This Autumn, Cultivate Balance When You Activate The Five Chinese Elements In Your Life

As cooler weather and tinted leaves color our days, it’s a good time to receive. Would you like to cultivate more balance in your life? If so, consider activating the role of the five Chinese elements in your life.

Often, when we talk about balance, we talk about Yin and Yang energies. Many of us are aware that Yin and Yang manifest different energy patterns. Yin is the receptive, or feminine, energy. Yang is the active, or masculine energy. But have you ever wondered how yin and yang actually work in relationship to one another?

The indigenous Chinese had an explanation for the interaction of yin and yang energies in our world. It is called the “Five Element Theory.” The five elements, in order, include Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal.

This ancient theory of the five elements suggests that the Chinese believed that each of these five elements is vital to the health of the body and the home. In this way of thinking, each individual element must be active in order to achieve healthy balance.

First, we’ll place attention on each element. Then, we will learn how it can be activated to enhance your life.

The Element of Water

Water is the beginning. The element of Water is where all life begins. Energetically, water energy is yin, or receptive. The Water element has two aspects: still and moving.

Still Water creates a womb-like safety. It offers quiet for those times when we need to rebirth ourselves. Conversely, Moving Water moves energy from high to low. Imagining a waterfall? You’ve got it. Moving Water is good to help you relax. It equalizes the energy for any surrounding forces.

Activation of the Water Element: To activate Still Water energy, use the color black and vessels (vases, bowls) that hold water. To activate the flowing chi of Moving Water, use dark blues and fountains, aquariums, fish mobiles, or anything that hangs.

The Element of Wood

Wood activates personal growth. If you imagine a perfect spring day, you’ve captured the essence of WOOD energy perfectly. In its Yin aspect, Wood Element is a “Gentle Breeze.” In its Yang aspect, it is “Thunder Wood.” Wood colors are clear and energizing, not pastel. Instead, shift into with high vibration purples or greens.

Activation of the Wood Element: To activate the Wood Element, use pillars, vertical rectangles, plants that move upward, and stripes.

The Element of Fire

Dynamic, passionate and powerful, the Fire Element presents with a Yang aspect. If expansion or speed are what you’re after, the Fire Element fuels your endeavors.

Activation of the Fire Element: To activate the Fire Element, use any bright color, triangles, sunbursts, gloss or semi gloss finishes, plus candles and lights.

The Earth Element

Grounding and stabilizing, we are deeply supported by the Earth Element. In the five element theory, “Mother Earth” is the Yin energy aspect of the Earth Element. The Yang energy aspect is “Mountain Earth.”

Seekers may look for parallels in other indigenous traditions. In these, the Earth may be viewed as a great Mother. In that role, Gaia’s nature may be at once projective and receptive, yet completely in balance. In the Chinese five element theory, the Balanced Earth is symbolized by the YinYang symbol.

From a sacred space perspective, the Balanced Earth YinYang symbol is central to feng shui philosophy. It is placed at the center of the pattern. This pattern shows the significant and helpful qualities of balanced spatial relationships in one’s home, work or life.

Activation of the Earth Element: To activate the Earth Element use horizontal rectangles and/or squares, darker muted colors, faux-finished walls, built-in seats or shelves, low ceilings, and soft comfortable furniture.

The Metal Element

The Metal element creates mental power. That is, it can be used to enhance awareness in the brain. In its Yin aspect, the Metal Element is called “Lake.” In its Yang aspect, the Metal Element is called “Heaven.”

Notice that the mirrored, metallic surface of the lake reflects the limitlessness of the heavens?

The brain has two hemispheres, the left brain and right brain. To increase mental focus, use the left-brained metal colors of white, silver and gray. Or, stimulate the right brain and boost creativity with all seven colors of the rainbow (or the chakra system)!

Activation of the Metal Element: To activate the Metal Element, use the circle shape, and add wind chimes and bells.

Ways to Cultivate Balance at Autumn With the Five Elements

This Autumn, activating and the five Chinese elements can increase our awareness of where we need more balance in our lives.

In the kitchen, we can work intentionally with the 5 elements as we choose ingredients and bake our Autumn loaves in celebration of an early harvest.

Spiritually, we can represent these elements on our home altars as we hone our personal practices.

Daily, we can apply these principles to our closets, creating outfits that balance our daily moods or help us confidently meet objectives.

Finally, To cultivate an intentional life of joy, we can also apply the five elements theory in our homes and gardens to increase abundance and prosperity. This application is called Feng Shui.

It is my personal joy to share with others how to step into that awareness in their business, home, and life.

Happy Autumn,

Melody