Warding Wackiness at Work or How to Stay Magically Sane Working 9-5
By G. Krasskova

No matter how much you like your job, we all know how stressful the daily grind can be. It's far too easy to be negatively affected by our co-workers and the various emotions they engender. And since we spend almost more time at work than anywhere else, it behooves the wise witch to take a few simple measures to ensure that the ambiance and atmosphere in the workspace are as harmonious and conducive to spiritual productivity as possible! Fortunately, in the average office, this is not difficult.

The secret to not freaking out your co-workers and thereby bringing Human Resources down on your head is camouflage and stealth. Most people are simply not observant of the cues and symbols that those trained in magical practices have learned to read as easily as words printed on a page. This works to our advantage.

Keep it simple
It's a simple fact that we are more comfortable in our own space. That security and familiarity goes a long way toward reducing stress and tension. The first step is to clean and consecrate your workspace on a daily basis. Sound difficult? It doesn't have to be. Upon arriving at work first thing in the morning, simply pour yourself a glass of water, surreptitiously mix a bit of salt into it and bless it in the name of your preferred Goddess and God. This can be said silently so no one need know what you're doing. Then, take the water and trace the edges of your desk and all around the perimeter of your cubicle. Conversely, you can also simply sprinkle it around your workspace to achieve the same effect.

Shield your Space
That being done, the next step is to shield your workspace so no unpleasant energies get in. The easiest way to do this is to ground yourself drawing energy up from the earth. Feel that energy filling your body and then feel it expanding in a transparent bubble that grows until it encompasses your entire cubicle or office space. Once your entire workspace is covered, feel that bubble of energy draping itself, like a silk throw over your space. That's really all there is to it though I'd renew this shield at least once a day.

Make it Sacred
Once you have cleaned and warded your space, the next step is to ensure that the energy within your ward stays pleasant and harmonious. One of the best things you can do is to create a small, unobtrusive, personal altar at work. Consecrate the space as sacred. There are several ways to do this:

A nicely framed picture representative of your Deity (or if you only have a desk, a picture taped inside your main drawer so that you can see it whenever you open the drawer works just as well. If you only have a computer: find a nice wallpaper that reminds you of Deity. Elemental representations make excellent altar pieces: keep plants on your desk -bamboo grows anywhere and takes little upkeep - a pretty stone or crystal kept by the computer or on top of the computer monitor raises few eyebrows, even a penny jar (coins are excellent representations of earth as they represent wealth and abundance) would not be out of place.

Water, water everywhere
To further minimize negative energy, keep a glass of water on you desk all day at work. Discard the water at the end of each day and get a new glass every morning. If you actually have your own office, you may be able to manage a small fountain or even an aquarium. This is a excellent way to increase the flow of clean, positive energy throughout your workspace. Whatever you do, don't drink the water though!

Color Therapy
Pay attention to the colors you wear to work. There are times when you may wish to wear colors specifically associated with your Patron Goddess or God. It can be very soothing. It also makes us more aware of our Patrons' energy around us, which can have a very enlightening effect. It's a simple way of connecting to that Divine presence and empower yourself throughout our day.

Leave it at work
Don't bring the stress and negative or jangled energy home with you. As you're leaving the building or on your way home, or even consciously before you step through your front door take a few moments to center and consciously rid yourself of any outside energy clinging to you. Just grounding it all into the earth. I cement this by immediately changing clothes upon arriving home and on particularly stressful days, I'll take a cleansing salt and hyssop bath before doing anything else. Creating small rituals like this to do daily help develop a greater awareness of one's energy and the habit of not bringing outside energies home.

Remember, all magic is about controlling the energy around you and that starts with being aware of the space you inhabit and taking control of that space, making it yours.

by G. Krasskova, Tamyris@iamvalley.com.