Metal represents the transformation of the chi from fullness towards decline. This is the afternoon of the day, the autumn of the year when natural chi begins slowly to diminish. It is the cooling off period; the time of declining Yin. Metal is the process of gathering in, a dense inward moving energy, which can feel oppressive if it is not in harmony with its surroundings.

The direction of metal is west where the sun sets. The shapes for metal are round or arched. When metal is heated to a high degree it bobbles into round beads – so any shape with well-rounded curvatures signifies metal.

Metal’s colours are white or gold, silver, bronze, copper – any metallic colour. The objects that signify it are anything metallic such as round gongs and round metal plates.

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Metal | Water | Wood | Fire | Earth

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