Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Wood Element




METAL: She loves that the Metal energy is all about cultivating deep unwavering faith through releasing everything that doesn’t serve us. When we talk about the Metal element in our book, we refer to the energy as Metal Magic where you cultivate your ability to “spin straw into gold”. Yes, it’s about stepping into our power as the alchemist of our life!

Letting go and living in faith is at the heart of Metal energy. That’s what freedom is all about. Look at it this way. When our energy is not consumed by the stress of trying to control everything, we are free to enjoy life. Trusting that we are being guided by God’s loving energy, we can choose to live in faith. Letting go – essential for healthy Metal energy – is such a powerful practice.

The benefits are so great. Instead of being run by stress and perfectionism, you reclaim your freedom when you let go. Speaking of freedom, we are being supported by the universe right now to experience, not only our freedom, but the highest, most powerful part of ourselves–our awakened Self.

FIRE:  In nature, the Fire element warms our body and relaxes our mind.  Not only does it help us attract deep satisfying relationships, it also encourages us to expand our consciousness.  And how do you feel on a warm summer day?  Open, spontaneous, ready to have fun?  Yep, that’s it. 

When you think about the spirit of Fire energy, think joy and warmth.  Think laughter and lightness. Think la joie de vivre.  Oo la la! Oh yes, your Fire energy inspires you to live as a free spirit. Rather than live according to someone else’s design, you live by your own truth.

EARTH: We are here to receive the Light (Divine energy) so that it can be shared, through us. How does this work? Well, picture a pipe with openings at either end. The opening at the top of the pipe represents our willingness to open to the Light of our Creator~that Light is pure, unlimited love, abundance, generosity, peace, kindness, creativity, etc. You know, the good stuff we’d all like more of.

The power of the Earth element assists you to stay open to receive that Light. The more aware and awake we are, the more we turn to the Light to guide us which allows us to live in the flow of ease and effortlessness.

Quiz... "The Earth energy is sweet, nurturing and filled with gratitude. People are attracted to you because your energy is a reminder that life is abundant and you help others see and feel the cornucopia in life. You inspire people to maintain positive expectancy that good fortune will flow into their lives. Avoid getting stuck — transform worrisome thoughts by trusting that other people and the Universe will help you too. Remember, you are internally centered and grounded, independent of external circumstances."

WATER (Quiz): "Water energy is all about going deep and contemplating the meaning of life. It is strong, enduring, and courageous in the face of the unknown. Think about the powerful energy of a flowing river – there’s never a moment of hesitation, doubt or fear impeding its movement and direction. Avoid getting stuck – instead of freezing in the fear of the unknown, stay on course and connect to your life purpose."

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Fashion Feng Shui for My Mom



PRIMARY ESSENCE: Wood

INFLUENCING ESSENCE: Metal

INTENTION ESSENCE: Metal

APPEARANCE:




Hair: Metal, Wood

Skin: Wood 

Eyes: Metal 

Body Shape:Wood

EMPOWERED SELF COLLAGE: my interview questions...

(1) Which clothes would you wear/choose/look for if money were no object and a magic genie would bring them to you?

LOVE jeans! Casual, hard to mess up, last a long time, don't get wrinkled. So would get MORE JEANS. But she also would get new clothes to wear to church, and those would be dresses and suits. The dresses would be slim with no flare, and might have matching jackets and be made of soft material. Suits would be navy blue. What would be the perfect top? A polo shirt.

(2) Which words come to mind when I ask you to think about your Empowered Self? What would your Empowered Self wear? Where would she live?

Words: loves children, powerful, determined, stubborn, wise, fights for what what is right, stands up for what is right, can conquer whatever needs to be conquered and is willing to do it.

Wear: jeans, pants, pantsuits

NOTE: I created my mother's Empowered Self Collage because her vision is very impaired.



Mom's Empowered Self Collage



INTENTION: What would you change about your life if you could? How would it be different?

More money, more financially stable. Then everything would fall into place.


CLOTHING:

LOVE & WEAR: blue jeans and t-shirts





LOVES BUT DOESN'T WEAR: the gowns she used to wear to college functions when she was a college professor. She never wore makeup, except for lipstick, but did enjoy dressing up for special occasions. They are going to be donated, except for maybe one or two.




SHOULD LOVE: she couldn't think of anything, but said if there were such a thing, it's already in one of her bags of clothes to donate.

DISLIKES: same thing; she said if there were any, they would be in one of the bags of clothes to donate, but she couldn't think of anything.

RECOMMENDATIONS...

All roads point to a combination of Wood and Metal for my mom. Her primary Essence seems to be Wood with influencing support from Metal. So in order to for her to really enjoy and love what she wears, it needs to be casual and comfortable, but also classy. My mother is the kind of person who gets dressed from head to toe even if she is not expecting company. But the outfit she puts on will include a pair of jeans!

