Feng Shui Hawaiian Style: Metal for Clarity, Strength, and Success in the Year of the Tiger
By Marta Barreras, Master Feng Shui Practitioner
Have you sensed a feeling of change in the air lately? As 2010 marks the commencement of a new decade, Chinese astrology claims it to be the Year of the Metal Tiger.
Symbolizing excellence and adventure, the Metal Tiger is a lucky, playful creature who acts with boldness and unpredictability. Precision, sensitivity and willpower add to the qualities of this Chinese animal/element combination whose essential energy will govern the tone of the events our planet will experience until the next Chinese New Year in February 2011.
A far cry from the slow moving, steady Earth Ox of 2009, the fast moving Metal Tiger moves at full, primal force and is likely to bring a bit of a roller coaster ride of highs and lows into life this year—so fasten your seat belts! As we embark into this new decade with the Metal Tiger leading the way, we are sure to see a year of exciting opportunities that may require us to have greater clarity, precise actions and focused determination in order to reap our rewards.
Wisdom of the Five Elements for Efficient Living
Similar in their fundamental viewpoints, both ancient Taoists and Hawaiians placed strong emphasis on harmony with nature as a standard of living and as a connection with spirit. They created systems and practices that help one to attune to nature’s cosmic forces for navigating through life with balance, wellness and prosperity.
In the practice of feng shui, as well as in Chinese medicine, the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water) represent the fundamental building blocks of all things in the physical universe. From this perspective, these elements (which are essentially movements of energy or vibrations) also exist within you and everything in your environment. By working with the balance of how nature’s elements flow within and around us, we can live in harmony and ride the Metal Tiger year into joyful success!
Metal Energy
In understanding the placement of metal in the five-element energy cycle, we know it as the most yang (masculine) of all the elements. It is associated with clarity, brilliance, mental strength, and perseverance. The metal element represents the power of refinement from the heavens that creates the magic of synchronicity in our daily lives. It is the power of the blade that cuts through that which is not essential to get to what truly is of essence. Metal is the force of willpower and its great strength is used for the framework in structures and large buildings. Metal’s value is represented by the rich minerals, jewels and gems born of the Earth.
Metal energy engenders a sense of mental clarity, inspiration, refinement and emotional maturity. When your metal energy is in balance you have a sense of being “in touch” with your feelings, as well as a sense of maturity that helps you to be honest and courageous in achieving your goals. Metal’s refining energy helps us to let go of the disappointment of the past and move forward with clarity and newfound ingenuity.
Feng Shui and the Metal Element
The life force energy, or ch’i, that flows through your environment is the same energy that flows through you. Feng shui, like acupuncture, works to balance and optimize the ch’i flow through your home and workspace. It is a very sophisticated, ancient system that profoundly helps to optimize the quality of ch’i flowing through your space and, ultimately, through every area of your life. With feng shui, you can incorporate the energy of the metal element into your space for increased creativity, inspiration and joy. ❖
Polish Your Brilliance! Designing with the Metal Element for Creativity, Clarity and Strength
Metal element energy can be helpful when you want to:
Increase your creative energy, master a creative or fine art, write a book, learn to play a musical instrument, conceive a child, enhance your intuition, sell or buy real estate, travel, increase clientele, enhance communication, attract mentors and helpful people, harness strength and perseverance to complete a great task.
Colors: Metallic colors, light pastels, white, gray
Shapes: circular, oval, domed
Example Items: metal sculptures, metal picture frames, mirrors, crystals, gems, granite, marble, reflective surfaces
To cut through distraction and refocus your energy on a creative project or business endeavor:
Try placing an oval mirror on the inside left (as you are facing out) of your front entrance or your office door. This will open up ch’i flow and invite more energy for focused determination, inspiration and creative opportunities into your space.
To enhance communication in your family, community or work relationships:
Place a round table in your dining room, living room or office meeting area. The circular shape incorporates the metal element and enhances harmony, equality and clear communication.
The fastest way to clear through blocks and regain inspired creativity in any project:
Clean your space! Cleaning is a metal element activity and will help you to clear your mind, reestablish your left/right brain connection and invite fresh, vibrant energy into your workspace. Be sure to include polishing mirrors, metallic items, crystal and/or reflective surfaces that have become dull or dusty.
Email Marta Barreras at marta@aloha.net.
