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A sage does not hoard Having used what he has on behalf of others Has the more in himself; having given that away, He is all the richer. This is the Way of the Tao Tao Te Ching, Chapter 80

Five elements Theory pervades all Chinese esoteric practices including Feng Shui. The 5 elements according to Taoist theory are; Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, & Water. In Feng Shui practice, as in all other practices each element has specific characteristics and everything is assigned an element according to those characteristics. This is no intellectual exercise. Over millennia of observation, practitioners have found that conscious use of these principals yields specific results. Shapes, colours, objects, and pictures, placed in the areas outlined on the Ba Gua will bring about changes that allow the student, with practice, to become the master of his/her own fate.

The Five Elements

Wood Colour - Green Shape - Rectangular Action - Growth, nourishment Season - Spring Time of Day - Dawn Symbol - Dragon Feelings - Fresh, happy, adventurous Buildings - Skyscrapers, towers, healing centres, hospitals Objects - Trees, plants, flowers, wooden frames, books Organs - Liver/Gallbladder Emotion - Anger Sense organ - Eyes Disharmonies - Fibromyalgia, muscle pain, eye problems

Fire Colour – Red Shape – Pyramid, cone, triangle Action – Activation, power, agitation, danger Direction – South Season – Summer Time of Day – Noon Symbol – Phoenix Feelings – Enthusiasm, energetic, excited Buildings – Churches, casinos, dance halls, schools Rooms – Game rooms, ceremonial rooms Objects – Candles, light bulbs, fireplace Organs – Heart/Small Intestine Emotion – Joy Sense Organ – Tip of the tongue Disharmonies – Mental & emotional disorders

Earth Colour – Brown Shape – Square Action – Stability, groundedness Season – Late Summer Time of Day – Mid-afternoon Symbol – Earth Feelings – Comfort, security, safety Buildings – Low, square brick, concrete hospitals, courthouses, museums, retirement homes Rooms – Sitting room, storage, garage Objects – Bricks, clay, rocks, gemstones, crystals Organs – Stomach/Spleen Emotion – Worry/overthinking Sense Organ – Mouth Disharmonies – Fatigue, digestive problems

Metal Colour - Gray, silver, gold Shape – Circular, domed Action - Sharpness, precision Direction - West Season – Autumn Time of Day - Dawn Symbol – White Tiger Feelings – Focused, intense, concentration, Buildings – Domes, curved, reflective, shiny, financial institutions, computer stores, stadiums Rooms - Kitchen, bathroom, workshop, Objects – Metal, gold, silver, mirrors, metal chimes, crystal, glass Organs – Lung/Large Intestine Emotion – Grief Sense Organ – Nose Disharmonies – Asthma, breathing problems

Water Colour – Navy blue Shape – Wavy, undulating Action – Fluidity, yielding, ease Direction - North Time of Day - Midnight Symbol – Turtle Feelings – Relaxed, easy going Buildings – Glass, plastic, nurseries, aquariums, radio/TV stations Rooms – Laundry, bathroom, hospital rooms, treatment rooms Objects – Fish bowls, running water, fountains, plastic Organs – Kidney/Bladder Emotion – Fear Sense organs – Ears Disharmonies – Edema, tinnitus, impotence

It is important to understand that these are not static principals. According to the theories of Qi and Yin/Yang all things are constantly in motion, changing and transforming. Making a change in one area will affect all the other areas. According to Taoist philosophy, change occurs in a cyclical (actually a spiral),fashion. Knowing the Laws of Nature, allows the student to speculate with relative accuracy what effect a given action will have on a situation. It is then up to the student to choose to act in a 'superior' manner that conforms to the Natural Laws and produces predictable results.

By seeing one's environment or body as a symptom of a disharmony or harmony, the Feng Shui practitioner then knows what action to take, if any to improve or preserve the situation.

Briefly there are two cycles that the casual student should pay attention to:

1. The Promotion Cycle

The Five Elements are always presented in a circular fashion. In the Promotion Cycle it is observable that each of the elements promotes and nurtures the following element. In Chinese medical practice this principle is used for Deficiency conditions. For example, a deficiency of the Fire element may be cured by adding to the Fire element itself or by promoting the Wood element, or both.
Likewise, a deficiency in the Earth element may be cured by adding to the Earth element itself or by promoting the Fire element which in its turn promotes Earth.

All this may sound a little complicated at first, but with practice you can learn to use these principals insofar as they are applicable to your situation.

While the 5 Elements theory is an integral component of Chinese esoteric practice, it is not always foolproof, but it is another way of approaching the world.

So, here is the Promotion Cycle.

Wood promotes Fire; (wood burns)

Fire promotes Earth; (periodic thinning of forests by fire promotes forest growth)

Earth promotes Metal; (all metals are produced by the action of the Earth)

Metal promotes Water (anything metal attracts water in the form of condensation)

Water promotes Wood; (water nourishes and grows trees)

 

2. The Control Cycle

Wood controls Earth; (in the sense of covering the forest floor with leaves, twigs, etc.)

Earth controls Water; (in the sense that earthen dams can control water flow).

Water controls Fire; (in the sense that water puts out Fire)

Fire controls Metal; (metal can be melted by Fire)

Metal controls Wood; (metal axes can chop wood.)

This cycle is used to treat excess conditions. For example when Fire rages out of control, cooling Water controls the Fire. If Wood is out of control, adding Metal will reduce the effect.

From the point of view of Feng Shui, one never paints a room Red. That would be just too much Fire. Red is more an accent colour. Likewise one rarely paints a room completely gray, or golden or silver colour. That would be just too much Metal. Rather these colours are used to accent (control/balance) the main colours… Earth tones, (Earth) green tones (Wood) and blues (Water). White, which is Metal, is often used as a base colour in homes, but it is highly recommended that picture, bamboo hangars and other such decorations be hung reducing the White (Metal) to an accenting colour.

Combined with a knowledge of shapes and other such Feng Shui curatives, the intelligent use of colour according to 5 Elements theory will help to create a home or office that is relaxing and stimulating to the senses at the same time.

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