Ms Bilkis Whelan, a renowned practitioner who represents The Master Yap Cheng Hai Feng Center of Excellence in the UK, spoke about the art of Feng Shui and its symbols at the Crossword bookstore in Mumbai recently.

Feng Shui, says Ms Whelan, is about recognising how nature, its elements and forces, influence our lives. Feng Shui is cited as the driver of improved relationships, better health and the creation of wealth. Even the British Prime Minister's official London residence is said to have received the treatment, says Ms Whelan.

"Our earth has invisible, life giving energy and this energy or chi is carried and dispersed by the wind and water that surrounds us," she explains. Chi, she says is cosmic breath; it is not the wind, but it travels with it. It is also present in our bodies, under the ground and in the air.

It is all pervasive. Chi enters our homes through the doors and windows, and flows through the corridors and rooms; if it is obstructed or gets blocked, then it cannot provide our home with good energies. It needs to be able to flow smoothly and calmly throughout the house. In long corridors, it tends to rush through. Therefore, she says, we need to slow it down. We can do this by using `cures' such as pictures, plants or mirrors. We must encourage the chi to meander and curve and not rush through or stagnate in any corner.

It will always settle where there is a balance of other energies, but the air must be fresh and clean.

It is believed that chi will stop and settle wherever it encounters clean water. In Feng Shui, water represents wealth-having it present in or near the home is considered auspicious. But beware, she adds, not all water is lucky. Artificial water such as swimming pools placed in the wrong location can hurt and harm fortunes and may create discord in marital relationships.

For Feng Shui to work, the basic premise is to avoid clutter. The house should be clutter-free, stresses Ms Whelan. "Get rid of old newspapers and magazines that you don't need. Clothes that are old and not used should be disposed off immediately."

Since energies come from the front door, the front door should be well lit and polished. If there is a name plate, it should be legible. If the main door has two panels, open the panels when the door is being opened, she advises. Don't hang clothes behind doors, she says. Never have a mirror at eye level at the main door for it takes away the energies. Also don't sleep facing a mirror. Do not keep dried or drooping flowers in the house.

Regarding the symbols, Ms Whelan says, the three-legged toad who sits on a gold coin and has a coin in his mouth is supposed to bring wealth. It should be placed on the floor near the main door facing into the house. According to Feng Shui, this year, the northern side of the house has negative energy until February 4, which is the Chinese New Year's Day. To press down on the negative energy, Ms Whelan suggests hanging a seven-rod hollow wind chime in the northern area. It should tinkle all the while and if it does not, just hit it every time you pass by, she advises.

The Chinese consider the dragon auspicious. One can have a dragon in the east of the living room. For romance or for a relationship, it is best to have two mandarin ducks in the southwest corner of the living room. For a relationship to flourish, it is also nice to have pictures of happy couples on walls.

For fame and fortune, Ms Whelan recommends having any article in red like a candle, or a lamp shade in the south of the living room or a picture of a phoenix. For travel and educational luck, one can have crystals or a globe in the north-east corner of the living room.

Chinese coins, which are round in shape and have a square hollow in the centre, have a yin (Feng Shui is divided into yin, which is feminine, and yang, which is masculine) and a yang side, and can be strung together with the yang up and put in a wallet or on the computer or inside the door for health, wealth and prosperity. They correspond to three Chinese gods, Fuk, Luk, Sau, and must be placed together at a higher level as they are gods.

Kwan Yin, the Chinese goddess of mercy, can be placed just inside the entrance.

The Buddha can be placed anywhere in the room, says Ms Whelan. If he carries a bag on his shoulder, it indicates that he takes away your problems and brings wealth; if he is surrounded by children, it indicates happiness and joy; and if he is a laughing Buddha, it indicates happiness and prosperity.

To capture the sunshine coming from the east, it is ideal to hang a round crystal in that corner. However, Ms Whelan says if one were to put all the above symbols in the living room, it would result in a clutter.

She recommends "choosing and picking and changing the symbols depending on what one wants". All these work only if the house or the place that one wants Feng Shui to work is Feng Shui-ed by an expert in the art. Practised incorrectly, Feng Shui simply does not work, in fact it can even create disharmony. So if you are comfortable and happy with what you have, don't indulge in Feng Shui at all, concludes Ms Whelan.

(Ms Bilkis Whelan can be contacted at bilkis@shengchi.net.)