If you read last week’s “Check It Out” column, you may remember that I have decided to take a chronological tour through the wonderful world of Dewey. Starting with the title “Weird-o-pedia” from the 000s, this week I am ready to present a small slice from the 100s — the Dewey class broadly known for works of philosophy and psychology.
Ah, but just like the 000s, the numerological predecessor to the 100s, many bibliographic treasures are just waiting to be discovered among the very broad subjects mentioned above. As might be expected, Socrates and Sigmund Freud take up residence in the 100s, but books about time, dreams, the occult, and ethics also live here, along with one of the topics highlighted in “Welcome Home” — feng shui.
Now, I want to make it clear that “Welcome Home” is not just a book about feng shui, which is, for those who are unfamiliar with this term, “the Chinese practice of arranging architecture and its contents to best serve the chi, or life force, of its inhabitants” (from the book’s introduction.) “Welcome Home” is, according to its author, “a collection of home folklore, myth, mystery, and fun traditions and customs from all over the world.” Feng shui is included, but a reader can also expect to find tips, advice and practices for improving the process of finding and then living in one’s home. By advice, I don’t mean do-it-yourself bathroom remodeling instructions; instead, when searching for that perfect house, you might want to consider this feng shui recommendation: “Don’t opt for a house that has a bathroom at its center, since in feng shui the center of a house represents its health and, by extension, the health of the family. All that flushing isn’t exactly …serene.”
There’s more to making a home a happy one than just making sure that the bathrooms are strategically arranged, however. Consider these words of wisdom: “The first time you use a new broom, sweep some dust from outside the front door into the house to usher in luck.” Or how about this: “If a spider creeps toward you, or a needle sticks upright in the floor, you may expect a letter.” Hmm … last time I checked, an upright needle in the floor will cause great pain; and a warning to any spider who might be thinking about “creeping” anywhere in my vicinity — DON’T DO IT. Letter or no letter, arachnids in my home will regret behaving any more creepy than they already do.
