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The five phases are the result of a collection of knowledge, thoughts, and beliefs that receive their primary influence from the teachings of Taoism1. Taoists consider that the universe is made up of a force called qi, which can be best translated as “life’s breath” or “cosmic breath” and represents a universal fluid linking of all that is2. Fire, earth, metal, water, and wood are the five phases and take form in physical elements of nature. These phases are not looked at as physical elements themselves but as an interconnecting of all the phases. The ancient Chinese believed that all that exists is a creation of the five phases and their interconnections with each other; each phase has its own characteristic of qi causing each phase to interact uniquely with another phase3.
When looking at the five phases it is important to understand that you are referring to a phase and not the actual element that the phase represents. Each phase represents so many things and has so many more characteristics that the actual element itself. Studying the five phases is all about understanding the movement of the phases and how they balance, transform, and interact with each other along with recognizing the different cycles they encounter4.
According to the Chinese, everything belongs to one of the five elements of fire, earth, metal, water, and wood and qi energy can be achieved in five separate ways5. “Fire qi rises, earth qi revolves, metal qi contracts, water qi falls, and wood qi expands. How the five phases interact with one another determines the balance of qi in nature, in our living/working space, and in our beings”6.Each of the five phases is associated with a season, cardinal point (direction), number, shape, color, energy, and period of the lifespan, along with numerous other characteristics.
Fire is linked with the season of summer; the direction south; the number nine; the shape of a triangle; the colors red, purple, pink, and dark orange; and creates...