West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

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, and attitudes, state of mind and 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)

Career profile for Caroline Patrick, author of THE POWER OF FENG SHUI ARTWORK IN THE HOME AND BUSINESS

Caroline Patrick has conducted over 2500 Feng Shui consultations and has documented many of these experiences in her weekly newspaper column titled WEST MEETS EAST, which has been a highly popular addition to the Benicia Herald’s newspaper each Wednesday for the last six years. Teaching is her passion and for the last 35 years Caroline’s range of subjects has included art, herbs and Feng Shui. Her classes and workshops fill with eager students learning ancient ideas in a modern format.

Her past and present teaching experiences include Cochise, Pima, Arizona Central, Solano and Skagit Valley Colleges in Arizona and California and Washington State. Santa Clara County Teachers Council Conventions, AMA Continental Congress Convention of Surgeons, and Medical Research Facilities have asked her educate their employees and spouses, and Feng Shui their facilities. She has appeared on television and radio.

Business owner of Caroline’s Arts and Feng Shui Shoppe in the San Francisco Bay Area for eight years, Feng Shui Practitioner, speaker, teacher, writer and author, Caroline has recently relocated to the Northwestern U.S. and lives on an island in the San Juans. Her current consultation business is called Caroline’s Feng Shui Concepts.