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West Meets East© By Caroline Patrick BorNei
Feng Shui Outdoor Living Spaces and More
Landscaping your home by using Feng Shui principles enhances the flow of Chi or energy of your property. Its benefits increase the growth of abundance for your family. Using this ancient knowledge to design the outside of your living spaces brings a balance of yin and yang by using certain colors, water features, plants, lighting, solar is great when placed in certain areas of the property. It lifts the energy of a stale life when the light is tilted upwards to the eaves or "ridge roof" of a structure. Stone statuary is grounding, round gazing balls enhance the Metal Element and Earthen pottery painted in lively colors adds zest to a tired space. Sometimes I add silk flowers to my outdoor pots so there is always color and life to my gardens. Just be sure to change them with the seasons! Income could may an upward surge if you ring your wind chimes 9 times a day. All at once or when you walk by, reach up, breath deeply to give your body a welcome stretch. Sound attracts Chi and Chi attracts life. Don't forget to say a prayer or chant a mantra as you ring the wind chime. Wisdom, family life, increase finances, build character and self esteem. Provide a garden for communication with your partner even if it is only a bench to sit and talk. Whether a professional landscaper is hired to provide such a space or you and your family have a desire to design your own areas, here are some tips for developing tranquility in your environment by using Feng Shui principles.
Step 1: Map the Home. I offer several workshops a year on this simple process. Using the ancient grid set up by several civilizations, but perfected by the Chinese 4,000 - 5,000 years ago, an eight-sided octagonal shaped template was devised my masters of this culture to equally divide the nine major aspects of humans, and their mind, body and spirit connection to their earthly existence. This template can be used by any religion or culture to determine whether the houses or land they have chosen to live is in balance. This equal mathematical eight-sided grid, when placed over the body, home, buildings or plots of land, sets the stations of life into a visual map. By mapping the home, the energy of each section inside the dwelling flows magically into the front, side and backyards of the family structure.
Step 2: Now that the extending areas of the Bagua or eight-sided grid are located, we continue into the outside living spaces.
Usually the front door to the house faces the street. If it does not, a qualified Feng Shui consultant is needed to determine the mouth of the chi or energy entering the property of the home, room, or business in question.
This seemingly difficult determination is easily solved by a professional consultant. Although there are many Feng Shui schools of thought such as Geomancy, Form School, Compass, Pyramid or Black Sect, they all work on some level. I practice a form called Black Sect, which automatically aligns the architectural entry door with the career zone of the dwelling which usually faces the street. Using actual physical directions is not necessary when using the Black Sect Tradition of Feng Shui. The main purpose of Feng Shui, or balance of wind and water, is to bring the peaceful energy of gentle winds and calming waters into your body, mind and spirit that lives in the home of the physical, mental and spiritual dwelling of the heart and home. Step 3: Rid the house inside and outside of clutter, old or new. Creating new energy requires getting rid of old stuff. A vacant space must be formed to allow the growth of new possibilities. If this suggestion gives you the "bends," "Call The Man!" or woman! Ask your neighbor or friends for recommendations on competent companies or workman who provide the hauling services needed to clean up your excess clutter. Vow never to build up those piles of stagnant energy again. The rewards of this effort can bring relief to the areas of your life that seem stuck. PS: We recently called a service to weed and trim around the acre at the island home. We have beautiful landscaping that was already in place with many hidden pathways, gardens, fountains and islands of trees and flowers. His price was $3,500 for only half of the property. I don't need to tell you what we have been doing! Example - Are family quarrels the norm? Look to the middle left side yard of the house for the answer. Is this the dumping ground for old lumber, buckets, weeds and broken motors? Septic tank leaks, broken plumbing can bring a lot of tears, bladder upsets and intestinal issues which in turn put pressure on your lower back causing pain in the legs and feet which are related to the Wood and Family Gua. Yikes... Check out the romance section of your life. The far back right corner of the house represents the love life, inside and outside. From my experience, if trouble is brewing with your partner, a barbecue, pot, broken hot tub, too many sliding glass doors in that area or a cactus garden could be the landscaping culprit. If planting a delightful fruit tree in the Relationship garden is too much to care for or you live in an apartment, place a silk tree in this love section. Add a string of lights to "warm-up" your love life. Also consider making a great college picture of you and you partner. Leave the children and family out of this vision board. Place it where both of you are reminded about the good old days!
Note: Caroline Patrick BorNei (pronounced Bornay) is Caroline's Chinese name give to her by her Master Teacher His Holiness Grandmaster Lin Yin. Traveling is in full swing for fall of 2008. August traveling to OKLAHOMA, September 17-October 1st, teaching ARIZONA Workshops in Watercolor, Oil Painting and Feng Shui including a visit to Diamond Mountain Buddhist University, ALSO a workshop on Feng Shui in Phoenix...November BOSTON, teaching in NEW YORK 1st week and KANSAS CITY. 2nd week.... REDDING, CALIFORNIA the 1st week of December workshop on Feng Shui. Caroline will be introducing some of her most exciting work yet in 2009! 5 day retreats for relationships. Sacred Divorce in all forms. Using Feng Shui first to find the problem, repairing the heart, tools for survival and dissolving the karma which binds us to suffering. Creative works and evaluation of self and others. Reflections of lessons, recognized. Learning the secrets which can set you "free" from outdated lessons of Marriage, long term relationships, business partners and more. Stay tuned! Caroline lives in the Northwest Region of the US, called The Puget Sound in Washington State. She is a Feng Shui Practitioner, writer, author and artist. She gives workshops in Feng Shui, Elements of Art; private mentoring for serious students lectures and writes for newspapers. She combines teaching and traveling to other locations, here and abroad. Her 2008 schedule includes workshops and classes in Washington State, Oregon, Northern California, Arizona, New Mexico and North Carolina. She is available speaking, teaching and consultations. Currently her illustrations for a children’s book entitled “The Six Paramitas” have been delivered to the client for publication. “It is based on characters designed on the universal prayer OM, MA, NE, PAD, ME, HUM and is the most delightful and precious assignment I have ever done.” If you want to know more about the book or the creations, please contact Caroline.
WHAT IS CUSTOMIZED FENG SHUI MENTORING?
· It is for those wishing to study with me privately, with the experience of over 5,000 consultations. ONE ON ONE, starting where YOU need to start. · A six-month commitment is required. · A monthly mentoring date is scheduled for your convenience. · Study packets are personalized containing Feng Shui information, YOU choose to study. Email is not necessary but is a valuable asset for quick questions and answers. · This material contains current material from my Master Teacher which he calls "secret of secret"!
Please visit www.fengshuiartistry.com and click on www.moongateschool.com for current local and out-of-state class schedules in Feng Shui, Art and Medicine making with Herbs. Caroline is available for teaching, speaking engagements, art illustration and Chi-Enhancing Artwork.
Please consult your physician for physical problems as this article only gives ideas and suggestions. Caroline is not responsible for anyone using these suggested plants or advice for cures or healing any problem either medical or Feng Shui claims. This column and article is for entertainment only. Please seek help from a qualified physician, naturopath, herbalist or other certified person for treatment. Caroline Patrick BorNei
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