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Whether we’re aware of it or not, we’re all part of the energy that makes up the cosmos. This is one of the reasons why I love Five Element Theory It provides a common-sense framework to explain the universe, energy of the seasons, how to diagnose and treat, how to select the right acupuncture points to treat according to each of my patient’s unique needs, and if you’re secretly nosy like me, how to size up different personality types to better understand them.

The Five Elements manifest themselves in our personalities and physical characteristics. This happens so much that we can typify people according to the elements. Fire type, water type, etc. While most people will exhibit characteristics of two or three elements, there is always a dominant one which is the main element of a person. When we know what that is, we get a better understanding of people’s behavior, strengths and weakness, what career areas they will excel in, and how to support any constitutional weaknesses they may have by using the Five Elements. So, let’s start talking about elemental personality types!

The Wood Type

We’ll begin with the Wood type as we are in early spring and water energy is flowing into wood energy. According to the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, which is the first ever text written on Chinese medicine over 2000 years ago, people who are of the wood type tend to be tall and sinewy, with a straight back, broad shoulders, and a long face. This is very representative of wood energy, growing up and out freely like the trunks and branches of a tree.

 

The Wood Daymaster

Here’s where the fun really begins. The term daymaster comes from classical Bazi, which is a branch of Chinese metaphysics that uses, among other things, the five elements in conjunction with our date and time of birth to create a chart that shows all of the energy that is us throughout our lives. Our daymaster is essentially our self-element. It shows us the biggest elemental influence in our lives and it’s different for everybody. Take a moment to head over to Chinese Metasoft , plug in your date and preferably time of birth to see what your daymaster is. Look for the top character in the day column. It will be Yin or Yang water, wood, fire, earth, or metal. Don’t worry, I’m not making any money off of this, and nobody will be collecting your email, you’re just getting a glimpse into what I’ve been obsessing over for the past two years.

Did your results show give you Jia (甲) or Yi (乙)? If so, then you’re a wood daymaster, which means wood is your dominant element. If not, don’t worry, your turn will come.

 

Jia (甲) Yang Wood Daymaster

Jia wood takes a big tree, like a California Redwood or an old oak as its image. Tall, sturdy, grounded. Like the trunk of an old tree, Jia wood is solid and inflexible. This personality type at its best is loyal and trustworthy, and like a tree with deep roots, prefers to stay in one place. As growth is the nature of wood, its namesake daymasters are voracious learners and teachers. These people are kind, practical, and determined no matter what. The downside of these solid wood daymaster types is that they can be stubborn and blunt when the wood is not properly balanced.

 

 

Yi (乙) Yin Wood Daymaster

Yin wood is more like a plant. Growth-oriented, but with flexible stems that bend in the breeze of change. Yi Yin wood daymasters are highly adaptable, born problem solvers, and generally elegant people. Like Jia wood, Yi wood people are also loyal and kind when at their best, as well as good leaders and educators, but can be manipulative, competitive, and stubborn at their worst. Much like a growing seedling might need to be staked to protect it from blowing over, when a Yi wood person is not in balance, they tend to need more external support and affirmation.

 

 

I find it interesting that many of us tend to gravitate towards professions that support our daymasters even without realizing it. Professions that are considered wood in nature within the Five Elements include education, writing, publishing, and (unsurprisingly) industries involving wood. This doesn’t mean other types of daymasters don’t excel in these fields though. By nature, as a way of seeking balance, if we are missing a lot of wood in our constitutions, we tend to seek it out. I write and teach, and yet, constitutionally I am actually very, very low in wood.

 

Wood daymaster types will do best to do things to help them avoid anger. The wood desire for up and out growth frequently gets stagnated, as life piles things on us, which can cause outbursts if not careful. As such, wood people will greatly benefit from relaxation, meditation, forest bathing, and foods that are green and sour, the color and flavor associated with the wood element.

 

Did you see something of yourself in here? Did you know acupuncture is a phenomenal way to keep your energy moving smoothly in a world full of hiccups? Give us a call and let’s discuss how we can help smooth away life’s rough patches

 

Molly