The five Chinese Feng Shui elements ~ wood, fire, earth, metal, and water ~ can define five different traits of chi or energy. These five elements are also referred to as the "five transformations" due to the fact that each element can define a specific kind of energy to change the chi of that space. As discussed in a previous blog, each of the Feng Shui elements is associated with a specific object type, color, and shape. By manipulating the balance of these five elements in a specific space, the balance of chi is also adjusted. The addition of more red in a space (which is the Fireelement), such as red candles, red curtains, or red pillows the chi energy will be more energized. While the addition of browns and beiges (which is the Earth element), such as ceramics will help you feel more secure. The Water element, whether through the use of fountains or a picture of the ocean, tends to increase communication. Adding metallic objects or shapes (the Metal element) will help your ability to focus. Through the addition of greenery or even the color green (the Wood element) will help you launch new projects.
The decorating in each room should contain all of the five elements; the Feng Shui elements do not need to be represented equally. A small grouping of the 5 elements can be used to balance a room.
Some objects combine several different energies together. For example, a white candle with a vine pattern represents a Fire object with a Wood shape and a Metal color. The candle represents three elements. To make the candle represent all 5 elements it could be set on a blue (Water element) ceramic object (Earth element). If a green plant (Wood element) was placed in a blue (Water element) ceramic planter (Earthelement), three of the elements are already implemented and then all you need to complete your room's Feng Shui balance would be a white candle (Fire element) on a silver tray (Metal Element).
How the Energy Interacts -
|
|
Metal |
Wood |
Water |
Fire |
Earth |
|
Metal |
N/A |
DS |
WI |
D |
N |
|
Wood |
D |
N/A |
N |
WI |
DS |
|
Water |
N |
WI |
N/A |
DS |
D |
|
Fire |
DS |
N |
D |
N/A |
WI |
|
Earth |
WI |
D |
DS |
N |
N/A |
N/A - there is no interaction that will affect the elements.
N - the elements support and are nourished by each other.
D - the elements interactions are destructive to each other. Metal is destructive to wood.
WI - the elements are weakened, when another element is increased. For example, you increase wood, the water chi will be weakened in the space.
DS - the elements are destroyed.
Based on this chart, metal is destroyed by fire, wood is destroyed by metal, water is destroyed by earth, fire is destroyed by water, and earth is destroyed wood. Metal nourishes water, water nourishes wood, wood nourishes fire, fire nourishes earth, and earth nourished metal.
If you add a Water element object, at the same time you are strengthening the Wood energy and weaking the the Metal chi.
Adding the five Feng Shui elements to every room will help you create balance and harmony within the room. By understanding the 5 elements and how each element interacts with the others, will help you understand how to create an appropriate home decor scheme. To determine which areas to focus your Feng Shui knowledge on, use your Baqua Map to locate which of the eight areas to prioritize.
Kate
Kate's Home Staging and Redesign, serves the New York and New Jersey area, we specialize in home staging, interior design, home decorating, color consultations, home decor discounts, and sell semi-custom window coverings. Call Kate to schedule you design consultation at 845-538-3623 or visit www.kateshomestaging.com
Kate, This is an excellent article about the Five Elements and how to use them in a Constructive Method. This is where it becomes a little confusing for my clients and I recommend it in every room--I usually ask them to start off with the Elements first and then adjust the placement.
This is wonderful information for staging. I believe in both Feng Shui AND Staging and think together they're that much more powerful!
Carole ~ Thank you for your kind words, I really enjoy adding Feng SHui to my home staging methodoloy and it really seems to work. Thanks for posting.
Goodness, Kate, I thought I featured this in the Group! I need to double check that those little stars "take" but you're featured now!
Hello Kate,
I am really getting an education on Feng Shui by reading your posts! This is great! I have always had an interest in it. Learning about the 5 elements in your post has given me a better understanding of how each element interacts with the others. Very interesting. Thank you for your post! Have a great weekend!
Rita
Carole ~ Thank you for the feature, I really appreciate it.
Rita ~ I am glad you enjoyed reading this post and hope you learned something. Thanks for posting.
Thank you for your posts. There sure are many more aspects to fengshui than I realized!
Tere ~ My pleasure, I find the topic very interesting. I can understand how everything interacts more easily when I create a chart to visually see it. Thank you for posting.
Hi Kate, I actually bought a book on the basics of Feng Shui and use it to help persuade clients nicely. You summarized the information well. Thanks. Vivian
Thank you for your kind words - Vivian.