Yin Yang Economics

On the Friday after Thanksgiving my husband and I went shopping. The mall wasn’t as crowded as I expected and our parking angel got us a spot right near an entrance so all-in-all it was very enjoyable.

As we were driving home we discussed the concept of this day being called Black Friday, coming from the simple fact that stores hopefully register profits for the day— their income column will have a larger number than the expense column. In the days when these accounting ledgers were filled in by hand, red ink was used to write in the final number if someone was in debt or experienced a loss and black ink was used for this number if there was a profit.

From a yin-yang perspective this makes some sense. Yin energy is receptive, pulls in—the flow is toward the center. Yang energy is expansive, expressive— the flow is outgoing. When a situation is "in the black," money is coming in, flowing toward the company. When someone is "in the red," money is going out, the company is losing profits. The red color, in fact, could be considered an alert in case anyone reading the accounting books didn’t notice the small minus sign in front of the number— the red color would draw their attention.

Due to this accounting tradition, people get confused about the term Black Friday. It sounds ominous—like something a person would want to avoid. In fact, the recent economic turmoil the country is experiencing has been compared to a day back in 1929 called Black Tuesday or a similar day in 1987 called Black Monday. These were NOT profitable days; there were no gains to be had. So, of course, we’re confused. In one economic situation black is good, in another black is bad. Perhaps this discrepancy between black being good or bad is a higher symbol of the discrepancies (i.e. confusion) that are inherent in our economic system in the first place.

Despite all that, we shopped at the mall on Friday oblivious of good black or bad black, yin or yang, knowing there will always be inconsistencies. Some of those "sales" weren't such great

bargains either.

Feng Shui in the Oval Office

I haven’t heard from anyone in Washington yet, but just in case someone calls (like Michelle or probably her assistant) requesting some Feng Shui for the Oval Office, I’m starting to put some ideas together. I figure when the call comes in, I’ll have to move quickly.

So here are some initial thoughts and ideas. Aware of President-elect Obama’s national plea to work together and make sacrifices as a unified team, the round/oval shape of the room is a benefit. This shape reflects unending unification; it creates a potential for communication and discussion; and it is symbolic of heavenly energy—the kind of strength and support our new president will certainly need. So thankfully no major renovations will be needed.

Due to the three doors opening into the room, the desk does need to be positioned in the back part of the room. The problem, however, is that here sits our President with his back to a window. This window wasn’t always there----earlier pictures of the Oval Office show a solid wall. Of course, the President will be outfitted with a state of the art chair which I’m sure will have a tall back on it, but shouldn’t we be extra cautious these days? I will strongly suggest to First Lady Michelle (or whomever) that the President not only have a high-backed chair, but also a solid wall. Out with the window. And no artwork will be hung behind him to distract anyone from looking directly at our President.

I draw your attention to the center of the room. It is no wonder this last presidency had some issues play out what with the two sofas opposing one another----a statement about continual opposition and arguments. I will suggest no sofas, but chairs that can be moved and re-arranged as needed, reflecting a theme of flexibility and adaptability in this presidency. I will also suggest a round coffee table in the middle of it all to act as a stabilizing hub.

I was struck by the photo of President Bush and the President-elect meeting in the Oval Office for the first time. Although the chairs are positioned at an angle to support communication, what you don’t see is that there’s a door from the hallway behind them making them both vulnerable. There is also a definite break in their rapport evidenced by the line of energy coming from the presidential desk and the coffee table, in effect, placing them on different sides of the issues. Another reason to support changing the layout of this central area.

Finally, because our new President seems to be fearlessly breaking new ground, I might venture he coordinate that idea in his Oval Office as well. What if, instead of all the chairs/sofas/coffee tables in the center of the room, he install a large round conference table where he could meet with heads of state in an equal yet focused way? Where it would take on a board-room look—professional and business-like, yet supporting productive discussions.

Well, I’m ready if anyone should call. Who knows, they might decide they need a full-time resident Feng Shui consultant to be just steps away from the action. For my country, I’d be there.

Unabashed Chinese

As fellow travelers start to share photos of our recent China journey, it’s like seeing the trip through different eyes. Situations which I didn’t particularly think to photograph, someone else did. What struck me as worthy of lots of memorable snapshots, someone else skipped over. A couple of times I was sorry I didn’t get some record of what was happening, but luckily others did. One thing we all documented with vigor were the people in the parks.

The public parks for the Chinese are venues for people to perform----to sing, to dance, to do tai chi. These aren’t professional performers, but people who like to get together, who like to have a good time, who will dress up in costumes, who laugh and enjoy themselves. They particularly get a huge kick out of pulling in any gawking tourists to dance with them. We learned we had to keep moving along----if we stopped to watch we were sure to be targets for their enthusiasm, pulled into some kind of a folk dance, that required twirling and jumping.

How come we don’t dance our the parks? How come I don’t pick up a portable microphone, stand by a tree, and belt out some song everyone knows—even if I don’t sing all that well? How is it I wouldn’t be caught dead waving scarves around to music coming from a boom box? When did we get so hung up? My theory is that performance is an integral part of Chinese culture. It doesn’t matter if you’re particularly good or not—the group joins in to help you out, everyone claps no matter what, and above all, everyone feels good at the end. Inspired even. My ch’i was lifted just watching them.

