March 11, 2007

Feng Shui and the Power Panty
Feng Shui and the Power Panty
Feng Shui and the Power Panty

There is this unsaid assumption that because you are consciously inclined, you automatically understand the meaning and usage of all that falls under its umbrella. Fully grasping the word, the lifestyle and the world that is conscious (plus all of its hybrids and half-breeds) can be quite the daunting task.

Don’t feel bad if you don’t REALLY know what Feng Shui means. Yes, the word seemingly easily rolls off everyone’s tongues these days (by the way, the correct pronunciation is "Fung Shway"), but while you may have the lingo down, you may not have the definition or proper usage. Ask the average person who tosses the term around what it actually means and their response is likely, “Um…doesn’t it have to do with organization and spiritual home design?”. Well, kind of… Let me explain.

First, just to get some things straight, this will be the first of many Feng Shui articles to help you get into the full swing of things. I will shed some light on the basic idea and then slowly feed you fabulous tips that don’t necessarily have anything to do with design.

Okay, here we go. Feng Shui is a 4,000 year old Chinese practice of placement that originated through the use of math and science with the intention of creating harmony and balance in the home, office and living spaces. Using an array of techniques, from simple blessings to the art of placement, environmental and emotional harmony and balance is created.

Feng Shui first began in China where its use was intended exclusively for the emperor. Today, Feng Shui is such a highly regarded practice that nearly all homes, buildings and gardens in China have been “Feng Shuied.”

I will go into more details on the principles of the practice later, but I am cutting this one short so that I can get to some good juice and tips that you can take home today. So, the purpose of a Feng Shui consultant is to suggest "cures”—basically physical adjustments to your space and yourself that will bring harmony and balance and, if properly identified and executed, achieve the desired intention for that particular life area.

My first experience with a Feng Shui consultant was with Hollywood’s advisor “to the stars.” Katherine Anne Lewis has Feng Shuied everything from shopping centers (to encourage the flow of customers and capital) to starlet’s homes (especially prior to awards shows to encourage those six coveted words: “and the Academy Award goes to…”—no, I’m not kidding). She entered my office in the quintessential L.A. outfit—all black, with one minor off element—her shoes. Katherine Anne wore a rather off-putting pair of bright red shoes that didn’t seem to go with the rest of the outfit at all. I assumed it was an oversight. We started a thoroughly captivating conversation about how the ancient practice could potentially “cure” many of my life’s ailments….you know, the usual, more sex and more power (Did I just sound like a man?) What was interesting is that Katherine Anne’s advice for both had my favorite color as a focal point—red.
To attract, keep and make better love, I was advised to spread a red sheet between my mattress and box spring. I know…a bit odd considering that this red sheet would be completely out of sight. The explanation: While red is the color of love and passion, the problem with it being prominent in the bedroom is that this same passion can be explosive and unsettling—the opposite of the soothing and sleep-inducing mood that a bedroom is supposed to produce.

To satiate my power-hungry side, again red. Yes, there was a reason after all for those bright red shoes that Katherine Anne paraded into my office. Displaying the color red helps to encourage success, luck and power in the office place. Here is my favorite part. If your outfit doesn’t leave room for a swatch of visible red that is sure to make an impactful first impression or impress the pants off your company’s conservative board, discreetly bedazzle them by wearing a pair of red panties. No, this has nothing to do with sex appeal. Wear your crimson panties like your secret weapon. Hey, men get to wear power ties; we get power panties!