By Caroline Patrick

The Yin and Yang of Life

There are sad days and many happy days during our life on this earth. There are many theories of what happens after death, but they say the angels cry when we leave for the planet called earth and rejoice when we pass on to return home.. The yin and yang of this journey is said to be equal. Half light, half dark, both energies are needed to exist on the earth’s environment. Nature must have the sun and the moon to balance harmony in the environment. Masculine and feminine energies circle and merge as life forms, as the chi or breath of life interacts with the five elements of nature. Water, wood, fire, metal and earth create God’s plan as we sit by and only observe "his" works. Spirit, soul, and earth matter or elements forge new beings. Breath from the highest source fills the newly formed being and another soul begins his work of bringing his talents to the world.

During the holidays many souls seem to pick this special time to return home, or what some individuals refer to as heaven. It doesn’t matter how you describe this journey, it will happen to everyone, or that’s what I’ve been told; but no matter when the time comes, it is unexpected. My mother-in-law, lovingly referred to as Mom since I was sixteen, made that decision this past week, to go home. The news came after another fall. Her body was tired and her voice was weak when I last spoke to her. Although after a stroke which put her in a wheelchair many years previous, her humor never wavered and Mom was a happy person.

I met Mrs. Patrick when I was fifteen. She and her husband moved to Oklahoma after many years of farming to run a resort on a large lakefront fishing village. My parents also rudely interrupted my teenage life and built a home on the same huge Grand Lake of the Cherokees. I was in a state of hormonal disruption when my parents dared to made a decision on this untimely move without consulting me! One cold morning when my little car decided not to start, I was left abandoned at the bottom of a nearby hill after trying to entice my vehicle into action by popping the clutch of the stick shift car. One chance is all you got to get the motor running. I jumped out of the puddle jumper and raced up the hill to beg a ride from my father. "Sorry honey," was his reply. "I’m off to the city." I looked at him unbelieving. I was totally stranded in the middle of Indian territory, held against my will with no way to school. I always ignored the school bus as it wandered down our winding one lane rock and dirt path called a road. I hated life and I wanted to move back to my large city school where I felt the security and comfort of familiar faces. "How dare they ruin my life," I muttered under my breath. The next sentence of my Dad’s suggestion changed my life. "Call the Patrick’s store, they have lots of boys, one of them can pick you up, I’m sure." I was totally humiliated by his lack of compassion and sensitivity. "Say what?" I faked instant illness at the thought of riding ten miles to school with a stranger, especially a teenage boy stranger. I was still shocked when I realized the impossible just happened. He called and Marjorie Patrick said, "Of course, Don can swing by and pick her up now." My life was being controlled by adults. God had just been put in the driver’s seat and I was heading toward destiny full speed ahead. I cried in fury and pleaded for mercy but to no avail. My future husband was in his 1950 Ford with duel tail pipes heading toward Benton Harbor to fetch me! As a waited, I tried to remember what this new family looked like. I had been in the store briefly pick up bread and milk for my mother on occasions, but being shy, I ducked behind counters when I saw one of the strange boys in sight. It seemed there were four kids or so. I didn’t take much notice. Besides I was still "in love" with a guy I had to leave in the city.

My mother’s voice startled me as she said, "Here he is." By now I was nauseous and my hands were sweating. "How can they embarrass me like this?" I lowered my head and ran to the car. The door was already held open by an extremely cute guy with a duck tail haircut. His golden brown summer’s tan, blonde hair and crystal blue eyes, made me forget my stalled car and current boyfriend. I was tongue tied as we roared to school speeding all the way. Who were these Patrick’s and why have I never seen this one? How many are there in this family anyway? What were their names? I became very curious very quickly as we fishtailed down the road to my future.

To be continued.

1-DAY FENG SHUI – Sign up for an early spring workshop. Caroline will feng shui a local Benicia home while you watch. Class is limited. Time and date and cost to be announced. We offer unusual feng shui holiday gifts and gift certificates, including hand-beaded crystals for each of the 9 sections of the home.

• Clear the clutter · Remove 27 objects
• Magical energy of numbers
• Remove blockage · restore health & wealth
• Space clearing
• Create altars for any religion or occasion
• Attunements

Saturday, January 11^th, 10 a.m. – 12 noon, Caroline’s Arts & Feng Shui Shoppe - $89

Call 707-748-1127 for registration and consultations.

Caroline’s Arts & Feng Shui Shoppe

129 First St. Suite K

Benicia, Ca. 94510

www.moongateschool.com

Caroline is a feng shui consultant, artist, herbalist and author. She is available for speaking engagements, consultations and workshops. Her weekly newspaper column can be read on her second website, moongateschool.com for individuals out of the Benicia area.