Feng Shui: Q & A
by Aaron Lee Koch
SO I STEAL, IS THAT SO BAD?
Dear Practitioner,
I work for a large and wealthy corporation. They pay me a salary that, for them, is a pittance. And for this, I work much too hard. One way that I make up for my lack of salary is in office supplies for my own use and for that of my family. A co-worker who came to my home and noticed this, lashed out at me and said it was a terrible thing to do. I do feel some guilt, but look – I take maybe two or three hundred dollars of supplies a year. Nobody misses it and my resentment level towards my employer is reduced. My husband and I feel it’s no big deal. I think that pretty much everyone does this but just doesn’t talk about it. What do you think? I look forward to hearing your honest opinion.
Criminal At Large,
NJ
Dear Criminal,
It may be true that ripping off office supplies does not hurt your “large and wealthy” employer. Unfortunately, this activity does hurt you and I’m going to tell you how.
First, your note says that you feel guilt over your “crime”. When you participate in an activity that you do not feel good about, you damage your self-esteem. How can you feel good about yourself when, deep down, you do not feel good about the things that you do? Nothing is more important than how you feel about yourself! $200 worth of pens and staples in exchange for your self-worth? You have opted for a trade-off that is a bad deal!
Your pilfering of petty office supplies is a loud and clear message to the universe and to your own sub-conscious, and the message is “I cannot afford to buy them for myself”. This is a powerful form of poverty-thinking, and poverty-thinking leads to guess what? Lack and poverty! Your thoughts program your sub-conscious mind, and your sub-conscious mind creates your reality.
You do not mention whether you have children, but if you do, you are sending them a terrible message. You are communicating to your children that employers are exploiters (SOME are, but not all!) and that dishonesty and stealing are acceptable solutions. This is an awful outlook about life for a child. Also, most children have an innate sense of right and wrong and your actions are making it hard for them to respect you and your husband and hard for them to hold you both in high regard, thereby leaving them without good role models!
You would do yourself and your family a great service by asking your employer for a raise and ending the stealing. If you do not get the salary you deserve, you should find an employer that treats you as you wish to be treated – no more underhanded activities!
WATER IN THE BEDROOM
Dear Practitioner,
I know you advise against water in the bedroom. I enjoy having fresh flowers in my bedroom, and they require water. I also like to have a glass of water on my nightstand. Will these cause me problems? What about a humidifier? What about a sound machine that is set to ocean waves or a babbling brook?
Deanna C.,
Pearl River, NY
Dear Deanna,
Water in the bedroom can cause financial loss. I recommend against having such water features in the bedroom as a fountain or an aquarium. I would also recommend against having a water picture in the bedroom, such as a picture of a lake or stream. A glass of water should not cause a problem, nor should a small amount of water for a single bouquet of flowers. Some sleep apnea patients use a machine that contains a small amount of water – this is also not a problem. Soothing water sounds from a sound machine are no problem at all. However, a humidifier, especially if it’s on the large side, should, if possible, be located outside the bedroom. Perhaps this can be placed in an adjacent hallway or even inside a louvered closet.
THE TV SET IS TAKING OVER!
Dear Practitioner,
Three months ago, we bought a beautiful new big-screen high-def television set for the wall of our living room. The room has great acoustics and we have installed a wonderful “home theatre” sound system. It’s just incredible when watching a good movie! The problem is that conversation has become impossible in that room. We used to use it to socialize, read, play board games, sit around and talk, but no more. Within a few minutes, the TV always goes on and that’s the end of any other activities. I want to keep the TV, of course, but I would like it to not dominate our lives so much. Do you have any suggestions?
Dave,
Endicott, NY
Dear Dave,
Welcome to America! Your living room is entirely focused on the television set, and that is the case in most American living rooms. Living room seating is generally arranged so that wherever you are, you are looking directly at the TV set. Is it any surprise that someone quickly says “let’s see what’s on”? This situation is detrimental to relationships!
There is nothing wrong with having a television set in the living room, but it should not be the main focus of the room. Some of the seating should be directed towards the TV, other seating should not. Other possible focal points for a living room are a fireplace, a piano, or a bookcase. The television should be a bit off to the side.
If you have a room that can be made into a home theatre, then the living room can be freed up for other activities. If the living room doubles as the home theatre, then the furniture arrangement should make clear that activities other than watching television are also important!
Aaron Lee Koch is a Master Feng Shui Practitioner, and Director of The American School of Classical Feng Shui. He is available for home and business consultations throughout our area, and may be reached at 607-722-8988 or 718-288-1058, e-mail: FengShui@AmeriChi.com, web site: www.AmeriChi.com. As many questions as space permits will be answered through this column. Questions may be e-mailed or mailed to Aaron at AmeriChi Feng Shui, PO Box 983, Vestal, NY 13851-0983.
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