All this gives me some new and inventive ideas for lifting the ch’i in a space----- a new Feng Shui approach. With kareoke machine in hand and dancing shoes on feet, what better way to clear out those dark energies, those lurking spirits, those dead clutter areas? What dank, moldy basement couldn’t benefit from a short musical number----maybe a costume to enhance the experience? Maybe a waving scarf? Maybe not.

A Tall Tale of Politeness in China

The first time I went to China (2002) with my husband, we were regularly stopped to have our picture taken. A whole bunch of Chinese people would come from seemingly nowhere and crowd around us. They were always polite and gracious, but always on the verge of laughing uncontrollably. My husband and I would stand in the middle, smiling at the unexplained attention we were getting. They would take picture after picture of us, other cameras would show up, we kept smiling.

I always knew they were amused by his height (6'7"). After all, when any of the Chinese would come stand by him, they would be the same height as his belt buckle which they found hysterically funny. But it didn’t explain why I was included in these photo moments. I’m not that tall by their standards. Was it more than his height? Were we that special looking? So outstandingly handsome that people couldn’t help but ask for a picture with us? Or were we just freaks? Whatever, they were always gracious to us and thanked us profusely.

Over the years, these polite photo forays continued. Last year, as we were coming out of a museum, a group descended on us for the usual snapshot experience. We stopped walking, preparing ourselves for the onslaught of twenty or more people who would gather around us. One young woman, however, cut in front of me and took my place by my husband's side. I was relegated to standing behind her, virtually unseen. Some of her friends came along and crowded me out altogether. I stepped aside unnoticed. I watched from the sidelines as the laughing went on and cameras were clicking. Alas, I realized this photo scene wasn’t about us as a couple, and, lest I had any other idea, it certainly wasn’t about me----it was merely about a tall man in contrast with short people which the Chinese find very, very funny. Things are loosening up in China, and so are those Confucian ways that require strict decorum. I can only surmise that up to that point politeness had prevented them from asking me to step aside, until one young Chinese figured out how to make it happen.

Truthfully, watching my husband surrounded by all those short laughing people was a highlight for me. I was happy to relinquish my image, however photogenic it may or may not be. And I'm happy to see their shining faces and hear their delightful squeals----even if they aren't so polite

anymore.

China Memories

As I integrate a recent trip to China, I am a bit overwhelmed with unpacking, sorting, catching up, not to mention jet lag. It will eventually all settle into a warm, satisfying experience but this initial phase is a little rough. Over the next few weeks, I intend to share some of these memories—those small details, as well as those huge moments. I can’t say there will be any order or progression, just drop-in segments.


Hinda and I were obviously both struck with the impact of the Olympic Park. Let me continue on that thought. As luck would have it, the Olympic Park opened up to the public the very week we were in Beijing. We hadn’t planned to actually go in the buildings but only to drive by or take photos from the outside. However, timing was on our side and we were able to buy tickets to get inside the Water Cube and the Bird’s Nest.


I had heard theories that someone had come on board to offer Feng Shui advice as the Olympic Park was being put together, but then I heard that was not true. Our guide was pretty adamant that Feng Shui had been left out of the plan since, after all, "it was nothing more than superstition." However, as I got to see the buildings up close and personal and when especially I got into the Beijing Planning Museum, it was clear to me that Feng Shui had been integral to the layout of this Olympic Park.


Anyone who has visited the Forbidden City in Beijing will hear the story about how its front gate is facing directly south, the halls are facing south, and each of the thrones are facing south. This afforded the emperor (the son of heaven) to take advantage of this auspicious direction while he was ruling the Middle Kingdom. The south brought the warm winds and the sun. There is a meridian line that runs up from the south of Beijing, directly through Tiananmen Square and into the Forbidden City, past the Forbidden City and up into the northern part of Beijing. This same meridian line runs precisely between the Birds Nest and the Water Cube, linking it to the imperial strength and power of the emperor’s world. The Bird’s Nest is on the east side of the line; the Water Cube is on the west side.


The Chinese have a concept called san cai, or three treasures, which is built on the philosophy that balance is built on positive energy of heaven, earth, and mankind. One common way this is seen is in the ancient coins used by the Chinese during the Ming and Qing dynasties in which
the coin is round (heaven) with a square hole in the center (earth). The transfer of the coins from person to person captured the element of mankind. It is certainly no accident that the Bird’s Nest is round/oval and the Water Cube is square/rectangular with a walking path for people in-between. A creative blend of these three treasures.


Furthermore, the prevalent color for the Bird’s Nest is red; the color for the Water Cube is blue. Anyone who has studied Chinese philosophy knows that the Five Element Theory is a foundational system for the Chinese. And that red (or fire) and blue (water) is a particularly potent combination. The two together will assure action since sparks are bound to occur, as evidenced by the abundance of fireworks that occurred during the Olympics. This fire/water juxtaposition had to be intentional.

So whether anyone wants to admit it or not, it seems apparent to me the Olympic Park was very carefully positioned to tap into a meridian that assured a dramatic display of power and very purposefully constructed to bring about the jolt of energy that propelled the event to new heights—and most definitely assured them of a successfully creative production.