In Feng Shui, we recognize Five Personality Types.
Each of these personality types is defined by a natural energy that behaves in a particular way.
The way the energy moves, determines the way the mind and the heart of a person also move, and the decisions they make in life.
- Type 1 people like to go deep and soak their minds with information.
- Type 2 people like to feel productive all the time and accumulate stuff.
- Type 3 people like to go up and expand and expend their energy.
- Type 4 people like to express love through thoughtfulness.
- Type 5 people want to make sure everything they do is right and moral.
Feng Shui personality types are based on the Five Elements (fire, earth, metal, water, and wood)
They All Have Different Triggers
Each personality type starts unhealthy decluttering patterns motivated by particular triggers. In my new webinar I will expand on what are the triggers that most often cause each personality type to clutter, and what their particular path should be when decluttering and organizing.
You May Think You Know Your Element, but Maybe You Don’t
People tell me all the time that they need more of a particular color because they “are” this element or this other element. They are usually wrong.
What they mean is that they were born in a year that was assigned that particular element. The fact that they were born in a year marked by an element is important, but the five elements also manifest in body types and in personality. More often than not, the element for your body type, for your personality, and for your year of birth do not match.
Compass Schools of Feng Shui are mainly concerned with the element of your year of birth, and that is why they heavily rely on astrology and numerology. My school, the Nine Steps to Feng Shui® System, is concerned only with personality types, because it is your personality type that determines the unique ways in which you can make yourself and your family happy — or miserable.
Understanding your own personality type, and the types of your family members, can aid immensely in the creation of family harmony.
Water Personality Type
Water personality types care a lot about flow. The worst thing that can happen to them is to get stuck, at work, in a relationship, or in anything else that they consider important. They love research, and can hardly resist a mystery. They like making money, and love doing things that will generate more money. They like having money at hand, because money means possibilities and purchasing power. Feeling free is very important to them. Their downfall is fear.
Wood Personality Type
Wood personality types can be extremely hard working. They are concerned about productivity and investments. They are always coming up with projects to work on at home, and assign family members to help, whether they like it or not. They like being outdoors but only as long as they are doing something that involves work. For example, they will spend a long time working on the yard, but they find it very hard to just lie in a hammock and enjoy a beautiful day. Feeling useful is very important to them. Their downfall is indecision, when they can’t make decisions they easily get angry.
Fire Personality Type
Fire personality types are very sociable and like to meet new people. They love social engagements and connecting people with other people or with the resources they need. They are warm, friendly, the life of the party. They know a lot of people but struggle to connect with people one-on-one. They love to make grand plans and start projects enthusiastically, but get dejected easily when they find obstacles. Connection is what they live for. Their downfall is boredom, which can turn into apathy.
Earth Personality Type
Earth personality types want to be the center of their world, not to keep the attention on themselves, but to be of service. They express love by being thoughtful, so they have a lot of attention to detail. They are always aware of the needs of the people around them and they love to provide nurturing. They are constantly thinking about how to improve the lives of their family and friends. They tend to forget themselves and disregard their own needs and desires. They are quick to resent anyone who refuses their help, or who does not want to let them in. Their downfall are worries.
Metal Personality Type
Metal personality types tend to be very grounded (after all, metals are extracted from within the earth), but they crave spirituality. Finding the truth in all things is very important to them. They welcome the rules that come with faith or religious practice. They like to live and do things “by the book.” They demand that other people follow the rules, but they tend to be more lenient with themselves. When they break the rules, they feel anxious, and when the swing goes back (from what they believe is sinful behavior) they can easily become dogmatic and rigid. They want to do “the right thing.” Their downfall is living in the past.
