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West Meets East© By Caroline Patrick Walking Into Wisdom and Knowledge
The balance of life is a fragile force which demands harmony between nine aspects of our actions. The ancient Chinese masters determined these actions could be visually recorded on a wheel of life rendering called a bagua or eight-sided octagonal template to be used when determining the energy of spaces in the environment. The wheel of life repeats itself throughout the world in different forms for different races and religions. Laws of nature, spirituality and physical interactions are all recorded in many sacred writings, giving us rules to follow to promote success, wisdom, joy, within the family, but also the nations. In the Holy Bible, Solomon prays for wisdom to help speak, understand nature, bring comfort to his people, and realizes wisdom is a gift of God. Also to love one’s neighbors as thyself. Other sacred books describe our neighbors as being ourselves or a reflection of ourselves. This question poses more than where is my front door? It identifies where the breath of life enters the home and brings blessings to the occupants. Hi Caroline, Since I last wrote you about the outcome of the "Irritable Neighbors," all has been peaceful and calm between both property lines. Thank God! My question to you is that the front door of my house appears to me to be in the area of knowledge. The door is at the left front side of the property and stands at an angle which ironically faces the front yard and walkway of the "irritable neighbors." (10/20/01 and 05/15/02 articles). I have been working very successfully to brighten and beautify that area of our property but am sometimes confused if I should consider this the "knowledge" or "career" area. I keep going back and forth when I decorate the yard or dress up the porch. So far, I have put two large terra cotta pots on either side of the front door, filled the pots with large green privets, red geraniums and yellow marigolds. Our home is a two-story home with a large open entry/porch way leading to the front door, which is white. On the door, I put a large dark wooden basket filled with red geraniums and yellow marigolds. It is an attractive entryway when you look at it from the street but there is a large four-sided column that anchors the left side of the house. A sharp corner of this column faces directly to the front door. I want to put a water feature there facing the door and can’t make up my mind on whether to use a large cobalt blue glazed pot or a black one for the water features and more plants to soften that sharp corner. In the front left yard which joins the property line of ours and the neighbors, I have planted more and more green plants, making a natural wall and dividing line. When I look outside my window, I can enjoy looking at these healthy plants and not notice the neighbors. I have added more red geraniums and yellow marigolds and want to extend that area even more towards the front so it meets up with the rest of the floor plan since it is a "missing" area as well. Again, I don’t know how to treat it. Is it the career area since the front door is there or is it the knowledge area because it is located in the front left of the home’s floor plan? Any suggestions? Because of this confusion, I am unclear on how to proceed with the rest of the house. I would appreciate your ideas on this matter. Enjoy your website and newspaper columns. Sincerely, Reader Dear Reader, Hello again, I’m glad you enjoy my column. I try to teach feng shui to those who enjoy balancing the elements of water, earth, fire, metal and wood. These elements can all be used to create a fountain. Using this idea one can select a round container made from earth materials such as clay, which incorporates earth, next add water to insure prosperity. Money flows on water. Following this sequence, select a water plant or bamboo to be placed in the container to bring in the wood element. Add a candle or pyramid shaped item to create the fire shape. Finish off the fountain with round white stones or "magic eggs" to enhance the metal element or select a round white bowl for the water feature. Keep the fountain running at all times allowing the chi to flow into your home or office. Always make sure water paintings, fish tanks, or fish related objects are not placed in an earth or earth related area of the bagua. When introducing water to the center of a living space you are inviting the destructive cycle to occur. Or water floods earth! Your question concerning the large post which seems to block the incoming chi, make sure a windchime is hung at the "arrow" or protrusion of the column. You are correct in your decision to soften this area with a plant winding up the post and a fountain if you wish. Placing round pots at the entry with red flowers invites energy to your home, but the terra cotta pots are made from earth so choose blue or black for the front on the home or even a gray color to the right of the house activating the helpful people area with the vibration of service. Some of my clients have opted to sponge-paint already heavy planted terra cotta pots with combination colors of water, using blue, black and gray. Yes, your front door is in the knowledge sector of your house. Homeowners who choose this floor plan indicates you and your husband’s job opportunities come from a background of higher education and love learning. The slanted left front door could mean you prefer to be a conservative individual when others ask about your training. A feng shui adjustment could be used to "align" the door to the street allowing the energy or chi a better flow. Come and sign up for fall classes now! We have wind chimes in colors, rainbow mobiles. Call for feng shui consultations and speaking engagements. Caroline’s Arts & Feng Shui Shoppe 129 1st Street, Suite K Benicia 94510 Open 1-5 daily, closed Monday Offering feng shui supplies and classes in many areas. Please call or email for interest in the following class subjects: 707-748-1127 or caroline@fengshuiartistry.com Log onto her websites: www.fengshuiartistry.com and moongateschool.com for schedules, bio and weekly feng shui column. You can email her at caroline@fengshuiartistry.com with questions. Fall Workshops 2002 Feng Shui Classes
(Times and locations to be announced)
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