Personal Feng Shui (Fashion) | Ascension Lifestyle

20 Sep 2016
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The Greatest Power of Life: Qi Men Dun Jia and Date Selection

You have probably already heard about feng shui, but what about qi men dun jia? It’s all Chinese to you, right? Qi men dun jia is actually an ancient form of divination, originally devised to help form military tactics and strategy. It is based on astronomical observations, various aspects of Chinese metaphysics and the doctrines of five elements and yin and yang. It is the technique that has the purpose of people being in the right place, in the right time and taking all the right actions. If we’ve caught your attention by now, and if you want to learn more about this particular philosophy and the way it can impact your own life, read on.

History and Usage of Qi Men Dun Jia

This practice has existed for more than 5000 years and it can be analogized as “The art of Ancient Chinese Leadership and management”. Some would go further and call it the Invisible power of life. It is also known as The art of the King which suggests that a “commoner” who learns to practice it can overturn a dynasty and become a king. Qi men dun jia can be used for things such as destiny analysis, feng shui prescription, personal wellbeing, divination and spiritual matters.

Divination – The Basics of Qi Men Dun Jia

Qi Men Dun Jia techniques enable us to find a “golden moment” – a specific hour in a day, which combined with a direction and certain action can successfully be performed irrespective of whether or not it is a good day, and based in conventional Date Selection methods. In short, it could be the worst day of the year, but with Qi Men Dun Jia, it is possible to pinpoint one specific hour, and one specific direction, that will enable a particular action to succeed. It can be used to divine the outcome of relationship related problems, academic and business success, wealth and investment opportunities, accuracy of information (determining whether a person is telling the truth or not), feng shui, destiny analysis, and the everyday stuff, such as finding lost objects and weather forecast.

Date Selection and the Art of Finding the Golden Moment

Now we’ve arrived to the stuff that you really want to know, right? Having a solid and a professionally made qi men dun jia strategy can help you never to be in the wrong place at the wrong time again. Here are the life aspects where you could benefit from it. Date selection refers to finding that perfect point in time when you should take a certain action. Conventional methods use Dong Gong and 1 Day Officer system (terms from Chinese metaphysics) and Time Selection and involves only the hour once the date is verified as favorable or not.

Modern Feng Shui consultants use it as a supplementary technique to Feng Shui, in order to help clients to determine the most suitable date for moving into a new property or starting remodeling projects.

Destiny Analysis

Our destinies may not be written in stone, but we can’t argue that some things might be pre-determined. You can get your qi men dun jia chart by calculating in your birth date and time. Your bazi chart will be your compass which will tell you how good are your relationships, how great is your wealth, what are the major events awaiting for you and your loved ones, your health, the career that is suitable for you, the color scheme that matches your personality and even the sequence of events that are going to happen in your life. The people who have decoded their Bazi chart be empowered with the gained knowledge and use it to act positively upon it.

It might sound crazy, but this practice was here long before we had answers to many of the burning issues, and it has remained here since, so it’s worth of shot, don’t you think?

By Ascension Lifestyle Contributor Roxana Oliver

Roxana is a travel enthusiast and lifestyle consultant from Sydney and she loves to write about her adventures. She is all about the healthy lifestyle, loves to run with her husband and dogs and has fun cooking exotic meals for her family. Being a typical Aussie, she often hits the waves and loves beaches and sunshine! You can find out more about her writing following her on twitter and facebook. She is also one of the editors at Highstylife Magazine.

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16 Jul 2015
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How Native American Fashion Looks Without Appropriation

Bethany Yellowtail Is Redefining Native American Fashion In A Beautifully Authentic Way

Cultural appropriation is nothing new in fashion — many designers, brands, celebrities and even editors have been known to repurpose traditional garments for the sake of style.

Twenty-six year old fashion designer, Bethany Yellowtail, is about to change that with her fashion line, B.Yellowtail. Her label draws inspiration from “the sacred and re-imagines it for the contemporary woman,” breathing new life into ancestral knowledge and redefining Native-inspired design.

