By Caroline Patrick

Happy New Year Monkey 2004

Today I took a walk with my grandchildren around our wooded property surrounding our new home. We walked out of the house through a door which is on the right side of the house. This exit is located in the Children and Creativity of my home, which is the middle right Gua or section of the house. Feng Shui offers the resident of any structure nine areas for the flow of energy or Chi to energize and support your life ambitions. Cluttering any room or outside property of a home can block your efforts to move forward in the direction that side of the home represents. After a long morning in the house, some fresh air was needed for a "Chi" break.

It was time to check the outside of the house as the recent rain storm had the whimsical winding pathways cluttered with small pine and cypress limbs and a few pinecones on the stone and brick paths. I grabbed a broom to sweep the decks surrounding the house as we explored the signs of spring. Trees were filled with buds and leaves ready to burst through with the first ray of sunshine. A few tiny purple flowers, which I had never seen before, had already filled the shady spots under the trees. Purple and blue flowers are very delicate and their vibration high, so this shade of color is special and the flowers don’t last as long as red and yellow species.

Living on an island in the northwest can be an adventure, as it is common to see eagles fly over the roof many times a day. Squirrels scurry up the trees and chatter at the birds to get out of their way, as no one seems to be busier than a squirrel. Deer assume every thing in the yard is planted for their eating pleasure, and they browse through the property morning and evening, while a mother stays alert and on guard against dogs and coyotes during her fawn’s breakfast and dinner time. There is always a private show going on outside as we stand quietly near a window to observe nature at its finest.

The children jumped and ran ahead of me, yelling only as kids do when playing outside. I don’t care how many times I tell them they are chasing the fairies from my gardens with their loud voices, they continued to race through the hidden spaces only as boys can, jumping on every rock possible, taking chances with life and limb at every turn.

Suddenly the youngest one stopped in his tracks and roared Shuuuuuu – at the top of this lungs, came to a sudden halt only to have the older grandson plow into his back with a thud. The little one suddenly threw his arms out sideways, stopping all of us as he announced his discovery. "Deer poop," he cried. "Wow, look Grandma, he’s right," yelled his brother. I silently thanked my husband for teaching his grandsons more than they need to know, and we moved forward with our nature study, but the flowers and fauna didn’t have the same impact after the latest discovery!

Checking the rest of the front, back and side yards for Feng Shui corrections and enhancements, I took mental note of where wind chimes and statuary might be helpful to entice the Chi into our home, best locations for water fountains and what trees needed attention. As we entered the driveway, their grandfather and father were getting the bicycles out of the garage along with protection gear for knees, elbows and head. The driveway is located in the Children and Creativity sector of the side yard and is the perfect place for the kids to play catch and basketball in the great outdoors. Fires are allowed during most of the year on the island, so hot dogs and marshmallow roasts are common at the far end of this yard also.

So life continues and we transform through our living experiences, and the homes we rent, lease and own become an extension of ourselves. Happiness is earned and joy is shared by those of us who have learned to let go of old outgrown thoughts and possessions so our hearts have room for new ideas and experiences.

I watch the 4-year-old with fascination as he explores the world around him. His nose almost touches the new flowers, bugs, rocks, stickers and deer poop. How innocent his face lights up a the smallest discovery. A huge ship passes by as a tugboat guides the vessel into the deep water. "Look, look," we holler. He looks up briefly toward the waterway and then turns quickly back to his rocks and ladybugs. Bugs, snails and making Jell-O are his bliss for now. My job is to keep my grandchildren’s environment in balance until they are able to preserve it for the next generations. Let go of past issues and replace them with future harmony.

Here are a few words by Terah Collins, Feng Shui expert and how she interrupts Monkey’s energy for moving forward in 2004

Greetings,

On January 21, 2004, we officially wave goodbye to the Year of the Water Sheep and launch into the Year of the Wood Monkey.

You may have noticed that the Water Sheep quietly moseyed in last year and performed a Deep Cleanse on your entire life. The combination of the Sheep’s extremely Yin (introspective) energy and the Water element’s spiritual focus shed an unerring light on what needed to be cleansed, balanced, or reinvented in our lives. For many of us, it’s been a very healing, maturing year, with wave after wave of opportunity to clearly see, deeply contemplate, and mindfully change what's no longer "holding water (spirit)" in our lives.

Your inner work, and the attendant changes you’ve made in your life, have cleared the way for the incoming energy of the Wood Monkey. Get ready to lift your head high and spring forward into new activities, relationships, and opportunities. The clever Monkey is about to swing in with the Wood element’s intuitive focus, giving us the gift of foresight and the desire to expand into new territory. Considered a particularly lucky year, we are all encouraged to express our brilliance and stretch OUT as pioneers, innovators, and co-creators in the world. The Monkey is also quite "chummy" and fun loving, inspiring all kinds of personal and professional relationships to flourish. This is the year to step from the depths of inner purification into the heights of outer possibility.

How wonderful!

Before the Sheep finally meanders away on January 21st, consider whether you’ve completed the cleansing necessary, both within yourself and in your environment, to step fully into a whole new world of opportunity. Your connection with spirit and your ability to move forward with grace and ease will be your greatest assets as the New Year lifts you up and carries you swiftly forward. Prepare the way and enjoy every moment!

Sending you Blessings and much Love,

Terah Kathryn Collins

Caroline can be reached at:

Caroline’s Feng Shui Concepts

2511 Commercial Avenue

Anacortes, Washington 98221

(360) 293-2268.

caroline@fengshuiartistry.com

www.fengshuiartistry.com

www.moongateschool.com