained the colors and shapes of all five Elements. So mix and match the shapes, colors and Elements for a perfect balanced room. Each room can stand on its own intermixing all of the items, or you may wish to take each Gua and heavily concentrate on the Element of those rooms. Example: Children and Creativity with the Metal Element is located to the middle right of the house (from the front door). Whether this is a bathroom, office or children’s bedroom, round white objects in pastels could be the theme. From rugs to wall hangings, the main pattern would be white, pastel, round shapes. I would then add a plant (Wood), lamp (Fire), square framed pictures (Earth), and a round reflective mirror for Water.

With all of the excess removed from your home, you should fine a new flow of uprising spring energy. With fresh flowers, incense and a Zen look, life will take on a new meaning. Your brain will clear and new ideas will flow with ease. Life can be difficult at times, and I also “fall off the wagon,” but I know practicing Feng Shui ALWAYS puts me back in the flow of good Chi.

FENG SHUI TOURS IN THE NORTHWEST now forming, send contact information to: caroline@fengshuiartistry.com CUSTOMIZED MENTORING for Feng Shui. Contact for details if you wish to enroll, students learn by phone and email.

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.