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ELEMENTS of Feng Shui
WATER ELEMENT
Water - Release and Rejuvenation
Flowing water is Yang aligned. Water that moves begins its journey
from an elevated position and drops or flows into a pool below. As
you might expect bringing the water element into your home creates a
downward flow of energy. Water's innate ability to pool around any
and every object bring stability and equalization to surrounding
energies. Water energies help us let go of things that are no longer
in our best interests.
It is still water (Yin) that is responsible for calming the
surrounding energies. A still pool brings a sense of a fresh start,
a new beginning, and the renewal of strength.
The Color of Water
We all know that the color of pure water is transparent, but the
rules change in Feng Shui. Black, very dark grays, and dark blues
are the traditional colors associated with the Water Element. Blacks
play a key role in the study of oneself and the ability to build
wisdom. Be warned that too much black does send that message to
others that you are may not be interested in social interactions.
Dark blues release energies associated with flowing water. These
energies of moving water are said to influence your career and flow
of money.
Shape Your Water
Water has no definitive shape, it is very unique indeed. Pictures of
still water including ponds, lakes, and reservoirs are great ways of
bringing still water energies into your home. Traditionally,
rippling waves, cascades, or terraces. These shapes force energy
sideways or downward, which is characteristic of water. Fish bowls,
low-pumped aquariums, and flower vases are other suggestions for
water incorporation.
Water Implementation
Hanging items such as pots and pans, or tools engages the energies
of flowing water. Indoor ponds have grown in popularity over the
last decade and they too expand the energies of flowing water.
WOOD ELEMENT
Wood - Personal Growth
Trees shooting up from the ground radiate growth. Their branches
sway with the wind as energy weaves between each leaf. Roots break
apart the earth below and serving as a strong foundation for the
tree to build on itself. Bringing this lustrous element into your
own home promotes the opportunity for growth and development of
oneself. It is wood that has the ability to transform from a tiny
seed to a towering mosaic of leaves and bark.
Water is the source of all life therefore water aligned decor will
enhance elements of wood. Wood in turn feeds fire.
Color Your Wood
Traditional colors associated with wood are greens and purples.
Pastel colors do not work here, keep your shades of green and purple
true and without gray tones. Browns work but be careful not to slip
into the element of Earth. Use Dark Sienna instead of tan and beige.
Shape Your Wood - Think Vertical
Wood shapes and designs are vertical. Rectangles that are taller
than they are wide lift energy upward like the trees you find
outside your home. Incorporating pillars into your decor strengthens
the wood element of a room. Centuries ago pillars stood as a symbol
to unite Heaven with Earth.
Wood Implementation Switch out short and wide bookshelves for tall,
skinny replacements to increase your wood energy. Add big, leafy,
potted plants that shoot upwards from the base.
FIRE ELEMENT
Fire: Expansion, Enthusiasm, and
Transformation
The fire element has always been a powerful tool for human beings.
Harnessing this power changed the way we live by providing warmth.
As our abilities with fire grew, we were able to expand beyond our
limits, gas stoves, jet engines, and automobiles have sent mankind
into the modern age. Bringing the fire element can add this
expansionism and transformation to your own life. Fire increases the
vertical flow of energy in your home tremendously.
Too much fire can be chaotic and cause more harm than good. As
always in Feng Shui, balance your home with your own persona.
Coloring With Fire
Bright, lively colors are key to fire element implementation. As you
might expect, yellow, orange, and red work great, however, any
bright color will work. For instance sky blue, or baby blue, or
anything that allows energy to "bounce" and flow freely. Any bright
color can be a fire color especially if you add a semigloss or
highgloss finish into the mix.
Semigloss and Highgloss finishes are reflective, bouncing light here
and there while satin or eggshell finishes push the light around the
room toning your fire down a notch.
Shape Your Fire
An object's shape can increase the flow of energy even more so than
just the color. Shapes that send energy up and into the air
represent fire. Diamonds, pyramids, triangles, and sunbursts provide
this sort of upward lift to a room increasing the flow of energy.
Floral arrangements are a great way to
add fire energy. Using real flowers will encourage you to change the
arrangement as the flowers die off.
Fire Implementation
Increasing the amount of sunlight that
comes into a room increases fire energy, always try to use natural
light. If this is not an option use lights that shoot upward instead
of traditional hanging lamps. The same goes for plants, exchange
overhead, hanging plantery for plants that shoot upward. Floral
arrangements are a great way to add fire energy. Using real flowers
will encourage you to change the arrangement as the flowers die off.
Hang pictures of bright flowers if fresh flowers are not a
possibility.
EARTH ELEMENT
Earth: Grounding Support and Security
The earth element radiates downard. Adding this element to your home
quarters strengthens feelings of safety and security. The grounding
support of earth energy should bring comfort to the soul and tone
things down.
Color Your Earth
Browns, sierras, olive greens, and any other color that is somewhat
muted. Dull colors such as sandstone, or granite work well for
earth. Avoid the bright colors as they excite the energy of the room
instead of control it.
Shape Your Earth
Integrate earth shapes into your floor plans by using squares,
rectangles, and horizontal lines. Rectangles must be wider than they
are tall, tables are usually inherently rectangular, perfect for
increasing earthen energies. Furnishings made of earth materials are
automatically classified as earth objects (brick, stone, clay, etc).
Earth Implementaion - Think of the
Earth
Old fashioned, simple works, including older books make great earth
decor. Woven basket containers, large, antiqued-pottery with or
without engraved designs are a great way to bring energy downward
for that cozy, "homey" feeling. Solid chairs made from finished
woods with soft cushions are a great way to simplify a room.
Granite table/counter tops with a
wooden base symbolize strength and security. Pay special attention
to the walls of a room. Thick walls can be a great way to enhance
the earth feel of a room, built-in furnishings thicken a wall giving
it more support. This effect can also be simulated using layered
painting techniques, use the colors of the earth.
METAL ELEMENT
Metal: Mental Strength
Metal pulls energy together. It stimulates your brain's intellectual
abilities while bringing the energy of the room together. Increasing
the metal energies of a room will allow one to focus one's thoughts.
The Color of Metal
Metal manifests in about 3 different colors including gray, while,
and silver. These colors are not neutral, they actually radiate vast
amounts of intellectual energies.
Shape Your Metal
Circles and arcs are the strongest form of metal energy. They
harness the energies of a room spinning them toward the center of
the circle. Objects made from the metals of the earth, bronze,
silver, tin, aluminum, etc also generate metal energies.
Metal Implementation
Circular coffee tables, preferably with metal support or legs work
great for bringing the energy of a room together. Replace plant
pottery with metal planters. Shiny metal radiates a greater amount
of chi than dull metals. Interior walls are usually white, if this
is overwhelming try painting just a single wall to nullify some of
the metal energies.
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