Wood Element
The Wood Element is like a tree - It grows out and upward and down and inward simultaneously. It is flexible, bending, yielding to the wind, yet strong and durable containing the flow of its own life cycle.
Corresponding Attributes:
Personality: The power of Wood in in transforming energy into matter. Wood gives definition to things - focusing, planning, creating structure, and putting ideas into action. Wood energy is enthusiastic and interested in everything. It's the endless animation of a child who's going at life with gusto, a bright spirit that's into something new every few minutes.There's also a tension present, similar to what you see in children's bodies, so alert and aroused in this fascinating new world that every muscle is alive and at attention. This quality is balanced by flexibility, as is required when one is growing. This element is about doing, putting creative ideas into action, and so the verb for Wood is "to do." If you're a Wood person, you carry that vitality, that pushing forward, in every cell of your being. Wood is focused and intense, pushing against all obstacles in its path. If you're Wood, your major strengths are your optimism, enthusiasm, and urge to go out and change the world for the better. You may be the humanitarian who fights for a cause, breaking up the old to make way for the new. Or you may have the personality of the pioneer, always initiating fresh ideas, ever enthusiastic and curious to learn new things and push forward. Most of all, you're about doing, and you love to be active - with exercise, work, movement of any sort, and even intellectually with a lot of interests or new ideas. In fact, if these people can't be active, they'll become depressed. This is actually a common imbalance in this Element due to rage turned inward; anger toward the self or others is the issue for Wood. The challenge here is anger or frustration. You may become so frustrated when you're stressed that you'll explode into an outburst of irritation or even fury. Under pressure, Wood needs to blow off steam. A healthy member of this group will make a balanced choice on how to do so, such as working with tools, digging in the garden, or going out jogging. |
Wood is also practical and sensible and appreciates organization. You hate to fuss or fiddle with things: You'll get rid of the spare change from your pockets the moment you get home, and you'll probably never pull out a stack of coupons at the grocery store. This Element loves to create systems and structure and delights in organizing and planning projects. In work or conversation, you're straightforward and to the point. If the other person wanders in conversation, your impatience will rise. While you are wonderful at initiating things and creating systems for their development, you're not always good at follow through. Wood is resilient and not overly sensitive.This is a wonderful quality that lets you get things done in life and not be bogged down with time spent processing feelings.
Clothing: Wood values logic and common sense. Athletic, outdoorsy, or preppy clothing is common, often in denim, khaki, or shades of green. Above all, practical clothes are what you'll love. You want to be active, so you need apparel that doesn't restrict motion. If you're a Wood woman, you'll fill your closet with running shoes, hiking boots, or sensible shoes - you disdain high heels and avoid them if at all possible. You will choose hairstyles that are extremely easy to care for. Home: The homes of this Element often have more of a masculine or rustic decor. Your home may resemble that of a hunting lodge or log cabin. You may put lots of actual wood in your space and there may be plants (as long as they don't require complicated care), or your view will be of trees. You will find little clutter in Wood homes. Movement: Almost any exercise is great because you need to keep active. Running, mountain biking, backpacking, strength training, and competitive and team sports are all supportive of Wood vibrations. Profession: Your high level of competitiveness and drive, as well as your appreciation of structure, helps you excel in business, professional sports, or law enforcement. Working with tools or wood, or building things is also great for this element. Other careers involve systems and organization, such as architecture, urban planning, and especially landscape design because it will bring you outdoors. Due to your enthusiasm for learning, no matter what profession you end up in, you'll always be a lifelong student. Physical Imbalances: When the Liver is imbalanced you may experience problems with the tendons of the body - they may become tense or spastic. Imbalances may also manifest in eye ailments. Disharmony in the Gall Bladder may manifest as indecisiveness and inability to rest, as in insomnia. Excessive anger, depression, and anxiety are also signs of Liver/Gall Bladder imbalances. Back to All Element Personality Traits |