By Kate Downes, LAc TCM Practitioner
Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on the philosophy that all things in life are connected, and that our bodies are simply a microcosm of the world we live in. Just as our natural environment balances the five elements, we, too, balance these elements in our emotional and physical health.
When it comes to the Chinese Zodiac, these elements help further define the personality and health traits of each birth year.
Along with the traditional twelve zodiac animals (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, or pig), your birth year is also associated with one of the five elements (water, wood, fire, earth, metal). For example, you may be a Metal Ox, a Fire Pig, or an Earth Rooster! Want to find out what element your birth year belongs to? Take the quiz here.
Now, let’s make a New Year’s resolution that helps you tap into and balance your birth year element with one of our five element-inspired resolutions!
💧Water: Resolve to Express Yourself
Water Years end in 2 or 3: 1972, 1973, 1982, 1983, 1992, 1993, 2002, 2003, 2012, 2013
Like water itself, the water element is deep and reflective. Those born in a water year may therefore be introverted, quiet, and thoughtful. This rich inner world offers a beautiful opportunity to create and breathe life into new ideas.
But for many water people, the fear of rejection and the urge to keep their feelings and thoughts hidden prevents them from sharing their gifts with the world. As a result, water types can easily feel isolated, depressed, and lusterless.
Self-Care Resolution for the Water Element: Tap into your creativity with art therapy in a calm environment.
Make a goal to practice a creative hobby once per day. But first, water types need a calm, still environment to feel comfortable enough to let their creativity (and emotions!) flow.
Create a home sanctuary where you are free to journal, draw, paint, sculpt, or do any other creative activity that helps you connect your inner and outer worlds. Make a cup of Celestial Sun Brew tea, get cozy with a comfy throw and turn on your favorite playlist. Give your mind a blank slate Species by the Thousands Energy Clearing Spray. Now you’re ready to create!
🪵Wood: Resolve to Get Grounded
Wood Years end in 4 or 5: 1974, 1975, 1984, 1985, 1994, 1995, 2004, 2005, 2014, 2015
The element of wood is powerful and ever-growing. People born in the wood years tend to be bright, mission-driven visionaries. You are always charging forward, growing your “roots” far and wide. But, this desire for constant expansion and achievement can leave you feeling burned out.
Self-Care Resolution for the Wood Element: De-stress each evening with a foot massage and meditation.
A foot massage helps bring any scattered energy inwards and downwards to help you connect to your roots, your intuition, and purpose. It helps you focus on one clear goal, rather than spread yourself too thin trying to achieve everything.
Use Pink Moon Midnight Melody Body & Hair Oil to ground deeper into your self-care ritual, release mental tension, and activate your intuition while listening to a guided grounding meditation.
🔥Fire: Resolve to Feel Cool, Calm, and Collected
Fire Years end in 6 or 7: 1976, 1977, 1986, 1987, 1996, 1997, 2006, 2007, 2016, 2017
The fire element is creative, passionate, and spontaneous. If you were born in a fire year, it’s a good chance you are the life of any party! When left unbalanced, however, all that fire can have you burning the candle at both ends - which leaves you anxious, sleepless, and with angry skin conditions.
Self-Care Resolution for the Fire Element: Balance your intensity with a cooling skincare ritual.
If you were born in a fire year – or if you’re naturally a fire-type person – you may notice that your skin gets red, blotchy, or breaks out easily. In Chinese medicine, we call this “fire rising.” You are blessed with passion, but to stay balanced, all that heat needs somewhere to go. Like fire it rises up and can affect the head and face.
This year, focus your self-care ritual on habits that help you feel cool, calm, and collected. Start with a cooling skincare ritual using Once in a Pink Moon Cancer Cleanser.
Last but not least, stay hydrated! Fire needs water for a healthy balance – and your skin needs water to look its best. Between glasses of water, sip on Pink Moon Celestial Sun Brew Rose Blend to keep breakouts and redness at bay.
🌎Earth: Resolve to Nurture YOU
Earth Years end in 8 or 9: 1978, 1979, 1988, 1989, 1998, 1999, 2008, 2009, 2018, 2019
Like the ground below our feet, the earth element gives us stability. Earth element people do the same, acting as the people-loving peace-keepers, helpers, and caregivers that hold us together. Many earth-type people struggle to keep to a regular self-care ritual because they are so focused on helping others that their needs slide. Not this year!
Self-Care Resolution for the Earth Element: Dedicate 30-60 minutes to yourself each morning.
Waking up early isn’t often easy for earth types as they love to lounge and move carefully through their day. But in this case, waking up a little early to give yourself some well-deserved self-care will restore your energy, not deplete it.
Pledge to honor yourself for the first 30-60 minutes of every day. Starting the day with a self-care ritual not only supports your needs, but helps you help others.
A great morning habit for earth types is a full-body gua sha ritual. Using Pink Moon’s Head-to-Toe Gua Sha Set, you’ll stimulate acupuncture channels along your entire body to improve your circulation, energy, and mood.
⛓Metal: Resolve to Embrace Flexibility
Metal Years end in 0 or 1: 1970, 1971, 1980, 1981, 1990, 1991, 2000, 2001, 2010, 2011, 2020
The metal element is strong and steadfast. Those born in metal years, or with a metal constitution, embrace this energy with a get-it-done mentality and minimalist tendencies. They are loyal and protective, ready to stand up for their loved ones at a moment’s notice.
But, with this strength can come rigidity. Too much rigidity can leave Metal types with issues like muscle tension, sinus and lung issues, and dry skin. There is balance in breaking the rules and bending a little, so let’s embrace that this year!
Self-Care Resolution for the Metal Element: Breathe and bend with daily yoga.
Metal types can balance their rigid nature with a daily yoga ritual. Try flexibility-focused styles like Ashtanga or Vinyasa. Mix in Yin Yoga to release deep-seated tension and embrace your softer side. And don’t forget to breathe! The metal element is most closely associated with the Lung organ system, and metal types benefit greatly from daily breathing exercises.
Lighten up your yoga practice – and your entire day – with Sweet Sunshine Perfume Oil, dabbed behind the ears and where your shoulder meets your collarbones to access the Lung/metal acupuncture channel.
To tackle the dry skin that often troubles metal types, use the deeply hydrating Once in a Pink Moon Capricorn Moisturizer.
Want to learn more self-care tips and rituals? Follow Pink Moon on Instagram @pinkmoon and subscribe to The Journal!
