How do you classify your relationship with your computer? In this age of information, a computer can be a tool and a valued servant, working for you without complaint, regardless of the hour. It can be there for you at the last minute when you have to get out that report, letter or article or calculate just one more chart. But, there is a price to pay. A computer can make a high demand on your time, your money and your health. Time is needed to learn how to use it; and then, when you know how, lots of other computer jobs begin to vie for your attention (Wow! I can do that on my computer and save time!). Many forget that each new project or program has a learning curve of its own. And don't forget the extra time involved in using the internet. Cybertime can be the most insidious of all. When the following equation is reached, d/ch=25, you have a real problem. (ch: computer hours, d: day)
After the initial financial investment, ads for those inevitable software and hardware upgrades and the absolutely indispensable peripherals begin arriving in the mail. Plastic money can make it very easy to put yourself deeply in debt. And what of you, the operator? Just one more chart... just one more paragraph... just one more item to look up in the manual... just one more e-mail to send... It can all add up to CDC (computer distress complex), which means that the computer has become the master and you the servant -- or the slave. How can you create a relationship that puts you in charge and keeps you in the master's role? How can you keep your computer from becoming a tyrant?
PUT YOUR SUN IN CHARGE!
First things first. Decide what function you want your computer to perform -- and stick to it. Is it to be a silent employee in a home office? (Virgo/sixth house/Capricorn/10th house) ...A glorified typewriter and calculator? (Mercury/Saturn) ...A technical assistant? (Uranus/Virgo/sixth house) ...An electronic networking communication tool? (Uranus/Aquarius/Gemini) ...A device to support your creativity? (Uranus/Mercury/11th house/Sun) Aha! There it is! A Mercury/Saturn/Uranus - Gemini/Virgo/Capricorn/Aquarius - third/sixth/tenth/eleventh house support for your Sun. (¿ÅƲµ¹º3,6,10,11/½) Keep all the other planets, signs, and houses on the other side of the equation from your Sun. The Sun can handle it -- look how it keeps all its planets in their orbits. Your Sun must be served. Computers and astrology are a matched set -- both are solitary and sedentary activities. Your energy can be stressed and suppressed without your conscious awareness. Health problems can result from either, and can be compounded by an over-emphasis on both: Emotionally and psychologically, a large number of relationship problems are blamed on one person spending too much time in front of a monitor. In addition, the loss of self-esteem and frustration of being outwitted and stymied by a mere machine can be devastating. Physical complaints such as eye strain, headaches, spinal problems, repetitive movement injuries (such as Carpal Tunnel syndrome and Tendonitis), muscle pain and even Temporal Mandible Joint syndrome (TMJ). The list goes on... These body situations can be acute or chronic; they can sneak up on you, and be just as debilitating as injuries acquired in a skiing accident. If any of the above conditions are present in your life, contact your health care professional for treatment. In addition, it's wise to consult with your health care professional before instituting any new physical program. There is a growing field of computer consultants, but there are no regulations governing ergonomics specialists, so let the buyer beware. Astrologers and computer operators tend to place doing before being. Getting a task done seems to come before personal welfare. Don't fool yourself. If you feel uncomfortable -- even for just a moment -- stop and ask yourself: "How many times do I get into this position; how many times do I adjust myself to my task?" Those moments add up. Ultimately, it's less expensive and less painful to spend the time and effort on measures that can prevent the occurrence of Computer Distress Complex. As soon as you have decided on the role you want your computer to play, do an evaluation of your work environment. It's better to adjust your environment to you, rather than you always adjusting yourself to your environment. Note the preponderance of earth and air in the above equation. While paying special remedial attention to those two elements, be sure to bring in some fire and water.
