Although I have personally been immersed in a life dedicated to the principles of feng shui since 1996, I still get a lot of puzzled looks when I tell people I am a feng shui practitioner. Feng shui (pronounced fung shway) is still far from a common household word, even though it is a lot more common than it was just two years ago.

Therefore, an introduction to feng shui may be necessary. However, before I begin, please take my little quiz...

It's an age old question, and surprisingly, it is fundamental to the understanding of feng shui. Balance is represented by the Yin/Yang symbol. The small circle of white in the large black area and the small circle of black in the large white area are symbolic of the impossibility for something to be completely Yin or Yang respectively. Yin and Yang are opposites that are connected in a positive cycle, just as the chicken and the egg are connected. They create a continuous circle with no beginning and no end.

How do others define feng shui?

"Feng shui is the art of balancing and harmonizing the flow of natural energies in our surroundings to create beneficial effects in our lives." (Kingston, 4)

"Knowing how to choose the correct place, at the perfect moment; the correct alignment with the directions of the Universe, combined with the efficient use of objects with mystical reverence, is harmony...is peace...is Feng Shui." (Stephen Feuchtwan, quoted in Alvarez, 15)

"Along with destiny and luck, feng shui exerts a powerful, almost all-encompassing influence on the course of our lives. With feng shui we are able to work directly with and even transform chi, the basic energy that underlies all life, to overcome obstacles, create prosperity, and bring us into balance with ourselves and the world around us." (Seann Xenja, foreward in Levitt, x)

"Alive, connected, and dynamic...Feng Shui views your home or workplace as a living entity that you are either in harmony with or in discordant partnership with. When you honor its aliveness, recognize its vital connection with the quality of your entire life, and make the changes that keep it fresh and alive, it remains a delightful place to be. It nurtures, protects, and supports your growth and movement through life." (Collins, 11)

"Feng Shui (which means 'wind and water') is the ancient art of placement. It is an Eastern philosophy that, among other things, determines how you can position and structure the items that make up your personal living space to achieve maximum benefits in terms of health, mental peace, financial success, job satisfaction and spiritual fulfilment. But it was never the intention of the Chinese masters who developed the philosophy of Feng Shui thousands of years ago to suggest that all these wonderful benefits could be achieved by a simple rearrangement of the external trappings of your physical world. Rather, the ancients believed that equal attention should be paid to the inner person in terms of lifestyle factors, such as exercise and diet, channelling the natural energy forces, and working with the powerful influence of the stars. This internalised approach to health is known as 'inner Feng Shui'. Incorporating inner and outer Feng Shui into your daily life may therefore be seen as a journey of enlightenment - and one that also takes in other spiritual approaches along the way." (Sandifer, 1)

"The basic tools of Feng Shui, the major components of the bagua, come from the natural world around us: the directions of the compass; the five basic elements; the colors of nature, from the fiery red of a sunset to the pale green of a new leaf. With careful use of these natural tools, you can achieve harmony with the environment and enjoy the health, happiness, and success that result." (Lagatree, 13)