Madeup and Meditating

The weirdest part of the Yoga Journal photo shoot last week was the constant attention paid to my hair and makeup. But maybe it was making my poses more potent.  A recent study of barn swallows revealed that "a little strategically placed makeup quickly turns the wimpiest of male barn swallows into chick magnets, amping up their testosterone and even trimming their weight."

Using a magic marker, scientists darkened the rust colored breast feathers of the males.  This proved enough to draw the attention of the ladies and change the pecking order.  I remember reading about Flo, one of Jane Goodall's chimps, scratching her behind on the trees to make it appear more red so the male chimps would think she was in heat.  And I remember pinching my nipples to make them more perky before the dance in high school. 

How much or little makeup a woman wears depends a great deal on who she is hanging out with.  If your pals are plain like you, you will not stand out as the dull one.  If your pals are always "done" you will most likely be motivated to start to pull yourself together a little better.

Birds of a feather do flock together.  And the Southern California spiritual path has a distinct look.

But who knew it took so much mascara to look natural in meditation.  OM!