Good article describing some of the basic principles of Feng Shui:

"The Chinese art of feng shui has been practiced for centuries. It involves arranging your surroundings in order to create a balanced and supportive environment.

Translated literally, feng means "wind" and shui means "water." Together, the two words suggest gentle winds blowing over smoothly flowing water. They suggest balance, peace, harmony -- all the things you'd feel if you awoke on a beautiful day and all was right with the world. That's what feng shui is, and that's what it does -- it makes things right in your world.

A primary tool used in feng shui is a bagua map. A bagua map is an eight-sided diagram that is superimposed over a home, room or plot of land in order to locate each life area or gua. The nine guas are commonly referred to as Knowledge and Self-Cultivation, Career and Life Path, Helpful People and Travel, Family and Ancestors, Health and All Areas, Children and Creativity, Wealth and Prosperity, Fame and Reputation and Marriage and Relationships.

Each gua has its own color or colors. Some guas also have their own element and shapes. For example, the color associated with the Fame gua is red, the element is fire and the shapes are the triangle, pyramid, and cone.

After a feng shui practitioner positions the bagua map over a scale drawing of a space, he or she will then determine how to balance the energy of that space, using various enhancements or "cures." Once those enhancements or cures are put into place and empowered with the client's intentions, the client can then expect to experience some results rather quickly. Beneficial circumstances -- and helpful people -- will begin presenting themselves, and the client will begin achieving his or her goals."