Earth: practical grounding and your physical surroundings
Air: breath, communication and freedom
Fire: passion, leadership energy and survival
Water: attention to feelings and healing
THE ERGONOMICS OF YOUR ENVIRONMENT
Ergonomics is the applied science of equipment design, as for the workplace, intended to maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort. American Heritage Dictionary Third Edition, ver. 3.6, 1994 Related fields: biotechnology, human engineering, human factors engineering. Evaluate the safety of your computer work station. Feng shui and locational astrology can help you take advantage of the best available energy. Next, make sure your work station has: a sturdy desk to hold your computer that provides a comfortable position for work with a chair that supports healthy posture -- both at just the right height keyboard and mouse positioned so that arms and hands are supported without stress monitor positioned at a distance and height that sustain good posture and eyesight adequate lighting -- positioned so that it does not glare on the monitor or in your eyes -- indirect lighting does that job nicely freedom from sound pollution, such as TV and other interruptions adequate air circulation and comfortable temperature One last caution -- freedom from static electricity. A humidifier or a small portable fountain will moisten the air and guard against irreparable damage to your computer and its contents. Bubbling water also puts negative ions in the air and provides a soothing sound.
YOUR PERSONAL ERGONOMICS
Evaluate your options for healthy interaction with your environment. Be alert to your own body's wisdom. It will tell you if you're abusing it. Set a timer for 20 to 30 minute intervals to remind you who's boss. When that timer goes off and you feel irritated that you haven't accomplished enough, who's the boss? Remember the three Rs: Rest and Regenerate Regularly. Taking just a two minute break from your task every half hour and doing one of the following can energize and refresh you, and increase your stamina change your posture: stretch, walk, move your lower limbs look out a window to exercise your eye muscles: changing your focus to different distances brings blood into the eye muscles and can save your vision from serious damage take a drink of fresh water, keep a supply of it near your work station drop your arms and hands and shake them to relax your back and shoulder muscles close your eyes and cover them with the palms of your hands (palming), and visualize a peaceful scene Sitting in front of a computer invites shallow breathing which can cause oxygen deprivation. The brain is one of the first things to suffer. Regular deep abdominal breathing, yawning, toning, or singing can prevent this. Set your tasks within reasonable time frames. Always having to catch up can destroy your body's balance. Of all people, we astrologers know the value of timing. Know your own chart. Keep track of transits and progressions, and plan your projects accordingly. Do you know where Mercury, Saturn and Uranus are today? And where are those planets natally, in your chart? My Mercury (third) and Saturn (seventh) are water linked by trine. My earth-residing Uranus (ruler of the sixth) opposes Mercury, and sextiles my Saturn. I can get involved in a project and lose all track of time. I remind myself that my Libra Sun (Asc ruler) is in a double quincunx to my Saturn and Uranus -- and that they are there to serve my Sun, and not the other way around. An unknown philosopher said "If it weren't for the last moment, nothing would get done". The energy of Computer Distress Complex tells you to jamb lots of things into that moment. But the one thing that most often gets left out is your self-esteem and your well-being. A computer can be a valued servant if you place the value of its master first. Create the space and the time for those, and your computer will serve you well.
ERGONOMICS GUIDELINES AVAILABLE ON-LINE:
OSHA checklist for workstation checklist: http://ctdnews.com/OSHA_draft/wstation.html or more up-to-date reports from the University of Texas:
http://mahogany.lib.utexas.edu:1000/Pubs/etf/guidelines.html and the University of Virginia:
http://www.virginia.edu/~enhealth/ERGONOMICS/policy.html
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Roxana Muise is a second generation
astrologer and a third generation metaphysician. A former
ISAR President, she is currently the Archives Director.
She earned her B.Sc. with honors in Health Science at
California State University in 1981. She was co-founder
and director of SWAC from 1974 to 1985, a founding board
member of UAC in 1986, and is a founding trustee of
Kepler College. Roxana is author of A-YEAR-AT-A-GLANCE,
the 45 Degree Graphic Ephemeris, The Fourth Sign, and
numerous articles, and is the much-appreciated Copy
Editor of KOSMOS.
This column is based on the IBM Personal Computer (PC)
format using the MicrosoftTM Disk Operating System (MS
DOS) version 6.0 or Windows 95, but are not based on any
particular applications unless specified. The author
addresses popular reader questions in the column. Roxana
Muise may be contacted at:
roxanamuise@roxanamuise.com or
KOSMOS International,
ISAR, PO Box 38613
Los Angeles, CA 90038-0613
