The Five Elements: Essential Qualities of Chi

The five elements describe five essential qualities of chi (life force energy),
which you can use to enhance, control, or balance a space, depending on
your needs:

Metal—the quality of contraction, sharpness, focus; when too
strong, metal energy can make you sharp-tongued and critical
Water—the quality of flowing, making connections; too much
water energy can make you “wishy-washy” and indecisive
Wood—the quality of easy growth and progress; too much wood
energy makes you aggressive or impatient, lacking compassion
Fire—the quality of excitement, expansion, quickness; too much
fire energy can leave you stressed out and anxious
Earth—the quality of settling down, being receptive; too much
leads to depression, sluggishness, feeling stuck or weighed down

Each element can help shift your energy and/or the energy of your
space. When you understand the relationships between the five elements,
and how they can affect your space and your energy, they become a powerful
tool in your feng shui tool kit. Metal helps you concentrate and get
things done; its inward focus helps you clear your head and cope with
details. Water is helpful when things have been stuck for a while (think of
ice melting), and for improving communication. It is also associated with
cash flow and opportunities. Wood energy is associated with new beginnings,
and it can help you make smooth progress in the projects you undertake.
Fire creates heat and action, and is the energy to use when you want
to increase passion and intensity in any area of your life. Earth energy is
good when things are chaotic and you need more stability, or if your are
dealing with issues of commitment, nurturing, or receptivity.