ROLE OF FIVE ELEMENTS IN SYMBOLOGY

Symbology is a term given to the skill/art of design yet definitely not limited to this. Symbologically, a design

contains more than you casually observe in it at the first glance. This divine science becomes fruitful when

applied as per nature and cosmos policies incorporate “balance” as a star marked condition. Symbology together

with the balance of nature brings about fortune & abundance. The proven trick has been used by ancient people

with an end goal to achieve balance and harmony within their premises, be it private, commercial, religious,

social or so. This way, they successfully made their premises a device that catches positive and auspicious

energies merely.

Balance & harmony are the essential ingredients of an inspirational life, a life others wish to have. The same

rule applies to the logo design. Balance & harmony are possible to be fetched through maintaining a balance of

Shiv & Shakti elements in the design the company is supposed to wear. To the common people, a design may

appear as an ordinary arrangement of shapes, lines and colours. In reality, all the shapes, lines, and colours used

to form a design are classified under Shiv & Shakti (mescaline & feminine) elements. The positive and negative

effects of said elements depend upon their compatibility with nature plus elements of the person/owner using or

is about to use them by means of a design. Refer to table 2.1 to understand the element of people depending on

their time of birth.

Element Birth Time

Wood 11 pm to 3 am

Fire 3 am to 7 am

Earth 7 am to 11 am

Gold 11 am to 3 pm

Water 3 pm to 11 pm

Prior to understanding the nature of different shapes and colours, we will talk about the relationship between

birth elements and directions. This study is to determine the proper direction to place the logo and hanging the

company signboard as a launch of luck. Refer to table 2.2 to understand element & direction relationship.

Element Direction
 Wood North

Fire East

Earth South-east

Gold South

Water West

BALANCE & HARMONY WITHIN LOGOS

In ancient times, people used to give preference to the balance of five elements. Considering it the only target,

they used to maintain this balance in almost everything, be it the body, food, buildings, culture, and so. The

fundamental of balance & harmony grounds the theory of the balance of Shiv & Shakti elements and the five

essential elements viz. Gold, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth.

The man indeed benefits from the balance of Shiv & Shakti elements and no doubt need to be entertained in the

context of this proven & deep-rooted science. Virtually, the human is also a creation of nature so anything man-

made is eventually linked to nature only. Everything natural or man-made requires balance & harmony to be

synchronized with the working of nature. Using symbols & designs is an apt practice to deal with the subtle

energies of nature. Good looking symbols not only grace the home decor or interiors of buildings but supports

all sorts of professional dealings as well.

The Five Elements of Symbology

The five elements (Gold, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth) are naturally drawn in everything from beneath the earth

to beyond the blue. Medical science has also acknowledged the significance of the five elements in the healing

course. You pay attention or not, but these five elements naturally manifest themselves in near to everything and

symbols are the clear & easy evidence of their manifestation.

Compatibility of Elements

All the five elements are integrated and associated with each other either in a positive & productive manner or in

a negative & unproductive manner. In design, five elements are present in the guise of shapes, thus the shapes

being used in the logo should be with reference to the compatibility of the elements. Refer Table 2.2 to

understand the compatibility and nature of the elements.

 NEED ELEMENT & SHAPE IMAGE HERE

Element Shape Colour Number Compatible Shape Colour Number

Element

Gold Round | White 9 Water Zigzag Black 6

Oblong

Wood Rectangle Green 8 Fire Triangle Red 7

Water Zigzag Black 6 Wood Rectangle Green 8

Fire Triangle | Red 7 Earth Square Yellow 5

Conical |
Pyramid
Earth Square Yellow 5 Gold Round White 9

As said in the previous chapter, pairing two elements is like connecting two electrical wires, if connected

correctly, they will produce light, if connected incorrectly; they will produce an electric shock. One needs to

take care while pairing two elements and respective shapes to ensure positive results and avoid the negative

ones. Refer to table 2.3 to understand the compatible and incompatible elements for pairing.

