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West Meets East© By Caroline Patrick BorNei Certified Red Ribbon Professional of the International Feng Shui Guild
Caroline is traveling in China once again and will bring you up to date on her new travels soon. Please enjoy these rerun series of her past journeys to Asia.
Three Weeks in China
Pearl Buck, the famous writer born to missionary parents living in China, wrote many books relating her experiences of life as a child growing up in the early 1900s. I was not too interested in reading during my early school years, and my teachers were concerned I would never get in all my book reports required to pass 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. I barely made the requirements because I loved the outdoors and didn’t like to be confined by the hours needed to do the assignments, and waited until the last minute every semester to finish the tasks – that is, until I found Pearl Buck’s books. My mother was checking out one of her novels when I was drawn to the cover illustration. A Chinese farmer and his ox were shown toiling the fields of earth while green sprouts of spring peeked through the title, The Good Earth. After she finished reading the book, I picked up the publication and was captured by the adventures of her life in Asia. Reading became a wonderful pastime as I read the whole series. But I never felt the urge to visit the country as it was so far away and I had other places in the world which I felt I wanted to see; until, that is, I received an email from the Yun Lin Temple in Berkeley, California. The itinerary read: Please join us on an 18-day journey to China and study Feng Shui and where it began, with HH Master Lin Yun. “Sure,” I mumbled to myself. “My family taking care of themselves for almost three weeks?” “What?” my husband said. “I was just talking to myself,” I answered. My son came around the corner and also asked what I was talking about. “This is weird,” I thought. “They never pay any attention to my mumbling.” “I was just reading the email from the temple about Master Lin taking a group to China. He is 72, and I doubt if there will be many more trips for that amount of time, since he uses a wheelchair for some of his touring now,” I explained. “How much?” my husband asked. “For what,” I countered. “The trip?” he said. “Too much,” I moaned. “Doesn’t matter Mom,” my son chimed in “YOU’RE GOING! Take my frequent flyer miles and go.” So that is how my journey to China began, with Master Lin Yun and 70 other colleagues. When my friends found out about my plans, they replied, “You will never be the same after your trip.” “Why,” I asked? “It changes everything, values, attitudes, and state of mind, and it opens your heart if you are willing,” they replied. “Have you been to China?” I asked, “No,” was the answer they all gave. “Then how do you know?” I asked again. “That’s what I have heard,” was the reply. I finished giving my college and city Feng Shui classes and began to think about what I had gotten myself into. The tickets were bought and I was really going. The passport was in order and the visa to enter China returned quickly, no hang-ups. The gate had opened easily for this adventure, and I began to measure my suitcase and weigh its contents, as 44 lbs. was the limit for leaving the country, but 140 lbs. of souvenirs could be bought back into the USA. “I can handle that,” as I considered picking up a few unusual Christmas gifts for the far-off holiday season. Soon the day arrived to leave. I checked into the international section of the airport and found 200 to 300 people also waiting patiently to check in and receive their boarding pass. Two hours ticked by; tickets and passes were distributed. I visited with friends from past workshops, and the time went by easily. Then they announced the plane wasn’t making its daily trip from China and there would be a nine-hour delay. Suddenly I was tired and could only think of sleeping. I silently asked the “Powers That Be” to give the extra energy I needed to stay well and enjoy the delay. Some of the travelers left the airport and returned later for the flight. I found a good bench, a good book and enjoyed eating dinner with friends. (Continued next week)
Greetings to all,
I am opening new a new office in Portland and closing down the office in Mt. Vernon, WA and will be in residence by September 1st.
Much of my work has expanded to Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, California and other locations, which makes Portland a pivotal location for travel, teaching, speaking and the arts. MILEPOST 5 is a community for Creating and is 15 minutes from the airport.
I will be traveling to Canada, China and Arizona in-between the relocation, so the phone number above is the best way to stay in touch for now (also email) ... temporary phone is (360) 420-5096. For teaching schedules, please go to www.moongateschool.com.
Thank you for your continued support, stay focused and let the OX of 2009 plow the fields of opportunity, but decide now what you want planted now.......for 2010 and in the future.
Blessings and good Chi,
Caroline Patrick BorNei Certified Feng Shui Consultant Red Ribbon Professional of the International Feng Shui Guild www.fengshuiartistry.com caroline@fengshuiartistry.com
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