Dance of the 5 Movements

THE DANCE OF THE 5 MOVEMENTS


Activating Elemental Awareness
Within our Everyday Life

5 Movements also known as the 5 Elements, 5 Energies or WuXing, is a system rooted from Taoist Cosmology. The literal translation in ancient texts of the 5 elements is “five elements go.” I prefer to describe them as “Movements” because it describes the energetic personality of the fluid transition of Change itself. It can not be limited to the literal definition of the elements as we see them, but rather a poetic expressions of its  personality

The 5 movements or 5 elements consist of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water with three cycles that explain their relationship. Each Element contains a shape, color, personality, time of day, direction, season, age, emotion, taste, an organ, even pieces of furniture, architecture, art or articles of clothing can fall in the 5 elements category, with endless possibilities, that can go on and on. The three cycles consist of a nourishing, controlling, and creation cycles which all exist simultaneously and interdependently of each other. The possibilities are endless and found in all things and broken down, the 5 movements can be seen as follows.

Wood is rectangular in shape, and wears the color green. Similar to the energy of a tree or vine, Wood expands upwards with a creative personality. Wood’s time is early morning and is found in the east thus, making the sunrise its time of day when the earth is fresh and filled with possibilities waiting to be fulfilled. The season of spring, brings forth ultimate Wood energy in its peak. Here, we can find new growth and the dance of flowers and hummingbirds caught in their dizzy spell of Woods creative power. The youthful energy of Wood is also linked with that of a child with emotions of laughter, innocence, and a sense of newness. When unbalanced though, Wood’s emotions can show through anger or impatience. The taste of wood is sour and within our body, wood is associated with the gallbladder and liver. Though Wood is great for bringing new ideas and a fresh outlook in life, too much may cause indesciveness and even confusion. If wood is in lack one can add its mother Water, to feed its roots, nourish it and keep it strong, but if wood becomes out of control, Its father Metal can come to save the day, if too much wood is present one can create fire, its child to drain the over abundance of it.


Fire is triangular in shape and wears the color red and violet. Similar to the energy of fire, spreading and activating through transformation. Fire is the doer, that transmits Wood’s creativity into form. Fire’s time is noon when the sun is bright and full in its power. The season of summer is when Fire is in its peak, full of energy, similar to the age of a youth in their prime. Like the energy of the youth, Fire’s emotions is linked with extreme joy, overflowing and unpretentious. The taste of Fire is bitter like coffee and can also show in the form of smoke. Within our body Fire is associated with Heart and Triple Heater (small intestines). If too powerful, it can sometimes be reckless and uncontrollable when not tamed. If fire is in lack one can add its mother Wood which feeds Fire’s flame to grow and expand, but if Fire becomes out of control, its Father, Water may come to put out its flames, and if too much fire is present one can create Earth elements to drain the excess.


Earth is square in shape and wears earth colors of browns and yellow. Earth is the center of all the elements and is within all the seasons, and so, some may picture the earth as a circle, but the square shape of Earth is linked with the four cardinal directions; south, west, north and east. It is from the center where we find balance and that is the nature of Earth; balance, grounded and stable. Earth’s steady demeanor balances out Fire’s need to always go. It has no specific season, because it is within all seasons. Earth’s age is linked to the middle years of ones life, when people have settled in themselves, and a time when people may decide to have children.


Metal is circle in shape and wears white or metallic colors. Metal is the element found in the west and just like the setting sun and the equinox metal is the transition from the yang months weaning to autumn. Refined and condense metal takes on the shape of things that are circular. It also is symbolic to the nature of a sword, that which severs habits that we may no longer need. It is a powerful element within the transition of change, reflective of how the hard earth creates crystals through its refining process, for it’s the refining quality of metal that removes impurities in preparation for the next stage of existence. Just like the energy of the archangel Michael, holding the sword of purification, metal is the master eliminator of the elements. Metal’s age is linked to our later years, a time where we retire and turn “in” to our roles as wise elders, like those who have been through the fire of life learned the wisdom through experience. Metal is the energy of guidance, decision making and the process of returning to purity.


Water, the first landscape humans have inhabited since being within the womb of its mother. So fluid in form, water contains no shape yet is like all shapes, as she moves effortlessly in her expression. Water is the element found In the North and just like the midnight sky, her personality is that of mystery, vastness and expansion with a countless depth. Her celestial animal is the Black Tortoise who protects us from harm by creating stability. Water is the most yin of all the elements and wears the colors of black and dark blue. It is akin to winter and dark nights, a time when we find ourselves reflecting inwards instead of pouring outwards. The power of the goddess lies within her ability to reserve her essence, while nurturing others collecting her power through mediation and practicing the art of Allowance, Acceptance and Transformation.

The 5 Movements pervade our holistic blueprint of earth as we know it, playing a holistic part of what we experience within this human realm. We are intrinsically participating in an energetic dance whether we are aware of it or not, where all things are affected by each other. Just like a cycle, or clock of time where each element is part of the other’s development. The 5 movements live in a harmonious balance where one gives life to another depleting one’s energy while in turn receiving nourishment from another and to another, thus nothing is lost and scales remain equal. They play the roles of mother and child just as we do, a mother gives when a child is in need of food, but when the child is out of hand and the mother is depleted of all her energy the father may come and create balance through discipline, thus supporting the unit. This is exactly how the 5 Movements work, through a non empirical foundation of balance. The 5 Movements contain a micro and macrocosm relationship found in nature, within the plant and animal kingdom, the cycles of time and the seasons and within the interdisciplinary arts of dance, music, interior design and of course, Feng Shui.