The Goddess in the Office : A Personal Energy Guide for the Spiritual Warrior at Work

Rating:
Summary: A fun, useful book for the working Wiccan
Review: "The Goddess in the Office" is the first women's spirituality book that specifically focuses on our work lives. Many Wiccan and Pagan books focus on family connections, love, and other aspects of home life. Money and careers are addressed more from the standpoint of doing rituals at home that will affect one's professional life, rather than expressing one's spirituality in the workplace. Granted, that's always a dicey proposition, especially for Wiccans.

Z. Budapest manages to pack a lot in her fun, tiny book. She starts by describing her image of the Wild Woman, a preverbal creature who howls, moans, grumbles and purrs, and who makes us fall in love at inopportune times with inappropriate persons. Wild Woman gets bored at work, and need a place where they feel grounded. Budapest encourages women to create an unobtrusive "power spot" with tiny stones, perhaps a bird's nest, or other precious tiny things where the Wild Woman will feel at home-in other words, creating a tiny bit of beauty and tranquility in one's workplace.

One aspect of "Goddess in the Office" that I particularly appreciated is the extent to which Budapest put me in tune with the energy of each day. I do find that I have a hard time focusing on work when I come in on Mondays, that I do get down to business on Tuesdays, that by Wednesday I'm looking to what I need to do next week, etc. Becoming aware of these energies helps to address the particular challenges that they pose.

The chapters in "Goddess in the Office" are organized by the seven days of the week. Budapest begins each chapter by focusing on the day's energy, contemplating on the meaning behind the day's name (for instance, Moonsday has dreamy, introspective connotations), and the goddess associated with that day. (Continuing with the moon theme, Monday's Goddess is Artemis.) After exploring the symbolic meaning of the day, Budapest then suggests scents, gems, and colors to express the day's energy. I particularly liked her suggesting various colors, depending on the energy that would be needed on a particular day. Each chapter also includes a handful of work-related spells (which don't need to be done on a particular day) and ends meditation exercise (to be done at home) for connecting with one's Wild Woman.

Budapest acknowledges the importance that weekends play in achieving balance in our work lives. While the Saturday and Sunday chapters seem lighter than the workday chapters, they do provide some good ideas for renewing one's energy and getting ready for the next week.

The spells in "Goddess in the Office" are the only one's I've found that specifically address the kinds of challenges that arise at work. Budapest includes spells for computer problems, giving a speech, blessing a project, protecting against sexual harassment, etc. You can follow her suggestions discretely with easily accessible supplies. For instance, the spell for purifying the office involves soaking lemon verbena or a pinch of sea salt in spring water, and scattering the blessed water around the office before co-workers arrive at work.

"Goddess in the Office" isn't Wicca 401, by any stretch of the imagination. You're not going to delve into deep spiritual issues. But you just might have fun! The little line drawings of the naked Wild Woman serve as a great reminder that we cannot ignore our playful selves for too long just because we also have to earn a paycheck.

Rating:
Summary: A fun, useful book for the working Wiccan
Review: "The Goddess in the Office" is the first women's spirituality book that specifically focuses on our work lives. Many Wiccan and Pagan books focus on family connections, love, and other aspects of home life. Money and careers are addressed more from the standpoint of doing rituals at home that will affect one's professional life, rather than expressing one's spirituality in the workplace. Granted, that's always a dicey proposition, especially for Wiccans.

Z. Budapest manages to pack a lot in her fun, tiny book. She starts by describing her image of the Wild Woman, a preverbal creature who howls, moans, grumbles and purrs, and who makes us fall in love at inopportune times with inappropriate persons. Wild Woman gets bored at work, and need a place where they feel grounded. Budapest encourages women to create an unobtrusive "power spot" with tiny stones, perhaps a bird's nest, or other precious tiny things where the Wild Woman will feel at home-in other words, creating a tiny bit of beauty and tranquility in one's workplace.

One aspect of "Goddess in the Office" that I particularly appreciated is the extent to which Budapest put me in tune with the energy of each day. I do find that I have a hard time focusing on work when I come in on Mondays, that I do get down to business on Tuesdays, that by Wednesday I'm looking to what I need to do next week, etc. Becoming aware of these energies helps to address the particular challenges that they pose.

