By Caroline Patrick

Feng Shui on the Waterways

I often get questions pertaining to Feng Shuing objects such as desks, cars, boats, websites and beds. Everything has a direction and assigning a proper direction to these objects helps align them to the person’s energy or Chi. Here is one such question regarding this subject.

Dear Caroline,

Can you give any advice on Feng Shui for a boat? A friend of mine just purchased a boat in Cabo, and he has just found out that in the boat’s past a murder occurred on his boat. He was thinking about changing the name on the boat before he knew all this, and I told him it was bad luck to change the name of a boat. Now, hearing this latest news, he is going to need all the help he can get and maybe a name change is in order. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I would also like to Feng Shui my boat so I can catch some fish; my luck sucks. The previous owner of my boat was a great man, but he died of cancer and then I purchased the boat from his family. So, I guess I am asking for advice on two different situations.

A Reader

Dear Reader,

Hello, yes, boats can be Feng Shui’d. You will first want to determine where the entry to the boat might be. There are two ways to go about claiming the entry. One consideration is where do you step onboard. Some consultants feel the mouth of Chi, or energy, enters through the engine or the action zone. Cars have this same type of decision to make when determining the Career area of the vehicle. Whichever way you choose, the Bagua or eight-sided octagonal template is placed over the boat with the Career Gua representing the element of water at the mouth of the Chi. Some boats have engines at the front of the structure while others have the action force in the rear of the boat. Then there are inboard cruisers and outboard motors. As you can see, it could be complicated.

Place the Bagua over the vessel with the engine as Career, then follow with Wisdom or Knowledge to the left back side of the boat, assuming the motor is to the back or stern of the boat. Family will follow along the left side and rounding to the left front Wealth and Fame at the middle front of the craft. Continue the rest of the way round the circle to complete the Bagua.

I always like to check the predecessor Chi, or the previous owner’s energy of any property before buying, but don’t despair with your concerns about the boat’s history for both boats. If it is possible, wash the vessel with a sea salt solution, followed by a vinegar rinse. Remove any fabrics and replace with new coverings, if necessary. Give the ship new courage by a prayer, poem and celebration. Place new paint over the name if you can’t change it. There are other transcendental methods which can be done by the consultant to shift the energy, but try these methods first. I believe the power of positive thought to be strong enough to change energy. Water alone is a cleanser and sea salt has properties which are crystals and can shift energy. Hanging a 20mm to 50mm lead crystal, depending on the size of the craft, will keep the energy moving. Using sage and incense also help with sanitizing the atmosphere.

I have always felt better living near lakes, oceans, streams and rivers. I received my very first outboard twelve-foot boat with a 25-horsepower motor on my twelfth birthday. I was "up town," as they say. I was raised near the water, and learning to swim before I could walk was a necessity when the front yard was miles upon miles of lakefront. The freedom of taking off into the waves of an oncoming storm thrilled me. It never crossed my mind that tornadoes were sometimes hiding in the wind as I jerked the starter rope and the little engine took off, propeller spinning as its motion sucked water and spun it beneath the surface of the green water.

I spent many hours exploring the Grand Lake of the Cherokees. Weaving in and out of coves and stopping along the way to make a noon day camp fire, I was never afraid. My father always wanted to know my plan for the day, so I would point in the direction in which I would be heading as we looked over the beautiful vast waterway. That and when I would return were the only requests Daddy and Mother required. It didn’t occur to them to worry since the water was my home. I suppose the innocence of the nineteen fifties will never return, and I morn its passing for young parents today. On these outings my only equipment was a screwdriver, pliers, a loose life jacket, extra gas in a can, siphon hose, a paddle, sandwich and water.

My parents and grandparents owned Cris-Craft inboard boats and Cruisers. Thank goodness I loved the water. Much of my life was spent helping my Dad move docks, restore wooden vessels and working on his fishing docks. I have rescued children from the water several times when their parents were too involved watching their fishing lines bob as a perch was trying to steal the catfish bait as it sunk to the bottom of the muddy waters. I became very sullen about this tiring responsibility as I got older. At thirteen it could certainly ruin valuable flirting time as well as the clothing I had picked out that day to impress some cute boy if I had to jump into a lake to save some little twit. I ruined many outfits in a matter of seconds.

Later I married one of those guys. I choose "the one" with a great-looking boat. He could out ski anyone from The Cow Skin arm of the lake to Sailboat Bridge, a thirty-mile radius as I remember. It also helped he was great looking and didn’t know it. And the second winning factor was he spent all of his week’s paycheck, ten dollars, buying MY CAKE, at a church cakewalk!

2003 Class Schedule – Solano College

April 26^th, Saturday, 10am -12:30pm, $45 Plus $15 Materials – FENG SHUI INTERIOR and EXTERIOR HOUSE PLAN for ABUNDANCE

May 17^th, Saturday; 10am -12:30pm, $45 plus $15 materials – FENG SHUI GARDENING – SUPPORT CAREER, KNOWLEDGE, FAMILY, WEALTH, FAME PARTNERSHIP, CREATIVITY AND CHILDREN, HELPFUL PEOPLE AND TRAVEL, AND HEALTH

May 3^rd, Saturday, 10am - 2pm with lunch break or bring sack lunch. $45 plus $15materials – FENG SHUI ART – PAINTING WITH CHI Acrylic

Call Solano Community College for registration, or enroll online.

LOCAL

The March 29^th FENG SHUI A HOME workshop will be rescheduled.

Caroline Patrick will take you through a local home for an on-site consultation! This is the first time she has shared this knowledge with her students. This valuable experience will give you information to use in your own home. Don’t miss this opportunity for visual understanding in the art of placement.

Each room of the home can also be feng shui’d. Children’s bedrooms reveal important information for parents to help their child feel secure and focused in life. Family situations and money cures will be pointed out as she takes you through the bagua of the house.

Caroline’s Arts & Feng Shui Shoppe

129 First St. Suite K

Benicia, Ca. 94510

Phone 707-748-1127

Fax 707-747-9315

1-5 daily, closed Mondays

All clients and students receive a 10% discount on their purchases at the Shoppe open 1-5 daily, closed Mondays.

Caroline is available for speaking and teaching engagements. For consultations, call to make an appointment.

Caroline is a feng shui consultant, artist, herbalist, newspaper columnist, businesswoman, author and teacher. She has conducted over 2500 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 advise is only considered suggestions and she is not responsible for any problems relating from her suggestions.