What is your Five Element personality type?

You may be familiar with the five-element theory, according to which the elements of wood, fire,
earth, metal and water symbolize the five basic processes of nature, and represent the five qualities
of natural phenomena. Since were an integral part of nature, the five-element theory applies to us
as well to our health, personality, potential, and life challenges.
Identifying your five-element type, whether youre a wood type or a water type, for example, can
help you understand your inherent drives, desires and tendencies, your gifts and powers, as well
your limitations. Its not meant to put a label on your personality, but rather to serve as a tool for
self-awareness, self-understanding and self-mastery.
There are five archetypal personalities associated with each element: Pioneer for Wood, Wizard
for Fire, Peacemaker for Earth, Alchemist for Meta, and Philosopher for Water.
Ill briefly describe each archetype below. Check it out and see which type resonates with your
understanding of who you are.
The Pioneer (Wood Archetype)
Youre bold, driven, confident, ambitious, assertive, decisive and competitive. Youre also likely to
be committed, focused, and determined. You love action and adventure, and perform well under
pressure. Curious about the uncharted territory, youre eager to innovate, reform and revolutionize.
Metamorphosis is your organizing principle, and action compels you.
On the other hand, you have a tendency to overdo, over-perform and over-direct. When you push
yourself too far and spread yourself too thin, you may have a tendency to either discharge the pentup energy thorough emotional outbursts, overindulgence, erratic and compulsive behaviors, or
become overwhelmed, uptight and exhausted.
Physically, the wood archetype may develop headaches, cramps and muscle spasms, high blood
pressure, nerve inflammations, and migratory pain.
If you are a wood archetype, you may need to watch your tendency toward extremism. Give
yourself permission to rest and relax, and establish some level of regularity and stability in life, such
as regular diet, sleep and exercise. Itll help you go the distance, and enjoy your adventure even
more.
The Wizard (Fire Archetype)
Youre lively, intuitive, communicative, charismatic, optimistic, and enthusiastic. Youre also likely
to be devoted, tender and empathetic. A natural salesman, you believe in the power of charisma and
desire. You love sensation, drama, and sentiment, and you relish excitement and delight in intimacy.
Fusion and love are your organizing principles in life.
However, if your fire energy goes to the extreme, you may feel anxious and agitated. You may also
experience nervous exhaustion, or bizarre perceptions and sensations.
Physically, the fire archetype may develop cystitis, hot flashes, canker sores, hives, thirst, swollen
hands and feet, and insomnia.
If you are a fire archetype, you may consider tempering your excitement, conserving your energy,
and allowing yourself moments of quietness and solitude.

The Peacemaker (Earth Archetype)

Youre nurturing, attentive, considerate, supportive, agreeable, sympathetic and sociable. Youre
also likely to be relaxed and poised. You have a gift for establishing and sustaining relationships,
and the ability to nurture and promote our connectedness with each other and our world. Harmony,
togetherness and unification are your guiding principles.
When youre out of balance, you may overextend yourself in order to be all things to all people.
You may also doubt yourself and become worried and obsessed, or become meddling and
overprotective.
Physically, the earth archetype may develop lethargy, indigestion, unruly appetite, water retention,
and muscle tenderness.
If you are an earth archetype, you may consider balancing your devotion to relationships with
solitude and self-expression, and strive to develop self-reliance while building relationships and
community.
The Alchemist (Metal Archetype)
Youre reserved, disciplined, discerning, scrupulous, methodical and honorable. Youre also likely
to be calm and neat. You like definition, structure and system, and respect virtue, discretion and
authority. You seek to live according to reason and principle and hold yourself and others to the
highest standards. Seeking the perfection of form and function, transmutation is your guiding
principle.
When youre out of balance, you tend to become autocratic, strict, formal, distant and unnatural. Or
you may become indifferent and inhibited. You may also have a tendency for self-righteousness and
disillusionment.
Physically, the metal archetype may develop stiff joints and muscles, dry skin and hair, shallow
breathing, a sensitive to climate, and poor circulation.
If you are a metal archetype, you may consider balancing your rationality, self-control and
meticulousness with passion, spontaneity and social involvement.
The Philosopher (Water Archetype)
Youre candid, introspective, ingenious, curious, sensible, and objective. You are also likely to be
modest, careful, thrifty, self-contained and self-sufficient. You yearn for meaning that transcends the
daily existence. Revelation propels you, and a relentless quest for truth is your motivational force in
life.
However, if your tenacity, prudence, introspection and solitary independence go to the extreme, you
may become emotionally inaccessible and undemonstrative, or tactless, unforgiving and suspicious.
You may also cut yourself off from the warmth of human bonding, and suffer from isolation and
loneliness.
Physically, the water archetype may develop hardening of the arteries, deterioration of teeth and
gums, backache, chilliness or loss of libido.
If you are a water archetype, you may consider balancing your introspection, self-sufficiency and
independence with tenderness, openness, social contact and bonding.

So which archetype resonates with you?

Again, the five archetypes are meant to be a tool for self-understanding. They are not cast in stone.
You may find that your archetype changes according to seasons or at different stages of your life.