Element Compatible Incompatible

Water Wood Fire

Wood Fire Earth

Fire Earth Gold

Earth Gold Water

Gold Water Wood

However, it is not necessary that only two elements can be used in a design. A trio of elements is also possible

to be used in a design provided they are compatible with each other. Refer to table 2.4 to understand the

compatibility and combination of three elements.

- Gold, Water, Wood

 - Gold, Earth, Fire

- Gold, Water, Water

- Gold, Gold, Water

- Wood, Wood, Fire

- Wood, fire, earth

- Wood, water, gold

- Wood, fire, fire

- Water, water, wood

- Water, wood, wood

- Water, wood, fire

- Water, gold, earth

- Fire, wood, water

- Fire, earth, gold,

- Fire, earth, earth

- Fire, fire, earth

- Earth, gold, water

- Earth, fire, wood

- Earth, gold, gold

- Earth, earth, gold

The following drawings in figure 2.1 show the shapes of the various elements and their combinations as well as

the auspicious and inauspicious combinations.

1. Earth – The Square with four equal corners represents the earth element.

2. Gold – The enclosed circle represents the gold element.

3. Fire – This triangle with a flamed tip represents the fire element.

4. Wood – Extended/rectangular shapes represent the wood element.

5. Water – This wavy shape represents the water element.

6. Earth, Gold – Since the elements are compatible, this symbol is auspicious.
7. Gold, Gold – Since only one element is repeated twice, the symbol is average.

8. Fire, Gold – Since the elements clash, the symbol is inauspicious.

9. Gold, Wood – Since the elements clash, the symbol is inauspicious.

10. Gold, Water – Since the elements are compatible, the symbol is auspicious.

11. Fire, Earth – Since the elements are compatible, the symbol is auspicious.

12. Gold, Fire - Since the elements clash, the symbol is inauspicious.

13. Fire, Fire – Since one element is used twice, the symbol is average.

14. Fire, Wood – The symbol involves neutral elements.

15. Water, Fire - Since the elements clash, the symbol is inauspicious.

16. Wood, Earth - Since the elements clash, the symbol is inauspicious.

17. Wood, Gold – This is an average symbol.

18. Wood, Fire – This is an auspicious and harmonious sign.

19. Wood, Wood – Since one element is involved, the symbol is average.

20. Wood, Water – Since the elements are in harmony, the symbol is auspicious.

21. Earth, Water - Since the elements clash, the symbol is inauspicious.

22. Earth, Gold, Water – The symbol represents a harmonious combination is elements.

23. Gold, Earth, Fire – The combination of three is inauspicious.

24. Fire, Fire, Earth – The elements successfully maintain harmony.

25. Wood, Fire, Earth – The symbol is auspicious.

26. Earth, Gold, Water - The symbol is auspicious.

27. Earth, Earth, Gold – The elements successfully maintain harmony.

 28. Wood, Water, Gold – This is a good combination of elements.

29. Fire, Earth, Earth – The elements successfully maintain harmony.

30. Wood, Fire, Fire – All the elements are compatible.

31. Wood, Wood, Fire – The combination of involved elements is auspicious.

Hitherto, we have learnt about some single and combinations of elements used to compose an auspicious design.

However, sometimes the business doesn’t grow even after adopting a logo sign made up of all auspicious

combinations. This is because an auspicious logo not suits all sorts of businesses and organizations in a likely

manner. If a design is auspicious for one business then it may be inauspicious for another. The five elements in a

design should be used considering the type of business it is ought to be used for. Refer to table 2.3 to understand

the element & business relationship.

Elements Respective Business

Gold Government Sectors and Justice offices

Wood Arts, Agriculture Businesses, and Designers’ Studios

Water Labour, maid agencies.

Fire Fast food outlets and manpower consultancies

Earth Financial centres, shares, banks, security brokers

For the medical industry, five elements can be used considering their connection with the five internal organs.

