West Meets East©

By Caroline Patrick

Yin Conditions and Yang of Hospitals

It would certainly be convenient if we could plan our lives, but the "Powers That Be" determine the unknown situations and learning opportunities we can't predict. This is where Feng Shui strengthens our environment, our physical and spiritual intentions. We have the power to choose our location, invite positive flow and interaction between all three worlds of life's experiences.

Yin and Yang energy is always seeking balance as the good and not-so-good experiences of the Earth spin clockwise and counter-clockwise like the Bagua, or eight-sided octagonal shaped grid of life, spins backwards and forward at the same time, creating a housecleaning effect, whirling old things out the window of life and bringing new life and challenges to the forefront saying, "Take a look at this, take a look at that. See what you want to keep and see what needs discarding." People, places and things fall into this category. Challenges always present themselves at stressful times as a way to keep you moving forward before you change, think, and change your mind again.

So you have chosen your location or ENVIRONMENT, now you must look at your health, or the PHYSICAL aspect of harmony and balance. Have you done your part to take care of the "spiritual temple?" We usually wait until physical pain alerts attention to our bodies.

My husband has never shown any type of pain, and the doctor recently described him as strong! He has never balanced work and play. So the word 'strong' is accurate referring to temperament, beliefs and physical ability. He is also sensitive, humorous and generous. But stubborn defines his latest actions.

He developed asthma working for many years in toxic environments, and his prevailing habit of waiting until the last minute to call for medical help is not a good thing. Early one day I could hear his wheezing and coughing getting worse and worse. I had canceled a San Francisco workshop with world famous Dr. Kazuko Tatsumura on her Far Infa Red healing techniques for healing cancers and other diseases because I felt uneasy leaving him. Intuition about your family and clients intensifies as Feng Shui is studied on a deeper level, which gives the practitioner insight to upcoming situations. I just knew we where hospital bound!

As the lungs pockets swell and fill with fluid, a Yin condition of mucus forms. When the Water Element is over-stimulated, you begin to "flood" the condition. Too much of a good thing, is not good in Feng Shui, as an overabundance or an under-abundance is the action of disharmony or dis-ease. When a person waits too long to change situations, the nature of Yin and Yang, the pendulum will swing with or without you to try and recreate balance.

Since my husband had never experienced hospitals, I decided to let the doctor tell him the news I realized was forthcoming. Yes, the minute they heard his rasping he was rushed to the ICU. No stopping at the physician's offices, just straight down a long, long corridor connecting the facilities. The nurse in front of the wheelchair was running with an oxygen bottle in front of the procession as we ran the full length of the Yang hospital. Bright lights blinked and motors hummed while my wide-eyed husband was taken prisoner. He looked at me pleadingly to stop the process and muttered something like, "All I wanted was an antibiotic?" No one listened to his objections as they inserted IVs and gave serious commands to each other. I stayed way out of the way, remembering my teenage job as a nurse's aide.

"They never let me sleep and the food is awful," he complained a few days later. I knew he was on the way to recovery as the Yang or Fire Energy of the hospital continued day and night. Lights and action full speed ahead. Engaging, aggravating and alive 24/7, the hospital hummed like a city that never sleeps. That is the western world of healing. High-powered drugs filling the body with the speed of light, trying to heal quickly the damage your body has created over many years.

Blending new technology with Earth healing herbs could be a better solution if a person was willing to commit the time and energy. Early on, my spouse would drink the teas and tinctures I would give him to help his lungs, but had decided 15 years ago to stop taking them since he "was better."

Coming home after his ordeal, I heard him mumble, "Hard lesson learned." Yes, now "The Powers That Be" or the SPIRITUAL side of life unfolds, and he must learn Balance and Harmony. Feng Shuing your home is only 1/3 of your responsibility toward true balance. You must learn the spiritual side of nature for yourself.

Look to the center of the home for clues to health problems, as this Earth section needs enhancements of colors relating to the Earth, with yellow being the main color. Square is the shape. Using textiles, tile, pottery made of earth and yellow décor is good for this Gua or area of Ti Chi or middle of the home. Or what is going on in the Center of your body? No matter how Feng Shui'ed your home might be, each family member must take responsibility for their own health. Let go of controlling issues and try to relax. (Read Nancy Santo Pietro's phenomenal book Feng Shui and Health and Louise Hay's small life changing dictionary on body-mind connection called Heal Your Body.)