Want to ensure harmonious relationships, personal growth and financial abundance? Feng shui practitioners say rearranging your living space can help. Feng shui, an ancient Asian art of placing objects and spaces, is based on the concept of energy flow. In feng shui, everything is energy~every piece of furniture, potted plant or span of wall has some kind of connection to you, positive or negative, based on its energy. Another basic principle: Feng shui claims that your space mirrors your life. In other words, a cluttered space could imply a cluttered or chaotic life; a more simple setting could mean a more simplified, easy life. A leaking faucet could symbolize money leaking out your pocket, and a burned-out light bulb could mean you're experiencing "burn-out" in some way.

You can hire a feng shui expert to revamp your house. But if you're on a budget, a few simple principles can give your home "good" feng shui, at little to no cost. Try these simple rearrangements in your home to boost energy flow and create a more uplifting living environment.

	Entrance. Store nothing behind the front door or entrance to your home, as it can prevent you from "opening wide" to new possibilities. And to provide a more welcoming message to your guests, make sure there's enough room on hall trees or coat racks for them to hang their coats.
	Living Room. To promote harmony in the family, arrange the furniture so that conversation ~ not the television ~ is the focal activity. Keep plants healthy for symbolic growth and blossoming in your life. Otherwise, use silk plants to represent this intention.
	Kitchen. Because they have combative implications, kitchen knives should be stored in a drawer, rather than in a knife holder on the counter top. Keep kitchen counter tops as clear of clutter as possible, to make sure your creative vision remains as clear as possible. To keep wealth flowing in your life, keep your burners clean and in working order.
	Bedroom. To nourish a new or established partnership, remove photos of anyone other than you and/or your partner. To keep your life from becoming stagnant, don't store anything under the bed. And make sure you have similar night stands and lamps on both sides of the bed to assure equality in your relationship.
	Bathroom. If a bathroom is positioned close to the front entry, keep the door closed so that your energy doesn't go "down the drain." And place a plant (silk is fine) on the back of the toilet tank to counteract the downward energy flow of the toilet.

Carole J. Hyder has been a feng shui consultant since 1992 and is the author of Wind and Water: Your Personal Feng Shui Journey. She can be reached at carole@carolehyder.com, or visit her website at www.carolehyder.com.