THE HOLISTIC CONVERSATION with Tisha Morris
Not only does beauty run skin deep, it also reveals a lot about your personality. The ancient art of Chinese Face Reading has been used for thousands of years and reveals a lot more about your face than you might think. Chinese Face Reading was originally used for the purpose of making medical diagnoses and still used by Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners.
Each facial feature is associated with one of the Five Elements. The Five Elements are the cornerstone of Chinese Medicine and Feng Shui, of which both your home and body are a composition. We are each predominant in one or two of the elements and this reveals your personality, strengths, and challenges. The more prominent that feature is on your face, the more indicative of your embodying that element.
And if you’re wondering if cosmetic facial treatments and alterations can change your personality, the answer is yes. We have the power to change ourselves and become who we want at any time.
The following are some of the key facial features associated with each of the element types.
Wood Facial Features:
- Thick, strong eyebrows
- Protruding brow bone
- Indented temples
- Prominent or well-defined jaw
- Tall and lanky body type – or short and compact
Fire Facial Features:
- Sparkling eyes, “light” in the eyes
- Red and/or curly hair, spiky or extreme hairstyles, balding on top of the head
- Easy smile and laugh
- Slim hips
- Pink flush to complexion, freckles
- Dimples
- Pointed tops of mouth, nose, ears, eyes, and/or eyebrows
Earth Facial Features:
- Round face
- Roundness to the body, especially the stomach
- Generous mouth in comparison to rest of features
- Full lips
- Full and/or softly rounded lower cheeks
- Large breasts in women; large muscles in men
- Thick calves
Metal Facial Features:
- Large nose
- Prominent upper cheeks
- Wide spaces between features
- Fine bone structure, small wrists and ankles
- Graceful, regal bearing
- Hypermetabolism, tend to be slim
- Pale complexion for racial heritage
Water Facial Features:
- Broad or high, domed forehead
- Distinct shadowing above and/or below the eyes; dreamy, mysterious-looking eyes
- Well-defined philtrum
- Strong, prominent chin
- Large ears and/or earlobes
- Large hips and/or slight plumpness or softness to the face and body, with no sharp features
- Large, strong bones (thick wrists and ankles), healthy teeth
- Thick or wavy lustrous hair
- Black undertone to complexion
Now that you’re seeing your face in a new light, what does it say about you? Below is a snapshot of each of the elemental characteristics as they pertain to people. You may recognize yourself by looking in the mirror or by reading the following personality descriptions.
Wood Element – Wood Element people are the leaders, inventors, seekers, and visionaries. They will take the lead in groups and take action steps to create movement in projects. They can easily vacillate between being introverted and extroverted depending on what a situation calls for. When movement in projects or relationships stalls, the Wood element is quick to become frustrated. Wood elements keep things in forward motion and their challenge is to know when to contract their energy or take a step back in order for real expansion to occur.
Fire Element – Fire Element people are high energy and generally extroverted. They are often the life of the party and enjoy life. Similar to a flame, they create the highest expression of energy in the form of enthusiasm and passion. Fire elements provide the fuel in projects in order that they manifest in its highest and truest form. When out of balance, the Fire element can become burnt out. Its energy can easily scatter in too many areas without proper focus, which can lead to anxiety.
Earth Element – Earth Element people are the grounding force that keeps the status quo maintained so that change doesn’t happen too quickly. They are highly supportive people that bring harmony to groups and help maintain the peace. They go out of their way to not ruffle feathers. They do not like change and can become controlling if taken to the extreme. Worry is their default emotion, especially when something seems out of their control that could lead to possible change.
Metal Element – Metal Element people are natural organizers and keep things in check and on schedule. They make great accountants, engineers, scientists, editors, architects, personal assistants, and professional organizers. They are detail-oriented, focused, and love an orderly environment with even their storage items labeled appropriately. They tend to cut to the chase in conversation without the need for embellishments. Their imbalance can show up as being obsessive, perfectionist, or overly rigid in their mindsets. They tend to have tunnel vision without the ability to see a bigger picture.
Water Element – Water Element people are quiet and typically introverted, and yet so unassuming. They hold a quiet strength. They may seem fragile at times, but they are anything but. All creation is born from water and those of the Water Element are no exception. They are deeply creative, contemplative, and introspective. When out of balance, Water elements can become withdrawn and aloof. They tend to keep their emotions close to them and process slowly before taking action.
Tisha Morris is the best-selling author of Decorating With the Five Elements of Feng Shui (Llewellyn 2015), Mind Body Home: Transform Your Life One Room at a Time (Llewellyn 2012), Feng Shui Your Life: The Quick Guide to DeclutteringYour Home and Renewing Your Life (Turner Publishing 2010). Tisha is based in Los Angeles where she works with homes and business and facilitates trainings. To learn more, visit Earth Home with Tisha Morris.
