In a saju reading you may hear "lots of wood" or "not enough water". These are the five elements, which divide the energies of the world into five kinds.
The five energies
- Wood: the force that grows and reaches. Beginnings, growth, plans.
- Fire: the force that lights and spreads. Passion, expression, being seen.
- Earth: the force that holds and gathers. Stability, trust, mediation.
- Metal: the force that refines and decides. Principles, decisiveness, finishing.
- Water: the force that seeps and flows. Wisdom, flexibility, deep thought.
The cycle that feeds (generating)
Wood feeds fire; fire becomes ash and makes earth; metal comes from the earth; metal gathers drops of water; and water feeds wood again. The circle keeps each element alive.
The cycle that checks (controlling)
Wood breaks through earth, earth dams water, water puts out fire, fire melts metal, and metal cuts wood. It is not a bad relationship; it keeps any one energy from growing too strong.
When you have a lot or a little
Each of the eight characters in a saju carries an element, so everyone has some elements in abundance and others in short supply.
- Lots of wood: strong drive, but finishing can be the weak spot.
- Lots of fire: expressive, but it is easy to burn out.
- Little water: make a point of building in rest.
A missing element is not bad. It is a hint about which energy to nurture on purpose.
Curious about your elements?
They are calculated from your birth date and time. Start with the element of your day stem, the character that stands for you, and saju starts to feel much closer.