Feng Shui (pronounced "fung shway") is the ancient art of placement.

Whether you're building a house, planning a golf course, setting up a shop, or decorating your apartment, Feng Shui can help.

In the Chinese language, "Feng" means wind and "Shui" means water. It's important to keep both of them in balance.

There are many kinds of Feng Shui, but many people favor one of two forms: Compass style Feng Shui, or Black sect Tantric Buddhist Feng Shui (also called BTB or Black Hat Feng Shui).

Compass Feng Shui is one of the oldest forms. It relies on magnetic compass directions, and sometimes uses astrology as a reference, too.

Black Hat Feng Shui is a more modern form, and--perhaps due to its simplicity--it's gained popularity in Western countries, especially the U.K. and the United States.

Feng Shui is all about balance and order. For people with clutter problems, Feng Shui is a way to get their homes and offices under control.

Whether you prefer Compass style, Black Hat, or another form of Feng Shui, you are likely to divide a home, office or room into nine equal sections. On a grid, those divisions might look like a tic-tac-toe board, or a pie cut into eight wedges (with a circle at the center).

Each of those nine areas is assigned a set of design principles including colors, shapes, themes, numbers and elements.

When the nine areas are combined in one room or building, those design principles work together to establish a sense of balance.

For example, one corner of the room or building is designated the knowledge area. Green and deep blue are the recommended colors for that area. Metal and wood are the best elements.

So, you might put your bookcases (made from wood) or filing cabinets (made from metal or wood) in that corner. Paint the wall behind them blue, and add a few healthy green plants.

Will you get smarter if you place all of your books and files in the knowledge corner? Maybe not. But, if Feng Shui only helps you get organized, maybe that's enough.

Mostly, Feng Shui provides a sense of comfort, balance and flow in any setting.

Try any of these easy Feng Shui tips today.

1. Never block your front door, inside or out. If the hedges are overgrown or the door won't open fully, fix that first.

2. If you need a big change in your life, declutter your bathroom or your kitchen, but not both. (The resulting changes can be too dramatic.) Get rid of anything that's too old or hasn't been used in over a year. Clean all the shelves, cabinets, and surfaces.

3. To sleep soundly, don't store anything under the bed, and don't display anything over the head of the bed. Also, no mirrors should be visible from your bed, or when you first stand up in the morning. (Some people believe that your spirit travels as you sleep, and seeing -- or not seeing -- itself in a mirror can disrupt peaceful sleeping.)

No, it's not a religion.

However, for some people, Feng Shui can include mystical concepts or "luck."

(Then again, some people have "lucky socks," and so on. That has nothing to do with religion!)

For many people, Feng Shui is simply a set of design principles.

Like yoga--which can involve mysticism or just fitness--Feng Shui has many aspects. Each of those aspects can work well, independently.

Use what works for you. It's not necessary to embrace every side of Feng Shui, or of yoga, or even believe in "lucky socks!"