The Shen Cycle describes how energies of the primary five elements of nature are connected to bring balance and harmony.

 

The Shen Cycle

 

Long before science, ancient man derived the basic principles of how nature worked by simple observation of his environment. He learned that water was very different from fire, and that metal was different from wood.  He knew that the world he lived in was in a constant state of change.

 

Some changes were natural and in harmony, like spring changing to summer, when all life flourishes. Some changes were unnatural, like excessive heat evaporating water supplies. From this understanding, he gained incredible insight of nature's working and to explain it, he developed a system called the 5 transformational phases. There is no real name for this process in the west, however the term "Five Elements" has been adopted.  This knowledge together with yin and yang principles has formed the backbone of all Chinese culture, Chinese medicine and Chinese philosophy for the past 5,000 years

 

Examples of the typical qualities associated with each element when the element is in balance are described below.

 

Applying the effects described by the Shen Cycle, each element can be used to either nurture or control the energies of other elements and bring about balance.  Using the principals of the Shen Cycle, the Elements have the following effects on each other:

 

   Nurturing effects - Wood feeds Fire, Fire feeds earth, Earth feeds metal, Metal feeds water, and Water feeds Wood.

   Controlling effects - Wood controls metal, metal controls fire, fire controls water, water controls earth, earth controls wood.

 

For most of us, our best qualities often shine out from one primary element, which can also be the area where our energy will most likely be out of balance...resulting in negative emotions and physical ailments.  We can however balance these energies by bringing the right colours and materials into our environment.  For example, energies associated with the Fire Element can be nurtured by Wood, whilst be calmed with Water.

 

Injecting the colour red can bring warmth to open the heart and lift the spirit of someone displaying signs of low fire energy such as feeling empty, unloved, anxious and insecure.  So, by simply wearing a red heart necklace may all that is needed to trigger a smile.

 

Last Updated 1/09/2008