| In the 1980s, many people's lives were filled with | | | | your path, the ch'i is not good because there's no |
| things-cars, home, vacations, stressful jobs. Then in | | | | flow. |
| the 1990s, something wonderful happened to many | | | | If you want to dabble in feng shui on a budget, here |
| of those same people. By middle of the decade, the | | | | are a few low-cost ideas to get you started: |
| insatiable desire for more and more stuff began to | | | | · Add mirrors. Mirrors are used widely in feng |
| subside. People signed up for yoga classes, books on | | | | shui, and if used properly, they can help your |
| spirituality became best-sellers, and many former | | | | environment immensely. Mirrors should be usable by |
| yuppies realized they needed more meaning in their | | | | the tallest member of the family and reflect at least |
| lives. People began to analyze everything and try to | | | | six inches of clear space around your head. |
| improve their lifestyles by adding a better balance. | | | | · Clear it out. Is there a chair that people |
| Not surprisingly, feng shui became extremely popular | | | | always seem to trip over? Are there corners that |
| around the same time. Feng shui addresses the | | | | are so blocked off that they are rarely vacuumed |
| relationship between a person and his or her | | | | and have layers of dust weighing them down? Move |
| environment, emphasizing harmony. This ancient | | | | things around so the air (and people) can circulate |
| Chinese philosophy is said to have been around for | | | | effortlessly. |
| three thousand years. Now, the masses are more | | | | · Remove clutter. Clutter makes ch'i |
| than ready for it, and it has become a commonly | | | | stagnate, so haul off your piles of junk by recycling |
| used term. | | | | or donating items, and your reward will be even |
| Crucial to feng shui is the concept of ch'i. Ch'i., in | | | | greater. |
| Chinese culture, is an energy that's in everything you | | | | · Get even. Don't use one candlestick or |
| find in an environment. If you have good feng shui, | | | | three-two or any other even number will feel better |
| your environment is kind of like a spring | | | | and more balanced. |
| breeze-everything flows nicely. But sometimes ch'i | | | | · Pitch it. If it makes you sad, get rid of it. |
| gets stuck or depleted. Ch'i also enters and leaves | | | | (You know, like that vase your cheating ex-boyfriend |
| through doors and windows (opened or closed). So in | | | | gave you or that bedspread you hate but bought |
| a room with awkward corners or furniture blocking | | | | because it was on sale. |