In Chinese, the terms ‘feng’ and ‘shui’ mean ‘wind’ and ‘water,’ respectively. According to Chinese tradition, wind and water are associated with good health, which leads to feng shui meaning good fortune.
What is Feng Shui?
Feng shui is an ancient Chinese practice focused on rendering harmony between a person and their surroundings and living space. Feng shui takes inspiration from nature and its forces to create a customized space for the benefit of one’s personality and goals.
Before creating a feng shui home, it is vital to learn about the five feng shui elements and their effects on one’s mind and energy levels.
The 5 Feng Shui Elements:
Feng shui is a Chinese philosophy that divides the world into five elements, water, earth, wood, fire, and metal. If a room does not evoke positive vibes, one can balance the elements to create the right energy. Each of the five elements predictably resonates with the others.
After observing the patterns in one’s life and space and understanding their relationships, one can identify where one needs to incorporate feng shui products or rearrangements to render balance.
The five elements relate not only to the material but also to the energy associated with specific qualities. Most people and spaces have energy imbalances because one of the five elements is particularly dominant or weak, leading to problems. By following basic feng shui tips, one can use the five-element system to create more balance and harmony.
Each element is related to specific feng shui colors that can be incorporated into their home’s decor or wardrobe to absorb more of that element’s qualities
Water Element
Water represents wisdom, career, and social life. It is also associated with calmness and the element of emotion. In the ocean, water is deep and still, while in the river, it is dynamic and flowing.
Water helps one build connections with others and deepen insight, wisdom, and intuition. If there is too little water in a home, feelings of stress, isolation, and loneliness are prominent. Adding more water helps in increasing social connections and feeling more inspired.
Water element feng shui colors are midnight blue and black. One can use them to create a beautiful and impactful accent wall. Throw pillows, picture frames, and artwork are other ways to introduce water element colors.
Earth Element
Earth is all about physical strength. A home with more earthen items and materials can bring stability to people’s personal lives. Balancing the earth element with the wood element helps one feel grounded.
All shades of yellow represent the earth element. The color invokes abundance, which means adding it to a space can liven it up and improve everyone’s mood. Feng shui tips suggest adding earth-tone furniture and accessories, images of landscapes, flat surfaces, and square shapes to increase the earth element at home.
Wood Element
Wood represents kindness, healing, and flexibility. One must bring in more wood energy for growth or for starting something new in a different aspect of life. Little wood energy at home can show up as stagnancy, depression, lack of creativity, or ambivalence, whereas too much wood can bring rigidity, stubbornness, and inflexibility.
Wood is associated with blue, teal, and green colors. One can opt for these colors on walls and curtains. Healthy green plants are another way to introduce the wood element.
Fire Element
Fire stands for inspiration, fame, and visibility. It also relates to passion and emotional expression. Maximizing the fire element at home helps in increasing enthusiasm and leadership skills. This element in design encourages boldness, expressiveness, and inspiration. However, an abundance leads to aggression, anger, impulsive behavior, and irritability.
To expand the fire element in a space, one can add items in red and fiery orange colors. A red chair or table, a throw blanket on the couch, or artwork with fiery colors are suggested.
Metal Element
The metal element in feng shui affects logic and mental clarity. Metal is also related to speech and how one speaks up for themselves. If there is too much metal in the house, people may become overly critical, chatty, and prone to speaking without much thought. Conversely, adequate use of metal brings joy, efficiency, focus, and analytical abilities.
Add white, grey, and metallic colors when enhancing a space with metal. They look good on walls, artwork, and other decor items.
Conclusion
Feng shui is the practice of arranging items, furniture, and other things in living spaces to create balance with the natural world. Homeowners must learn about the five elements of feng shui to understand feng shui meaning and apply it to their homes. The goal is to influence interacting energies and achieve specific life improvements.
Disclaimer- This article is based on the information publicly available for general use as well as reference links mentioned herein. We do not claim any responsibility regarding the genuineness of the same. The information provided herein does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, it is for general informational purposes only. We expressly disclaim any liability, which may arise due to any decision taken by any person/s basis the article hereof. Readers should obtain separate advice with respect to any particular information provided herein.
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