By: Fina Balta-Šošić |
Five elements - the foundation of Feng shui |
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Well know that energy cannot be created from nothing, nor can energy become anything.
In fact, it can only change its robe.
Now it is wearing the green of spring, it will replace it with fiery red during the summer and in the autumn it will change to golden-brown and in winter it will put on an ice cold cloak.
Such grandeur of nature speaks of the abundance of the different faces of chi.
Subtle masters have noted that though there are five fundamental manifestations of energy.
That gave the birth to the theory of "five elements", which became yet another stone in the foundation of the wisdom of Feng shui.
The word "element" is literally translated from the Chinese language so that its meaning does not coincide with the original.
In eastern culture, it has a broad and figurative meaning, but due to the spread of this term, it remained in use.
It would be more exact to say that those are not elements, but states, transformations or various forms of energy.
Transformations of energy
Chi in is nature manifested in many different ways - rushing like the wind, flowing like a stream, blazing like fire, growing like bamboo, dancing like the air or idling like a mountain.
But, what about the transition games between these; well known phenomena, those that we perceive with our senses?
That is precisely what explains the system of "five elements". This theory explains the full path of energy through Yin and Yang phases and their interaction in the overall time cycle.
Energy passes through five basic stages of transformation. Each phase carries the name of the physical element which is its typical representative in the physical world.
Each stage has its own peculiar characteristics which distinguish it from other stages.
These qualities easily be identified by the associations invoked in us by the mere mentioning of the appropriate elements.
When we hear the word "fire", we immediately recall unstable oscillations of tongue-like flame, heat radiation, redness, caution and danger etc. These are exactly the core features of fire element.
"Mother Earth" carries us on its back, feeds and supports us, forgives us and bestows gifts upon us, just as every mother does. Always stable, ready to support us and to take care of us.
Gold is pure and noble, precious and much loved by everyone! Rugged and tough, you can forge it but never change its soul.
The miraculous water! How many states and how many faces, the distances it covers? It is just a drop at the source, then it flows in streams, then goes into the leaves of plants and finally it ends in our bloodstream!!
What did it see, how much information conveyed and into which corners it traveled? Persistent to get everywhere, to visit the farthest corners! That is the energy of water.
Imagine bamboo. Slim, fast growing. Swayed in the wind and still stands firmly rooted. That is how the tree energy grows, always striving for the heights.
Besides these states, the elements appear in the appropriate color: blue-green-red-yellow-gray, in an appropriate form: elongated-triangular-rectangular-wave-round, in the appropriate season: spring-summer-autumn-winter.
These phases of chi alternate according to the laws of nature, each phase turns into the next one once it reaches its peak.
The natural sequence of water-wood-fire-earth-metal-water is called food cycle.
It is a creative and driving cycle by which the nature is balanced daily.
In space, this cycle is perceived as harmony, comfort, when it seems that all things are in place.
The opposite direction - the direction of the water-earth-metal-wood-fire-water is called exhaustive. This relationship is destructive and undesirable.
Causes a feeling of restlessness and anxiety, and forces you to exit the space.
There is another relationship which occurs when the chain is missing one element. In this case, the relationship between the two adjacent elements is called controlling relationship.
And this relationship is also undesirable because it weakens the flow of energy. We say that the space lacks balance, it does not breathe.
Listed relations can easily be explained like the relationship of a mother and a child.
A mother feeds the child at first, when the child becomes stronger than its mother, their relationship turns into an exhausting one, then the child should continue the chain by its own successor.
Everything is always based on a relationship of forces and existence of all five elements.
The importance of the theory of the five elements
In what is the importance of the theory the five elements seen?
As noted above, the food chain creates the impression of grace and harmony in space, in contrast, exhausting and controlling relationships cause a feeling of restlessness and anxiety.
The nature of the "elements" communicates with us. Its colors, sounds and shapes affect our emotional, psychological, physical, aesthetic and energy state.
In modern terms, this is a "tool for communicating with nature."
The theory is now successfully used in the design (color theory), in medicine (color therapy, sound, frequencies), in psychology and many other fields of aesthetics and symbolism.
It' is a little clearer why we say that Feng shui is a skill. To identify forms of energy and relationships among them and to find a way to transform the undesirable into desirable and align it with the needs and desires of a man really requires great skill.
This is achieved by using knowledge of chi, yin and yang, the five elements, with the help of many empirical formulas and lifelong practice.
As you see, we have so far only dealt with the tools to work; we have just slightly opened the door into the world of Feng shui. Only we have to pave the path with multicolored cubes.
Hopefully I have provoked you positively and we will continue to spend time with Feng shui.
Now comes the most interesting part of our journey – paving the path together!
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