HOW TO: Feng Shui Your Room

Oprah and Trump are fans. The Coca-Cola Corporation and Universal Studios use it to increase productivity at the office.David Beckham has its symbols sewn into his soccer cleats.

The Basics

Feng Shui, literally translated as "wind and water," is the 6,000-year-old Chinese art of arranging one's surroundings to enhance positive energy flow called Chi. In practice, it increases awareness of the relationship between human beings and nature, encouraging individuals to take care in organizing their living space.

The philosophy is based on the five natural elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, considered the balancing forces which transport positive influence. By arranging these elements properly, Feng Shui is said to help individuals attain goals and maximize prosperity.

Every living space has its own energy blueprint. While some aspects of your bedroom, common area, or desk may be unalterable, the practice can be applied to most any situation. Contemporary Western practice uses a Bagua, a user-friendly reference chart, which divides the layout of a space into nine sections, each of which corresponds to a specific area of one's life. Imagine placing the Bagua atop your space, always positioning the bottom of the chart with the door or entry of the area. Using it as a map, you can apply the appropriate principles to each section.

Clean Up Time

Clutter is the strongest barrier to Chi. Feng Shui is grounded in simple organization, so move throughout your space and keep only what is necessary. Assign each item you keep to a specific place, arranging like items together.

Map it Out

Grab your Bagua map (there are plenty available online; I got mine from Lowes.com) and start arranging. I chose to arrange my common room in an effort to increase the Chi of my roommates and myself. Start in the upper left corner of the Bagua.

Wealth & Prosperity

Colors: Purples, Reds, Greens

Avoid: Clutter. Keep the trash can far away, or your wallet will empty as fast as your GPA will fall.

Add: Water elements, like a goldfish bowl and pictures of things you want, like tear outs from your favorite fashion or lifestyle magazines.

Fame & Reputation

Colors: Reds, Oranges

Avoid: Water, which drowns out the fire element in this area. Also, anything that might symbolize a bad reputation, like a poster of Robert Downey Jr. or the high school yearbook you hope no college friends ever see.

Add: Light. If there are windows in this section, pull back the curtains and Windex the glass. Consider a floor lamp or other "fake" fire options that use electricity. Red is a powerful color, so adding it can quickly enhance the energy. I moved one of our large maroon couches to this area in front of the windows.

Love & Marriage

Colors: Reds, Pinks, White

Avoid: Anything that reminds you of a bad relationship or single life. This means pictures of your exes and the box of their stuff you rifle through when no one is looking. Also, be gender neutral; anything overly feminine or masculine may scare off potential suitors.

Add: Anything that comes in a pair. I put our two armchairs together here, to stimulate the attraction of things that might otherwise be single. Additionally, anything pink bewitches sensual energy, especially pillows with which to snuggle.

Family & Health

Colors: Blues and Greens

Avoid: Metal, the opposite of the wood element in this section. Move the television elsewhere.

Add: A table, chair, or something green. A potted plant or fresh flowers enliven the earthy feel of this section. Keep photographs of close family and friends here to encourage their well being.

Creativity & Children

Colors: Metals, White, Pastels

Avoid: Fire and "hot" colors. If it is inescapable, hang a mirror in this area to counteract the heat with water.

Add: This is the perfect place for the television and anything that stimulates your creativity. Hang a poster of an artist you admire, stack your games on a shelf, or pile some round sitting pillows for visitors. Think fun and artistic.

Knowledge & Self Cultivation

Colors: Black, Blues, Greens

Avoid: Anything that might numb your intellectual curiosity, ahem.

Add: Books, a desk, or your comfy chair. Find things that spark and inspire wisdom for you, like the works of your favorite philosopher, a copy of the Bible, or other religious or scholarly effects.

Career

Colors: Black, Dark Blues

Avoid: Anything relating to the earth element, like plants or ceramic pots. Keep this area clear of furniture and anything that blocks the direct flow of energy to the back of the space.

Add: If you are looking for a job or internship, put things on the wall that remind you of your goal, like a postcard from the city where your favored company is headquartered.

Helpful People & Travel

Colors: White, Grey, Black

Avoid: Clutter, or helpful people cannot find you.

Add: Pictures of people you emulate and your favorite destinations. Also a great spot for your motivational books or articles.

At the center of all these life areas is the most important element: you! Feng Shui is a complex art form, so focus on the areas you feel are most important to your success.

Whether you follow all or only one of its principles, the philosophy behind Feng Shui can only make for a better start to the school year.