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The five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water, each have different characteristics
In continuation with our chapter on the wood element
we will maintain our focus on the wood element
and then we will move on to the other elements
In order to discuss the following characteristics
we will divide them into two categories
The first category we will discuss here and the other in the part to follow
The first category of characteristics discusses how our senses perceive the elements
We do so visually via colour, shape, sound, taste, and smell
The colour of wood is green, which is not very hard to imagine
While plants appear in many colours, the most commonly associated colour is green
This is because for most plants
light absorption is facilitated primarily via the pigment chlorophyll
who’s colour is green
The shape of wood is rectangular
Like the two dimensional shape of a tree trunk
or a plank of wood like a 2x4
The sound associated with wood is shouting
Earlier we learned that the wood element is associated with anger
It is this anger that gives new life the strength it needs to break through the surface
whether it be a plant breaking through the surface of the earth
or a baby chick breaking out of it’s shell
Shouting represents a manifestation of this anger
and by definition we use shouting as a method of opposition
or a way to bring about change from our current state
The taste of Wood is sour
Much like in nature, green fruits have a sour taste
such as green apples
or any unripe fruit that is still green tastes sour
The smell of wood is rancid
similar to chives or freshly cut grass