The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising graduate, who is from Crow (Apsáalooke) and Northern Cheyenne Nations in south eastern Montana, first found herself at the centre of a cultural appropriation debate back in February. London label KTZ sent a model down the runway for its fall 2015 fashion show wearing a dress that was strikingly similar to Yellowtail’s design. Now, she’s making waves on her own terms with her latest collection, “The Mighty Few.”

Named after her home district on the Crow nation, the collection is all about honouring the continuity, beauty and resilience of Native Americans.

For inspiration, she created a mood board centered around a black-and-white photo of her great grandfather, “Hawk with the Yellowtail feathers,” and built around his image with more photos of her relatives from the early 1900s.

“The style from that time period was transitioning from traditional wear to apparel influenced by European assimilation,” she told HuffPost Canada Style via e-mail. “I love these images because they speak true to the resiliency of our people. Regardless of the times or circumstances, there were always strong elements of Crow design and craftsmanship, especially in attire.”

This inspiration translated into stunning pieces including a French lace top with elements of elk teeth hand stitched onto it, a colourfully printed women’s warrior ledger scarf and a floral tea skirt with artisanal beadwork.

She chose to feature only indigenous people in the campaign, from the models (Jade Willoughby, Martin Sensmeier) to the photographer (Thosh Collins) to the video editor (D.E. Hyde) and even the poet (Tazbah Rose Chavez), so she could accurately share an authentic story through fashion and art.

“From my own experience, I’ve often found that people’s perceptions of what Native American people are, is very limited and often times constrained to a stereotypical ideal,” she explained. “The media, film, and especially [individuals] in fashion perpetuate those ideas by creating generic and romanticized versions of our ancestors.”

“I want the people who view my work to see the faces, hear the voices of our people, and participate in an authentic story that honours our diverse nations,” she continued. “My hopes are that the campaign showcases a variety of the immense talent and diversity that exists within our native nations.”

And while she does draw inspiration from Native Americans, B.Yellowtail is for people from all walks of life. The line takes pride in storytelling through fashion in hopes of authentically representing its nations, while sharing its culture and creative an inclusive space.

“For me, my mission is not about trying to combat cultural appropriation,” Bethany explained. “I simply want to carve out a space where an authentic voice and an authentic representation of Native America exists and thrives. If that means we’re combating cultural appropriation while just being true to ourselves, then that’s a bonus.”

You can see more of Bethany’s work on her website, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

About the Author:
Madelyn Chung
Madelyn Chung is the editor of StyleList Canada, and a self-professed shopaholic and fashion/beauty/pop culture junkie. A graduate of Ryerson University’s School of Journalism, Madelyn’s past stints include Lifestyle Editor at MSN.ca and Associate Editor of Digital Marketing at Rogers Digital Media. In her spare time, you can find Madelyn live-tweeting during TV shows, jamming on the piano and ukelele, and indulging in some good eats around the city.

08 Jul 2015
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13 Eco-Conscious Fashion Brands You Need to Know

Some people might still picture eco-friendly fashion as being something for granola types. And true, eco-conscious duds might not have the most stylish history, but thanks to growing interest in sustainability and the rise of a “slow fashion” movement, more and more designers are proving to us that fashion and nature can coexist, putting out collection after collection of eye-catching getups. Intrigued? Here are some of the best and most accessible places to find clothing that is designed with both the environment and style in mind.

1. ASOS Green Room: Don’t worry, you won’t have to kiss this online retailer goodbye after embarking on your environmentally friendly wardrobe mission. Check out The Green Room for clothing made with eco-conscious materials and designers that support fair-trade principles.

2. Litke: Behind the minimalist design, eccentric tailoring and unique touches of Catherine Litke’s self-titled line are quality organic fabrics, handmade details and a business model that puts local manufacturing high on its priority list.

