The creative and destructive cycle
The creative cycle is the outside circle following the arrows and the destructive cycle is the star in the center following the arrows. There is nothing mystical about the cycles and there is no secret hidden knowledge. All the information is presented to us if we are willing to open our eyes and pay attention. The cycles are nothing more than an illustration of checks and balances. Do not take each element in the literal sense, but more like a descriptive sense.
Fire which is at the top of the diagram, creates earth but destroys metal.
Think of it as fire melting metal.
Earth in the 2 o'clock position, creates metal but destroys water. Think
of it as earth is used to damn water.
Metal in the 5 o'clock position, creates water but destroys wood. Think of
it as an axe cuts wood.
Water in the 7 o'clock position, Creates wood but destroys fire. Think of
it as, well water puts out fire, right.
Wood in the 10 o'clock position, creates fire but destroys earth. Think of
it as the roots of a tree penetrating the earth.
If you look at the cycles from the perspective of the childhood game, rock, paper, scissors it is easy to quickly know what creates or destroys what.