Consider an oak tree and its early manifestation, the acorn. In the autumn, leaves and acorns fall to the earth and some acorns become buried. During the winter the acorn, the seed, lies dormant in the ground. In response to the increasing yang of warmth and light in springtime, the acorn begins to sprout. At this stage, the acorn has a plan within it. It is destined to be an oak or nothing at all. The young plant grows and encounters impediments such as rocks or nearby trees which frustrate it. It does not back off and consider giving up. It pushes upward but it is also prepared to change shape in order to maximize its growth.

People also begin life with an internal map or plan as to their capability and direction. They strive to become their own form of tree and they encounter obstacles and frustrations along the way. Depending upon the nature of their Wood, they may show flexibility in the face of these obstacles, thereby continuing to grow and develop. Alternatively they may have difficulty adapting and consequently become stuck. Like trees, people also require certain resources to fulfill their potential and they also require flexibility in order to adapt to changing circumstances.