The flow of the Five Elements

Wood energy pushes outward and connects to other energies in the world and Fire is the connection. Once the connection is made, qi flows inward to support, nourish, and create Earth energy, the matrix that holds the body together. Then the metal engages to regulate that flow and puts up barriers between us and the world. When the barriers encircle us, our energy roots downward in the form of Water. As the water pushes downward into the earth, the ground below pushes back up at us in the form of Wood energy, which pushes outward and begins the cycle anew.

Photo courtesy of Gregory Bastien