First a little history lesson is in order, to answer this one. Originally predating the invention of the magnetic compass by 3,500 years, Feng Shui took into account a wide variety of variables, such as local environment/landscape features, direction, auspicious timing (with references made to dates/times dictated by astral observations), in order to determine the correct siting and timing of important buildings. Historical references can be found that show the practice was commonly used in China for the siting of graves and palaces. And whilst a compass may have advanced early global navigation/seafaring attempts, it was, in fact, originally invented for Feng Shui.
How Does It Work?
By using a tool known as a Loupan, a Feng Shui expert would use the tool to determine precise measurements for the placement and orientation of various buildings. The more modern or westernised use of Feng Shui that takes place within a home, however, would utilise a variant of Feng Shui known as Black Sect Tantric Buddhism Feng Shui, which was introduced into America in the 1970s by Thomas Lin Yun. This form of Feng Shui has one important difference to traditional Feng Shui, since it aligns the Bagua with the domiciles entrance way, instead of a compass direction. The Bagua, by the way, refers to the tool used to determine a map of an internal area and its relation to aspects of ones life, and refers to the eight trigrams used in Taoist cosmology that represents the fundamental principles of reality, depicted as a range of eight interconnected concepts. Each consists of three lines, of which each is either in a broken or unbroken state, and represents yin or yang respectively. With these tools, a Feng Shui expert or consultant applies the various formulas in order to maximise the flow of Chi within an area.
What difference does Chi flow make?
Think of the flow of Chi in terms of your own blood supply. Obviously you are aware of clogged arteries and their effects, and also the narrowing of arteries and their effects too. Chi is the concept of your life force. Having blockages or bad Chi within your home or office can restrict the flow of your energy on a day-to-day basis, and can simply be down to bad orientation or placement of objects within your environment. Sometimes additions need to be made to correct this flow, too. Sometimes things need to be replaced, in terms of colour, or removed entirely to a new location. All of these actions that improve the Chi flow will have a beneficial effect on your own energy and auspiciousness. A Feng Shui consultant will help you achieve this, and maximise your Chi flow, with instantly beneficial results. Conversely, of course, you can continue wondering why you hate monday mornings so much.