How our homes and workspaces are arranged, designed and decorated is an expression, and a reflection, of who we are. The Chinese have long believed that our environment influences our fortune and destiny for good or ill.

Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art and science of enhancing and balancing the flow of Chi (energy) in our environment to promote our physical and emotional balance.

There are five types of Chi dominating at different times. These are "water", "wood", "fire", "metal" and "earth". The practice of Feng Shui is to find the best location that is in harmony with these energies.

The placement and orientation of commonplace items in the home and/or workplace can be adjusted to place them in more auspicious areas and face more favourable directions.

Various enhancements and cures may also be used such as crystals, wind chimes, flowing water, lighting, mirrors, and colour schemes to balance the various energies.

Clutter may contribute to a feeling of being stuck and may block the flow of Chi. It is better to tidy it away in cupboards, or let go of those things that you feel you can. You may be surprised by how much lighter you feel by doing so.

The object of the art of Feng Shui is therefore to find ways of making use of the helpful influences in our environment while minimising the unhelpful.

Feng Shui aims to improve your living and working environment - thereby improving your well-being, relationships, health, wealth, and happiness.

It can also be used to select an auspicious site for a new building, help with selecting a new home or business premises, or choosing the best time to make renovations.

Feng Shui provides a valuable and practical service to aid you in all areas of life. Good Feng Shui may present you with opportunities to enhance your lifestyle or improve your income, but it is up to you to make the most of it.

Conversely, suffering bad Feng Shui can put you at a distinct disadvantage, unless corrections and cures are applied. Feng Shui represents a third of the influences affecting your life - it also depends upon your potential and what you create by your own efforts and through co-operation with others.

Feng Shui, known as the Chinese art of placement and harmony, is a science with a long history dating back at least 3,000 years.

It is said that an ancient emperor, named Fu Hsi, invented many things upon which Chinese culture originated, including the eight trigrams central to Feng Shui theory. These are heaven, earth, thunder, wind, mountain, marsh, water and fire.

Feng Shui literally means "wind" and "water". It is based on Taoist philosophy, originally expressed in the I Ching, or Book of Changes, that is one of the great classics of Chinese literature. Later, the knowledge of the compass was combined with that of the I Ching by another ancient emperor who set up a theory of divining by the earth and stars.

Early Chinese tribes were led by shamans who knew the ways of wind and water, and were said to have possessed power over the elements. Such shamans observed patterns in nature that formed the basis of what was eventually to become Feng Shui.

To assess your home and/or office your consultant may ask you some questions about the premises, your current situation and what you hope to achieve.

He/she will probably look in and around the premises to determine energy flow, any problems that need addressing, and look for changes to be recommended. A compass reading may be taken, and the rooms may be measured so that a plan can be drawn.

Recommendations on best use of the space, favourable directions to face, positioning of furniture, colour schemes, enhancements, and Feng Shui cures, will be included in a report for you to retain, along with the plan.

Your consultant may go through the report and plan with you to ensure that you are happy with the recommendations. Arrangements can be made to check at a later date that your environment is still making the best use of available energies.

(originally posted by Kenneth Mardle - New Age Spirit 1998)