By Caroline Patrick

Question for Clarification

Dear Caroline,

I recently visited your store in Benicia. I enjoyed the store and the friendliness and helpfulness of the two women who were working.

I am definitely a novice when it comes to Feng Shui! I have reviewed three different books which I bought at your store, but still have this one question!

We have an ‘L’-shaped house. According to your materials, I should place the Bagua to include the garage, which extends out the right front of my house. However, I am not sure about the back of my house. In the back, we have a covered deck, adjoined by two small decks with no covering. Do I include or exclude the decks in my Bagua placement, or do I include only the covered deck? None of the decks has a railing. All are adjoined to the house.

Thank you so much in advance for your help.

A Reader

Dear Reader,

Hello and thanks for your question. Yes we do have a great atmosphere in the shoppe and some people just come by to sit a spell and soak up good Chi! Since I will be moving soon to the San Juan Islands in Washington State, I will miss everyone. I am hoping to sell the business to some like-minded person or persons. You can still email me questions, though. I plan to have an office in Anacortes.

Garages come in all sizes and shapes. Some are attached to the main floor plan, while others are considered detached and become an extension of the section or Gua. Example: if your new or dilapidated garage is located in the far back left corner of the property, it is still considered a Wealth energy. Everything IS energy. Even invisible waves of electrical power can be felt energetically. So yes, everything attached to the house is part of you! It is also an extension of everyone who has ever owned the structure. The rule of thumb is, if the garage or addition to the house measures 1/3 or 1/2, it is part of the Bagua. Overhangs or porches which have a roof or slatted overhang with solid plant growth overhead I consider an extension or ‘room’ to the existing building, depending again on the size. Keeping garages and outdoor structures uncluttered is important because stagnant energy can pile up and accumulate, causing stuck situations.

This is why space clearing has become so popular. To claim a space, we must first clear the clutter. This action shows your commitment to change. The next phase is fixing all broken pipes, leaks, electrical wires, roof, basement and attic. Painting a home or the rooms or one particular space shifts energy quickly. Remove unloved items as they add to the confusion of life changing strategies. I am personally going through a tossing program at the moment. Using this opportunity to unload any excess before ‘moving on’ certainly helps the process toward one’s goals quickly, as removing any object creates a void for something new to fill that vacant space energetically.

This question affects me directly as the garage has always been my bug-a-boo or bad Feng Shui section or Gua during our eight years in Benicia. The Family Gua, or middle left side and front left side or Knowledge sections of the house, were stagnated by my husband’s stuff. At first I suggested clearing out the space for a new car. He quickly filled up the vacancy with a new sports car without unblocking the back garage door. Next he piled several hundred floor tiles to replace the downstairs floors as soon as he had a minute. Years later, it still blocked the back entry to the garage, plus the addition of a toilet. Yes I confess, our extended family life, was ‘in the toilet.’ My usually calm husband began to disagree with his calmer brothers on situations, which blew me away. Burial sites for his parents became an issue, and trivial issues became the norm with my extended family also.

There is a time to let things slide and a time to draw a line in the sand. With Feng Shui knowledge, these issues can be eliminated, so I finally stood my ground. Strategy is important when planning to change a person’s attitude. I cooked my husband his favorite dinner one evening and set the mood for my project. Talking about the ‘good ole days’ always brings a smile to his face. He loved his childhood farm life, his five brothers and one sister, tales of rural living. Halfway through the evening, his cranky Chi raised its ugly head as he remembered a recent statement one brother had imparted to him in an innocent conversation, thus hurting his feelings. Since he was already cranky, now was the perfect time to mention the garage from hell and being a Feng Shui adviser. My idea didn’t fly, as usual, but soon it became his idea to clean up the garage to sell our present home. That is the point of this story, when your other half decides it is his/her idea, the action of Feng Shui begins. Whether it is a thought, action or both, the invisible and visible work together to shift the energy.

Hopes this answers your question about extensions. Sorry I got carried away, but as soon as the garage door became unblocked, a barrage of phone calls came into our home of good family news, and our decision of moving took place.

Caroline Patrick

Caroline’s Arts & Feng Shui Shoppe

129 First St. Suite K

Benicia, Ca. 94510

Phone 707-748-1127

Fax 707-747-9315

1-5 daily, closed Mondays

Hurry to take advantage of the 25% off closing sale at the shoppe on most items. The sale ends July 10, 2003.

Caroline is a feng shui consultant, artist, herbalist, newspaper columnist, businesswoman, author and teacher. She has conducted over 2500 feng shui consultations. She has taught art for over 35 years. Her weekly column West Meets East can be viewed on her website moongateschool.com.