Feng shui (pronounced “fung shway”) is the ancient practice of creating energy and harmony through your environmental surroundings (landscaping, interior design, architecture). These efforts can also help reduce your stress. Feng shui is said to reduce blood pressure and adrenaline levels.

People tend to think of feng shui as something that can bring wealth (as in money corners) or romance (as in hanging certain items over the bed), but this is in fact not what authentic feng shui consultants look for. Harmony has many elements. Where you live, how you live, and a host of other geographic surroundings can all affect how to arrange your environment. Feng shui consultants will assess the following elements:

• Home entrance. How is it lit? What do you see— flowers, chimes, or a stack of old newspapers?

• Grounds. What kinds or colors of f lowers are around your home? Are there rocks or sculpture around the grounds of your home?

• Specific areas inside your home. Consultants will look at rooms and living spaces such as your work space or home office, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and so on. Placement of mirrors, pictures, plants, lamps, candles, rugs, furniture, bed, and even aquariums are all significant. For example, round mirrors or octagonal mirrors are powerful.

In general, feng shui tries to optimize the grounds surrounding your space through curvilinear and rectangular visual contours or edges that incorporate wildlife, land- scaping or vegetation, or aquatic habitat. It also minimizes anything that interferes with harmony, such as signage and power lines. Inside the home, live plants, colors, lighting, and the positioning of furniture to maximize views of natural scenery are important.