Whether you live in a studio or a large house, why not use the principles of Feng Shui to make the most of the year 2000? For centuries the Chinese have been using Feng Shui to create harmonious living environments to promote well being. An ancient art that has become increasingly popular in the last decade, Feng Shui translates as `wind and water', and is the Chinese art of placement, balancing and enhancing the environment.

The Chinese call the energy of the atmosphere, the Earth and humans `chi'. The point of Feng Shui is to harness and enhance environmental chi to improve the flow of chi within our bodies, thus improving our health.

According to Feng Shui, home chi can effect our personal chi. For example, if your entrance door opens onto a wall, then your chi will be blocked.

Having to move around the wall as soon as you enter will affect your posture, and coming up against the wall will make you feel defeated, lowering your expectations in life.

As a result, you will struggle. The situation could be corrected by placing a mirror on the wall. Mirrors are often used in Feng Shui to enhance chi, as well as wind chimes, lights, plants, flowers and fountains.

Feng shui can also be used at your place of business to create prosperity.

When the Singapore Hyatt hotel was suffering from low occupancy the management turned on a long dormant fountain, changed the position of the doors and initiated some other Feng Shui tactics -- and ever since it has flourished.

Today, Feng Shui consultants are often retained to assist with the architecture and interior design of corporate buildings. One of the biggest modern challenges in the workplace as well as the home for consultants is electro magnetic pollution.

According to author of `Feng Shui Journey', Jon Sandifer, "Current research suggests we are now being bombarded with the equivalent of 200 million times the amount of electro-magnetic pollution that our forbears had to face.

Sources of EMF can range from electricity pylons, which can transmit their effect over a distance of up to a 1/4 mile down to a humble bedside alarm clock which can project it's EMF up to six feet away.''.

Other sources for EMF's include: electric cookers, washing machines, hair dryers, microwave ovens, stereo systems, digital clocks, televisions, computers, electric razors, fluorescent lighting and mobile telephones.

"As a general rule it is wise to turn off all electric appliances when they are not in use -- and to remove the plug from the socket,'' Sandifer advises.

Local Feng Shui Master Barbara Bluck has studied in Norway with expert and author Denise Linn. Barbara believes our environments are constantly sending us metaphorical messages about the state of our lives.

For example, if you want a relationship and your bedroom closet is full of junk, this indicates that there is no room in your life for anything new. So have a peek inside a prospective beau's closet! Barbara suggested some tips for improving your health and your life through Feng Shui: "At the beginning of the new year, it is always a good idea to weed out the clutter that has accumulated over the past year. This will make room for new things in your life - more success in your career, more knowledge, better relationships with family and friends, etc.

One of the most important areas is the front entrance to your home, as this is where your public and private life meet. Make sure that there is a clear path to the front door, so that new things don't have to circumvent obstacles to get to you.

Use all the burners on your stove from time to time to insure that you are in balance and `cooking with all burners'. This spreads the energy throughout your system.'' I asked Barbara what was the most common mistake people made with Feng Shui.

"I wouldn't say that people make mistakes with Feng Shui,'' she said.

"However, I do believe that we often fail to notice something that is sending us a negative subliminal message which is impacting on our lives.

"For example, on a side table in your living room you may have a china figure that was a gift from a now deceased relative. You loved the relative, and so out of respect for that memory you keep the figure on display.

"But the gift is not something that truly fits in with your decor. You may not even be aware of it, but on an unconscious level it is a source of irritation whenever you look at it.'' Barbara noted that from a Feng Shui perspective the Bermudian practice of naming the house is, in fact, most beneficial.

"Name signs make it easy for the chi to locate your home. In addition, one of the most auspicious features of the traditional Bermuda home is the welcoming arms staircase.'' Here are some suggestions from Barbara to enhance your home: Put some bright red flowers or a wind chime at the entrance to attract new beneficial chi.

To prevent chi from carrying your money down the drain, always keep the toilet lid down. You might want to place some flowers (any type except for dried, which are dead) on the toilet tank so that each time the toilet is flushed you are "watering the flowers and contributing to the growth of your finances''.

If you would like to get rid of some of the old and make some improvements for the new year, you still have time as the Chinese New Year -- The Year of the Dragon -- does not begin until February 5th.

Feng Shui Consultant Barbara Bluck at 295-2554.