Feng Shui Wood - The Wood Element in Feng Shui

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The Wood element is one of The Five Elements according to the principles of Feng Shui

The Wood element is considered to be one of the Five Elements (Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal). As the principles of Feng Shui take into account the overall balance of one’s environment the element of Wood plays its integral part. Inside, wood as part of the interior design plays a role both visually and physically. Outside, the landscape impacts the overall look and feel of any home or office.

feng shui wood During spring time, trees and plants remind us of new growth. With everything in bloom the connection between oneself as a human being and the natural environment can be felt as this cycle of seasons has started. The natural cycle of growth is never-ending, and what was planted two or three years ago seems to be flourishing and growing more than ever.

Every new sprout, leaf and bloom has a calming effect on our souls; it is tranquil and without realizing it these trees and plants block neighbors from gazing into what we call home.

Outdoors, using trees and plants is the normal choice for the element of Wood and can be used to keep the flow of unwanted energy from entering our homes or offices. Blocking the negative energies from the “virtual river” created by roads and traffic is a highly desired effect of the landscaping.

The art and science of Feng Shui with its more than 2,000 year old history permits us to mathematically calculate the optimal use of the Five Elements to provide an energy balance for our homes and offices. Feng Shui is not an intuitive science as so many Feng Shui Consultants claim it to be. Feng Shui is based on the age of a building (year of construction), an exact LoPan compass reading as well as the individual floor plan of a home or office. The intuitive approach to Feng Shui and the use of the Five Elements inclusive the Wood element is a “hit or miss” proposition as well as the results in regard to how we feel are the same “hit or miss”.

What is considered to be the Wood element?

The answer is short and simple: Only living trees and plants as well as the color green as a substitute of the actual element are considered to be a remedy.

feng shui bamboo Wooden furniture, wooden ceilings and floors, wooden picture frames, paintings and photos of trees, bamboo flutes, lucky bamboo, cut flowers and small flower pots are not considered a remedy for Feng Shui. Neither one belong to the element of Wood. Wooden furniture and wooden picture frames are made of processed / dead wood; flower arrangements and small flower pots are not big enough in size to take care of a space.

It is important to understand that every home, every office or any other structure comes in an unfurnished state first after its building completion. Any empty architectural structure comes with its unique Feng Shui pattern. Applying the Feng Shui Bagua (The Eight Trigrams: “K’AN”, “KEN”, “CHEN”, “SUN”, “LI”, “K’UN”, “TUI” and “CHIEN”) after having determined the Sitting and the Facing of a building will allow us to divide any floor plan into eight magnetic Chi fields. In each one of these magnetic Chi fields a combination of two of the five elements as a manifestation of the Chi / energy are present.

Cycles in Feng Shui

One of the best combinations in Feng Shui is the Water and Wood Combination which is also called the “Peach Blossom” combination. As the Water and Wood combination is in a productive cycle (Water feeds the Wood) we do not need any remedy. If a home office is located in one of the good magnetic chi fields, and the “Peach Blossom” combination is present within, one can be assured to make money and be productive. Introducing the wrong materials and wrong “Feng Shui C olors” will destroy the cycle. Introducing the element of Metal by placing metal desks or metal objects (Metal destroys Wood) or the color red (Fire destroys Wood) will undoubtedly destroy the productive cycle, and with it the chance to be productive and successful.

Without the complete understanding of the three existing cycles in Feng Shui:

ØThe Productive Cycle: Water feeds the Wood

ØThe Reductive Cycle: Wood reduces Water

ØThe Domination Cycle: Wood draws nutrients from Earth

do exist, any Feng Shui tips and advise from Books is invalid and useless information aimed to entice consumers to spend money on books or other so-called Feng Shui items.

The Wood element is known to bring Spirituality, Romance and Love, Scholastic Achievements and Creativity to a space and the inhabitants of a home or business in a particular area. Yet, not every house or office has the Wood element present as a manifestation of the Chi energies. This fact can not be cured by simply introducing wood as in plants or the color green if the Wood element is needed at all, it would be used and serve as a remedy to combat other challenges revealed by a serious Home Feng Shui Consultation.

Whether or not the Wood element is present as a manifestation of the Chi, these energies can only be calculated by an experienced Feng Shui Consultant.

About the Author

Mike Schnippering is the founder of Feng Shui at Work. In 1996 he studied Feng Shui with Master Sang whose ancestors can be traced back to ancient China. He is committed to the true art and science of Feng Shui. His Feng Shui practice has taken him to various parts of the United States, Germany, France, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.