The Five Elements
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water. The five phases that color every star and every cure in feng shui.
The Five Phases
The Wu Xing (Five Elements) describe cycles of transformation. Every Flying Star carries one of them, and their interactions shape a palace's character.
| Element | Color | Quality | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | Green | Growth, expansion | 3, 4 |
| Fire | Red | Rising, brilliance | 9 |
| Earth | Yellow / Brown | Stability, center | 2, 5, 8 |
| Metal | White / Gold | Structure, precision | 6, 7 |
| Water | Blue / Black | Flow, wisdom | 1 |
The Productive Cycle
The elements feed one another in a circle: Wood feeds Fire (burning), Fire creates Earth (ash), Earth bears Metal (ore), Metal collects Water (condensation), Water nourishes Wood (growth). When a palace's stars are in a productive relationship, their energies reinforce each other.
The Destructive Cycle
The elements also check one another: Wood parts Earth (roots), Earth dams Water, Water quenches Fire, Fire melts Metal, Metal cuts Wood. Clashing stars in a palace suggest tension that classical feng shui seeks to balance.
Elements in Practice
Traditional "cures" work through these cycles. To soften an Earth affliction such as the Five Yellow, practitioners introduce Metal, because Earth produces Metal, the excess Earth is drained. To calm clashing Fire and Water, Wood mediates (Water feeds Wood, Wood feeds Fire). This is why color, material, and placement matter in feng shui advice.