This simple guide to the art of feng shui provides easy-to-use tips and techniques for improving the energy in your life. You will learn to harmonize and lay out spaces in your home to enhance your personal energy, improve your overall wellbeing, and bring good fortune and balance into your life. This plain and simple guide discusses how to: Declutter to clear the energy in your home - Use the Chinese bagua (number square) to map out rooms to enhance energy - Employ the five elements to harmonize the energy of your home - Use feng shui for the exterior of your home and outside landscaping This wonderful primer will be hailed by anyone interested in interior design, Chinese legend and lore, and the creation of healing and harmonious living spaces. “For those of us who have previously tried to understand the concepts of Feng Shui and found ourselves confused by seemingly contradictory systems of application, this is the book that pulls it all together, presents the principles in comprehensible terms, and enables us to apply those principles in real-world ways in our own lives.” – Anna Jedrziewski , Retailing Insights -- Anna Jedrziewski ― Retailing Insights Sarah Bartlett is the author of spiritual and occult books, including the bestsellers The Tarot Bible, Feng Shui for Lovers,  and The Essential Guide to Psychic Powers. An astrologer for many women's magazines such as Cosmopolitan UK , She , Spirit and Destiny , and the  London Evening Standard , Sarah contributes to BBC Radio 2 show, Steve Wright in the Afternoon.  Sarah teaches and practices astrology, tarot, Feng Shui, and other occult arts. Feng Shui Plain & Simple By Sarah Bartlett Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc. Copyright © 2018 Sarah Bartlett All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-57174-789-1 Contents Introduction: What Is Feng Shui?, 1 Making a Start, 2 The Bagua, 3 The Bagua Sectors, 4 The Five Elements, 5 Kua Number: Your Personal Best Direction, 6 The Environment, 7 Harmonizing Ch'i in the Home, 8 Your Elemental Energy Type, 9 Creating a Sacred Corner, 10 Love and Relationships, 11 Prosperity and Career, 12 Career Choices, 13 Balancing Energy through Décor, CHAPTER 1 Making a Start Before you do anything, you must first clear away any negative or bad energy that's been dormant in the house, home, or workplace. If you want to start afresh, there's nothing like clearing out all the clutter and cleansing the spaces of your home and hearth. Decluttering To accomplish this task successfully, you have to be ruthless with yourself and your family, so approach each room in turn and decide whether you really need those things that are piling up in the closets. You might even have boxes full of things you've forgotten about stored in the attic or cellar, so don't neglect these areas, as they can harbor stagnant or negative energy. Before steaming in with the vacuum cleaner and the trash bags, though, understand why you are doing this, because understanding the process is as essential as doing it. Also bear in mind that while it may feel difficult to throw things out, once the junk is gone, it's remarkable how quickly you'll forget about it. The number of possessions you have is also a symbol of the type of person you are. The more junk you hoard, the more likely it is you need to reassess your values. Why are you so acquisitive? Do you feel insecure without possessions? Similarly, if you live in a minimalist cell, you might need to ask whether your values incorporate the needs of others. Once you have decluttered your home, you'll feel not only virtuous but also excited about the fresh start you're making on this new phase in your life. Now you need to cleanse the empty spaces of your home and revitalize the home with positive energy. Space-Clearing Techniques There are many ways to clear away negative energy and revitalize the home. Here are some suggestions. If you don't like one idea, then try another that suits you better. Some individuals might like clapping, while others might like purging with candles or incense, so take your pick. 1. Burning Cleanse a whole house or room by burning small perfumed candles in each room. Let the candle burn right down before you extinguish it. Alternatively, use incense — sandalwood, lavender, and geranium essences are the best fragrances, but this is a matter of personal taste. Candles burn away negative energy and reconnect vibrations and an atmosphere that is reflective of you. Use colors that are suited to your needs, for example, white for purification and clarification, red for passion, blue for career prospects, green for friendship, yellow for good communication. Note: Be very careful not to leave any burning candles unattended when you leave a room, as this could present a significant fire danger. 2. Clapping Walk around the room or house and clap your hands briskly and rhythmically. Don't forget to clap in dark corners and at ceiling height,