Different schools of thought        There are many schools of thought when it comes to feng shui. Rush suggested focusing on a physical analysis of your home and concentrating on chi (energy), yin and yang, the Five Element Theory and the Rules of Placement. Beyond these, it is best to study with a teacher due to the complexity involved. There are also interior designers like Rush who specialize in applying the ancient discipline as part of their professional practice.        Using feng shui, one can achieve balance between the opposing energies of yin and yang. The Chinese believe that one cannot exist without the other.        “Apply the principles of yin and yang to answer your needs as to how the spaces are used,” Rush said. “Yin refers to the energy of the moon; it is introspective and dark. Yang, the energy of the sun, is extroverted and light.”        As an example, the bedroom is considered a yin space. It is where we conduct yin activities, but we should add some yang, such as an animal print accent pillow, to help keep our love relationship alive and interesting. The dining room should be a yang space to energize family and guests and encourage them to converse. If a child exhibits introverted behavior, add some yellow and red in his bedroom to foster more activity. Conversely, if the child is hyperactive, make the room more yin-like to promote relaxation. Energy should be channeled        Various forms of negative energy should be avoided, such as stagnant, racing and cutting energy. To correct stagnant energy in an infrequently used guest room, the designer suggested adding a chair so that the space doubles as a reading place. To correct racing energy in a long expanse of space, change the furniture placement, or add a rug or plant to block some of the energy flow. The same is true if there is a large window on the wall opposite the front door; position furnishings so that the good energy entering through the front doesn’t escape through the back. To correct cutting energy produced by a “poison arrow” such as a sharp corner, add a plant or a decorative screen.        The Five Element Theory says we can bring harmony into the home by incorporating the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water. But, according to Rush, you don’t necessarily need to incorporate all the elements into each room. Use the characteristics of the elements to make them work for you. She cited wood, which represents spring and morning and is associated with the color green, as being well suited for a room where you want to be inspired and creative.        The Rules of Placement are also important and Rush presented several examples. In the dining room, the host should sit farthest from the door, a position of power, and his/her back should not be to the door. It is best for a home office to be distanced from the bedroom because a productive work zone conflicts with an area meant for relaxation. The headboard of a bed should be positioned along a solid wall.        Worthy of mention, too, is that feng shui can be applied to our life cycle because we have different needs at different stages of our lives. When we are young, we are very active and extroverted, enjoying surroundings that are light and bright (yang) to foster movement. As we mature, many of us become introspective (yin), feeling more comfortable around colors and elements that foster stillness.        Practitioners of the time-honored feng shui tradition profess that good feng shui changes and improves lives by fostering health, happiness and good fortune. At the same time, positive chi will make us feel more “at home.”        If successful living can be achieved by design, then I’m going shopping… Dylan Tillman is a design writer in Fort Lauderdale E-mail him at tillman@theparklander.com