I recommend that her wardrobe consist mostly of jeans and t-shirts but they need to be of good quality. For color, the greens, blues, ivories, tans and beiges and paler colors in her color palette are best. For church, she wears dresses and suits, but they will need to be comfortable and the jackets need to be elongated.

Pantsuits would be ideal but she does not allow that because "one doesn't wear pants to church."

Because her Intention is to improve her financial situation, I suggest that every outfit have Metal in it, even if it is just round silver or gold earrings.


The OUTFITS...





Wood + Metal for My Mom


Thursday, August 9, 2012

Elemental Fusions Assignment

Please view the attached photograph through Fashion Feng Shui eyes noting which groups of Energetic Design Elements are present.(Refer to Session 5 recording & visual for guidance.)

Answer the following questions:

1. List which Elemental Archetypes are "fused" in this outfit.

2. Assess whether or not (and why) this outfit would appeal to:
A. The Philosopher
B. The Pioneer
C. The Pleasure Seeker
D. The Peacemaker
E. The Perfectionist












(1) Philosopher, Pioneer, Pleasure Seeker
(2) Pioneer, Philosopher, Pleasure Seeker, Peacemaker
(3) Perfectionist, Pleasure Seeker
(4) Pioneer, Philosopher, Pleasure Seeker

Please choose one of our Virtual Clients (Mickey) and complete the following assignment.




1. Upload a photo of a garment that your VC loves and wears. WHY?


Fashion Feng Shui Assignment: Mickey



She loves it and wears it because it is fun to wear and comfortable. It honors the Earth element by being boxy, comfortable and basic. It honors Fire with its deep v-neck and fiery orange color.

2. Upload a photo of a garment that your VC loves but does not wear. WHY?


Fashion Feng Shui Assignment: Mickey, Two




It puzzles Mickey that she doesn't wear this sweater more often, since the color is so perfect for her, it's comfy and cozy and warm and goes with everything. But she just can't get excited about wearing it, and that's because it doesn't have enough pizazz or whimsy for her. It has Earth energy but no Fire.

3. Upload a photo of a garment that your VC dislikes.WHY?


Fashion Feng Shui Assignment: Mickey, Three



Mickey bought that outfit long before she met her husband when she was dating a guy who said he loved to see women in leather. Though she has never liked it, because it is so uncomfortable to wear and she doesn't like how she looks in those colors, she can't bring herself to throw them away, either. Obviously, they are Water, Metal and Fire energy but would never be comfortable enough for her to wear. The fabric of the tank top gives her some Earth but not enough to overcome what she doesn't like about it.

Refer to Session 5 visuals for information on each Virtual Client's personal energies.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Wardrobe Planning When I Am My "Client"

FULFILL

(1) How would you explain to your client that everything she wears must honor her PRIMARY ESSENCE ARCHETYPE in order for her to feel “at home” in her clothes?

For me, it means honoring my WOOD energy, which means that my wardrobe needs to be unfussy, with nothing that hinders freedom of mental or physical movement, and it also needs to be casual and natural.

(2) How would you encourage her to assess garments by asking herself, “does this honor my _casual__ (ELEMENTAL ARCHETYPE) soul?”

For me, the key words would be CASUAL and COMFORTABLE. Even if the garment has warm, rich color and a general casual style, I need to make sure it is comfortable. 

(3)How would you explain how her INFLUENCING ESSENCE ARCHETYPE (s) tempers her expression of her PRIMARY ESSENCE?

Well, my influencing essences are WATER and EARTH, so that means it is of the utmost importance that anything I wear be very comfortable. But there also needs to be room for creativity & self-expression. There needs to be a bit of flow in the style line or design elements, too, to really feel like me. So lengthy, columnar shapes in comfy fabrics but with a bit of flow and uniqueness.

(4) What are the most important things for her to remember in order to make authentic clothing choices?

Comfortable
Casual
Somewhat Fluid

Find a photo of a garment that would fulfill your virtual client.


FORTIFY

(1) How would you explain how to choose design elements from the Energetic Design Elements for her archetype that represent her INTENTION?

I have a double intention, for health/growth (WOOD) and peace of mind (EARTH), and for me, the best way to add both is columnar shapes, earthtones and the color green.

(2) How would you explain how to adjust it to her ESSENCE?

I would need to make sure they aren't too boxy or structured. They would need to add some fluidity, for WATER. Might also want to choose the darker earthtones, too.

Find a photo that affirms your client’s INTENTION but also honors her ESSENCE.


FLATTER

(1) How would you explain how to find elements that are in visual harmony with her BODY TYPE?

That would be EARTH, so they would need to be boxy in style and substantial weight in fabrics. However, I also have a slightly elongated torso (WOOD), so would need that in my clothing as well.

(2) How would you explain how to find elements that are in visual harmony with her APPEARANCE?

My coloring is mostly EARTH, so yellows, browns, and other earth-toned colors. Dark brown to mirror my hair, amber/topaz for my eye color and light brown for my skin.

Find a photo that honors or mirrors your client’s hair, eye or skin tones and body type.


