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West Meets East© By Caroline Patrick BorNei Spring Feng Shui Consultations for Benicia!
Benicia, California is one of my favorite cities, not too big and not too small, but just right. Spring is a perfect time to visit with friends and give consultations to new and old clients. Not many Benicians know I had three studios in town before I opened “Caroline’s Arts and Feng Shui Shoppe” in the Tannery Building on the waterfront. I taught art and gave herbal medicine-making classes, and then introduced something called Feng Shui to the town. The rest is history.
Before computers opened the world to everyone, telephone books, ads in newspapers, early morning speaking engagements, lunches for organizations from churches to General Mills Corporation, teaching a six-hour workshop for the Surgeon Generals, dinners, classes, workshops and semesters of college classes, passing out fliers, doing radio and television interviews, making videos, making cold calls and general networking filled my days and nights. I gave Feng Shui advice in the grocery stores, restrooms and on airplanes in the United States, Ireland, Mexico, China, Taiwan and Japan. I loved every moment. There was only one Feng Shui book printed in English and a couple on Geomancy during this early phase. It was very difficult to find teachers, but I was very lucky and privileged to be in Contra Costa County when Grandmaster Thomas Lin Yun was bringing this ancient Chinese wisdom to our country. Invited by the Asian community to teach Feng Shui and related subjects in the United States, his presence changed my life forever. The timing was perfect and little did I know would blend my art and herbal knowledge with the lay of the land, dwellings, human nature and the cosmos.
Within six years of his coming to the United States from Taiwan, over 264 books on Feng Shui were in print. That was in 2000. Now, The Art of Placement called Feng Shui, translated as Wind and Water, is considered by successful people as a way of life. Just as vitamins, acupuncture, Chinese and Auryvedic medicines have become the norm, so has the importance of “green products.” The Oprah Winfreys and Donald Trumps of the world took notice and follow the advice of Master Practitioners with their lives, proprieties and careers. Much has changed over the last 20 years, and I feel blessed to ridden the wave of knowledge given to us by His Holiness. Personally, there are many challenges life presents, but Feng Shui always has an answer or “cure” to help situations. I am so happy to be able to give information to those who ask. There are many schools of thought on how to apply Feng Shui, and they are all valid in many respects; but after studying with many teachers from many schools, the linage of Black Sect fills every aspect with its cures. I spoke to Professor Lin Yun many times over many years about the different schools of Feng Shui. His manner of patience was profound as he answered my questions, and over the years I continued to see success with my clients when using his corrections, cures and suggestions. His large workshops might have over 500 students, but his ability to read each student’s Chi was stunning. He might answer questions geared for the group, then finish with a quick personal cure or evaluation of the person who asked the initial question.
If I live to be 100, I doubt if I will be able to utilize all that I have learned about The Art of Placement from Professor, but I personally adjust my dwelling as I change and grow. As an example, today I finished cleaning, de-cluttering and throwing away old fliers, old emails, most contact information from the past. I counted over 200 speaking engagements given in a two-year period and over 3000 addresses from past consultations in the Bay Area alone. It has been over eight years since I sold Caroline’s Arts in Benicia and moved to Washington and then Oregon. 5 is the number of change and 9 is a completion! 2012 will be 9 years since I lived in Benicia. I deleted more folders and files. Memories of clients filled my mind, each one separate and important as I read the evaluations. Some companies gave their workers complimentary consultations, and those who chose to take advantage moved forward in many ways. Each client gave me more than I gave them. They gave me confidence and experience of over 5000 visits.
Today I emptied my Silver Helpful People Wish Bucket, went through all of the written intentions I placed in the container over the last few months. Most came true and I was grateful some intentions and wishes didn't manifest. Now I wrote a new note for the future. “I want to have abundance in every aspect of my life. I would like to live and work abroad six months out of the year, without problems or complications,” etc. I said a blessing holding my hands in a mudra of prayer and let the Heavens or action of the Helpful People and Travel corner do its thing! My spring birthday brings new interests, a new life and new beginnings. I place corrections where they are needed, pray my prayers at noon and midnight, take more excess to the thrift shops, and listen to the answers whispered in my ears. I prepare for the unknown with faith, joy and happiness. Fear has been put to bed, as it is rarely needed.
This afternoon the phone rang. A faithful client calls asking for a large consultation for his new venture abroad. I tell him I will be in Benicia from April 26th to May 12th and have a few openings available. Both he and his wife have used my services for 13 years for many businesses and houses. They continue to find opportunities, abundance and always check in before buying or selling. Their health is good and their Chi vibrant, even as grandparents. The phone rings again. This call is from another referral client. She is asking if her friend from England may sit in on her consultation and space clearing. The answer is “YES, I look forward to meeting your friend. Does she have any work for me abroad?” I ask. “I would love to teach and paint Feng Shui Art in Europe someday.” “She knows many people who love Feng Shui,” she answers.
I schedule the clients in my travel calendar, call the airlines to extend my stay and say “thank you” to the universe and my teachers of art, herbs and Feng Shui and for giving me Feng Shui tools to support the wishes in my life. Feng Shui is like a bike. Once you learn how to ride, you never forget how to ride; but if you don’t want to remember all the “how-to’s), call an experienced consultant.
Caroline will be coming to the Benicia area in April; call (503) 208-2960 for more details. If you want an early bird price for our September 14th Trip to the Middle Kingdom of Tibet, please contact me before March 31st. We will start in China and cross over into Tibet mid-trip. This is a lifetime wish and it has manifested! Caroline Patrick BorNei is a certified Feng Shui Practitioner and a Red Ribbon Professional of The International Feng Shui Guild. Her abilities as a consultant and artist are widely known in the US and abroad. Caroline has completed over 5000 consultations for individuals, large and small businesses. Return clients appreciate the value of her suggestions both mundane and transcendental, providing support on multiple levels. As a college art instructor for many years, Caroline understands the power of color; its symbolism and the visual effect images have on individuals in their surroundings. Her home base is Portland, OR where she continues to write, teach, paint, do illustrations and give herbal medicine making classes. She is available for Feng Shui consultations; Feng Shui art consultant, advises builders, architects and mentors a few serious students. Call (503) 208-2960 or email caroline@fengshuiartistry.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. Caroline’s “West Meets East” weekly newspaper column can be read from archives on her website www.fengshuiartistry.com.
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