Five Elements Theory is the genius of Chinese masters from the early Han Dynasty. The intellects of the time looked near-to their immediate environment and looked far-into the cosmos to find out the best, healthiest way to live. They wanted to know to relate the mysterious, internal workings of the body to that of the natural world.
Using a keen eye, and very importantly coming from a position of respect for the natural world, they simply observed the patterns found in Nature. After gaining an intimate understanding of natural cycles, this knowledge was incorporated into a multi-dimensional guide for healthy living.
Ancient observers craftily grouped natural phenomena into five categories- Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. All of these elements exist within us, and throughout nature, ensuring that humanity and the natural world constantly mirror and reflect each other. The natural phenomena comprising the Five Elements Theory are observable, palpable and available for anyone to screen through the five senses.
Every element rules a season and corresponds to different categories of things such as internal organs, sounds, tastes, and meteorological factors, to name a few. This gives us concrete information on how to read our own energy, and provides a framework by which to operate by.
The seasonal time of the Earth Element Season equates with late summer, roughly the end of August through September or mid-October. It is also known as the Harvest season, the time when mature crops are gathered, sorted and stored. This time of year is associated with abundance, nourishment and hard work. Yet there is time to pause, reflect and gain some footing after the carefree, reckless days of summer.
From the Earth we receive the bounty of her fruits growing wild in nature or, if we’ve worked hard tending our fields, Gaia offers up her promised share from the fertile ground. Her generosity is large and she yields enough sustenance and nourishing food for us to make it through the winter.
Now it’s up to the family, and the community, to cooperate and organize themselves properly in order to make best use of the cornucopia. There’s time to evaluate the people in your care and make sure there are enough resources to meet everyone’s needs in the year ahead. Not only does this require clear thinking and planning, but just as importantly, a compassionate nature that genuinely feels concern about the welfare of others. This is an opportunity to let our higher virtues of empathy, cooperation and altruism come pouring out.
Although strong muscles and hearty efforts are needed at Harvest time, it marks a relatively stable period. Plants and crops have reached their full height, all that’s left is to collect them. At this time of plenty we keep a sobering thought- the daylight hours so generously gracing the earth all summer have noticeably begun to wane.
The time of Summer yang mellows and the slower, cooler pace of Earth yin settles in. There is more time for reflecting and ruminating. The pace of life slows and the endless excitement of summer, characterized by the Fire Season, tenderizes into a more gentle rhythm of life.
Experiences of the late spring and early summer can finally be digested in a thoughtful, ruminative and soulful way. It is now possible to create balance and stability for ourselves. This is in preparation for autumn with the Metal Season, when we actively eliminate what is not necessary for survival. And then for winter with the Water Season, when our willpower needs to be at its peak of strength, since our souls are apt to be heavily tested.
Earth Season provides the nourishment essential to build our physical and psychic strength. This perfectly explains why Earth rules over the stomach and the spleen. The job of the stomach is to receive the ingested food (bolus) and then to ‘rotten and ripen’ it. This is the process of fermentation, where enzymes and acids slosh together with the food, in order to break it down.
Next up is the spleen, using its magic to transform the chyme (the liquidated food from the stomach) into essence, aka nutrients. After extracting the nutrition, the spleen then transports the precious substances to various parts of the body. The joy of Earth lies in delivering essence where it’s needed most.
Each of the Five Elements represent a yin organ with a special function- housing a specific aspect of the human psyche. These aspects relate to the psychological and spiritual sides of our consciousness. The spleen is home to the Yi, which translates as Intellect. This gives us the ability to reason, engage in logical thinking processes, and understand abstract matters.
Sometimes it is easy to lose touch with these delicate, lighter facets of ourselves. When this happens it is our physical bodies, thoughts and emotions which can act as guides, raising the subconscious into the light of our consciousness. A lack of mental clarity, a weary soul and a sluggish digestive system can all indicate a struggling Yi, which can be addressed by working with the Earth Element.
Yi is the reason why we can learn, study, concentrate and memorize. The danger here is overthinking, which leads to worry and mental burnout. When thoughts endlessly take a ride on the merry-go-round, with no resolution or ending to them, anxiety can slither its cold tentacles into our mind.
The Earth Element teaches us to maintain a delicate balance between logical, reasonable thinking and the messages sent by the heart. Empathy and the desire to nurture ourselves, or others, tenderize the raw logic that Yi must process. The end result is the intelligence to take right action blended with a compassionate intent.
Dampness, the enemy of the spleen, interferes with its healthy functioning. The cloying qualities of this pathogenic factor cause the spleen to struggle when breaking down complex components of food into more simple, easily digestible units. If you can imagine trying to send glue, cement mix or some thick substance through the digestive system you get the picture.
