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West Meets East© By Caroline Patrick BorNei Certified Red Ribbon Professional of the International Feng Shui Guild
What Is Feng Shui To You?
Here is a recent questionnaire sent to me about the Art of Placement. There are so many books out on Feng Shui that I can’t read them all. In my opinion, there are great ones, good ones and “let’s-get-on-the-band-wagon” ones. By the year 2000 there were 264 publications in the bookstores about Feng Shui. My favorite books are written by experienced teachers, consultants, practitioners, and of course, Masters who, with a pure heart, have paid their dues in years, learned from experiences in the environment, experienced physical healing in some personal form, and live a spiritual, non-judgmental life. These qualities give the person an invisible ring-of-truth aura, which draws students to their Chi like a moth to the flame and using the life-changing energy wisely. Here are some of the questions presented:
Dear Masters,
1) What is Feng Shui to you? Some say Feng Shui is a Chinese way of living that teaches us how to organize and harness energy around us for a good life.
Answer: Feng Shui is an invisible energy force needed for life on this planet; a balanced dance of wind, water, wood, fire metal and earth interacting with color, movement, and light in the environment, including its balance with the body, spiritual and planet’s harmony.
2) Is it good Feng Shui to have bonsai plants in the house or at the office? Do you cultivate bonsais at home?
Answer: Using bonsais for Feng Shui is controversial. Some schools of thought suggest using the plant, while others conclude the plant is forced by wires, etc. to achieve an unnatural shape, which is not conducive to a natural growth.
3) There is a Taoist Feng Shui recommendation that says that if you place crystals under your husband’s side of the bed (under his feet), he will stay faithful to you. Did you ever hear of this?
Answer: I haven’t heard of this cure, but if it works, that’s great, let me know if it works!
4) What is unique about classical Chinese Feng Shui as opposed to Feng Shui practiced in other cultures?
Answer: I have always been of the opinion that any surviving civilization has practiced a successful form of Feng Shui.
5) How has Western influence impacted the traditional methods of Feng Shui ? What do you believe are the most important similarities between Feng Shui in the East and West?
Answer: To answer the first part of the question, I would have to answer in this way. Westerners always take information and make it their own. I would caution them to not forget the trials and errors of the original teachings of this art form. Centuries of knowledge shouldn’t be thrown out too quickly, as we dilute the wisdom of this ancient culture to make it palpable to Western traditions. Now, saying that, “Feng Shui will work even if you don’t believe,” is a common phrase used by Master Lin Yun, a world-renown Feng Shui expert.
To answer the second part of your question about the similarities between East and West, I would answer, nothing but politics and ignorance along with a misunderstanding that Feng Shui is a religion. The Bagua or eight-sided octagon is a mathematical template used to create balance for living spaces and land masses.
6) What role do you think has the changing of times played in the progression of Feng Shui?
Answer: I was recently asked to write an article which included my Feng Shui artwork for an international magazine for the Middle East called ‘International Plus.’ Our world, which has grown to include the globe and the world, certainly needs harmony and balance, which begins at HOME.
For me, Feng Shui is now becoming more acceptable in modern life rather than dismissed as outdated Asian superstition.
7) What impact has Feng Shui had on your life?
Answer: Feng Shui has given me a checks-and-balances system to continually check my progress with life aspects. The house is YOU!
Discuss ... Using the Bagua, I can place the grid over my properties, land, homes from the past and future, and define and determine my past and present mistakes and successes with a quick glance. I call this Mapping the Home, a workshop I give frequently to my students. The nine aspects of our lives are immediately presented in the floor plan.
8) How have you proved to skeptics (as a consultant) that the beliefs of Feng Shui are to be taken seriously?
Answer: Early in my career as an artist, I realized every color had a vibration and musical note. Later, learning the energy of herbs and other plants, combing this and other information and experience, it became natural that I introduce this “new” concept to my students. Some took to the ideas immediately, while others were skeptical.
Friends encouraged me to take the next step and give classes on what I was learning from my teachers. Combining all of these experiences, I found people willing and ready to change their lives in an environmental, physical and spiritual way.
Today I don’t consult those wanting me to convince them of anything, as there is no time to waste on individuals with this attitude. There are too many clients knowing Feng Shui works and wanting to book a consultation.
9) Why do you think that Feng Shui has suddenly gained so much recognition in the West? Do you believe people like Lillian Too and many others contributed a special way in the wide spreading of this art to the whole Western region?
Answer: When the student is ready, the teacher appears. The world is the student at this point in time. Yes, Lillian Too has helped in many ways. My presentation is a little softer as my students seem intimidated by her answers.
10) What is your opinion on faux Feng Shui and the impostors behind the falsities? Do they need to be punished?
Answer: Everything balances with time.
11) Is Feng Shui a practice that only aims to bring happiness to people ?
Answer: Hopefully, but we must understand the density of Earth. All lessons are valued by experience. I hope to provide my clients with good advice from my experiences, good and bad, so they can avoid the bad. When proper balance of the Elements is achieved, fewer problems occur.
It is said in classical legends that it takes a good heart to do good Feng Shui for someone; that even if the recommendations are wrong, the sincere good intention of the practitioner alone can override the bad outcome. It is also said in classical legends that even the worst Feng Shui recommendations cannot touch a person with a pure, good heart.
There is an old story of how a Feng Shui master who had traveled for miles under hot sun stopped at a farm to ask for water from a farm lady. She ran quickly to fetch a bowl of water, but threw some straw/chaff into the water bowl. Furious at this act of disrespect, the Feng Shui master told the woman to move her home to the other side of the mountain to receive more good Feng Shui, when in his heart and mind, he knew that this would only bring her misfortune. A few years later, he returned to find that the lady had taken his suggestion. Her family flourished and her farm had extended beyond sight! Puzzled, he told her of what he had done, and she explained to him, “Your body was overheated, and you would have drunk the water too fast; and this would have caused you a heart attack. I threw the chaff inside because it would slow you down in drinking without contaminating the water, and allow your body to adjust.”
12) Do you know of the story above?
Answer: I have heard versions. Women are so smart!!!
Happy week to all of you!
Caroline Patrick BorNei is a certified Feng Shui Practitioner and a Red Ribbon Professional of The International Feng Shui Guild. Her abilities as a consultant and artist are widely known in the US and abroad. Caroline has completed over 5000 consultations for individuals, large and small businesses. Return clients appreciate the value of her suggestions both mundane and transcendental, providing support on multiple levels. As a college art instructor for many years, Caroline understands the power of color; its symbolism and the visual effect images have on individuals in their surroundings. Her home base is Portland, OR where she continues to write, teach, paint, do illustrations and give herbal medicine making classes. She is available for Feng Shui consultations; Feng Shui art consultant, advises builders, architects and mentors a few serious students.
Call (503) 208-2960 or email caroline@fengshuiartistry.com.
Any suggestions given in this column are only for entertainment. Please contact your physician for any medical or herbal advice or diagnosis. Caroline Patrick is not responsible for any misuse of her advice or suggestions.
Caroline’s “West Meets East” weekly newspaper column can be read from archives on her website www.fengshuiartistry.com.
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