The five elements theory has been used throughout China for centuries and is appreciated not only in Feng Shui, but also in other disciplines such as Chinese astrology, acupuncture, acupressure, Chinese medicine and Chinese martial arts.
The five elements represent different phases of Chi energy, and are associated with different colors, directions, climates, emotions and Feng shui remedies. These fundamental elements are fire, earth, metal, water and wood, and are connected together in a cycle.
In Feng Shui, colors, building materials, compass sectors, and shapes all have an associated element, and in most situations, you will by trying to support a sector by using color and decorative objects.
The five elements and their associations are:
Fire: South
Color: Reds, pinks, sky blue, purple
Time of day: Noon
Season: Summer
Chi quality: Inspiration, activity, strength
Objects: bright lights, and candles.
Earth: South-west/north-west
Color: Yellows, creams, natural wood, beige and brown
Time of day: Afternoon
Season: Late summer
Chi quality: Allows Chi to settle and mature
Objects: Crystals, stone ornaments and vases.
Metal: West/north-west
Color: Whites, silver, grey, stainless steel, gold, chrome,
Time of day: Evening
Season: Autumn
Chi quality: Reflective, grounded
Objects: Electrical gadgets, computer, sound system, TV.
Water: North
Color: Dark blue, black
Time of day: Night
Season: Winter
Chi quality: Restful, quiet and profound but can stagnate and become cold
Objects: Water features, aquariums, images of water.
Wood: East/south-east
Color: Light green and dark greens
Time of day: Dawn
Season: Spring
Chi quality: Youth, stamina, ideas, activity, growth
Objects: Plants, flowers, money plant (Crassula Argenta).
To help you understand the dynamics of the five elements draw a circle with five marks evenly spaced around the circle starting at the top. The top mark represents fire, the next one moving clockwise is earth, then metal, followed by water and ending with wood. Also on this circle, between each element, mark with an arrow pointing clockwise and the word supports.
Now, starting at the element fire, draw a straight line directly to metal with an arrow pointing towards metal and write the word destroys, the next line, arrow and word destroys moves from metal to wood, next wood to earth, earth to water and water to fire. In the very center of the circle draw a Yin and Yang symbol for balance.
This diagram will help illustrate how the five elements are linked together within a cycle and also demonstrate their interconnecting relationships of support and hindrance.
There are three main relationships that occur within this cycle between each of the elements:
1. Supporting
The support cycle (the outer circle) shows Chi energy moving in a clockwise direction, the preceding element providing support for the next element, for instance, wood supports fire, earth supports metal and so on.
2. Draining
As each element supports the next, so it follows that the succeeding elements drain the energy from the preceding elements. Such as, earth is drained by metal, fire is drained by earth, water is drained by wood and so on around the circle.
3. Controlling
The destructive relationship between each one of the elements, as shown by the internal lines, happens when the movement of Chi is hindered from one element to another. For instance, metal can either destroy or control wood, in the same way as an axe is used to cut a tree. In turn, wood controls earth, earth controls water, water destroys fire and, fire destroys metal.
Using the Feng shui five elements theory
To apply the principles of the five elements theory in your home, first you need to identify the element of the room or sector with which you are dealing. For instance, by identifying a sector of your home as being in the east (wood), you could then use this element through the placement of a plant to strengthen that sector.
Another option is to include the supportive element (water) to energize the wood in the east. This could be done by hanging a framed picture of water in your hallway.
A very simple way of using the five element theory is to change the color of your front door. This is because the front door is the point at which Chi enters your home, and is of vital importance. To determine the most appropriate color for your door, you need to:
Firstly, find out the direction in which the back of your property sits. This will be the side which is furthest away from the front door and the main road ahead of your home.
Once you know this sector, place a small hand-held compass midway along the back interior wall of your property and note which direction the front of your property faces.
Now identify the element that supports the direction at the rear of your property. For example, if the back of your home faces north-east, the front would face south-west. The element from the north-east is earth and the element that will support this property is fire. Now you can choose one of the colors that are associated with the element of fire and incorporate it into the color of your front door.
Placing various types of images around your home is a simple and effective way to introduce one of the five elements to a particular room.
Here are a few ideas to help you choose an image.
Water: Choose pictures of stillness, and contemplation such as lakes or rives.
Wood: Images of trees, plants, flowers, also any photographs that evoke a sense of action or movement would be appropriate.
Fire: Use paintings that are colorful, passionate, extraordinary and modern.
Earth: Select images of landscapes or mountains.
Metal: Any artwork that involves plenty of fine detail with shades of grey, silver and white are suitable.
Continue applying the five elements theory to every room in your home and garden and enhance the environment you live in.
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