DECORATING WITH THE METAL ELEMENT
The Metal element is associated with efficiency, precision and beauty. The season corresponding to the Metal element is Fall, this is the season where we prepare for the winter and begin to harvest the projects and intentions we planted in the spring. Metal is a Yin energy that is also associated with clearing away and decluttering. The Metal element is also about discernment and clarity, or choosing what to let go of and what to hold on to. It governs our ability to let go and allows us to clearly identify meaning and importance.
Homes that are dominant in Metal element are mostly white, clear of clutter, and extremely organized. It may also include color coded closets or labeled containers. Minimalism is probably their style, and may also have metal objects and stone surfaces. The Earth element is used in tandem with the Metal element because earth strengthens metal.
In the destructive cycle, fire destroys and weakens metal. This means if you have too much of a metal element, you can add small objects that represent the Fire element.
METAL PROPERTIES & BENEFITS
Benefits:
The Metal element invites completion, joy, beauty and minimizes distractions because of its disciplined nature. It is precise, so clarity is a natural benefit of this element.
How to Use:
You can incorporate the Water element into your spaces by enhancing the Guas that are associated with the element or in the guas that are nourished by that element, refer to the image above for a quick guide. The Metal element is best used in the Creativity & Children and Travel & Helpful People guas. You can also incorporate it into the Career & Wisdom corners of your home as they are associated with the Water element which is nourished by metal.
Shape:
Round shapes represent the metal element, such as tabletops, clocks, mirrors and lamps that are circular shaped.
Color:
Colors associated with the Metal element are gray, gold, silver, white and pastels because of metal’s metallic finish.
Increasing the Element:
If you notice your areas are in need of the Metal element characteristics, you can enhance the areas by adding Metal element colors, round shaped objects, crystals or stone surfaces. To enhance the Creativity & Children and Travel & Helpful People guas you can also add earth objects which produce metal. Any of the items below can be used to enhance the Metal element in your spaces.
Decreasing the Element:
Sometimes having too much of one element can affect your space as well. If you feel you have too much metal energy in your home, you may experience rigidity, being closed or narrow-minded, stiffness in the muscles or inflexibility. If you feel you need to tame this element, you can incorporate earth but adding any of the Fire element colors, items and textures to tone down metal.
HOW TO USE THE METAL ELEMENT IN YOUR SPACE
Spaces in your home that are nourished by the Metal element are the Creativity & Children and the Travel & Helpful People gua
The Travel & Helpful People gua is associated with synchronicity. This is the space to focus when you want to attract job opportunities, career advice, smooth logistics in business and travels. The term helpful people refers to friends, colleagues and even strangers. Since this gua is closest to spiritual connection, this space is also related to guides or angels and loved ones that have passed guiding you synchronistically to your highest good. If you are looking for the sense that you are divinely guided by the Universe or your religious figures, then this is the space to enhance.
Color: Gray, White
Element: Metal
Supporting Element: Earth
Destructive Element: Fire
Shades of gray, including black and white are great to use in this space. If you have any religious figure or photos of your ancestors that you have a positive connection to you can add them here. metal objects, and earth element items are also supportive to use in this space.
The Creativity & Children gua is related to joy, having fun and being creative. If you’re looking for more fun in your life or to have children, then this is the space to focus on. This is a great space for an office, art space or children’s playroom. This space is nourished by the metal element so adding earth element nourishes this space. Avoid a fire element in this space as it weakens metal. If this is your office or mediation space and you’d like to focus more then add fire sparingly.
Color: Yellow, Pastels
Element: Metal
Supporting Element: Earth
Destructive Element: Fire
Ideal decor for this space includes metal frames and objects, rocks and crystals, and books related to your creative expression. Since this space is related to the metal element, adding white and round objects like a round desk works well. The color white enhances creativity in color therapy. Baskets and decor in the metal color pallets are also great choices.
