The Five Elements
Click on the following elements to display the characteristics and personalities of that element.
The Water Element
Characteristics:
- Symbolizes winter and water itself, gentle rain or storm. It suggests the inner self, art and beauty. It touches everything.
- Positively it nurtures and supports with understanding.
- Negatively it can wear down and exhaust.
- Associated with emotions, it can suggest fear, nervousness and stress.
Personalities:
- Water people communicate well. They are diplomatic and persuasive. Sensitive to the moods of others, they will lend and ear. They are intuitive and make excellent negotiators. Flexible and adaptable, they view things holistically.
- Positively: water people are artistic, sociable and sympathetic.
- Negatively: water people are sensitive, fickle and intrusive.
- Items/Materials
- Rivers/Oceans
- Streams/lakes
- Creeks/ponds
- Swimming Pools
- Fish tanks
- Fountains
- Glass/Mirrors
- Waterfalls
- Water pictures
- Shapes
- Curved
- Irregular
- Wavy
- Undulating
- Chaotic
- Colors
- Depth
- Power
- Flexibility
- Tranquility
- Meaning
- Blue
- Black
- Plants
- Water Succulent
- Seaweed
- Food Types
- Salty
The Wood Element
Characteristics:
- Symbolizes spring, growth and plant life. In its Yin form, it is supple and pliable, in its Yang form it is as sturdy as an oak.
- Positively used, it is a walking stick.
- Negatively used, a spear.
- Bamboo is cherished in China for its ability to sway in the wind yet also be used as scaffolding. Viewed as a tree, wood energy is expansive, nurturing and versatile.
Personalities:
- Wood people are public-spirited and energetic. Ideas people, their outgoing personalities win them support. They visualise rather than committing themselves to plans.
- Positively: they are artistic and undertake tasks with enthusiasm.
- Negatively: they become impatient and angry often fail to finish the tasks they have begun.
- Items/Materials
- Trees/plants
- Wooden Furniture
- Paper/Books
- Decking
- Wicker/Rush
- Bamboo/Rattan
- Posts /Pillars
- Columns
- Shapes
- Rectangular
- Tall
- Thin
- Vertical
- Oblong
- Colors
- Life
- Growth
- Vitality
- Activity
- Meaning
- Green
- Plants
- All Plants
- Woody Trees
- Food Types
- Sour
The Fire Element
Characteristics:
- Symbolizes summer, fire and heat. It can bring light, warmth and happiness or it can erupt, explode and destroy with great violence.
- Positively it stands for honour and fairness.
- Negatively it stands for aggression and war.
Personalities:
- Fire people are leaders and crave attention. They inspire others to follow, often into trouble, as they dislike rules and fail to see consequences
- Positively: they are innovative, humorous and passionate people.
- Negatively: they become impatient exploit others and have little thought for their feelings.
- Items/materials
- Plastics
- Manmade fibres
- Candles
- Lights
- Lamps
- Fires
- Sun pictures
- Fire pictures
- Arrows
- Shapes
- Pointed
- Stars
- Serrated
- Triangular
- Pyramid
- Diamond
- Zigzag
- Colors
- Passion
- Warmth
- Excitement
- Expression
- Meaning
- Red
- Burgundy
- Purple
- Pink
- Orange
- Wine
- Plants
- Pines
- Palms
- Red Flowering
- Spiky Needles
- Pointy Leaves
- Food Types
- Bitter
The Earth Element
Characteristics:
- Symbolizes the nurturing environment that enables seeds to grow, which all living things emanate from and return to. It nurtures and supports and interacts with each of the other elements.
- Positively it donates fairness, wisdom and instinct.
- Negatively it can smother or represent nervous anticipation of non-existent problems.
Personalities:
- Earth people are supportive and loyal. Practical and persevering, they are a tower of strength in a crisis. They do not rush anything, but their support is enduring. Patient and steady, they possess inner strength.
- Positively: they are loyal, dependable and patient.
- Negatively: they are obsessional and prone to nit-picking.
- Items/materials
- Clay/Cement
- Brick/stones
- Terracotta/slate
- Ceramic/tiles
- Earth/sand
- Pebbles/rock
- Shells/fossils
- China/marble
- Natural fibres: cotton,linen;wool
- Shapes
- Square
- Low
- Squat
- Flat
- Wide
- Check
- Horizontal
-
- Colors
- Comfort
- Security
- Steadiness
- Caution
-
- Meaning
- Yellow
- Brown
- Lemon
- Rust
- Peach
- Beige
- Tan
-
- Plants
- Hedges
- Yellow Flowers
- Peach Flowers
-
- Food Types
- Sweet
-
The Metal Element
Characteristics:
- Symbolizes autumn and strength. Its nature represents solidity and the ability to contain objects. On the other hand, metal is also a conductor.
- Positively it represents communication, brilliant ideas and justice.
- Negatively it can suggest destruction, danger and sadness.
Metal can be a beautiful and precious commodity, or the blade of a weapon.
Personalities:
- Metal people are dogmatic and resolute. They pursue their ambitious aims single- mindedly. Good organisers they are independent and happy in their own company. Faith in their own abilities inclines them towards inflexibility although they thrive on change. They are serious and do not accept help easily.
- Positively: they are strong, intuitive and interesting people.
- Negatively: they are inflexible, melancholic and serious.
- Items/materials
- Stainless steel
- Brass/copper
- Gold/silver
- Iron/granite
- Coins
- Chiming clocks
- Bowls
- Steel/chrome
- Shapes
- Round
- Domed
- Arched
- Oval
- Circular
- Spherical
- Colors
- Richness
- Solidity
- Leadership
- Organisation
- Meaning
- White
- Gold
- Silver
- Grey
- Metallic
- Plants
- Rounded Leaves
- Money Tree
- Spathyphilum
- White Flowers
- Lily
- Food Types
- Pungent