There is no exact translation of Feng Shui in the English language, but Feng means, loosely, wind, and Shui means water. The term Feng Shui is often used (especially in the West) interchangeably with the term geomancy. "What you might refer to as the 'feel' of a place - good or bad," says Derek Walters, "is called by the Chinese its Feng Shui."

Ironically, this Eastern art has been in existence for over six thousand years yet it has only recently gained popularity in the West. Perhaps its time has come again. Now that information about Feng Shui is more readily available, it has caused quite a stir among consumers. Why the sudden acceptance? One reason is that Feng Shui incorporates concepts that simply make good sense. It is considered unfavorable Feng Shui or dysfengshui, for example, to position a second-story bedroom over a garage, as the seeping fumes and vapors of objects stored in the garage might prove harmful to the sleeper upstairs.

Feng Shui also appeals to people who are reassured by structure and rules. Feng Shui is an art of multiple rules, all clearly mapped out for the experienced user to apply to his or her space---room by room, nook by nook, wall by wall. Another reason for its surging popularity is that Americans, in general, seem to be leaning toward disciplines that offer hope for increased prosperity or happiness---particularly if that discipline allows them to experiment almost immediately in their homes. With Feng Shui, the mere act of repositioning a bed or sofa can change the entire dynamic of the room at large.

Feng Shui, unlike some ancient arts, believes that humankind can intervene in the direction their fate is taking them by manipulating or working with their environment, and being in tune with the natural forces of the universe. In that sense, Feng Shui is an art of hope and practical magic.