You are what you wear! From a Feng Shui perspective, the closer an item is to your physical body, the more impact it has on the way you feel about yourself and the impact you have in the world.
Feng Shui is an ancient art that’s used to create pleasing spaces (cities, homes, rooms, etc.), but you can also use it to shift your personal energy. Feng Shui creates balance and harmony through the theory of the Five Elements. We are made up of all five elements – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water — with one element predominating.
Each element is associated with specific colors, materials and shapes, and has personality characteristics associated with it. The information below will help you choose the element you feel most closely aligned with.
No matter which is your element, there are times when you’ll want to boost it or reduce it with characteristics from some of the other elements, depending on the qualities you wish to project each day.
To boost an element, wear something that represents a supporting element, to reduce it wear something from an opposing element. If an item seems to represent more than one element, characterize it according to its most outstanding feature. For instance, a square red handbag would be Fire. Even though the square shape is Earth, it’s the red color that you notice first.
Here are just some of the ways you can bring out key qualities of each element.
WOOD characteristics: Pioneer
Personal freedom, confidence, purposefulness, planning and strategy, flexibility, & optimism
Wear: Green or medium blues, vertical stripes, leafy or botanical prints, cotton or wood.
Boost Wood with items from Water
Reduce Wood with items from Metal
1. Woodbead Necklace, $129 HSN. 2. Blue hoop earrings, $95, Nordstrom. 3. Aqua stretch bracelet, $48 Nordstrom. 4. Cork Wedge Heel Aerosoles $69, Macy’s. 5. Wooden Bangles, $10, Amazon.com. 6. Watercolor print scarf, $17, JC Penny’s.
FIRE characteristics: Wizard
Clarity, inspiration, insight, high emotions, social, dynamic, enterprising, passionate, vivacious
Wear: Red items; triangular or pointy shapes, bold, exuberant patterns, animal prints, items made of leather or wool.
Boost Fire with Wood
Reduce Fire with Water
7. Animal Print pump, $130, Ivanka Trump. 8. Red DKNY bag, $195, Macy’s. 9. Triangle Earrings, $57, House of Harlow. 10. Triangle Chrystal pendant, $20, Amazon.com.
EARTH characteristics: Peacemaker
Centeredness, stability, sense of belonging, reliability, nurturing
Wear: Yellows, taupes and neutrals, square shapes and patterns, plaids, tweeds, ceramic jewelry.
Boost Earth with Fire
Reduce Earth with Wood
1. Square Nicky Butler ring, $149, HSN. 2. Yellow ceramic bead necklace, $23, Peruzi. 3. Taupe sandals, $68, Seychelles. 4. Square ceramic pendant.
METAL characteristics: Alchemist
Structure, precision, efficiency, discernment, good at boundaries
Self-reliant, needs personal space
Wear: Light-colors and whites, metallic, round or oval patterns, circular shapes, gemstones.
Boost Metal with Earth
Reduce Metal with Fire
5. Glitter pump, $80, Nordstrom. 6. White clutch purse, $135, Dooney & Burke. 7. Pink Gemstone earrings, $69, HSN. 8. White scarf, $49 Chico’s.
WATER characteristics: Philosopher
Truth, insight
Fluidity, reflection
Ability to concentrate
Wear: Black or very dark items, wavy, abstract patterns, paisleys, glass and crystal accessories, fluid, flowing fabrics.
Boost Water with: Metal
Reduce Water with: Earth
9. Black sandals with crystals, $56, Clarks. 10. Sequin wrap, $28, Macy’s. 11. Black Stone Ring ring, $40, Kenneth Cole. 12. Ocean Ripple bracelet, $325, Nordstrom.
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Ann Bingley Gallops is a Feng Shui practitioner. You can visit her web site at Open Spaces Feng Shui.
