The Donald uses it. So does the Bank of England, Virgin Airlines and the United Nations. Give up? It is the ancient art of Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese philosophy of practical design to enhance the positive energy in your home, office or surroundings. You may want to note that the root of your problems could be the floor plan design of your home (or your spouse).

Feng Shui teaches us how to create harmony and balance and now many designers and architects are incorporating this philosophy into their designs.

The ancient art of Feng Shui prescribes lengthy and complex rules that may strike modern homeowners as quirky. For example, your home should not be built at the end of a dead-end road. Round pillars are better than square. Ceilings should be high and well-lit.

Let's complicate and confuse the uninitiated on this issue one step further with several different ways to practice feng shui:

• Use a compass to establish the most beneficial placement of rooms
• Draw on information from the Chinese horoscope
• Examine the surrounding land forms, streets, streams and buildings
• Use some variation of a tool called the Ba-Gua -- an octagonal chart outlining the most favorable placement for rooms

As baffling as the above may sound, the principals are based on common sense. For example, feng shui principles warn that a kitchen door should not face the stove. The reason? A person working at the stove may instinctively want to glance back at the door. This creates a feeling of unease, which can lead to accidents.

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright lived long before feng shui became trendy, but his fans often say that his buildings suggest the concepts and principals perfectly of this ancient practice creating positive space and energy. In one of his most famous designs "Fallingwater" pictured, the idea of being able to dip toes in the waters, or breath in the clean air of a pure Pennsylvania forest was Wrights pursuit.

A way to understand the concept of Feng Shui is to think of a time when you looked at a beautiful view. It made you feel an emotional connection. That is what Feng Shui is about. How the space affects how you feel, which then affects your emotions, your reactions, and then your actions.

To read more about this ancient practice of interior design check out these helpful books:

Feng Shui for Dummies

The Principles of Feng Shui

Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life

Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui