What Are the Feng Shui Five Elements?
This article contains affiliate links, meaning that if you decide to make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no cost to you.
The Feng Shui five elements are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Each of these elements represents different qualities and virtues, which are mirrored in a wide range of physical components that you interact with in your day-to-day life.
In this article, I’ll take you through everything there is to know about the five Feng Shui elements and what they represent. In the following sections, you’ll learn more about what wood, fire, earth, metal, and water stand for in terms of qualities, colors, shapes, and much more. If you’re looking for the ideal guide to rearrange your living space and bring more balance into your life, this article is for you.
The Fundamental Elements Of Feng Shui
The practice of Feng Shui is based upon five fundamental elements that are widely considered to be the driving forces of the universe. Each of them holds its own irreplaceable position in the world as it invokes a unique feel.
For this reason, knowing what these elements stand for can help you create a complete, balanced living space.
This theory is so widely appreciated, that in Chinese medicine there’s a whole field dedicated to what’s called the “Five Element Acupuncture.” The aim of this practice is to identify the element you’re most closely connected to and help you achieve a better balance between your mind, brain, and spirit.
Chinese astrology also utilizes the Five Elements concept to help you better support your natural energy. Let’s now discuss these elements more in detail.
Wood Element
The element of wood represents flexibility, strength, and growth.
The close relation to flora makes this element a symbol of life and nurturing. It’s an excellent component to incorporate into your living space if you’re someone who wants to mark a new beginning in your life.
Wood is connected to nature-related colors, usually greens and blues. By conducting quick research on the theory of color symbolism, you’ll quickly realize that the meanings of these colors perfectly match what wood stands for.
Another excellent way to incorporate the element into your living space is to simply add some healthy, vibrant plants.
Wood is connected to your bladder and liver, which is why those needing more support with these parts of their body might want to incorporate more wood-related elements into their lives.
When it comes to careers, those who feel deeply connected with the element of wood would be an ideal fit for nature-related industries, such as paper, lumber, forest, textile, or food. Additionally, these people tend to feel more at ease when working for family-operated businesses.
The shapes that represent this element are columnal and vertical in nature, mimicking the shape of tree trunks.
Note: The element also carries some disadvantages, meaning that too much of it can make you feel overwhelmed and stubborn, so use Wood Element wisely in your Feng Shui.
Fire Element
Poets and philosophers have widely covered the symbolism of fire throughout the years, so you might already have a faint idea of what it represents.
Fire symbolizes passion, boldness, and enthusiasm. However, the element is also connected to traits like anger, impulsiveness, and irritability. For this reason, considering your personality before deciding on how much of each component you want to incorporate into your living space is crucial.
Those who want to add fire to their lives can do so by incorporating more reds and bright oranges. If you’re not comfortable with these types of colors, don’t worry! You can still implement this element into your space by using art prints, candles, bracelets or by choosing more angular shapes on your designs.
People who feel represented by fire tend to be better fitted to fields such as cosmetology, technology, photography, or other similar fields.
In traditional Chinese Medicine, your heart, small intestine and body’s ability to regulate internal temperature are closely related to the element of fire, which is why incorporating even a few elements that symbolize it is crucial for your general well-being. Showing love and kindness is Fire Element just as much as passion and fury.
Earth Element
Earth is the ultimate symbol of strength and balance. Physical possessions that represent this element will make you feel more stable and grounded. However, an overabundance of these possessions might affect your life negatively, making you feel bored or sluggish.
Choosing a color that represents this element is as easy as you’d think, as any muted yellows, oranges, and browns will do. Additionally, any square or rectangular design can bring more nourishment and reliability to your life.
Those represented by earth can feel better suited to industries such as:
- Architecture
- Masonry
- Archaeology
- Landscaping
The body parts most closely related to Earth element are the stomach and womb, so if you’re looking to feel more connected to them, you might want to add some brown, rectangular accents to your home. Earth element is also represented by sugary foods. If you are craving sweets, then you may have an imbalance with Earth element.
Metal Element
Metal is the element of logic and efficiency. The material itself is durable and unwavering, which explains why those working in engineering and technology careers often feel represented by this element.
However, incorporating too much of it into your living space can make you be overly critical, or feel criticized depending on how Metal affects your BaZi Chinese astrology chart. So try not to add too many whites, grays, and metallics to your home’s color scheme.
