The Law of the Five Elements
Our first blog was about winter and what happens in our bodies at this time of year. According to Oriental Medicine, the water element is activated in winter (the kidney and bladder are therefore activated) and that draws us deep inside to find our inner wisdom, and can also make us aware of our fears.
Looking at how the water element affects us is a part of oriental medicine that is referred to as The Law of the Five Elements.
According to ancient Chinese medicine found in the yellow emperor’s classic of Internal medicine, “there are five elements or energetic essences which compose nature and human beings. These five elements include: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water – which each element containing a particular quality, color, and season.” From the Tao of Sound by Maman and ??. For a really in depth understanding and explanation of the Law of Five Elements, see the Tao of Sound, The Tradition of Acupuncture: the Law of the Five Elements by Dianne M. Connelly, Ph.D., as well as The Story of the Five Elements by Terres Unsoeld – the latter of which is great for both kids and adults!
For now, here’s some more general explanation about the Law of the Five Elements from previously mentioned sources:
Wood creates Fire, Fire creates Earth, Earth creates Metal, Metal creates Water, Water creates Wood. In Nature, we see that Fire is produced by the burning of Wood; Wood is produced by the moisture and rain nourishing it; Metal as liquid is like Water and as a solid gives the formation of the mountains and beds in which rivulets flow; from the compression and center of the Earth, Metal is produced; from the ashes of Fire and the decomposition created by the sun, Earth is produced; from the forests of the land, Wood is taken to create Fire; from the Water of the Earth, the trees are irrigated and given life; from the Metal of the World come minerals composing Water; from the rocks of Earth are produced the life giving Earth. On and on the cycle passes from Element to Element in a process of continual creation. Each Element is produced by and produces another.
When each element is in balance, it empowers the next element in the outer circle along with its organs, meridians, and its qualities. As the planets and the sun move and the seasons change, so too does the elemental energy that is activated. Each change is an opportunity to learn more, strengthen, and grow.
In the inner star, imbalances that may exist in one element diminishes the element across from it (i.e. fire melts metal, metal chops wood, water puts out fire, etc.).
