Feng Shui Elements

The five feng shui elements play an essential role in achieving balance and harmony in both your surroundings and your life.

Yin and yang are key elements in feng shui

Feng shui is based on the belief that everything that exists in the environment has movement and energy. This is true of inanimate objects, elements, places and living things. By understanding and utilizing the energy, known as chi or qi, that each object emits, it is possible to arrange and decorate your home in a manner that projects a positive flow of life’s energy, or chi flow, towards you.

Throughout each home, and spaces within the home, the flow of chi is unique. The five elements are one of the two main components of chi, with ying and yang being the other. The five elements of feng shui include:

• Fire
• Wood
• Water
• Earth
• Metal

The five elements of feng shui each have their own individual properties and they must be balanced correctly.

Candles represent the element of fire

Fire is considered the most powerful of all the elements and represents energy, passion, expansion and transformation. When using the fire element in your home, it can be represented by a candle, or by color, such as a red lampshade.

• Color: red, orange and yellow
• Season: summer
• Direction symbolized: south

The element of wood helps to develop creative energies such as inspiration, motivation and passion. It represents personal growth and renewal and purifies and redirects chi. Wood can be represented by plants, trees or by green objects, for example green pillows.

• Color: green and sometimes purples, not pastels
• Season: spring
• Direction symbolized: east and southeast

The water element of feng shui is directly related to the flow of money and career. Flowing water helps us to let go of things we no longer need. Still water helps the surrounding energies to be calm and offers the feeling of a new beginning and renewed strength. The water element can be represented by a water feature, fish tank or pond. Crystals, wavy statues or artwork and paintings of water scenes are other ways the element of water may be represented.

• Color: blues
• Season: winter
• Direction symbolized: north

The element of metal draws and unifies all of the elements together. They act as transmitters, conducting the various energies to different areas. Metal stimulates mental strength and intellectual abilities, making it easier to focus and think clearly.

• Color: white, silver, gray and black
• Season: fall
• Direction symbolized: west and northwest

Representing permanence, stability and home, the earth element is solid giving a sense of security and grounding support. It strengthens the feelings of safety and adds a sense of comfort from within. Rock features, thick carpet, antique pottery and old books help to bring the earth element indoors.

• Color: brown, beige, sierra and other muted colors
• Season: end of summer
• Direction symbolized: center, northeast and southwest

More important then the individual properties of the elements of feng shui are how they work together. Imagine that each element had its own personality, and each personality either gets along with the others or they are in conflict. The compatibility of the elements of feng shui are dependent on the cycles of elements, which are either constructive or destructive.

The constructive element cycle, sometimes called the productive or creative cycle, occurs when one element creates or feeds another. When all of the elements work together they are in harmony and result in good health, success, abundance, prosperity and a feeling of happiness and satisfaction.

• Earth creates metal
• Metal holds water
• Water nourishes wood
• Wood fuels fire
• Fire creates earth

When one element is overpowered by another, it is called the destructive element cycle. When the elements are in disharmony or conflict, they clash with one another resulting in problems at work and in personal relationships, poor health, accidents and financial problems.

• Fire melts metal
• Metal cuts wood
• Wood pierces earth
• Earth stops, or dams water
• Water puts out fire

Using feng shui elements in a positive way in your home boosts your personal chi. It gives you the sense of balance and harmony that is needed for a sense of well being, calm and happiness.

• Monuments with the Golden Ratio
• Yin Yang Pictures
• Yin Yang Art

• Yin Yang Dragons
• Tiger and Dragon Ying Yang
• Applications How to Place Feng Shui Elephant
• Chinese Dragon Clip Art
• Ying Yang Suns

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• Category:Feng Shui Tips
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• Five Elements of Feng Shui