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.