Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art and science of balancing the energies in the space surrounding us. It can be traced back 3,000 years ago to Taoist beliefs about nature. The term literally means wind-water, which are elements of nature that are believed to affect people's health, and, consequently, people's fortune. Because of this, good feng shui was used to signify good luck, while bad feng shui referred to bad fortune.

Central to the practice of this art is the concept of Chi, the energy that emanates from the land. According to Chinese beliefs, the energy of the land can alter the destiny of an entire kingdom. According to Taoist analysis, it revolves around the principles of yin and yang, and the five elements, namely wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

Two tools are used for feng shui analysis. The first one is a compass called Luo-Pan, and the other one is the Ba-gua. The Ba-gua is derived from an ancient oracle called I Ching. This instrument is in the form of an octagon with I Ching symbols. The Ba-gua identifies areas in a house that affect the lives of its residents.

On the other hand, the Luo-Pan, is made up of bands of concentric circles with a magnetic needle at the very center. It is believed to be able to reveal the hidden past of specific sites and buildings.

There are different schools of thought on how to perform this art. Many of these schools are influenced by cultural symbolism. While the core principles would take years of devoted learning to understand, there are some basic knowledge that can be readily applied to homes and offices. A growing number of students, including engineers and interior designers, take feng shui courses to meet the requirements of prospective Chinese clients regarding abidance by the principles of this ancient science in their building projects.

For applications in the home, this ancient Chinese practice encourages the clearing of clutter around the house, plenty of fresh air, and natural lighting, or full-spectrum lighting. The Ba-gua is used to map out the energy within your house. Traditionally, the Southeast area of a house is believed to be connected to the flow of money in your life. To attract prosperity, the Southeast area of the house should have wood and water elements. On the other hand, the East area of the house should have plants and wooden furniture in order to attract good health.

Based on this ancient practice, the three most important rooms in the house that can significantly influence your health are the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. You should be particularly mindful of the flow of energy in these three rooms. Open the windows frequently to allow fresh air to come in. If that is not possible, then use good air purifiers to freshen the air. With regards to the bathroom, having earthenware at each corner can help to balance the water energy in the room. A good kitchen is well organized and harmonious, with a clean, airy, bright and spacious ambiance.