The theory of the five elements has been used in China since the Song dynasty, dating back 1,500 years, and has been widely used in Chinese medicine, feng shui, and astrology.
The Five Elements were initially born from a simple and obvious view of time, in terms of the passing of a day and the seasons, as well as how structures or even symptoms begin to manifest.
The Five Elements and I Ching Astrology
Each of the 9 Stars in I Ching Astrology is associated with one of these Five Elements. The connections are the following:
9-fire
2, 5, 8 – Earth
6, 7 – Metal
1 – Water
3, 4 – Wood
By looking at the table below, it is possible to see how both the Five Elements and the different 9 Stars can interact.
the same item
When it comes to relationships in I Ching Astrology, if two people share the same element (for example, Metal), they will generally get along well and the relationship can be considered as one of a more brotherly nature. They just get along together without too much of a clash.
The Mother Child Cycle
Each element ‘supports’ or ‘parents’ the next element within the loop. Earth supports Metal, Metal supports Water, Water supports Wood, Wood supports Fire, and Fire supports Earth.
The element that is giving the support is known as the Mother and the element that receives the support is known as the Child.
Therefore, in a Mother/Child relationship there is a giver and a receiver. For the giver, it is often exhausting and sometimes exhausting, a bit like having children! In the same way, being the Child and receiving the support of the Mother, this can be pleasant, beneficial and easy!
The controlling element
Each of the Five Elements, and then each of the 9 Stars, has an element opposite to them within the Five Elements system that keeps them in check. The literal translation is control. I prefer to see it as a more positive trait, that is, that of protection, care and making sure that they do not get out of control. In a relationship, the ‘controlling’ element maintains a control over the other. However, on the receiving end, it occasionally feels like the “controller” is too full. Finding the right balance is the solution!
Here are these different relationships:
9 Fire Star controls the 6 Heaven and 7 Lake Stars
2 Earth, 5 T’ai Chi and 8 Mountain Stars control 1 Water Star
6 Heaven and 7 Lake Stars control the 3 Thunder and 4 Wind Stars
1 water star controls 9 fire star
3 Thunder and 4 Wood Stars control the 2 Earth, 5 T’ai Chi and 8 Mountain Stars
When Metal (6 and 7) becomes too cold, brittle or inflexible, a little Fire makes them more malleable.
When Water, such as in a river or lake, gets out of control, it actually requires the Earth to form banks and boundaries for the Water.
When the fire gets out of control, then water is useful to dampen it.
When plants (of the Wood element of Thunder and Wind) get out of control, they need some Metal to trim them down and keep them in shape (6 and 7 Metal Stars).
The Earth itself, represented by 2, 5 and 8 stars, will simply bare or turn to dust if it does not have the roots of plant life to hold it together (3 and 4 wooden stars).
I Ching Astrology Profiles
A deeper cut into the I Ching Astrology system reveals that all of us have three different Stars within our makeup. Then it gets fascinating when we watch how this Birth Star, Inner Star, and Outer Star (and their five assigned elements) interact with another profile: a family member, lover, or co-worker. The permutations are endless, fascinating, and deeply insightful.