FUNCTION

How would you explain how to find elements that would be appropriate for her lifestyle?

I have a very casual (WOOD) lifestyle, so would need casual and natural clothing.

Find a photo that honors your client’s lifestyle.

Monday, July 9, 2012

7 Outfits Deconstructed


Because this seems to hide a multitude of sins, this one is my favorite!

I think it is Wood both in structure and in the top's seagreen color. It's comfortable, allows for freedom of movement, and is a casual outfit.

But it also has some flow, so may have some Water-ness, as well.

I am not sure if the top is boxy enough to be considered Earth, too, but the structure reminds of Earth.

And I'm not sure if the bigger buttons are bold enough, but they did make me think of Fire.




I think these colors combine Earth and Water. Brown is a good solid Earth color, but the inner dark brown is a nod to Water's darkness. There is a boxy look to it, which is Earth, too. And the cardigan is textured, so more Earth. The jewelry is chunky: Earth.

I'm wearing pants (Wood columns) and the outfit is both comfortable and casual, which suggests both Wood and Earth. The fabrics are basic knits. And the outfit has versatile pieces, so more Earth and Wood.

The jewelry is slightly oversized and unusual, so has some Water element.

I am not sure the earrings could be considered whimsical, but they do come to a point at the end, and the shirt is a v-neck, and so is the cardigan, so there's some Fire.


Okay, we're starting off with Fire here, with the orange and red-orange colors in the cardigan and pullover top. And the cuff on my arm might be big and bold enough to be considered Fire?

The pants are Wood and the outfit, to me, seems to combine columnar with boxy, so I would say Wood and Earth. The shirt has some texture, so more Earth. And the outfit is both comfortable and casual, is made of knit/cotton fabric, and allows for freedom of movement, so combines Wood and Earth.

Do the round buttons count for Metal?

The top might be fluid enough for Water. But I have to say that that is what I didn't like about it. It's a little too unstructured. It is a slub knit, though, so also Earth.



The scarf here is a big splash of Fire red! My lipstick is red, too.

The green duster seems earthy, so more Earth than Wood, but it is ribbed (Wood), so it really is a combination. And I'm wearing pants, so Wood columns.

Plus, I guess all these pants count as some version of brown? So Earth?

The inner green tank top is a Wood color, but has some Water sheerness, I believe, on the bottom. I'm also wearing a big, bold ring (Water) which seems like an unexpected touch, but in a green animal print (Fire). Maybe the scarf is an unexpected touch, too?

The earrings are rectangles, so Wood energy.



I absolutely love this pullover, although I think it is not NEARLY bright enough for my coloring. I get away with it, but just barely, and usually I do so by wearing red makeup and jewelry.

I think the shirt combines the asymmetry and flowiness of Water, the ribbed texture, casual knit fabric, freedom of movement and woodsy green/brown color of Wood, v-neck styling and some of the other pointed features of Fire, and the texture/brownness of Earth.

The pants are Wood columns.

The jewelry is Fire red.




Of the seven, this outfit might be my least favorite. I think the cardigan and matching tank top, though yellow and boxy like Earth, need to be a little longer.

So that is why I added the animal print scarf, which is brown for Earth, but also a Fire element. The pants are Earth brown and Wood columns. The outfit is casual and comfortable, with freedom of movement, so a Wood outfit, overall.

Except for the scarf, an unexpected Water addition, because it adds some uniqueness?, this is a traditional Earth outfit, too.

There is a also a big, chunky-but-unique brown ring on my finger, which adds more Earth and Water energy.

And hey, in any outfit which has an open cardigan, doesn't the top in the middle create a Wood column? Does the scarf create a column, too?



This is a favorite outfit for when I want to just be able to put something on and go, so lots of Wood energy. No fuss, no frill! Very casual, very comfortable.

Some Earth energy, too, with the brown pants, and cotton/knit fabric, the boxy shape of the shirt, and it's substance.

The pants are Wood.

The shirt has a v-neck, which is Fire energy, some flow, which is Water, and if creamy white/ivory counts as white, Metal color.

The little knot might be a whimsical touch? Which would be Fire.




So these outfits emphasize Wood and Earth, which makes them good role models for me when it comes time to shop, but they also bring in touches of Water and Fire. Not much Metal, but there's not much Metal in me, either. :)

I think they make a good capsule wardrobe...



Ratings: Still, since I love some and quite like others, I decided to rate them...

(1) 9
(2) 7
(3) 9
(4) 6
(5) 9
(6) 6
(7) 8

Analysis:

The only thing wrong with my 9s is that the colors could be better. Otherwise, they would be 10s because of length, substance and ease.

The 8 and the 7 are not long enough or don't have quite enough substance.

The 6s are not kind enough to the buddha belly, plain and simple. The duster needs to be a smidge bigger and closed all the way down, and maybe with more substance. The ivory pullover is a slight compromise, because it needs to be both longer and more substantive, but I love the color and the ease.

Shopping! :)  ...


Fashion Feng Shui Outfit Ideas