West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

Use Feng Shui Nine Ways

This is a recent email I received from a friend and colleague. She gave me full permission to use her name, as many of you in the Benicia and Vallejo area know her. I have known Sue Blanchard for several years, as I met her “by accident” one Sunday afternoon about fifteen years ago at Century 21 in Benicia, California. Sue was and still is a friendly, outgoing person. She was the realtor “on call” that day, and we liked each other from the start. Although I was looking to buy a home in the quaint little town of Benicia, fate took me across the waterway first, to buy a house in Crockett. This episode is another long Feng Shui experience which netted me “by accident” eighty-nine thousand dollars after living in this house less than three months, which in today’s market would be two-hundred thousand or more. My husband and I had to move out of the water view house, because I sold it out from under us “accidentally.” The rumor spread, with the help of Sue, I’m sure, about the Crazy Feng Shui Lady who Feng Shui’ed herself out of her house. “Who could turn down turn down that kind of money with also no closing cost? Not me,” I thought. So Sue once again began to look in earnest for another house, as the lady gave me three months free rent to find a house. Now Sue and I crossed the bridge, once again looking to Benicia for the second house only months after the first sale. The next home came up quickly at a perfect price before the sign went in the yard. We bought it before noon the same day. The water view was fabulous and now the Crazy Feng Shui Lady (me) was living in Benicia. The rest is history. Caroline’s Arts and Feng Shui Shoppe was born. I used Feng Shui at home to help the process and two hundred dollars to start my business. As friends, she helped me find property and I helped her learn the Art of Placement called Feng Shui. Feng Shui can be used in nine areas of your life, such as Career opportunities, Knowledge for study or respect of Knowledge, Family situations and support, Wealth, Fame and recognition, Marriage or Partnerships, Health, Children and Creativity or Helpful People and Travel plans.

Sue is like a chameleon and can change Careers when she chooses. We talked a lot about herbs during her time in the Bay Area. Now I can see where her curiosity for medicinal herbs was leading. I had been studying with some great teachers for over ten years. Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic were my passion when she began asking questions. Now her dreams of becoming a doctor are being fulfilled!

Her current story below is upbeat, and you can tell she loves want she is doing. Sharing these types of stories helps all of us who are fearful of moving forward, giving us new faith that we can change. Using Feng Shui is one way to support our choices, by using each section of our home or office as large grid, similar to a checkerboard. With the Feng Shui grid, there are nine squares, each with a name, a color, an Element, a body part, a shape and a story to tell. Use your Helpful People Heaven Qua or the front right section of your house from the front door to activate helps from others and heaven, when needing help to change Careers, make money, have new friends or get a house painter.

My friend needed assistance from unknown sources and faith in herself to make a decision (as a new grandmother) to change locations and move across the United States, change occupations, go to acupuncture school and financially support herself. She figured it out, using her will power and Feng Shui. Wow!

Here is some of Sue Blanchard’s conversation with me.

Hi Caroline,

Happy New Year!

Well, it is 7:00 a.m. and I’m up and trying to concentrate on getting my stuff ready for my 2^nd day back in my 3^rd trimester of school. Today I have Tai Chi and Herbs 3. I was off yesterday and took advantage of it as I really did nothing all day. On Mondays and Wednesdays I have Clinical Observation (which I started last Wednesday). Oh my God, it is sooo cool, as I get to wear a white coat and everything. It’s official. I’ve purchased my first white coat, and we saw three patients. Our class observed while the doctor (not me) treated the patients, explaining to us what treatment and herbs to recommend. We were able to ask questions, take the pulses and talk with him our diagnoses. It was fun, and the three hours just flew by.

My classes don’t start until 1:15, but I have an appointment for acupuncture this morning. It is really cool as I haven’t had a treatment since my first trimester. So I need a treatment, if for no other reason than a tune up. Do you think it could have been the mounds of candy I ate during finals, and the heavy food I ate during Christmas ... small wonder why I didn’t feel good, ya think?

Speaking of food, in my Food Vitamin Diet class I have to do a presentation at the end of the course on the benefits of a particular food. Okay, I picked red wine and have already started research on it. Okay, not just tasting. It is interesting, as the ingredient that researchers are looking at is found mostly on wines whose vines are grown in cold climates, so there goes the Australian wines for me. Now I need to find wines grown in cold climates. It seems that red wine has multiple health benefits. I have much research to do, and I really don’t want to wait until the end of the trimester to do this presentation. I’ll let you know what I find. So far a chemical called resveratrol has very good properties that help with heart disease, cancer, and a bunch of other things, but I’m still gathering information for research and will keep you posted on how my paper is going.

My Herbs 1 class was very interesting but also very difficult, but I keep thinking of the herbs classes you took. A good portion of the herbs are the same, but I’m not sure that your practice in herbs will use “cicada sloughing.” They really do work, but as I tell all my friends and family if you are sick and want to take Chinese herbs, you will get better … but you don’t really want to know what is in the herbs.

I know you know the wonderful properties of fresh ginger. I’ve had occasion to use it two times now, once on my grandson and then I had my brother-in-law make it for his wife as she was very sick. I suggested frying fresh ginger with honey and then serve it up in a tea. It is great for both upsets at both ends. I know that one is very elementary but it really works well. Okay, why do we need things like Pepto-Bismol when you have ginger … mmm?

Well, I guess that I'd better go for now. Hope that all is well with you and that you enjoy a happy and healthy and prosperous 2007!

Love ya

Sue Blanchard

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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Caroline Patrick Caroline's Feng Shui Concepts Mt. Vernon, WA 360-424-1501

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