五行, the five phases
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water
The five phases are moving processes, not fixed things, and they are how feng shui strengthens or calms a room.
The cycles
How the phases feed and restrain each other
In the generating cycle, 生, Wood feeds Fire, Fire makes Earth, Earth bears Metal, Metal carries Water, and Water nourishes Wood. To strengthen a weak phase, add the one that generates it. In the controlling cycle, 克, Wood parts Earth, Earth dams Water, Water quenches Fire, Fire melts Metal, and Metal cuts Wood. To calm an excessive phase, add its controller, or, more gently, the phase it generates, which drains it.
At home
Colors, shapes, and materials
- Wood 木. Greens and teals, tall shapes, timber and plants; east and southeast.
- Fire 火. Reds and oranges, pointed shapes, candles and real light; south.
- Earth 土. Yellows and terracotta, flat squares, ceramic and stone; center, northeast, southwest.
- Metal 金. Whites and metallics, round shapes, metal and stone; west and northwest.
- Water 水. Deep blues and black, wavy shapes, glass and reflective surfaces; north.
Your Primal Animal has a symbolic element and, in its Habitat, a phase to feed it and a phase to temper it.
Keep exploring
More of the Feng Shui hub
See how this shapes your own space in the Habitat, or find your animal on the Oracle.