You've probably noticed that in some places you feel at ease, creative and invigorated while in others you experience fatigue, irritability or even an inexplicable sadness. Often these feelings have a lot to do with the Chi, or energy, of a particular environment and whether it is alive and flowing or stagnant and conflicting. 
Feng Shui (pronounced fung shway) is an ancient Chinese art form that teaches that Chi is the invisible energy that animates all living things. According to Fung Shui, it is possible to design our surroundings in such a way as to ensure a free-flowing energy that enhances balance and harmony. This, in turn, has a positive effect on our relationships, mental and physical health, and even our success in business.
Like acupuncture, Chinese herbs, martial arts and yoga, Feng Shui has gained popularity in the West as the benefits available from its practice become more widely recognized. As with other Asian arts, Feng Shui bas has its origins in ancient Chinese shamanic practices and nature-based religions. Westerners have begun to see that a pratice used for thousands of years in China can enable them to make amazing connections between obstacles in their physical space and recurring difficulties in their daily lives.
"Learning about Feng Shui and applying the principles literally changed my life," says Lera McDermott, owner of Housekeeping Specialists and an enthusiastic Feng Shui practitioner. "It's so much more than learning how to create a harmonious, pleasing environment. It's about opening areas of who you are that you have never expressed before and loving them."
More than a quick fix or a passing fad, Feng Shui can be a way of life that allows us to express who we are and focus on where we want to go and who we want to be. The art of Feng Shui is empowering.
Balancing the energy in your environment is the essence of applying Feng Shui in your life. Everything in the universe is composed of two opposite yet complementary forms of energy: yin and yang. Yin represents passive, quiet comfort, and yang symbolizes active, exhuberant power. Neither is best, and both are necessary. 
When your living or working space is too yin, you may find yourself tired, lethargic and unproductive. On the other hand, an environment that is too yang will be disruptive, irritating and anxiety-producing. Design the space around you to enhance the qualities you need more of. Obviously, your bedroom should be strongly yin, providing sound sleep, while your work areas need to be more stimulating to nourish your creativity.
The first step in applying Feng Shui in your own life is to become aware of the flow of energy around you. Notice how you feel in each of the areas where you spend time. While you work to heighten your awareness of Chi, also make note of which areas of your life you would like to improve. You'll begin to see connections almost intuitively between your physical environment and the influences it may be having on your family and work.
Practicing Feng Shui need not be another fu1l-time job. There are many simple, easy changes you can make that will have a dramatic effect. For example, cleaning out the clutter is one of the most powerful things anyone can do in frustration and stagnation of creativity. Air quality and lighting levels have a direct impact on our thinking patterns and endorphin levels, which in turn influence our performance. The colors around us also have a powerful effect on mood and energy level.
Feng Shui focuses heavily on symbols and their application in our lives. For instance, according to Feng Shui, the placement of the stove in your home can influence your cash flow, and a chronically dirty stove can significantly affect your financial status. The position of your bed influences your love life to an amazingg degree, and your front door receives most of the subtle energy in your home, which has great bearing on any of the opportunities that will come your way.
Feng Shui offers a new perspective from which to view your life. Put simply, your home mirrors your life and who you are. Look around you. If what you see and feel is not what you want your life to look like, Feng Shui gives you the tools to make the changes you desire.
This is the first in a series, Creating Harmony, by Lisa Martin, on Feng Shui application. Martin is a master housekeeper with Housekeeping Specialists.
