Feng Shui Elements

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For energetic and emotional balance in your space, fung shui includes the use of the Five Elements present in nature: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

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Incorporating the Five Elements enhances motivation, creativity, stability, and abundance.

Here are some Quick and Easy Tips on how you can change your space using Color with the Five

 

Elements:

WOOD: Greens and aquas; live or silk plants, wooden furniture, picture frames; wooden sculptures, images of leaves, trees, forests, flowers; cotton, rayon, linen fabrics.

FIRE: Reds and oranges; fireplace, candles, lamps; images of the sun, a lit fireplace; silk fabrics.

EARTH: Yellow and earth tones; pottery, stone, ceramics, natural crystal jewelry; images of landscapes; earth tones in upholstery and art.

METAL: Bronze, copper, silver, gold; metal jewelry and picture frames or other artifacts; images containing and metal and metal sculptures; metallic fabrics.

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WATER: Blacks and blues; glass, mirrors, fountains, aquariums; images of lakes, rivers, the ocean, waterfalls; shiny, see-through, and shimmering fabrics.

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The Feng Shui Elements

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Wood

Wood is: Intuition.
Yang=tree, Yin=flower 
Sense: Vision & seeing (Odin hung from a tree to get wisdom.) 
Ch'i Qualities: Trust, openness, receptive, inner guidance, progressive in thought and action, flexibility, expansion, cooperation, continual new growth. 
Symbols: Wooden furniture & accessories wood paneling, siding, roofing, decks, kitchen cabinets, wicker, bamboo, picture frames. Indoor & outdoor plants & flowers, (silk, plastic, dried) Art depicting landscapes, gardens, pants, flowers, carvings Floral prints, upholstery, draperies, linens, natural fiber, hemp, flax, rayon. 
Shapes: Columns, tree trunk, beams, pedestals, poles, stripes. 
Colors: Green and blue spectrum 
Excess: Over-expansive, overwhelming, Type A behavior 
Lack: Bonsai: undergrown, lack of trust, skeptical, scientific, stunted growth

Fire

Fire is: Emotional
Yang=blazing fire, Yin=oil lamp. 
Sense: Touch. Digestion. 
Ch'i Qualities: Dynamic vitality, enthusiasm, excitement, decisiveness, assertiveness, creativity, originality, leadership, motivation, emotional balance. Ancient fire ceremonies, gathering around a hearth, Acupuncture (touch). TV is our current "fire". 
Symbols: All lighting, electricity, oil, candles, sunlight, fireplaces. Things from animals: fur, leather, bone, feathers, wool. Pets & wildlife, Art depicting people, animals, fish, butterflies, sunshine, light, fire. 
Shapes: Triangles, pyramids, cones, stars, diamonds. 
Colors: The color red & red spectrum, Heat, movement. 
Excess: Aggression, anger, impatience, impulsive, overly ambitious. Burn out, crash and burn. 
Lack: Lack of enthusiasm, lethargic, dull, cold, unmotivated. Lack-luster, cool as a cucumber.

 

Earth

Earth is: Physical
Yang=planet, Yin=mother 
Sense: Taste (Ancient Masters tasted the earth to see if it could produce crops) 
Ch'i Qualities: Fertility, practicality, stability, sensuality, being grounded, organized. 
Symbols: Adobe, brick tile, ceramics, earthenware, pottery, soil. Art depicting landscapes, deserts, fields, meadows, grids. 
Shapes: Square, rectangles, long, flat surfaces. 
Colors: Yellow, earth tones 
Excess: Overly disciplined, anal, serious, conservative. 
Lack: Spacey, ungrounded, disconnected, lacking stability, shaky, barren.

Water

Water is: Spiritual
Yang=ocean, Yin= ponds, lakes 
Sense: Hearing 
Ch'i Qualities: Mystical, meditative, relaxed, calm, flowing, trusting the higher order, synchronistic. Water takes on the shape of its container. (like our soul which has no shape only the shape of our body) Water always seeks its lowest level. 
Symbols: Streams, rivers, pools, fountains, water features. Reflective surfaces, cut crystal, mirrors, glass. Art depicting waterscapes. 
Shapes: Asymmetrical, flowing, free-form, movement, natural forms. 
Colors: Black, dark blue, charcoal gray, midnight blue, indigo, 
Excess: No structure, passive, inconsistent, "wishy-washy", yin. 
Lack: Anxiety, inability to handle stress, need to dominate, lack of flow, disconnected to spirit, dry, combustible.

 

Metal

Metal is: Mental
Yang=scaffolding, Yin=gemstone 
Sense: Smell (Human skeleton is metal. Epitome of strength & endurance) 
Ch'i Qualities: Mental clarity, determination, concentration, perseverance, wit, brilliant even during hardship or failure. Connective, quick, networks, communicates. 
Symbols: All types of metals, stainless steel, copper, silver, gold, brass, iron, aluminum, pewter. All rocks and stones, marble, granite, flagstone, concrete, all natural crystals, rocks and gemstones. Art depicting metal or stone, sculptures of metal or stone. Floral prints, upholstery, draperies, linens, natural fiber, hemp, flax, rayon. 
Shapes: Circles, ovals, arches. 
Colors: White and light pastels 
Excess: Rigid, unable to compromise, fixed, stuck, sharp tongue, isolated. 
Lack: Weak, indecisive, procrastination, dull, cloudy, foggy, unclear, indeterminate, non-specific, spineless.