Part 3
Welcome to Part 3 of the Elemental Series, where we go beyond the classic four and explore the “bonus elements” that often get overlooked but shape our lives in unexpected ways.
If you missed the earlier entries, you can catch up here:
→ Part 1: Earth, Water, Air, and Fire
→ Part 2: Chakras and Their Elemental Connections
Today’s journey takes us through the precision of Metal, the resilience of Wood, and the mysticism of Ether. Prepare for neat bookshelves, rampant ivy, and cosmic ambiguity.
Metal: When You Are So Sharply Defined, You Could Slice Cheese
The metal element, though not included in the classical Western lineup, holds equal weight in Chinese traditions. Metal is precise, exacting, and so organized that next to it, the earth element looks like a chaotic hippie.
Metal people are the ones who schedule their spontaneity a week in advance: “Friday, from 6:45 to 7:15 PM is reserved for improvised fun.” They also sort their bookshelves first by genre, then by author’s last name, followed by publication year, and finally by color, then genuinely question why no one else does the same.
Metal energy also manifests in perfectionism that makes mere perfection look sloppy. “I made 47 versions of this PowerPoint slide, but I am still not happy with the font angle,” sighed my metal colleague once, even though I was admiring the slide like a piece of art.
But when the world needs clarity, metal energy cuts through chaos like a blade. Metal people notice the details that others do not even realize exist. “Your home contains exactly 17 things that could function more efficiently,” your metal friend says on their first visit and proceeds to list them all, even though you never asked.
Metal governs the west (in some traditions), autumn, the colors white and silver, and all perfectly round shapes. Metal smells like freshly polished silverware, clean windows, and that deeply satisfying feeling when you just finished organizing your closet by color.
In witchcraft, metal is used in spells requiring precision, for setting boundaries, and for protection. When a metal-witch casts a protective circle, you can be sure it is geometrically perfect, laser-measured, and verified with a spirit level.
In feng shui, metal brings clarity, precision, and efficiency. You can enhance it with metal jewelry, round furniture, and metallic statues. A metal feng shui consultant may visit your home with a measuring tape and compass, and solemnly state, “Your sofa is misaligned by 3.8 degrees. This causes imbalance in your entire life.” And when you adjust the sofa, they will nod approvingly: “Now your career will progress 17.4 percent more efficiently.”
Wood / Forest / Vegetation: When You Grow Toward the Light (And Maybe Over the Neighbor's Fence)
In Chinese elemental philosophy, the wood element is as fundamental as the others. Wood is growing, flexible, future-oriented, and as persistent as the weed that pushes up through asphalt.
Wood people are the ones who see potential in everything and everyone. “You have incredible growth potential in this field!” they say, even after you have told them your plan to become a professional coral reef observer. Their plant-care skills are so powerful that even plastic plants start sprouting new shoots in their homes.
Wood energy also manifests as endless optimism that seems immune to reality. “I know you have failed at this 37 times, but I believe the 38th will be the breakthrough!” says your wood friend. And even though it sounds crazy, you begin to believe it too.
But when the world needs resilience and adaptability, wood energy bends without breaking. Wood people see obstacles as temporary detours on the road to growth. “It is not a problem, it is a learning opportunity!” they say so often, you consider tattooing it on your forehead, or on theirs.
Wood rules the east, spring, the color green, and upward-reaching rectangular shapes. Wood smells like freshly cut grass, forest trails after rain, and that spark of inspiration when you finally solve a problem that has been haunting you.
In witchcraft, the wood element is used in spells for growth, renewal, health, and abundance. The wood-witch has likely built a small greenhouse at home, where they grow mystical herbs, only to discover that the catnip has taken over and the ivy hanging from the ceiling threatens to smother everything else.
In feng shui, wood promotes growth, creativity, and flexibility. It can be amplified with living plants, wood materials, and green tones. A wood feng shui expert might walk into your home and exclaim in horror, “You only have THREE plants in this space? No wonder there is no growth in your life! You need at least fifteen, preferably thirty, and one massive ficus reaching the ceiling!”
Ether: When You Are Too Mystical for This World (And Maybe the Next)
Ether, the spiritual fifth element, is as elusive as the answer to “what do women truly want?” or “where do all the missing socks go from the washing machine?” Ether is everywhere and nowhere, all-permeating yet invisible, like the internet or that nagging guilt when you have not replied to your mother’s text message.
Ether people are the ones who start a conversation about the weather and end up contemplating the meaning of life, the cosmos, and humanity’s place in the universe. They sense “energies” in rooms, see auras, and always know when Mercury is in retrograde especially because they remind everyone about it on all their social media channels: “Mercury is in retrograde, so if your ex texts you or your toaster explodes, now you know why! #cosmicawareness #notmyfault”
Ether energy also shows up in the unique ability to explain all of life’s setbacks through the position of the stars. “Your Venus is in Pisces, which explains why you tripped on the stairs and spilled coffee on your shirt,” says your ether friend with a straight face, while you know full well the real reason was last night’s bottle of wine. At the same time, ether people are so mystical that asking them “how are you?” might lead to a forty-five-minute lecture on planetary transits, last week’s dreams, and how everything is connected “energetically.”
But when you seek connection to something greater or want perspective beyond the everyday, ether rises above the ordinary. Ether people remind us that there is more to the universe than meets the eye, and sometimes what they perceive makes perfect sense, as long as you open your mind wide enough... or drink the same tea they do. Wink wink.
Ether governs the center (or transcendence in some traditions), the space between seasons, the color violet or clear, and shapes that are oval or abstract and difficult to define. Ether smells like incense, mystery, and that moment right before you wake up when reality is still blurry.
In witchcraft, ether is used in spells for psychic work, spirituality, transcendence, and transformation. An ether-witch probably does not even think of what they do as “casting spells,” they are simply “channeling universal vibrations from higher consciousness,” and somehow, something always ends up burning and the air smells like smoke.
In feng shui (or its more esoteric interpretations), ether represents empty space, potential, and awareness. It can be strengthened by creating intentional voids, using crystals, and setting up meditation corners. An ether-feng shui guru may look at your home and declare, “Your energy is too concrete. You need more EMPTINESS. Remove at least sixty percent of your furniture and replace it with crystals charged under the full moon.” When you point out that you need a bed to sleep in, they laugh gently: “Physical needs are an illusion. But if you must, get a transparent bed that disturbs chi flow as little as possible.”
In the final installment of the Elemental Series, we will explore how these energies interact with each other, what elemental therapy really means, and how this entire cosmology fits into modern life, relationships, and spiritual identity crises.
Part 4 drops next coming Monday, and trust me, you will not want to miss it.
Bring your element chart, your favorite tea, and perhaps a cushion to scream into (just in case your dominant element is fire).
See you in the grand finale.