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.