The chapters in "Goddess in the Office" are organized by the seven days of the week. Budapest begins each chapter by focusing on the day's energy, contemplating on the meaning behind the day's name (for instance, Moonsday has dreamy, introspective connotations), and the goddess associated with that day. (Continuing with the moon theme, Monday's Goddess is Artemis.) After exploring the symbolic meaning of the day, Budapest then suggests scents, gems, and colors to express the day's energy. I particularly liked her suggesting various colors, depending on the energy that would be needed on a particular day. Each chapter also includes a handful of work-related spells (which don't need to be done on a particular day) and ends meditation exercise (to be done at home) for connecting with one's Wild Woman.

Budapest acknowledges the importance that weekends play in achieving balance in our work lives. While the Saturday and Sunday chapters seem lighter than the workday chapters, they do provide some good ideas for renewing one's energy and getting ready for the next week.

The spells in "Goddess in the Office" are the only one's I've found that specifically address the kinds of challenges that arise at work. Budapest includes spells for computer problems, giving a speech, blessing a project, protecting against sexual harassment, etc. You can follow her suggestions discretely with easily accessible supplies. For instance, the spell for purifying the office involves soaking lemon verbena or a pinch of sea salt in spring water, and scattering the blessed water around the office before co-workers arrive at work.

"Goddess in the Office" isn't Wicca 401, by any stretch of the imagination. You're not going to delve into deep spiritual issues. But you just might have fun! The little line drawings of the naked Wild Woman serve as a great reminder that we cannot ignore our playful selves for too long just because we also have to earn a paycheck.

Rating:
Summary: Z Budapest Never Ceases To amaze Me!
Review: All I can say is: "Thankyou Z for such an awesome, empowering little book!" I have tried one of the spells in this book & oh my goddess did it ever work!

Rating:
Summary: Self-Help Dribble
Review: I bought this book because it was $...and it looked cute... it's a waste of space on my bookshelf and I am embarassed to say I own it. Budapest is quite well known and often lauded in pagan communities and women's circles... this is the only piece I have read by her... so I cannot judge her other works. However, THIS work is full of self-help dribble. If you have no spine, don't know how to communicate with your co-workers, work in Corporate America and want to feel better about it... buy this book. It is full of ideas for "getting in touch with your inner Wild Women" and tips for "colors" to wear on certain days to invoke needed powers. However, this book is a waste of time and insult to any women who knows who she is and does not need to justify her existence. The only reason I gave this a 2 is because there are a few cute stories about women in the workplace. But if you're paying more than $...... it's not worth it.

Rating:
Summary: Work is hell - This book helps make it better!
Review: I was so glad I received this book as a "Congrats on your New Job" gift. It really came in handy and really helped me get through a horrible situation at work.

I am all for empowering yourself, but every little bit helps and the ideas and rituals in this book were fantastic!

Rating:
Summary: Most awesome book from a very awesome lady!
Review: I've been a big fan of Z Budapest for years, and her "Goddess in the Office" is just the ticket for those of us who don't want to separate our "career" selves from our "spiritual" selves. This is a book I've lent out regularly, and if I'm not careful, I'll have to buy a new one because I'm sure someone will love it so much that they'll "forget" to return it...heck, I might just get a second one to keep at my desk :)

Rating:
Summary: Visualizations, spells, and charms for the cubicle crowd
Review: If Wicca touches your soul and visualizations are helpful in changing your inner harmony,

if you want to get in touch with your inner Wild Woman instead of your inner child,

if you seek empowerment from within and ways to achieve it,

if you are seeking spells that will help you with the problems you encounter in the modern office,

then this is the book for you.

Filled with a sense of empowerment and whimsy, this book will inspire and amuse at the same time. Each chapter covers a day of the week and provides advice on the energy of the day, colors and fragrances to wear and surround yourself with, crystals, stones, and herbs to have with you, and a special Goddess for each day and its energy. Included throughout the book are spells to promote cooperation and solidarity, protect or recover property, receive raises or promotions, promote or prevent office romance, ward off sexual harrassment, and for many other common office situations. Although written for women, this will be enjoyed by any male who seeks harmony with the Goddess and her energies in his life.