the five elements - cycles
intro . wood . fire . earth . metal . water . support & control cycles
Within this balancing act the elements have a positive, or ‘productive cycle’, and a negative, or ‘destructive cycle’, as shown below. The productive or controlling cycle moves progressively clockwise from element to element. Notice that, if you miss out one element from the productive cycle, those on each side conflict forming the destructive cycle.
Understanding the interaction and relationship between the elements forms the fundamentals of many Feng Shui practices and formulae.
Productive Cycle
Water produces wood, wood produces fire, fire produces earth , earth produces metal, metal produces water
As another way of putting it; wood could be used to help support the lack of the fire element in a situation, or simply one can use metal to drain the effects of too much earth found in an area?
Destructive Cycle
Metal destroys Wood, wood destroys earth, earth destroys water, water destroys fire, and fire destroys metal.
As another way of putting it; metal could chop down wood, whos roots can break up the earth which soaks up any water. Fire can therefore be controlled by water which quells its flame.
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