Feng shui, (pronounced fung shway), is an ancient Chinese system for balanced and harmonious spatial design. Rooted in Chinese philosophic and scientific systems, it consists of complex rules for determining the favorable placement of buildings, rooms, or furnishings.
Contemporary feng shui attempts to promote the positive flow of ch'i (a key concept that is defined as energy or life force, "a subtle flow of electromagnetic energy which links all things in the universe") in the home or workplace.
In recent years, many contemporary Western architects, designers, and facilities planners have embraced the insights and practices of feng shui to improve wellbeing and productivity.
First, we visited Yahoo!'s non-commercial Feng Shui category to locate introductory information, such as Feng Shui and Architecture, a collection of short essays from About's architecture guide.
Then, we used a Yahoo! search to locate specific "office feng shui guidelines," skipping past matching categories and sites, and going directly to the web page results.
An article from a commercial site offers feng shui tips that coincide with common sense, although many are hard to implement in a cubicle:
Don't sit with your back to the door. It is a potential source of anxiety and distraction.
Where possible, have a solid wall behind your desk.
A high-backed black chair indicates power.
Provide warm or full-spectrum lighting.
Avoid desktop clutter or focus it in one area of your workspace.
Create open space in the environment and soften sharp corners.