Lack of creativity, a dull mind and mental fatigue result when dampness gets out of control. The physical body also weakens, as nourishing blood and fluids can not freely circulate, causing Qi (energy) stagnation. When Qi can not flow freely, body pain and fatigue result. Use of the four limbs, the arms and legs, becomes labored due to weak muscles. The digestive system flounders causing bloating, gas, diarrhea and cramps.
During the Earth Element season, the focus is on what constitutes the highest form of nurturing. On a physical, earthly level this is the food we eat and the tangible things that bring us comfort. On a psychological level, this is the fellowship and love we share with others. Now is the time to ensure that our diets are healthy, we have what we need and we can form and maintain intimate bonds with those we care about.
On a psycho-spiritual level you can gage the state of your Yi by your ability to manifest. Note if you have any ideas, dreams or inspiration in general. Maybe you have plenty of ideas and goals but can’t seem to make any of them a reality. Perhaps there is some blockage inhibiting your imagination. The Yi is not able to transform experience into something valuable.
Observe if there are any correlations between the physical functioning of your digestive process and state of your mind. Excess thoughts, anxiety and constant worrying damage the whole of the Earth Element. Pain, bloating and gas indicate an inability to comfortably digest what you’ve just eaten. This is akin to not being able to digest life experiences without discomfort.
The season before Earth is Fire, so look back to the warmth, inspiration and joie de vivre this element so generously bestowed on us. A lack of joy or missing vitality may be the issue. In order to accelerate this process, access the wisdom of Earth and engage in calming activities that balance the mind.
Earth is a yin element, a time to condense, be still, gather your thoughts and engender feminine qualities such as compassion, cooperation and tenderness. You can attract what you need by reaching equilibrium. Yin activities include meditation, creative visualization, cooking, conversations with friends, and even daydreaming. The yin Earth element adores all wholesome activities that foster a quiet sense of satisfaction and joy.
Our state of health fluctuates and continually changes just as the seasons do. When we are out of sync with the rhythm of the Earth, we can feel it in our body, mind and soul. In the neverending cycle of one season turning into another, it is always the preceding Element which generates and supports the next.
Earth generates Metal (the following season) because many of the minerals found in the Earth’s crust contain metallic elements. Our fertile planet gives birth to gold, silver, copper and many other metals from deep within her bowels. When we support the body’s functions related to the Earth Element, this provides a stronger foundation for Metal. The Metal Element relates to the large intestine and the process of elimination, so nourishing your stomach and spleen during Earth Element Season will help your body detox and purify itself in the late fall.
Although the planets don’t revolve around the Earth, this Element holds a central role in our bodies just as the sun does for our solar system. The spleen and stomach represent our center, the middle of our being. These organs are so vital to our health that there’s even a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine dedicated to them, aptly named The Spleen School. Its premise is that the etiology of most diseases result from a damaged digestive system. If we are assimilating food properly it follows that we are properly nourished hence, there is no room for disease to fester.
It is very fitting then that the color associated with the Earth Element is the same color as our sun- yellow. This gives clues as to what foods are best eaten this time of year. Anything bearing amber, flaxen, lemony or golden hues will support the stomach and spleen. Lemons, yellow peppers, yellow tomatoes, golden beats, yellow beans, yellow lentils, butter, corn, turmeric and bananas are all foods to indulge in.
The taste of the Earth Element is sweet. Many fruits and vegetables reach maturity at this time, bursting with sweet flavor, ready for the plucking from vines, or literally falling off the trees. Other foods that build up the stomach and spleen also include those with the sugary taste such as sweet potato, yams, pumpkin, coconut milk, honey, pork and beef.
This is a testament to keep yourself feeling sweet as well. You can have all the love in the world but if you don’t love yourself then it isn’t worth a thing. Craving sweets can also be a sign that your Earth is out of balance. Lack of self-love manifests in some serious cravings for the candied, honeyed delights. If dessert is a must, try adding more of the wholesome foods listed above, into your daily diet.
Not surprisingly the sense organ associated with Earth is the mouth. The outside orifice with which to receive food and drink, and literally taste our world. The vehicle by which we communicate and form bonds with others. The place of intimacy, shared kisses of passion or gentle pecks on the cheeks as a way of greeting someone.
The mouth is also where music flows from, linking the Earth to the sound of singing. A beautiful song is one of the most pleasant sounds the ear can take in. This singsong type of voice is attractive and puts people at ease. It suggests the person has a comfort and sense of belonging on this good Earth.
Late summer asks for energy to return to its core. Spring and early summer embody active, hot yang energy, with an emphasis on doing. As yang transforms into yin, energy now turns inward, going back to its foundation, for a review, and for a rest. There’s time to correct imbalances of the heart, by examining the ways we give and receive, to appraise our physical condition and make adjustments in our diet.
