Auspicious: Used to describe favorable and beneficial influences.

Ba gua: The ba gua (ba: eight; gua: area) is essentially a Feng Shui map. In most cases, it shaped like an octagon, with eight sections surrounding a central area. It is used to define which areas of your life are governed by particular areas of your living or work space. Each of the areas correspond to a different aspect of your life. This diagram is said to have been inspired centuries ago by the markings on a tortoise shell. Also called Bagua or Pa Kua.

Cardinal points: The four major compass directions; North, South, East, West.

Chi: A general term for the vital energy that exits everywhere, and in everything. Chi refers to all form of energy and its flow. Feng Shui teaches the movement and manipulation of chi in order to create the most beneficial environment in the home or office. Also called qi or ki (Japanese).

Clashing doors: Doors that hit each other when opened. Classical Feng Shui: The vast majority of Feng Shui practitioners around the world practice this type of Feng Shui. Classical Feng Shui incorporates both Form School and Compass School (the two original practices first used in ancient China) principles and methods. Also called Traditional Feng Shui.

Corners: Protruding corners disrupt the healthy flow of chi with negative energy, and are considered bad Feng Shui. To counteract this energy, try placing a tall plant (reparably with rounded leaves) in front of it to act as a cure.

Cure: Something that is used to counteract inauspicious energy, or negative chi. It could be an object, prayer or action. Cures help ensure balance and the most positive chi in a space. Also called remedy.

Earth: One of the Five Elements. Earth chi concerns itself with material things and earthly conditions. Represented with earth tones, yellows, and tans and by objects made of crystal, stone and ceramic. Also called tu.

Feng Shui: Literally translated as "wind and water," this ancient Chinese practice is thought to be over 5000 years old. Feng Shui is the science of controlling the flow of energy in order to harmonize an individual with their environment. The strategic use of color, plants and furnishings within a house can create the best flow of benevolent chi and counteract negative energies. By carefully balancing the flow if chi, it is thought life can be influenced in a profoundly positive way.

Fire: One of the Five Elements. Fire energy is very energetic and vibrant, and is associated with fame and good name. It's symbolized by the colors red, purple, magenta, pink and orange. Objects such as candles, incense burners, lamps and fireplaces are its hallmarks. Also called huo.

Five Elements: The Five Elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. The essence of Feng Shui is rooted in the interaction and balance between the five elements. Each element exists in a yin and yang form and governs certain aspects of life. Also called Wu Xing.

Gua: Loosely translated as "house" or "sector." It refers to one of the eight areas in the Feng Shui map (ba gua). Each gua represents a different aspect of your life. Also called kua.

Hexagram: A symbol that originates from the I-Ching, it consists of six solid or broken lines and is based on combinations of the eight trigrams. There are 64 hexagrams in the I-Ching, which represent every known correspondence and combination of energies. Hexagrams are sometimes used to discern a possible course to future events, and are often studied for their philosophical insights.

I-Ching: One of the great Chinese philosophical texts, I-Ching has been used for divination and for philosophical guidance for thousands of years. It depicts the movements and development of every event or phenomenon in the universe and is an important component in the formation of Feng Shui theory. Also called The Book of Changes.

Inauspicious: Used to describe negative, unfavorable and harmful influences as well as unsuccessful results.

Integrative Feng Shui: A blending of several schools and philosophies of Feng Shui as well as other methods for Feng Shui purposes.

Intercardinal points: The four compass directions between the main cardinal points: Northwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest.

Luck: Can mean good or bad fortune. In Feng Shui, it's composed of heaven luck, earth luck, and human luck.

Metal: One of the Five Elements. Represented by white, silver and gold colors. Metal is associated with precision, leadership and inspiration. Also called jin. Method of Minor Additions: Refers to the addition of simple, natural energy (such as plants, light, water, etc.), along with positive intentions to achieve changes without the need for major renovations.

Ming Gua: An astrological method, producing information about a subject, including the four most auspicious directions for that particular individual. It produces a personalized destiny trigram with associated numbers, elements, and life aspects, based on an individual's gender and year of birth. Also called Ming Kua.

Mouth of Chi: The main entrance door where chi (energy) enters a structure. It can also refer to entries to the land or property. Also called Mouth of Qi.

Predecessor Chi: The residual energy left behind by the previous inhabitants of a space. Also called Predecessor qi.

Reversed door: A door that opens to into a wall or the smallest part of the room. Sha chi: Negative, harmful and inauspicious energy. Energy that is dull and lifeless also lessens the positive chi. Also called sha qi, or the killing breath.

Trigram: One of eight symbols that make up the ba gua. Each section represents a different phase of chi and aspect of life. Originating in the I-Ching, they are depicted as a combination of three horizontally drawn straight and broken lines, each above the other, denoting yin/yang relationships. Each person has an individual trigram related to their gender and birth date, called their Ming Gua.

Water: One of the Five Elements, water is associated with the colors black or blue. Water has a strong emotional component, and is thought to promote prosperity and facilitate communications. Fountains invoke very auspicious chi (especially when placed in the north). Also called shui.

Wind chimes: A common Feng Shui cure. Very useful for dispersing negative energy (sha chi) and creating positive chi. Metal chimes should be placed in the west/southwest; bamboo or wood chimes in the east/southeast and ceramic in the southwest/northeast.

Wood: One of the Five Elements. Represented by the colors green, brown and beige. Associated with family, health and wealth. Wooden objects and live plants invoke positive energy. Also called mu.

Xue: The Feng Shui spot, the ideal location. Also called Hsueh.

Yang: The more active half of the yin-yang principle. It's associated with light, activity, movement, rigidity, strength and masculine energy. Yang must be balanced by an equal presence of yin energy.

Yin: Considered the more passive half of the yin-yang principle. It's associated with darkness, stillness, flexibility, weakness and feminine energy. It must be balanced with the opposite level of yang energy.