In my series of articles about Feng Shui’s Five Elements we’ve looked at the Feng Shui benefits of the Wood, Fire, Metal and Water elements.
Let’s look now at the stable, nurturing qualities of Earth.

The Earth element creates a “home base” in your life. Its unique mothering quality makes you feel balanced and secure, giving you an inner place that supports your efforts to care for yourself while caring for those around you, too.
- Earth’s symbolic shape is a square, the most stable and grounded of shapes. Anything square or rectangular evokes the Earth element in your space.
- Flat surfaces and horizontal lines also symbolize the endless visual expanses of Earth.
- Its color is yellow, along with other earth tones such as light brown and sandy colors.
- Earth-y materials like ceramics, pottery and brick create a tactile sense of Earth’s comforts in your home.
- The Earth element is very much a tangible, visible, physical element: your physical health and that the physical state of your home are both associated with Earth. Clutter and weight-gain can be addressed by bringing the Earth element into balance.
- Earth represents the “in-between” seasons like late fall’s Indian Summer and “mud season” in early spring.
- Earth helps you create boundaries, just as earthworks like a dam or the banks of a stream control and steer the flow of water.
- The archetype of the Earth element is the Peacemaker. Earth is the “go-between” of the Five Elements; if this is your “type” you may find that you sometimes have a hard time saying No. Clear boundaries help Earth stay in balance and do the most good in the world.

On the Feng Shui Bagua Map, Earth is represented in three different areas: Relationship (upper right), Knowledge & Self-Cultivation (lower left), and Health (in the center).
Follow the links above to find out more about each of these three sectore, and how to use the Earth element to enhance them.
Now you can look around and start to notice which objects, furniture, and pieces of art may represent Earth in your space.
Now, let’s look at Earth in the Cycle of the Elements:
- Earth is nourished by Fire in the Creative Cycle.
- Earth in turn nourishes the Metal element, as it condenses and solidifies into gems and precious metals.
- Earth is controlled by Wood in the Controlling Cycle, just as the roots of a tree break up the earth as they grow and expand.
Important note: When you are considering which element might be represented by a particular object, Shape takes precedence.
For example an object that is square (like a square wall tile, perhaps), mainly represents the Earth element. Depending on its color and other aspects, other elements may also be present, but Earth predominates in that particular object.
Be sure to check out the Feng Shui details about the other elements in my Five Elements series: Wood, Fire, Metal and Water.
(photo by David McSpadden on Flickr)
Hello
I was wondering if the square shape of a picture frame means it is automatically an Earth element object or is it the picture itself that determines this? Also, are smooth gemstones and crystals the Earth element or the Metal element due to the rounded edges of the object. Is a glazed earthenware pot with an inverted bell shape the Earth or Metal element?
Thank you in anticipation
Cindy
Hi Cindy,
This is a great question. Yes, the square picture frame means it’s an Earth element object, but the picture itself may add other elements as well.
Many objects represent multiple elements; for instance a chandelier I once owned included Fire (the lights), Metal (the material), Wood (the leaves & flowers in its design), and Water (in its fanciful, flowing branches, and its clear crystals).
So I would sat that the other objects you mention probably include multiple elements, as you have described. First look at the shape of the object, then the color, then the material.
Respected sir/ madam,
I, Lalita have a question- If there are two or three family members;one belonging to east group and the others belong to west group;then ,if we adopt the distructive cycle, what will be the out come for them.? Is it ok to do thus?
Hello Lalita,
The object is to use the Creative & Destructive cycles to harmonize everyone’s energies by bringing the elements into balance. Please take a good look at the charts for both cycles to see how to do this in your own family situation.
Dear Ann
my house face to the fire direction which i am at Metal element side. I would like to put something in front of my house. What kind of thing I should put on..?
Hello Rat,
I am sorry but I cannot understand your question without seeing a sketch of the property. Please re-send to my Ask Ann page so that you can attach your sketch.
Just getting started on the Feng Shui world. Have found great advice on your blog posts. My heart is filled with gratitude and happiness. God bless you!
Thank you so much Norma! I really appreciate your positive thoughts!