3. Amour Vert: We’re falling hard for this super chic and incredibly conscientious brand. Maybe it’s their “With Every Stitch a Purpose” motto, or maybe it’s the made-in-the-USA manufacturing process, non-toxic dyes, sustainable fibers, innovative fabrics and zero-waste design philosophy. Oh, and did we mention that they plant a tree for every Amour Vert t-shirt purchased? Any way you look at it, this brand has eco-style on lockdown.

4. Loomstate: While the use of organic cotton has gained Loomstate many a fan, it’s their holistic approach to the cotton’s production that really caught our attention. They work with farmers to develop sustainable farming practices that protect the health of both community members and the environment. (via Organic Fashion Blog)

5. Study NY: Sort of like the eco-conscious female version of Tim Gunn, Tara St James knows a thing or two about sustainable design and fab fashion. For her line Study, she explores a variety of different eco-conscious practices, including zero-waste, environmentally friendly fibers and local production, to create minimalist styles with contemporary flair.

6. Reformation: No list of green clothing brands is complete without mentioning Reformation. Using sustainable fabrics and vintage garments, the brand manufactures most of their super chic products in their environmentally friendly sewing factory. The company also uses 100% recycled packaging for every shipment they make.

7. Zero + Maria Cornejo: Using ecological and sustainable materials and techniques when possible (with everything from fabric made from recycled cassette tapes to llama wool), Maria Cornejo creates timeless, modern designs that have been worn by the likes of Michelle Obama and Tilda Swinton.

8. Nudie Jeans: Made with 100% organic cotton and backed by a business model with sustainability built right in, Nudie Jeans is setting the bar high for other eco-conscious brands. They offer free repairs using recycled denim and even give you 20% off when you do decide to buy a new pair.

9. Kowtow: This brand is all about changing the way the fashion industry operates. The bright, modern and minimalist designs are made using 100% organic and fair trade materials. Check out their “seed to garment” video to get a peek at their entire production cycle.

10. Riyka: British-made, recycled and organic materials translate into bold colors, geometric patterns and a fresh sports-chic style that you won’t want to pass up.

11. Svilu: From flirty feminine separates to contemporary borrowed-from-the-boys styles, Britt Cosgrove and Marina Polo’s designs feel timeless yet bold, and are prime examples of the fashionable possibilities that arise when you put environmental and social sustainability first.

12. Freedom of Animals: In the market for a new bag? Freedom of Animals uses high-quality manmade materials (post-consumer polyurethane, a safe alternative to PVC, and organic cotton), non-toxic vegetable dyes, strict EPA guidelines and a cruelty-free philosophy to create to-die-for bags that are sleek, sophisticated and totally on trend.

13. Feral Childe: Besides playful silhouettes, one-of-a-kind printed textiles and elegant tailoring, Feral Childe delivers sustainable design through the use of upcycled, natural and deadstock fabrics, low impact and less water-intensive dyes. They also practice a business model that aims to cut back on the waste often produced in the fashion industry.

Now that you’ve got the full scoop on designers to know, it’s time to get shopping. Not sure where to snag these covetable, eco-conscious threads? Sites like Helpsy, Kaight, Beklina, Shop Ethica, Not Just a Label and People Tree are ethical e-retailers who stock some of the most stylish sustainable fashion brands out there.

Do you have a favorite eco-friendly brand? Tell us about them in the comments!

About the author:

Libby MacCarthy is an urban planner turned writer with a love (bordering on unhealthy obsession) of all things fashion and beauty related. She lives for perfectly brewed coffee, farmer’s markets, dinner parties and perusing impeccably designed boutiques. When she’s not on the hunt for the latest trends, you’ll likely find her plotting her next adventure or nose deep in a book. Libby currently splits her time between the East Coast and her adopted home of France. Follow her daily adventures on Instagram. Find Libby MacCarthy at http://notesfromthebackrow.com/.