The central characteristic of wood is growth. In Chinese Medicine, the related organs are the Liver and Gall Bladder. Energetically, the Liver smooths the flow of Qi and thus allows one to create and execute change. The Gall Bladder is necessary for the change to occur, as it is the organ responsible for making decisions.
The emotional and intellectual aspects of Wood can be understood by examining a plant. Starting out as a tiny seedling, it grows and expands and its roots stretch further out. Over time, it needs more space, and thus begins to encroach on the space and feed on nutrients of the neighboring plant. This process stirs up competition and conflict. The stronger plant will overgrow the weaker one, and the plant most suited or most adaptable will survive.
The skill to be adaptable can transfer into the intellectual level related to Wood, which has to do with ingenuity, inventiveness, the willingness to deal with something
totally new. On an emotional level, Wood is represented by the spirit of a pioneer for which one needs to be brave and trust one's own abilities and power. This person is a leader, and leadership serves the community to grow and to expand.
Anger is an integral aspect of the Wood element. Anger erupts most commonly as a result of two circumstances. First, if an individual violates one's boundaries, attacks one verbally or physically, one will become angry and defensive. The second circumstance that commonly arouses anger is if someone or something stands in one's way, thus hindering one's progress or expansion.
When in balance, Wood type personalities are like knights in shining armor: brave, gallant, strong, and always on a mission. When out of balance, they can have a lot of wrath.
