Q & A: Seashells

Q. I just have a quick question.  I have read The Western Guide to Feng Shui and have tried to implement it around my house.  My only problem is that I have a couple of favorite items and I don’t know where they belong in the element table.  I’ve been collecting shells and sand from overseas beach visits.  Does the sand belong to the Earth or Metal element and do the shells belong to the Fire, Metal or Water element….or am I totally confusing myself? lol  Thanks for your help!! —Kelly B.

A. Shells and sand…..mmmmmmmmmmmm……. hot sun, cool ocean breeze, the hypnotic rhythm of the waves. That liquid tickle of the sea foam washing over my bare feet as they sink into the squishy sand……oh, excuse me, I wandered away to the delicious images that those items invoke for me!

So, sand–used to be rock (Metal), now pulverized into a medium that can grow plants (Earth), often an off-white color (Metal), but not always. Yellow/orange/brown tones (Earth), or black volcanic sand
(Water), or even gray (Metal again) exist as possible sand colors. Placed in a glass jar or vial for viewing (glass=Water). Shells–used to be homes for living sea creatures (Fire), now a skeleton turned dry and calcified like bones (Metal), very evocative of the ocean (Water), AND ALSO displaying the elements of their shape and color. A sand dollar=round and white (Metal), with a faint star shape
on it (Fire). A white and pink conch shell with its spiraling points=Metal and Fire. A shiny black cowry (Water), bright orange coral (Fire), etc.

We’re starting to collect a lot of Metal, Fire, Water and even Earth labels. I’m not seeing much Wood, unless we include dried sea weed, or some blue and green shells or sea glass in the display. If we did that, we just might have a lovely 5 element “oasis” to evoke all the mystery and relaxed delight of the ocean environment. Mmmmmmm…..salty taste on lips, fragrant sun screen on shoulders, a
cool drink, a hammock under a palm, that low rhythm of the disssstant wavessss….zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

—Karen Carrasco, WSFS Presenter