We offer this guide to help you choose the
color for your meditation seat.
Asian philosophy recognizes five elements:
wood, earth, metal, fire, and water. The elements can also be associated
with different colors, emotion, taste, voice and various organs. We've
researched some of the personality traits, connections, attributes and
emotions associated with each color’s element.
Green is associated with wood:
Wood-type people are kind, steady, sympathy-sharing, understanding and
gentle. Other words to describe them are pioneer, challenge, direct
competitive, arrogant, confrontational, impulsive, erratic, contrary, and
fickle. They often have difficulty with anger, equality, ambiguity and
intensity. The balanced wood personality is confident, assertive, bold,
ambitious, competitive, powerful, direct, committed, and decisive.
Yellow is associated with earth:
Earth-type people are trustful, steady, honest, trustworthy, loyal and
responsible. Words to describe them are peacemaker, nurturing , relaxed
sociable, considerate, poised, attentive, overprotective, meddlesome, inert,
conforming, overbearing, clinging, vacillating, and ingratiating. The often
have difficulty with change, disorientation, self-sacrifice efficiency and
independence. The balanced earth personality is nurturing, supportive,
relaxed, oriented, sociable, sympathetic, considerate, agreeable, poised,
and attentive.
White is associated with metal:
Metal reflects light, so it is shiny. It may have a clear sound when it's
hit. Metal type people have a large sense of honor. They like to spread
their fame. They are sensitive in grief and sadness. Words to describe them
include alchemist, methodical, scrupulous, neat, disciplined, precise,
reserved, ritualistic, stoical, indifferent, perfectionist, self-righteous,
dilettante, resigned, numb, compliant, and elusive. They have difficulty
with control, disappointment, emotional expression, intimacy and
spontaneity. The balanced metal personality is brave, disciplined, trained,
organized, authoritative, determined, routine, firm, resolute and has an
urge to win.
Red is associated with fire: Fire-type people are courteous,
eloquent, polite and expressive. Words to describe them include wizard,
lively, charismatic, aware, tender empathetic, alert, garrulous, seductive,
energetic, artistic, passionate, sentimental, mute, flirtatious, confused,
lost, and selfish. They have difficulty with pleasure and pain,
boundaries, the unknown, dreaming, and thinking.
Fire people are easily excitable, and have
a tendency to rapidly change emotional states as well as become aggressive.
They love sensation, drama and sentiment. They seek joy, gratification and
the attention of others. They like to be invited to a party and dislike
being alone. The balanced fire person excels at communication and is lively,
charismatic, optimistic, sanguine, aware, tender, empathetic, devoted,
enthusiastic, and alert. Theirs is the stereotypical artist's or performer's
personality. They bring passion and flair to what they do.
Dark blue is associated with water: Water-type people are
smart, wise, frank, and resourceful. They have good memories and think
before they leap. Words to describe them are philosopher, candid, modest,
objective, curious, ingenious, thrifty, sensible, lucid, blunt, reticent,
detached suspicious, covetous, cynical, sarcastic, critical, fussy,
pessimistic, and absentminded. They have difficulty with sociability. Water maintains its substance while effortlessly
changing its form and appearance to suit the situation. Water is adaptable.
When balanced, water types are candid, introspective, modest, watchful,
objective, curious, ingenious, careful, particular, thrifty, sensible, and
lucid.
Green is associated with wood:
Wood-type people are kind, steady, sympathy-sharing, understanding and
gentle. Other words to describe them are pioneer, challenge, direct
competitive, arrogant, confrontational, impulsive, erratic, contrary, and
fickle. They often have difficulty with anger, equality, ambiguity and
intensity. The balanced wood personality is confident, assertive, bold,
ambitious, competitive, powerful, direct, committed, and decisive.
Yellow is associated with earth:
Earth-type people are trustful, steady, honest, trustworthy, loyal and
responsible. Words to describe them are peacemaker, nurturing , relaxed
sociable, considerate, poised, attentive, overprotective, meddlesome, inert,
conforming, overbearing, clinging, vacillating, and ingratiating. The often
have difficulty with change, disorientation, self-sacrifice efficiency and
independence. The balanced earth personality is nurturing, supportive,
relaxed, oriented, sociable, sympathetic, considerate, agreeable, poised,
and attentive.
White is associated with metal:
Metal reflects light, so it is shiny. It may have a clear sound when it's
hit. Metal type people have a large sense of honor. They like to spread
their fame. They are sensitive in grief and sadness. Words to describe them
include alchemist, methodical, scrupulous, neat, disciplined, precise,
reserved, ritualistic, stoical, indifferent, perfectionist, self-righteous,
dilettante, resigned, numb, compliant, and elusive. They have difficulty
with control, disappointment, emotional expression, intimacy and
spontaneity. The balanced metal personality is brave, disciplined, trained,
organized, authoritative, determined, routine, firm, resolute and has an
urge to win. 
Red is associated with fire: Fire-type people are courteous,
eloquent, polite and expressive. Words to describe them include wizard,
lively, charismatic, aware, tender empathetic, alert, garrulous, seductive,
energetic, artistic, passionate, sentimental, mute, flirtatious, confused,
lost, and selfish. They have difficulty with pleasure and pain,
boundaries, the unknown, dreaming, and thinking.
Fire people are easily excitable, and have
a tendency to rapidly change emotional states as well as become aggressive.
They love sensation, drama and sentiment. They seek joy, gratification and
the attention of others. They like to be invited to a party and dislike
being alone. The balanced fire person excels at communication and is lively,
charismatic, optimistic, sanguine, aware, tender, empathetic, devoted,
enthusiastic, and alert. Theirs is the stereotypical artist's or performer's
personality. They bring passion and flair to what they do.
Dark blue is associated with water: Water-type people are
smart, wise, frank, and resourceful. They have good memories and think
before they leap. Words to describe them are philosopher, candid, modest,
objective, curious, ingenious, thrifty, sensible, lucid, blunt, reticent,
detached suspicious, covetous, cynical, sarcastic, critical, fussy,
pessimistic, and absentminded. They have difficulty with sociability. Water maintains its substance while effortlessly
changing its form and appearance to suit the situation. Water is adaptable.
When balanced, water types are candid, introspective, modest, watchful,
objective, curious, ingenious, careful, particular, thrifty, sensible, and
lucid.