If you want to bring more of this element into your space, you’ll want to choose round, spherical, or oval designs when it comes to your belongings.
Metal is a complex Element, versatile and used in many ways depending on the qualities you want to bring out.
Each of the images above is linked to a different use and application of Metal Element. Tools are used to manipulate the world around us, using more than just our hands. Such Metal is usually Yang (hard), but can be utilized in a Yang (hammering) or Yin (measuring) manner.
We find wealth and status by using Metals that we all agree are valuable, such as gold, silver and platinum. This type of Metal usually Yin in nature, and is represented by the Heavenly Stem Xin.
Due to the nature of life on planet Earth, it is sometimes necessary to defend oneself and our loved ones. Even the gentlest of modern day gentlemen Keanu Reeves once said “if you don’t fight for your love, what kind of love do you have?”.
Like this article? Tap to share
Your large intestines and lungs are directly related to the element of metal, which is something to consider when deciding on the ideal balance you’ll want your home to represent through its decor. 2020 was a year where Yang Metal was severely drained by the Rat’s Pure Water leading to the lungs weakening and the pandemic crisis.
Water Element
Water is the element of wisdom and spirituality. This unexpected combination comes from the substance’s depth and flowy nature, rendering it a crucial component to incorporate into any space.
However, too many designs corresponding with this symbol could potentially make a home feel overwhelming and isolating (like living on an island), which is why finding the ideal balance is always key.
If you’re looking to incorporate water into your living space, you can do so by choosing colors such as black or blue. Additionally, any wavy, asymmetrical, or formless shapes would also be an excellent way to bring the element of water into your home. Fish represent Metal Element within Water Element and are great addition when you are unable to add real water.
The body part most connected to water are your kidneys, which, due to their essential role within your organism, requires being surrounded by a wide range of water-related elements. People connected to this component usually thrive in industries that require creativity, innovation, and strategic planning.
Conclusion
Wood, fire, earth, metal, and water are the five Chinese Feng Shui elements. While researching and understanding the significance of each can be easy with enough time and patience, figuring out the ideal balance between them that could optimize your living space can be much more challenging.
However, by taking into account each element’s characteristics, you’ll be able to decide on which fits your life’s requirements best at a particular moment.
Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology Resources
Here is a list of books, websites, services, courses that we recommend.
From understanding the basic principles of feng shui to mastering floor plans and using remedies to cure real-life problems, this definitive guide covers everything you need to know about this ancient art. It includes advice on moving house, tailoring feng shui to your personal requirements, choosing furnishings and deciding when to redecorate.The comprehensive directory shows you how you can apply feng shui to every aspect of your life – including your home, health, relationships, finances, career and spiritual life – to help you achieve your full potential, take control of your destiny and create a happier atmosphere at home.
By Simon G Brown.
Nine Star Ki is the astrological companion to Feng Shui. It is a straightforward, yet profound astrological system found in Japan, China, and Tibet which helps us to understand ourselves and our relationship with others. Offering clear and practical guidance which anyone can use, it enables us to work profitably with our strengths and challenges in all areas of life.
By Robert Sachs.
In this highly illustrated volume, discover the origins, fundamentals, principles, and applications of Feng Shui from bestselling author and Feng Shui expert, Lillian Too. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Feng Shui is designed to show amateur practitioners and readers how to achieve harmony, balance, happiness, satisfaction, and well-being in their everyday lives. This immensely practical encyclopedia also covers all the essential elements of Feng Shui.
By world-renowned Feng Shui expert Lillian Too.
The next in the highly successful Crystal Prescriptions series, this volume covers crystals for space clearing, Feng Shui and psychic protection with extensive introductory material and practical exercises, plus the usual A-Z format directory. Whether you need to create a safe space for everyday living or meditation, or craft an oasis of calm in a buzzing work environment, or to protect your home in a crime-ridden area, crystals may assist you. You’ll be able to work in harmony with the Feng Shui bagua to attract abundance and enhance all areas of your life. You’ll find crystals to ghostbust, to clear curses no matter how far back in your ancestral line, to remove spirit attachments, and to retrieve the lost soul parts that could make you vulnerable to psychic attack. Crystals will help you to strengthen your aura, create a firewall between you and the outside world, and repel psychic invasion. You will also be able to craft practical amulets for everyday wear and learn how to make crystals work for you.
By Judy Hall.
