Ancient Chinese philosophy is an inspiration to a lot of persons and plain superstition to others. There is a lot of interest in the practice of Feng Shui, both in the East and in the West. The guidelines affect each part of life for those who believe in it. In the last years, the New Age movement was influenced by elements such as crystals and wind chimes.

The core of the philosophy is the energy flow or lack of it. The flow is dictated by how objects are placed in relation to each others and has a positive or negative effect on the environment. Relationships, finance and health are affected by the quality of the energy. Following the rules and recommendations of FengShui, many people arrange the contents of their house.

Different places in the home have different requirements and they have to be treated in a different way. The bedroom should have just one door and the bed must not be placed in between the window and the door as this will result in troubled sleep. The bed should be made of wood and people should be facing the door and sleep at least 45cm above the floor. Pictures of wild animals or water as well as mirrors should be avoided. The windows should be draped by thik curtains and the walls should be painted in red, blue or green shades.

The stove and sink should not be adjacent in the kitchen as the proximity of water and fire can lead to conflict. Stoves should be located in the south corner, the room must have a large doorway and microwaves are not recommended. FengShui is also applied to dining rooms and living rooms. There must be at least one wall without a window and the paintwork must be in bright colors. Mirrors to reflect food on the table, the hanging of family pictures and television sets or hi-fi systems that stand at the west wall are among the elements that bring luck.

Even the powder room has guidelines. To make sure there is no negative energy, the door and toilet lid must be kept shut. The room must always be clean and having plants and pictures in there brings bad luck. A dark stairway can bring negative energy, so keep the stairs brightly lit. Good fortune will fall through open stairs and a spiral staircase will bring confusion. Entrance halls should also be brightly lit but be painted in muted shades. They should be warm and can be decorated with water features or plants. It's amusing to try Feng Shui and observe its affects, if any. If you ask me the best way to go in life is to have an open mind.