The Chinese have long observed the cycles of nature and they revered and admired the gifts of the seasons. As nature progresses through its unending cycle, they believed human beings also experience the same cycles of change within.
While the principles of Yin and Yang provide us with the facility to work with Qi, the Five Elements is the framework used to connect with nature in the environment. In traditional Taoist view, it is believed that everything – solid or abstract – can be classified into these five basic elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.
Their basic qualities and modes of interactions are used to understand virtually everything: from the rise and fall of empires, the workings of the internal organs and human emotions (Traditional Chinese Medicine), the passage of time, to the fortunes of people (BaZi Four Pillars of Destiny), and the energetic shifts within our physical environment (Feng Shui).
Fire gives birth to Earth; Earth gives birth to Metal; Metal gives birth to Water; Water gives birth to Wood; Wood gives birth to Fire. This is the cycle of mother nature.
When looking at the cyclical behavior of the Five Elements, it essentially embodies the five phases of Yin and Yang interactions, each representing different stages of Qi.
The Five Elements is the driving force that brings about change. It activates and moves the energy in all aspects of life. It resides in your organs, tastes, emotions, thoughts, values, actions, and behaviors. It is manifested in the seasons and directions. It can be assigned to a number, a color, a scent, even a musical note. The Elements is universal and they exist in everything, and this is what we use to analyze the Feng Shui of your space.
This is the Chinese Five Elements: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood. Within their interconnectedness, they support and give life, always counting on the other to provide balance, order, and change. And like all else, the Elements live, they die, and then live again. And the cycle goes on and on… forever and into infinity.
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To learn more, you can pick up a copy of my book, The First Guidebook for Feng Shui Enthusiasts. We dig deeper into this concept during the 5-Day Feng Shui Training Program. You can check out our 2016 class schedule HERE if you are interested in exploring this amazing, fascinating concept. Happy Learning!
