Intro to the five elements

The Five Elements are WATER, WOOD, FIRE, EARTH, and METAL.

These elements can be represented by the element itself, by shape, by color, or texture.

WATER

Examples of Water:

• Dark colors (particularly Blacks and Dark Blues)
  
• Swirly lines
  
• Mirrors and glass
  
• Fountains, bodies of water, pictures of water

WOOD

​Examples of Wood:

• Blues and Greens
  
• Tall items
  
• Plants, pictures of plants, and flowers
  
• Natural fibers and materials

FIRE

Examples of Fire

• Candles, fireplaces, lamps, even sunlight.  
  
• Reds and various shades of red
  
• Triangles
  
• Animals and animal products

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EARTH

Examples of Earth:

• Yellows and browns
  
• Rocks, gravel, brick
  
• Squares and rectangles
  
• Images of landscapes

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METAL

Examples of Metal:

• Whites and shiny metallic, and light pastels
  
• Metal items, electronics
  
• Ovals and circles

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​Some items will have more than one element present.  For example, an aquarium has water. But, other elements are also represented.  Fire is represented by the Fish.  Wood is represented by water plants.  Metal can be represented by the shape of the aquarium.  Earth can be represented by the sand/gravel.

As you can see, there is a vast and varied way to view the elements.

With Feng Shui, we use the elements to achieve balance in our spaces.  We can highlight an element to achieve a goal, or we can downplay an element to harmonize a space.  ​​​