A feng shui consultant is a person well-versed in the field of feng shui who assists people with the layout, orientation, and decoration of both residential and commercial structures. Depending on the type of project for which the feng shui consultant is hired, he or she may be responsible only for the cosmetic dressing of an interior space. Alternatively, if such a consultant is brought in to advise during the initial planning stages of a project, he or she may actually advise on structural elements of the building or area.
Feng shui was historically practiced in buildings of particular significance such as places of worship, but is now commonly used in offices and homes. Feng shui began to become popular in the West in the 1960s. Since then many books about the practice have been published in English and other Western languages. Furthermore, Westerners who have studied feng shui have gone on to become consultants.
In order to be a feng shui consultant, it is crucial to dedicate intense research time in order to thoroughly understand the practice. Feng shui is based on an understanding of qi, which is also sometimes spelled as "chi." Qi is often understood as the flow of energy which is connected to all living things. The practice also relies on polarity, magnetic pull, and the theory of yin and yang. In addition to knowing a great deal about qi, a feng shui consultant must also understand the many symbols related to practice.
In the West, feng shui is most commonly practiced in private residences. While there are some professional spaces that are built or dressed according to the principles of feng shui, it is unusual. It is possible, however, to incorporate elements of feng shui in personal work spaces, even if the space as a whole has not been organized and dressed according to the principles of feng shui. It is possible to complete such small project on one's own, but dealing with a larger area may require the advice of input of a feng shui consultant.
There are a number of sites on the Internet dedicated to information about feng shui. The information on these sites often includes information about feng shui in general as well as information about schools that give courses in the practice. These sits also sometimes list contact information for feng shui consultants.
