In the current Annual Update season, clients got a new section to their Update Report.  I added to each section of the eight directions a brief notation on what NOT to have in any given location, as well as what is neutral to have.  More on “neutral” later.

When it comes to placing elemental remedies to enhance, support, or reduce the permanent energies of a space, the changing annual guest is also factored in and may be stronger or potentially more influential than the permanent energies.

Because I like analogies, this might be like the difference between having a guest stay with you for a year who minds their own business and doesn’t interfere much with your household routine and dynamics.  And then, compare that to having a guest for the year who is noisy, who breaks things, or you just find yourself spending a lot of time catering to that person, at the expense of your own priorities and needs.

The relationship between annual stars and permanent stars is a life-long case study. Sometimes the annual star triggers otherwise dormant permanent energies and sometimes the permanent energies will have a totally different effect on the same annual star from one household to the next.  In order to understand this fluid relationship between the elements, one needs to at least be familiar with Five Element Theory.

For over thirty years I have forewarned Update clients what to keep in place, what to change and why. I have also cautioned against using the wrong element for that location, but it needed to be emphasized more for many clients.  Having a distinct section which notes what to: Keep, Add, Remove, or Neutral should make it even more clear and less likely that the client needs to refer back to their original report.

No one except a feng shui adherent will automatically take stock of the contents of a room and categorize the items as Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, or Metal.   So, the information bears repeating on what NOT to have in an area as much as what you SHOULD have.   This is because the wrong element could cancel out the effectiveness of the right element.  For example, let us say that an area needs the metal element and one places hefty amounts of metal in the right location. All good. Except, if the person does not know that the fire element in that same location could undermine the benefits of metal, they would be unknowingly sabotaging the point of using metal.

As well, I always explain the risks involved in using a certain element that may be good for one thing and not another. A common frustration comes with the “3” star, just as one example.  Whether it is an annual 3 wood star or a permanent 3 wood star, dwelling in that energy could attract legal problems or gossip.  Weakening that energy with fire is often the default setting.

However, the 3 wood star also represents the feet, throat or nervous system.  If I’m working with a person whose bedroom has the 3 star present and they suffer from plantar fasciitis, thyroid problems, or nervous system issues, instead I am going to recommend they strengthen the 3 wood energy with water.

To sum up: For the optimal outcome, by adjusting an area with an element, one needs to know what the risks are, if any, and what the desired effect should be.   Sometimes it is best to leave a space alone, or at least understand what NOT to do to make things worse.

That being said, there are plenty of instances where one or more of the Five Elements can be considered neutral.  By this, I mean that it should not have any major effect, good or bad.  To go back to the example of the 3 wood star. We may determine on a case-by-case basis, that some spaces will need the fire element to reduce the power of the 3 wood star and other circumstances should have water, to enhance the 3 wood star.  If that same location has a live plant (Wood Element) we could say that the element “matches” the 3 star, but does not activate it like water or fire.  Therefore, we could call it neutral.

One reason why it is important to identify which element is essential, which is a bonus positive, which is destructive and which element is neutral is because hardly anyone can furnish or decorate a room with ONLY the desired element and none of the others.  By knowing which elements are neutral, one can relax more and not have to change as many things from year to year. It helps plan for long-term arrangements and sensible purchases.

Author: Kartar Diamond

Company: Feng Shui Solutions ®

From the Feng Shui Theory Blog Series