Magick in the office, you don't say?

Walk into the non descript building I work in, in the non descript business park it's located in and you might wonder "where in the gods' name is the magick here?"
Most corporate offices I visit are a maze of grey walls and grey cubicles. Not exactly where one thinks to practice magick or see the face of the goddess.
Most Pagans (I use that term generically, feel free to substitute in Wiccans, Druids, Fae Folk or your favourite word of choice!) talk about a connection to nature, the belief that magick is all around at all times, but it can conspicously absent from the sterile office environment.
Now I realize that in some cases that's a matter of practicality. Few of us make our living out of our magickal practices or can have a cauldron bubbling away on top of the file cabinet with the latest herbs picked from the garden hidden under our desks. Far too many still live in areas where being "out of the broom-closet" could jeopardize a career (or worse!).
So, how does one stay in touch with nature and magick in the office environment without being overly obvious about it (carving a giant pentacle in your desk is right out, sorry!)?
One thing that has worked for me is to Surround yourself with the Elements:
Earth: Can you have a plant on your desk? Could you suggest that the HR department purchase plants to hide power outlets or exposed corners in the building? Is there an outdoor, employee patio and if so, could you dress it up with flowers in planter boxes. Taking the time to beautify one's office space or surroundings is not only good for your spirit but can uplift other employees too...and what a better way to contribute to the smooth operation of the business than by inviting some good ol' earth energy to help with grounding. I'm in that process now. My office has a lovely window and a few well-placed plants would go a long way to getting some "life" into the room.
Air: Well, the obvious solution here is to open a window and let the air flow into the work space. Not always practical though and the windows in our building don't open. Pictures of storms, feathers, birds can work well. My favourite way to invite air into the office is to get out of the office! At least once a day I stand in the fresh air (rain or shine) and drink in that glorious energy. And I find laughter to be a great way to bring in the air. Nothing better than a big, healthy guffaw to change the energy on a dull Monday afternoon!
Water: A desk-sized fountain can do the trick here, but think big - can your office take a water feature in the main lobby? What about out in the company courtyard? Even somethng as simple as getting a water cooler to stand around can be a good thing. Fresh, clean water is healthy. Many companies have coffee pots and soda machines but not all of them have available water (that isn't from a tap).
Fire: Have to be careful with this one! Creativity might be the better course of action here! I have a few pictures on my desk top that inspire me. I look at fire as inpiration. A love letter or a card from an admirer might be a good way to remember fire. Standing out in the sun can do it too.
Witches by nature are a creative bunch. Taking the time to "magick" up the office can be a blast. Green offices can go all out by creating gardens, getting rain-water silos going and the like. Even suggesting a company clean up day of a park, freeway section or beach can be a good way to incorporate nature as part of the office culture. If your office/company is open to it there are hundreds of ways to make your office more environmentally friendly. There are hundreds of easy suggestions online such as:
http://sierraclub.typepad.com/greenlife/2007/03/10_ways_to_go_g.html
Just a thought...

Sex in the office?

I was walking with a friend not so long ago. We were discussing sex. My friend made the pronouncement "I don't fuck anymore!" That's not to say that my friend is celibate, far from it I imagine. It was rather more a statement of intention. Their point was that sex had become a sacred act. Now before you start rolling your eyes and thinking, "Oh, I suppose there are always candles and everything is perfect and little birds sing when this person makes the sweet love" hold your horses a minute.

My good friend certainly enjoys a good romp. Although not speaking from personal experience, I imagine sex with this person would run the gamut from soft, tender nurturing love-making to an all out surfeit for the carnal senses. The point here is that they approach the sex they engage in as sacred. I started thinking about the words Sacred Sex and what they actually mean to me.

The "Sex" part was easy enough for me to define, it was the "Sacred" part and the combination of the two words together that really stuck with me. Grab your handy-dandy dictionary and you'll see that "sacred" means Holy, Divine, set apart from the ordinary. The words "sacrifice" and "sacrosanct" have the same root. Putting the words together then, I come up with " a union between partners that is marked off from the ordinary, expected boundaries. Sex as an offering of and to the Divine and to those presently involved, invoked and evoked."

Okay...So, um, how does this relate to the office? Well, my mind works in a strange way. I took this conversation and applied it to the world outside of the bedroom (kitchen table, laundry room - wherever - no judgements here!) to the every day, mundane world of the old nine to five.

I'm in my office 40-50 hours per week. There are only a few people that I spend that kind of time with on a regular basis. The work I do feeds my family and, I believe, it should feed my soul too. And this lead me to another combination of words: Sacred Vocation. Alright, so using the same formula as above what is suggested? Vocation is defined (handy-dandy dictionary again) as:

a particular occupation, business, or profession; calling.

a strong impulse or inclination to follow a particular activity or career.

a divine call to God's service. (for our purposes, let's make this gods'/goddesses' service shall we?)

a function or station in life to which one is called by God/dess.

Do I approach my work as a sacred act, offering myself to it fully? Do I look at my career as a call to service? Some weeks I really do feel that way. If I'm going to do something for an extended period of time, I want it to have some meaning beyond simply toiling for the sake of it. I work hard. I help others earn a great living. I teach sales strategies. I reward hard work in others. I empower or show the people I work with how to empower themselves. That's a good, dare I say, noble endeavour. And I do enjoy what I do.

But then my definition of Sacred Vocation becomes " that, which beyond the ordinary, expected boundaries, I am called to do in service." It's that word called that sticks in my craw. Am I called to do what I do? How would I spend my time differently if I viewed my occupation as a sacred vocation? If I cherished the company as I would cherish a lover, how would I show up differently? Would I allow others to treat my sacred lover as they do. Do I always honour what my job and the entity it becomes as sacred?

And lastly, what would I be doing if this is not my calling?

Thoughts to ponder...