Dress for Successful Feng Shui

By Victoria Pendragon

Colour is one of the keystones of Black Hat Sect Feng Shui and the subtle manipulation of a shade of paint can set the tone of a whole room. The dramatic implication of a well-placed splash of colour can energize or alter a given element within the room.

Colour and the five elements, Fire, Water, Metal, Wood and Earth, are historically and intrinsicaly linked. Red is an obvious choice to represent the element of Fire. Black is a less obvious choice as the colour of water, but represents the depth of the element. A deep indigo is often used in place of black. Greens and blues represent the blush of new growth on spring trees and, hence, represent the element of Wood. The Earth colours are easily recognizable as being of the earth, browns, oranges, yellows and shades inbetween. The most mysterious choice of an elemental colour may be that of the element of Metal, white. But white signifies the brilliant flashes of light that reflect from the precious metals.

Just as you can manipulate colours within a room to balance and harmonize the elements within that room so, too, can you balance and harmonize your personal energies with colour. Indeed, you can use the principles of  the elemental colour system to influence the effect you have on your clients.

My favourite Dress for Successful Feng Shui story involves the family of an accountant whose office had been transformed by Feng Shui, much to his delight. He wanted to have his home analyzed but, he told me, both his wife and his daughter were adamantly opposed to the idea. He warned me that I might feel a sense of unfriendliness from them when I came to his  home.

I obtained the birth dates for his wife and child and determined, using the 9 Star system of astrology, that they had both been born under the auspices of Earth. No wonder they were opposed to someone coming into their home who might be suggesting that some of their material goods be altered, changed or perhaps even, heaven forbid, disposed of! Earth people often have very special attachments to the material things in their life and they often have a lot of those things! Many very strongly Earth people are also disinclined to change, especially if it isn’t their idea.

Using the principles of the elemental colours to my advantage I donned a red dress with black and yellow accents before setting out to move the earth! Red is the colour of Fire and it is Fire that nourishes Earth. I wanted to make both mother and daughter feel good about my presence in their home The black of the dress, signifying the Water element, would decrease their Earth energy slightly, but in a productive way, since Earth is said to ‘control’ water. I reasoned that the Fire colour would free them to move while the Water colour would give them a sense of direction. The yellow, the Earth element, in harmony with their energies, would make both mother and daughter resonate with me a little more easily.

When I arrived at the home of the accountant, his wife was not yet there. He introduced me to his precocious eight year old daughter who quizzed me mercilessly but seemed satisfied, ultimately, with the answers she received from me about Feng Shui.  She then went back to watching television. When his wife arrived she greeted me with deference, asking me questions over her shoulder as she and her mother, (who turned out to be an Earth person also!), unloaded groceries in the kitchen and discussed dinner plans. But within twenty minutes his wife was actively engaged in the process and was moving pictures and even furniture around me as I spoke! By the time I left, even her mother was engaged in the Feng Shui process. The husband was amazed. I suggested he add a few red ties to his wardrobe to increase his own power within the household!

I send out a form to the owners of the home or business that I will be working with prior to my visit. Among the questions on the form is one on birth date information so that I will have knowledge of the elemental characteristics of the people who will be affected by the Feng Shui. I ask that these forms be returned to me, usually with directions to the site, before the scheduled visit. I use that information to determine what I will wear when I make my visit.

Using the colours of the elements as they function in a constructive or controlling sense, I dress to make the most advantage of my situation as a consultant. For instance, imagine visiting a business that has three owners, one of whom is a Metal, one of whom is Water and one of whom is Wood. The Metal owner is the one who has been pushing Feng Shui and has invited you to visit. She has told you that Wood partner is a complete skeptic. Skepticism can be a very helpful state of mind since it usually spawns many questions. If you are well prepared to answer those questions you can provide the person with the information they need to expand their mind. You know that the Wood  partner is going to need a lot of support to allow a new concept into his life.  You can help provide that support.

You know immediately that you should avoid wearing red to this engagement. Red is fire, and as the direct opposite of water; a destroyer of wood and melter of metal the addition of this element could only serve to antagonize everyone to some degree thereby making your job more difficult. White, the colour of metal, would certainly harmonize with the Metal partner, while making the Water partner feel quite comfortable. But since it is the Metal partner who is bringing you into this situation where the Wood partner already feels threatened, there is no need to accentuate the already existing power of the Metal person. Metal can, after all, chop or whittle wood and adding more of this energy might make the Wood person uncomfortable.

Green would make the Wood partner feel more at one with you, but might make the Water partner work just a little too hard at being in relationship with you since Water’s job is to feed Wood. So wearing the colour black would probably be the best choice in this situation. By wearing black, and emphasizing the element of Water, you will harmonize with the nature of the Water person and make the Wood person, the very person who needs the most attention, feel nourished. The Metal person is already on your side and, since Metal feeds Water, you may find the Metal partner to be a particularly useful ally.

Be sure to keep your own energy needs in mind, too. If the job you are doing is going to take the better part of your day, be sure not to wear too much of colours that would drain your energy. Taking the previous example, let us suppose that you are a Fire person. Wearing all black all day just might drain away your energies since Water (black) supresses Fire. On the other hand, natural colour undergarments could take care of the problem for you since their Earth nature, right next to your skin, would mitigate the effect of all the Water colour you’d be showing on the outside.

 Another option would be to wear an accent piece, jewelry, a tie or a scarf, that is dramatic enough to focus attention so that it can do the job of harmonizing your clients for you. Remember, if it’s under your clothes it’s only affecting you; your skin will pick up the vibrational level of the colour. If it’s on the outside of your clothes, like jewelry or a tie would be, it’s affecting the people you are coming in contact with.

We all know that Feng Shui deals with the effects of energy on the body and with the effects of visual input on the subconscious mind. What works in the home and in the office works on the body as well. Make it work for you and Dress for Successful Feng Shui.

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