West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

Preparations for the New Year for All Cultures

Understanding other cultures is one way of bringing the world closer together. Libraries have a wealth of information on the celebrations of different countries. Ancient transcripts of various religions are filled with ways to welcome each season, holiday, marriages, births and death. This is who we are. Each culture defines their existence with traditions learned from birth. The problem comes when one nation, culture, religion or race feel they are exclusive and others must follow their rituals and traditions. Personally, I am tired at all the controversy that continues the conflicts of the world and decided early on in life that everyone should learn to get along by understanding and not judging my friends. I continue to be "abby-normal" and that makes life interesting.

My real first playmate lived two lots down from my house. The little city was beginning to grow quickly, and my father decided to invest in land in a new suburb way out of town, about three miles from the city center. (This great distance offered cheaper land so he bought about six acres; my grandparents purchased several lots “next door.” This is another story for another time, as relatives probably shouldn’t live that close to each other, or maybe I should say certain relatives shouldn’t live that close to each other.) Anyway, my little friend was Jewish with beautiful blonde curly hair and twinkling blue eyes. Our mothers talked while we played our toddler games. Later, another best friend joined the mix, and her Catholic teachings added interest to our diverse backgrounds.

I was the Reorganized Latter Day Saint, and yes there is a BIG difference between the Latter Day Saint’s and the Reorganized branch. Both of my friends were not allowed to come to my Sunday school, but I was allowed to go to the Temple on Saturday and to early Mass on Sunday because of the organizational timing. My friends and I figured and calculated the timing and rides so we wouldn’t miss seeing each other over the weekend. I tried to convert my friends to my religion and they tried to convert me to theirs. It was important at that time to belong to the right group or we might be damned forever. Today we laugh as we recall those years; the fun and religious education we shared only deepened our understanding for world peace.

Another year has passed, and with the Christmas tree packed away for another year, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus carefully returned to their box, I began deep-cleaning the house to remove bad stale luck. Another helpful tip is to pay as many bills as possible getting rid of old energy. The idea of getting rid of excess mentally and physically is incorporated into many traditions. Burning incense, opening doors and windows and washing clothes, curtains and bedding helps the environment and removes old ideas and germs from your home. Negativity fades away as the cleaning continues.

My recent trip to Berkeley’s Culture Center gave me new creative ideas for Chinese New Year, and I began gathering bottle tops, plastic items, empty toilet paper rolls, colored paper, foil, red Chinese envelopes, coins and ribbon for the grandkids to make “firecrackers” and scare off the “hungry ghosts” on New Year’s Eve. Red beans, sweet rice flour for New Year’s Sweet Cake so life will be sweet, long noodles for soup to symbolize long life, fish for success and many more items are packed in the car. We will meet at the island house for the celebration. I stop at the grocery store to buy tangerines and oranges to insure good luck, wealth and the round shape look like gold coins. Oranges and live flowers in the house can be used year round for health and healing.

My son also enjoys world traditions with his friends. We met at the Asian Market the day before to buy ingredients for him to steam a Sweet Rice Cake, or try to, as he says. The kids bubbled at our feet and began to get “antsy” so we hurried back to the condo so he could pick out special red envelopes to give to his friends at their gathering. They are also a diverse group, many in military life, Eastern Indian, African Americans, European descendents who also have religious rituals to share at other occasions. The coins and other things will be put into the envelopes to be shared at their feast. Using the Red Envelope for payment at restaurants during this time also shares blessings to the community, as the color red is very auspicious. Wearing bright red clothing is another way to bring Chi and happiness to each other.

Another similar thread I see running through different traditions is to have one full day of rest. No sewing, cooking, cutting or cleaning was done by my mother’s mother, as it was truly God’s day. She worked herself to exhaustion all week to make this happen. My cousins and I were escorted out the door in the dead of winter or the heat of summer at the first giggle. Bibles were worn with pages thin, from happy to heated discussions among the seven aunts, uncles and extended family adults with Grandpa sitting in the tallest and biggest chair, “king” of his castle. Their ideas where stern and rules were rules, but under it all, my mother and, of course, my father, were “rebels: as they let me sneak off to other churches and learn about other ways and other people.

Now that my grandparents have passed on and many of the aunts and uncles, I find I was given the foundation to explore and learn many traditions which now are an important part of my work. As a Feng Shui consultant, artist and herbalist, I can make friends easily with clients from all over the world. Embrace other cultures so they in turn will understand ours and judgment will hopefully fade away with each new generation. Open your hearts and mind to new and ancient ideas.

WHAT IS CUSTOMIZED FENG SHUI MENTORING?

· It is for those wishing to study with me privately. ONE ON ONE.

· The cost is $350 for three hours a month, through phone, email and faxes.

· A six-month commitment is necessary.

· 27 red envelopes (first month only) and the first month’s payment of $350 due on the 1st of each month.

· A monthly mentoring date is set for at least one to two hours of phone conversation, at different intervals.

· Packets of hard-copy material are sent for you to study each month. Emailing and faxes will be part of the course also as we go over floor plans.

· The material is copyrighted, but I will give you permission to share a lot of the information.

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.