Refer to table 2.4 to understand the element & organs relationship.

Elements Organs

Gold Lungs

Wood Liver

Water Kidney

Fire Heart

Earth Spleen
The five elements are compatible with certain numbers. Each element has a number compatible with it. Refer

table 2.5 to understand the compatibility between element & numbers.

Element Number Compatible Elements Numbers

Gold 9 Water & Wood 6&8

Wood 8 Wood & Fire 8&7

Water 6 Fire & Earth 7&5

Fire 7 Earth & Gold 5&9

Earth 5 Gold & Water 9&6

THE SHIV & SHAKTI ENERGIES IN LOGO DESIGN

Shiv & Shakti are two primordial subtle energies of the universe. Shiv is the source of masculine power where

Shakti is the source of feminine power. Since the universe is crammed with masculine and feminine power, all

the natural and man-made things also come under their suzerainty. As per an ancient belief, anything maintains

a perfect balance of Shiv & Shakti elements within yields positive and remarkable results for sure. Refer figure

2.2 to see some perfect logo examples maintains a balance of Shiv & Shakti elements.

(a) (d)

(b) (e)

(c)

Figure 2.2
THE SHIV & SHAKTI ELEMENTS IN ALPHABETS

Akin to anything else, alphabets also contain masculine and feminine power. The letters with an even number

represent Shakti element and the letters with odd number represent Shiv element. Refer to table 2.6 to

understand the letters come under masculine and feminine elements.

Shiv Shakti

Cc Aa

Bb

Dd

e E

F f

G g

H h

I i

Kk Jj

Ll N

Mm Pp

N Qq

Oo r

R Tt

Ss Uu

Vv Ww

Xx

Zz Yy

The table delivers jagged information on masculine and feminine letters because the element a letter comes

under depends on its writing style. For instance, the letter “O” is masculine as per the given table but if we graph

it as “( )” or in a broken circle, it turns into the feminine. Similarly, ‘H’ is masculine but if we write it as ‘h’ it

becomes feminine. Figure 2.3

 Figure 2.3

The letters are the initials of a corporation thus are required to be placed maintaining a balance of masculine and

feminine energies while being used in logo design or trademarks. Figure 2.4 shows some perfect examples of

balanced letters used in logos. Alongside, it is required to verify the element of the letters, again for the sake of

balance. All the alphabets are classified under the five elements. Refer to table 2.7 to understand the letter &

element relation.

Gold Wood Water Fire Earth

c g b d a

q k f j w

r h l y

s m n e

x p t o

z z i

Also, the letters used in a logo design as per their associated element must be compatible, for example, water &

wood, wood & fire, fire & earth, earth & gold, and gold & water. Similarly, an auspicious combination of

alphabets is b and g, k and d, j and a, w and q, and r and m. The combination of alphabets comes under the

element combination earth & water, water & fire, fire & gold, gold & wood, and wood & earth is not so

auspicious. Hence, do not combine the letter b, f, h, m or p with d, j, l, n, t or z. Figure 2.4

 (a) (c)

P and H are both of Water Element. C is Gold, D is Fire and O is Earth. The combination of
Gold, Earth, Fire is auspicious.

(d)
(b)
E is Earth and L is Fire. Fire and Earth are compatible.
D is of Fire Element and it is compatible with Y (Earth).

Figure 2.4

AUSPICIOUS MEASUREMENTS FOR LOGOS & SIGNBOARDS

As per ancient belief, the size of the logos and signboards also prove auspicious and inauspicious for the

company. Units of measurements are even, come under feminine band where the uneven units come under the

masculine band. Refer to table 2.8 that include some auspicious units of measurement in centimetres.

Masculine Feminine

3 2

17 16

19 18

21 20

23 22

39 38

41 40

47 42
61 28

67 62

69 86

81 88

89 100

125 108

145 128

147 146