Feng Shui's Five Elements
Feng shui divides the world into five elements (not four, the way the Western world does). The elements are wood, fire, earth, metal and water. If you have a room that doesn't feel quite right, balancing the elements can make it more comfortable. Each element has its own qualities (including color and texture), and the theory of balancing elements can be used in a yard, home or office.
Incorporate all five elements into every room design, enhancing specific elements according to your unique goals. Each element invokes a different mood, creating a customized space that's beneficial for your personality and goals. Using the five elements in design can be confusing, so let's get started with the basics.
Wood for Health and Vitality
Wood harnesses the power of creativity and expansion, while representing traits such as growth, birth, strength, flexibility and intuition. It is also an expression of abundance, thus an ancient Feng Shui cure for wealth and prosperity. Too much wood can make you feel overwhelmed, rigid, stubborn and inflexible, whereas too little can show up as a lack of creativity or depression, ambivalence and stagnancy. Wood is the Feng Shui element of the East and Southeast areas of your space. It is also good to use in the South.
When adding the wood element to a room, look for the following types of objects:
- fresh and silk flowers
- plants and trees
- cotton or natural fabrics
- wood furniture
When designing with the wood element, use shapes that mimic the vertical, column-like shape of tree trunks and the softness of leaves and flowers. Like the leaves and sky, wood's colors are green, brown and blue.
Fire for Passion and High Energy
A balanced Feng Shui Fire element in your space will bring a supporting energy in all your career efforts and will help you achieve recognition. Fire is the energy of the South. Fire energy is also recommended in the Northeast and Southwest feng shui areas of your space. Use this element in design to encourage expressiveness, enthusiasm, inspiration and boldness. When there is an overabundance of fire, it can show itself as anger, aggression,irritability and impulsive behavior, whereas too little can show up as emotional coldness, lack of vision, inexpressiveness and a lack of self-esteem. Feng Shui fire element colors are red, orange, purple, pink and strong yellow.
To increase the fire element in your space, add:
- candles, incandescent lights and sunlight
- any shade of red, pink or purple
- electronic equipment
- animal prints
To help you remember fire's qualities, think of the red-hot, fiery sun, as well as the fiery energy of people and animals.
Earth for Nourishment and Stability
Earth affects physical strength and order, while generating an overall feeling of grounding, balance and stability. A strong and harmonious Feng Shui Earth element in your home will help create stability, nourishment and protection for all your relationships. Earth is the Feng Shui element of Northeast and Southwest. It is also the element of Center of your home. Feng Shui Earth element colors are light yellow, beige When there is an overabundance of earth in a space, people will often notice a heavy sensation and experience more boredom, sluggishness and seriousness. When there is too little earth, people may feel disorganized, chaotic and unfocused.
To bring in the element, look for:
- anything in earth tones (brown, green or sand)
- square and rectangular shapes
- low, flat surfaces
- images of landscapes
Think of all the warm colors of the earth, the square or rectangular shapes of earthen tiles and the long, flat horizontal lines of an earthy landscape.
Metal for Clarity and Preciseness
Feng Shui metal element brings the qualities of logic, sharpness, precision, mental clarity and efficiency; its balanced presence will help you live with clarity and lightness. Metal is the Feng Shui element of West and Northwest. Feng Shui metal element colors are gray and white. The presence of metal within a room or home can be felt in emotional characteristics like organization, focus, righteousness and analytical abilities. When surrounded with too much metal, you can be seen as chatty, overly critical and speaking without thinking. When there is too little metal, you may notice a feeling of cautiousness, quietness and lack of focus.
When enhancing a space with metal, look for:
- round or oval shapes
- anything made of metal, like steel, iron, aluminum, gold or silver
- rocks and stones
- white, grey, silver or light pastel colors
Remember the rounded shape of a wedding band and the light tones of metal.
Water for Ease, Freshness, Inspiration and Abundance
Water's domain includes spirituality and the emotions. A harmonious Feng Shui Water element will bring a refreshing energy of calm, ease, purity and freshness. Water is also the ancient symbol of abundance, thus a potent Feng Shui cure. Water is the Feng Shui element of North. Feng Shui water element colors are blue and black. A balance of water brings about inspiration, wisdom and insightfulness. Too much water can create the feeling of unbalanced transition and the sense that you are drowning, emotionally. It can make you feel overwhelmed and overly social. When there is too little water, you may experience a lack of sympathy, loneliness, isolation, stress and pettiness.
Look for or add these types of objects when learning about the water element:
- the color black or any deep, dark tones
- reflective surfaces, such as mirrors or gazing balls
- wavy, free-form or asymmetrical shapes
- water or water features, such as aquariums or fountains
To help you remember, think of the deep, dark, glistening ocean and the movement and shape of the waves hitting the shore.
