Quick answer
BaZi describes everything through five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. They feed and control each other in two cycles. How balanced they are in your birth chart describes your temperament and timing.
The producing cycle
Wood feeds Fire, Fire creates Earth (ash), Earth produces Metal, Metal carries Water, and Water nourishes Wood.
The controlling cycle
Wood parts Earth, Earth dams Water, Water puts out Fire, Fire melts Metal, and Metal cuts Wood.
What each element stands for
- Wood: growth, kindness, planning
- Fire: warmth, expression, visibility
- Earth: stability, trust, care
- Metal: structure, justice, decisiveness
- Water: wisdom, flow, adaptability
Balance in your chart
Few charts are perfectly balanced. An element you have too much of can show up as an overdone trait. A missing one can show up as a gap. Your favourable element is the one that brings your chart closer to balance.
Questions
Does a missing element mean bad luck?
No. It's a clue to what supports you, and it often arrives through your luck cycles or your surroundings.
Is this the same as the zodiac element?
The element of your birth year is only one of eight in your chart.
See your own chart
Start with your Four Pillars.
See your chart, then read it in full in The Comprehensive BaZi Report.