The ancient Chinese art of energy balancing, feng shui, has attracted the modern Western mind by its variety of applications for life improvement. Even if it could seem basic, feng shui is pretty difficult to define as it involves complex knowledge of the elements, the environment, the energetic structure of the body as well as of the principles governing the functions of the universe. "Feng" means "wind" and "shui" is "water" in Chinese; these two elements, gentle wind and clear water are symbols of fulfillment in terms of health, wealth and fortune. People speak of "good feng shui" and "bad feng shui" depending on the way the energies are respected and put to work for you.

Feng Shui is based on the complete understanding of nature and the taoist vision, both accepting the notion that all things are full of the life energy or light, called "chi" or "qui" ( in Chinese ) or "ki" ( in Japanese ). The basic factors that could influence a feng shui analysis of a location, subject or situation including the five elements and the yin and yang rule. Feng shui is created on the ancient symbols present in I Ching, the ancient Chinese deity. These symbols are used in the octagonal grid, the Ba - Gua, that assist you in the possession or determination of the various relations between the feng shui locations in the home or office and the numerous parts of your life.

The study of Feng shui is common to several different schools, and it involves several levels of learning and tolerant, based on the sopgistication of the information you have access to and actually get to internalize. The cures presented by feng shui for life improvement vary from the use of fountains, aquariums and crystals to the energy improvement through the use of clocks, colors and mirrors. Light and colors make an important mixture by the power they can bring to a certain location. Indeed places characterized by "bad feng shui" suffer from lack of light and color.

Interaction among the universal elements is another essential aspect of feng shui; wood, fire, water, earth and metal are capable of creating innovative or destructive circles depending on the preponderance they posses in one's space. Each of the elements has a corresponding color; it is basic feng shui knowledge to know how to complement colors and balance an environment. The location of the elements in a space is not randomly done as it has to be determined by the octagonal grid, the Ba - Gua.