Finding Your Elements in Feng Shui
Feng shui is an ancient art and science developed thousands of years ago in China that helps to harmonize any environment with the natural world. Within the practice of feng shui, there are five elements that play a key role in creating balance and health- these are fire, water, earth, metal, and wood. Each element has associated colors, shapes, and directions associated with it, and understanding your elements can be a great catalyst in unlocking your true potential and fostering creativity. So, how can you go about finding which elements are most impactful for you?
Discovering Your Personal Elements
The first step to finding your personal element is to look at your birthdate. Each of the five elements is associated with a different time period within the waxing and waning of the moon. This period is called the stem and branch, and it can help to identify which of the elements are most powerful in your life.
- Fire: February 7 – March 6
- Earth: March 7 – April 5
- Metal: April 6 – May 4
- Water: May 5 – June 3
- Wood: June 4 – July 7
To further digitize your element, divide your birth month by 2 and find out your Personal Element Number from the chart below:
| Personal Element Number | Associated Element |
|---|---|
| 1 | Earth |
| 2 | Fire |
| 3 | Water |
| 4 | Wood |
| 5 | Metal |
For example, if you were born in April, divide (4)+1=5, and your Personal Element Number is five which corresponds to Metal.
Understanding Your Elements
Once you know your elements, you can begin to understand its symbolism and meanings, which in turn can help you create an environment that will bring out the best aspects of your energy type.
- Earth: Earth is associated with stability, grounding and organization. Colors associated with Earth are yellow, light brown, and tan. Elements of earth are great for encouraging focus and responsibility.
- Fire: Fire symbolizes passion, inspiration and motivation. Colors associated with Fire are red, orange, and yellow. Fire type people need a generally stimulating environment to get the most out of their creativity.
- Metal: Metal’s purpose is one of seeking clarity and formulating specific goals. Colors associated with Metal are white and gray. A Metal environment should be neat and orderly but also have plenty of fresh air and light.
- Water: Water is related to intuition, mystery and power. Colors associated with Water include blues and greens. Water people need a calm, introspective setting in order to gain insight from their environment.
- Wood: Wood is associated with growth, renewal, and nourishment. Colors associated with Wood are green and brown. Wood elements are good for keeping fresh ideas and productive energy in a space.
Finally, to truly incorporate feng shui in your space, it is important to know where to place these elements. To do this use the concept of the Ba-Gua, an 8-sided figure that places these elements in their respective directions to properly redistribute the energy of your environment.
Most importantly, it is important to remember that the purpose of implementing your elements in feng shui is to bring balance in life and create a positive environment. Good luck!
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