In a nutshell, feng shui (pronounced fung shway, BTW) is an ancient Chinese discipline that examines object placements and how they affect a home’s energy. Yet, beyond improving the energy of inanimate objects within the home, feng shui can also help reduce stress and anxiety while making you feel more grounded in your daily life.

Feng shui is a metaphysical practice of understanding your place in the world as inspired by five principles or elements in Taoism. The five principles of feng shui are based on the cycles of nature: fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. The desired result is creating harmony in your life and spaces.

Feng shui is the practice of arranging pieces in living spaces to create balance with the natural world. This is what it means to feng shui your home. The goal is to harness energy forces and establish harmony between an individual and their environment.

Feng shui promises to make spaces feel harmonious and balanced. By arranging buildings, objects and spaces according to its principles the flow of positive chi – the life force present in everything – can be improved and negative chi warded off.