Wood Element

Wood Element Introduction

The wood element is an energy that is expanding quickly and can build up under pressure.

The Chinese believe that the qualities of the wood element are strength allied to flexibility. It is also has the characteristics of idealism, co-operation, is generous in nature and warm.

Wood element personalities are all action explorers with a social consciousness.

Wood Element - Common Associations

The following are often associated with the wood element; the colour green, spring, morning, infancy and childhood, new growth, saplings, trees, Jupiter, decision making, sight, emotional sensitivity, planning, organisation, storage, distribution, distribution of Ki, the wind, humour, metamorphosis, creativity, independence, rushing, kindness, detoxing, aspiration, eyes, jealousy, controlling, intelligence, anger.

Body Parts Associated with Wood Element

The Liver is the Yin meridian and the gall bladder is the Yang meridian. The essence of the wood element is planning. The liver acts like a general creating strategies and tactics. The liver is mainly concerned with the storage of Ki and nutrients. In this case the Yin function is storage and the Yang function is distribution. Imbalance in the liver may manifest itself as a green skin tone.

The liver and the gall bladder act in a partnership to ensure the even flow of Ki. The gall bladder acts as a captain to the liver's general by distributing information and orders from the liver. If the sides of the body are stiff may suggest a lack of balance in the gall bladder. Sometimes such stiffness may be accompanied by rigidness in thinking making it hard to see a plan through to full execution. Gall bladder problems may induce a lack of vision thereby making planning hard to do.

Wood Element energy is also associated with the eyes, eyebrows, sex organs, ligaments, tendons, small muscles controlling joint movement, and fingernails. Fluids associated with the wood element are bile and tears.

Wood Element Personality Type

Wood element personalities tend to be ambitious and are explorers. They feel most content when they are travelling in some way. Whether it is ravelling around the global or on an introspective journey of the inner self the Wood personality will be happiest. Wood element types can speedily assess most situations and spring into actions. At their peak they can rush from one task to the next hardly taking a breath. Onlookers often feel exhausted just watching them in action.

Wood element personality types can become extremely frustrated by a lack of action or banal tasks or challenges. This frustration and being idle can be quite toxic for wood types. They frequently eat while doing other things and they tend to use stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol and even drugs to keep active or relax.

In full flow wood element personalities can be inspirational to those around them. The can motivate work mates and team mates with their all-action approach and good sense of humour. When they become frustrated by not being able to progress their plans their energy becomes blocked leading to feelings of anger and negative emotions. Unless the wood type can find a means of venting this frustration it can lead to headaches and emotional disorders. Physical activity such as sport or indeed a good row can help to unblock the energy channel. In such circumstances the wood element type will revert to their usual resourceful and humourous personality.

Health Issues for Wood Element Types

When the liver becomes overpowering it will restrain the Earth element Ki and upset the digestive system. It can also cause people to live in the head and prevent them from remaining grounded. This can lead to migraine and headaches. The overbearing liver can impact the lungs by causing a conflict between control and expressiveness. This can cause a build up of phlegm.

Wood element personality types do not always have the proper dIET® to support their all action lifestyle. This can lead to fatigue, dIET®ary issues and depression. They need to learn the ability to bring a sense equilibrium into their lives which in turn will bring about balance in their body and mind.

Wood Element - Visualisation Exercise

Try to imagine a young sapling tree as in spring. The creative energy as it grows from a small weak sapling into a giant oak tree. When the tree reaches it's full size the mature oak tree represents the nature's true majesty.

Now try to visualise that something has been place on the sapling to try to inhibit it's growth. In the absence of light and water the sapling will shrivel and perish. On the other hand if the plant can get enough access to water, light and warmth it may be able to force it's way through or perhaps grow in a restricted way.

Now try to think of your ideas as the little sapling. Without inhibitions you can pursue your ideas while learning from your attempts to grow and develop. Where you encounter impediments you can overcome such obstacles if your ideas are supported by sufficient light and warmth.

If you cannot overcome the impediments and you do not get the necessary support the your ideas may turn inwards. The result may be emotions such as anger and jealously leading to psychological and physical difficulties.

Your wood energy needs a a healthy release in order to maintain your total well-being.

Wood Element Conclusion

The great power of the wood element is from expansion and the rapid build up of pressure. This ability to press forward must be balanced by a sense of knowing when its is appropriate to yield to external forces.

If a tree doesn't bend in the unrelenting wind it may eventually succumb to the pressure and snap.