By Caroline Patrick

Room by Room

I have been asked many times if I would give a workshop onsite. Learning the art of placement becomes much easier to assimilate when walking through the home to be Feng Shui’d. The date was set and arrangements were made to view a local home. The owner was a recent client and she delightfully opened her home to our class.

Meeting at my studio on First Street, students were given a floor plan of the client’s home, along with other materials for the consultation. Arriving at the house, I began the onsite workshop with a visual and verbal description of all the elements I consider before going in to the house.

Walking the students through all nine sections or Guas of the dwelling, I pointed out each enhancement that had been applied for harmony, but also problem areas of the house where additional cures and corrections might be placed to balance any ‘missing pieces’ of the floor plan.

It was a wonderful day and the weather was beautiful. The field trip approach was a delight for everyone and such a success. I invite everyone interested in Feng Shui to the March 29th workshop where I will take another group through a different local home. Bring yourself, a clipboard and meet us at 9:45 AM.

Here are a few of the observations we covered during our ONSITE CONSULTATION.

Learning the art of placement is an exciting way to implement life changes. How can clearing clutter from your home help? Blockage in any form, whether it is environmental, physical or spiritual, can cause chaos. Using this ancient art of arranging objects allows the breath of life, or Chi, to enter into your home and workplace. Eliminating excess creates new spaces in all nine areas of your house. Each room has its own energy and as we travel through the Bagua or grid placed over the home, each room is mapped so you can locate the energy, color, and element for those rooms.

After the home is mapped, the general layout of the floor plan is revealed. The main things to observe are:

1. Plot size and shape

2. Shape of floor plan, including garages, overhangs, porches, outbuildings

3. Missing pieces

4. Location of bathrooms

5. Location of stairways, inside and outside

6. Shape of land surrounding the dwelling

7. Power lines, golf courses, hospitals, school, churches, T- zone Waterways

8. Neighbors

Now that we have evaluated all of these conditions, it is time to walk into the entryway or front door of the house or business. Open the door. Observe your first reaction.

1. What do you see and feel – visually, physically, mentally – in this Water Gua?

2. Check the elements – what is lacking? Water, wood, fire, metal or earth?

3. Cluttered? Where?

Each area of the house reveals clues to family patterns. The main rooms of the home are the bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, bathrooms, offices and, of course, living/family rooms. Each room nurtures us in special ways and provides support for all nine aspects of our lives.

KITCHEN – A special place where the food is cooked that nourishes the physical and spiritual. The person cooking needs to be cheerful while preparing food to be eaten by family members. Take a few minutes to unwind before preparation of the vital action of cooking begins. Food shouldn’t hold worries or stress of the day.

1. Location of the kitchen within the floor plan and stove position and number of burners –

2. Color of the space, considering its location on the Bagua.

3. Color and shape of furnishings

4. All appliances should be in working order.

5. Placement of knives.

6. Add adjustments

BEDROOMS---A resting haven need to restore your Chi, not a room for TV’s, blasting music or arguing! Best Gua location.

1. Master Bedroom – placement and element

2. Art work, images and objects to enhance, decor, mattress and furniture

3. Colors for partnership, pink, coral, apricot, flesh tones, red and white

4. Element?

5. Closets, clothing

6. Bed position, under the bed and type of bed, size of room?

7. Less is best

8. Children’s toys, beds and picture gallery

9. Cures and adjustments

CHILDREN’S BEDROOMS – A safe, secure haven for growing and learning should be created for your children and teenagers.

1. Placement in the Bagua?

2. Artwork, images and objects to enhance, decor

3. Colors best suited for the child, the child’s element

4. Work stations/Knowledge sector

5. Power bed positions/window and doors, furniture

6. Cures and adjustments, scents, flower essences

BATHROOMS---Largest source of Chi loss!

1. Location, location, location!

2. Colors, fabrics, shapes, Earth and Fire tones

3. Mirrors

4. Drains and plumbing, up growing plants or bamboo, rice or grain

5. Lighting

6. Art images

7. Corrections and cures

OTHER ROOMS – Living Room, Dining Room, Offices, Car Rooms

MAJOR BLOCKAGES

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT! Furniture inherited from relatives, divorce or ‘past lives’. Excess baggage, excess weight, large hips and other physical problems.

TOXIC WASTE! Old patterns, thoughts, judgments, anger, lawsuits, control issues, revenge.

CONVERSATION SABOTAGE! Can’t, but and because.

LET GO TO RECEIVE – Clear the Clutter – The magic formula for change.

2003 Class Schedule – Solano College

March 15^th, Saturday, 10am - 12:30pm, $45 plus $15 materials – FENG SHUI ROOM BY ROOM

April 26^th, Saturday, 10am -12:30pm, $45 Plus $15 Materials – FENG SHUI INTERIOR and EXTERIOR HOUSE PLAN for ABUNDANCE

May 17^th, Saturday; 10am -12:30pm, $45 plus $15 materials – FENG SHUI GARDENING – SUPPORT CAREER, KNOWLEDGE, FAMILY, WEALTH, FAME PARTNERSHIP, CREATIVITY AND CHILDREN, HELPFUL PEOPLE AND TRAVEL, AND HEALTH

May 3^rd, Saturday, 10am - 2pm with lunch break or bring sack lunch. $45 plus $15materials – FENG SHUI ART – PAINTING WITH CHI Acrylic

Call Solano Community College for registration, or enroll online.

LOCAL

March 29^th, Saturday, 10am -1pm, $125 prepaid one week in advance.

Meeting Location- Caroline’s Arts and Feng Shui Shoppe, 129 First St., Suite K, Benicia, CA 94510. Call (707) 748-1127 for sign up, space limited. For cancellation policy, please check website: moongateschool.com.

FENG SHUI A HOME

Caroline Patrick will take you through a local home for an on-site consultation! This is the first time she has shared this knowledge with her students. This valuable experience will give you information to use in your own home. Don’t miss this opportunity for visual understanding in the art of placement.

Each room of the home can also be feng shui’d. Children’s bedrooms reveal important information for parents to help their child feel secure and focused in life. Family situations and money cures will be pointed out as she takes you through the bagua of the house.

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

All clients and students receive a 10% discount on their purchases at the Shoppe open 1-5 daily, closed Mondays.

Caroline is available for speaking and teaching engagements. For consultations, call to make an appointment.

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. Caroline’s advise is only considered suggestions and she is not responsible for any problems relating from her suggestions.