West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

Teachers, Children and Feng Shui

I get many emails concerning children, their bedrooms and education. Read on to understand how all three can successfully be combined.

I am a college student in the state of Texas. I am not a traditional student. I am a single parent, 46 years of age, and I was injured in an automobile accident four years back, leaving me with the use of only one arm. Originally from Sacramento, California and open to nontraditional healing, I received great guidance through a difficult time with the assistance of Feng Shui. I am giving a speech to young students about the major uses of Feng Shui, and I was looking for some very basic information to give these young people. I am very aware of their non-interest and of their lack of diversity. This area is a major chemical environment and secluded even from neighboring Houston. I was hoping to open the minds of these kids to a practice that has helped me with many struggles. I have a captive audience and would like to give an informative presentation. I am not a professional speaker, just a mother of five with a willingness to share useful information. Do you have any information or suggestions available?

I am grateful for any assistance.

Sincerely,

A Reader

Dear Reader,

Thank you for writing. Getting the word out there is what we need. I congratulate you for willingness to speak to young people and your preference with college. You didn’t mention the age of the group you would be speaking for. I disagree that children or teens have a lack of interest, as I have spoken to many groups of mothers on the Art of Placement. The Santa Clara Country Educational system had me speak before their annual convention for several years, educating the teachers and administration on Feng Shui.

During these workshops I would teach school officials how to use Feng Shui beneficially for the teachers and students alike, from the superintendent’s offices to the classroom, arranging the teacher’s main desk first, putting him/her in a power position so they had respect for their instructors. When a student was ‘acting out,’ we would analyze the situation with the Bagua and find out what was bothering the child, then place the child’s desk in the section of the room which would support his weakness, which helps the student become stronger in that area of their life. One example might be if the child is in dangerous situation at home, or his or her parent is a getting divorce. Place this student in the Children and Creative or the middle far right side of the room for support, place two bamboo flutes high up with red cord on this wall, about three feet apart with the large roots sections slanted at an angle downward with the mouth piece facing upward. This Feng Shui Wood Element cure gives support to all the children in the room. Place his back against the wall for further support. It also brings peace and joy to everyone in the classroom.

Teenagers love Feng Shui! It gives them security, pride, self-esteem, and money. Bed and desk placement are crucial when arranging the room. They can educate their parents to the ancient practice of Feng Shui, as it is not a religion, but a system similar to the one used by acupuncturist and Chinese doctors. Each of the nine Guas reflects a part of mankind’s actions and reactions. Dorm rooms can be confining and cramped. Hanging mobiles from the ceiling or a 30 to 40mm round faceted crystal between shared bathrooms or beds can improve grades. When desk chairs face walls, add a small round convex auto mirror on the desk wall. This will allow a large view of the entry door, so concentration and grades are improved. Getting this view from behind keeps your nerves healthy. Mirrors that are too small or cut off your head when looking at yourself confine thinking or cause head injuries.

Using the Helpful People and Wealth Corners of their room for adding written notes for scholarships is a great way to understand the flow of energy on a mundane level, and a prayer to send the wishes to the ‘heavens’ enlightens the student of a higher power at work in their lives. Learning to build better homes with Feng Shui design will bring peace to the home, which brings peace to the cities and invites peace and harmony into the world, as problems are unblocked. Keeping their rooms free of clutter has a worldly and personal value. Responsibility practiced on the physical and environmental level will help the planet heal.

Young children love for me to visit their rooms. Each room tells a story. You should learn how to read the energy of the child through the placement of the furniture, etc. in their bedroom. I had one boy who would become tired and lethargic when he played or studied in his room. The arrangement looked good and I could find little wrong with it, but he looked sad and unhealthy, and I left the home with the issue unresolved. I decided to talk directly to the young boy. Asking his parents if I could talk alone with their son, they agreed immediately. We went to his room and looked around the walls. The artwork was non-violent, his bed position was good, but the room seemed dark even though the lighting was adequate. I could see no visible clues so I began to tune into the ‘feel’ of the space.

We chatted and laughed softly while I listened. His grandmother seemed a big influence in his life and with her recent passing, he was sad. On a hunch I asked him where she slept while she was alive. “Here,” was his answer as he pointed to the bed. She had died at home in the very bed he was pointing to. We had found the reason for the energy drain. I suggested to his parents that this boy needed a new bed with new energy!

What I have witnessed many times is that we save too many things: furniture, clothing, mattresses and rugs, which have a lint-type of Ling energy. This very dense Yin Chi is a build up of stale, blocked thoughts, anger and stagnant energy, which needs to be cleared away. Save the things you love and recycle the others. Use new paint colors, paintings, rugs and decor to liven up children’s rooms. Pay attention to the colors of clothes worn by the child as all things are related in health matters.

Have the children or adults draw their home and where their bedroom is located in the floor plan. Let each child look at his/her own drawing, as you draw the Bagua on a white-board. Label each Gua with shape, color and element. Ask about family or personal problems. The visual demo always gets attention.

P.S. If the child’s bedroom is in the Partnership section of the house, or far back right, it is a clue that the child is taking on too much adult stress and hopefully can be switched to another room.

Sincerely,

Caroline Patrick

Caroline is a Feng Shui consultant, artist, herbalist, newspaper columnist, businesswoman, author and teacher. She has conducted over 3500 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 advice is only considered suggestions and she is not responsible for any problems relating from her suggestions. Please consult a physician for any diagnostic evaluations concerning your health.

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