Catherine Oxenberg

Catherine Oxenberg
Anecdotes, insights and resources relevant to anyone interested in exploring the mystery of life and death.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

WELCOME TO MY BLOG

Welcome to my blog! My daughter Grace helped me set it up (actually she did the whole thing!) and showed me that I could have an interactive (you can feed them) virtual koi pond – in truth they look more like tadpoles then koi, but close enough! I figured I feng shuied (is that even a word?)my house, so why not my blog! I picked 9 fish as that is supposed to be lucky. The number 9 symbolizes completion and fulfillment, and I am hoping that this blogging is a fulfilling experience for both blogger and reader. Feng Shui, for those of you who might not know it, is the art of organizing your environment to invite a flow of good and benevolent energies into your life. The wonderful Master George Yau, whose family has been skilled in Feng Shui since the Ming Dynasty, has been feng shuing our house for the past 6 years. Every year he arrives, sometime around Chinese New Year, and gives us our yearly tune up. This is the Year of the Rabbit and apparently we can make progress by leaps and bounds: after all rabbits hop, they don’t walk. That sounds way better than last year’s volatile Tiger! Every year our menagerie of frightening Chinese statues are carefully rearranged to protect the newly assigned disaster areas. And every year, my husband exhibits a suicidal tendency, insisting that digging must be done in that particular corner of the property; and every year I call Master Yau screaming, “Casper wants to dig in the disaster area!” So, Master Yau gets on the phone and gives him the same speech, “Casper, digging very bad! You no dig there!” and his digging plans are once again aborted.
At first, I must admit, I was a little horrified by the size and style of these snorting statues. A giant bronze bull dwarfs my desk. So, I asked Master Yau, “Could I please hide the bull, maybe in a closet?” I thought he was going to have a heart attack. “Ohh! I thought you good people! You see! You will fall in love with this bull, it will do good work for you, it will bring you luck!” So, I resigned myself to sharing my desk with the great big bull. And he was right, I have learned to love him, I even pet him from time to time. And money did come, so maybe he is earning his keep.
Master Yau is also a koi master. He has a collection of koi as big as dolphins and he has inducted Casper into the koi breeding ministry. Master Yau’s philosophy on koi is, “Men need hobby, something to occupy them so they don’t stray; either they have mermaids or koi – koi much better!” So he convinced me to allow a giant hole to be dug out of my yard to accommodate these behemoth fish. Apparently they can live over 200 years old, so they will have to be assigned in our will.
Koi represent harmony and peace. They symbolize healthy, peaceful community because they never fight. Our family still fights occasionally, but all in all, we’re becoming more and more harmonious. So maybe the koi have been a good influence.
Feng shui seems superstitious to me and I am not a particularly superstitious person; but I do love the concept of sanctifying a space and turning my home into a sanctuary. And, I am a firm believer in setting a space to intend a certain coherence of loving communication, benevolence, nurturing and creativity. I would like for those who are invited into our home to feel welcomed by an atmosphere of warmth and an immediate sense of wellbeing.
As far as the Feng Shui, the ritual of arranging my house to receive the energy of grace and good fortune is fun; I am inviting these qualities into my life symbolically. I have always had a sense that the home that I create for my loved ones is an externalization of my consciousness and an extension of my embrace. Perhaps because my body has expanded to house creation through 3 pregnancies that this is an organic concept for me.

http://myfengshuimaster.com/ -Master Yau's Link

© 2011

15 comments:

  1. Those fish are very well fed thanks to me! :)

    "Don't forget to feed the fish"- Casper Van Dien

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  2. You are a poet my love.
    I adore you and I am so grateful for insights and willingness to share them with the world!

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  3. I love your Koi. But not as much as mine!

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  4. Great blog about Feng Shui & Koi. I have been interested in Feng Shui for a long time & have tried changing things in my house based on those beliefs but am never sure I'm doing it right. ;) But it is a good idea to find balance in our lives by balancing things in our home. The virtual fish are cute & did get fed, lol. ;)

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  5. Lovely blog...each koi is free to swim where it wants and yet they are a unit..beauty, harmony and fun...perfect as the joyful energy that recreates itself in every moment of your life...

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  6. Thanks for including me in your newest adventure. Please give my love to your family.
    Van

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  7. I dream of being a koi in your pond! Can't think of a better place to live or die ;)
    (might require a scaly tad of nip tuck should I live to 200)

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  8. Nice. I forgot about the pond and the koi. I should have talked to Casper about it last fall when Melissa and I were on set. I don't have quite that much room in mine, only room for about 8 Comets and Shebunkins (much smaller than koi, lol).
    Great way to get started Catherine. Peace and balance.
    Mark (Maverick)

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  9. I am looking forward to learning what you have to share...peace, love, and respect

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  10. Hello Catherine, loved your blog. I wrote a long comment last night, but lost it all as I am clueless on how to do it. This is a test to see if I can get past this blonde moment and actually say what I want to, so here goes :-)....

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  11. I have fed the koi many times, but have you noticed that it's only the black one that eats all the time. Shame, other fishies are going hungry :-)

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  12. Hello it's me again. I found your blog most enjoyable to read and fully agree in making one's home a sanctuary and a place where family and friends feel relaxed and at peace. I also feel that Feng Shui is based on superstition, something I do not let myself fall prey to. I am sure that even without your wonderful master Yau, YOU would be able to make your home warm and inviting. You seem to be an exeptional woman. This I gather from reading Casper's tweets, which I thoroughly enjoy. Warmth and love oozes through his words. He dotes on you and the children. It must be wonderful to be surrounded by so much love and admiration. Look forward to hearing more from you. Perhaps we will see some photos of the garden and the real koi sometime. Take care and God bless!

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  13. Catherine!! I hope one-day I can be as calm and at peace and you come across as being. Your blog is absolutely inspiring and I hope you continue :)

    So!! Have an amazing weekend and cant wait for part two :)

    xx
    Emma

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  14. Dear Catherine,

    Congratulations on your new blog! I can see your writing talent shining through every word.

    Thank you very much for being such a loyal follower of my classical Feng Shui services!

    I am always delighted to learn how the energies of my clients' homes and businesses keep improving after their Feng Shui consultations
    with me.

    Yours truly,

    Master George Yau
    Corporate and Residential Classical Feng Shui Services for Prosperity and Total Well-Being
    http://myfengshuimaster.com/
    Tel. 818-470-4410

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  15. My page must be broken. I can't find the fish!

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