You may have heard that it is bad fung shui to have a pillar close to you in the office. What you may not know is that the position of the pillar relative to your desk is more important than its mere presence. The worst position for you to sit is directly facing a corner of a square pillar, or with your back turned towards one of the corners. You may feel agitated and irritable, or have headaches and backaches. You may even lose your job through no fault of your own. If you are facing a round pillar, you may experience major setbacks in your career. This is because you are exposed to its negative attacking energy - or Shar Chi. You may also have problems at work if the pillar is in front of you and prevents you from directly communicating with your colleagues. One of the few favourable circumstances to have a pillar in front of you is if it acts as a barrier to a long aisle or an entrance that is constantly used. And if you are sitting parallel to a pillar, with your back leaning towards the flat side of it, you will be supported instead, especially if the pillar is wider than the chair you are sitting on. So what should you do if you are sitting next to a pillar? Try to relocate your desk. Some fung shui masters recommend placing a plant along the sharp edge of the pillar, but this has limited benefits. What is more effective is to nullify the edge of the pillar by placing furniture along its edge. Softening its edges through the use of fabric is another aesthetic alternative, especially if you work in a creative or artistic environment.
