Shotokan Karate and Martial Arts Articles by Aaron Hoopes Zen Yoga

UNDERSTANDING THE FIVE ELEMENTS

Originally Published in Qi Journal vol.14, No.2 - summer 2004

The principle of the five primal elements is deeply embedded in Chinese philosophy and culture. They are considered as not only the five properties inherent in all things but also the five processes involved in the natural cycle of the world. Everything in existence is considered to have a relationship with the five elements. They are constantly engaged in a process of mutual interaction and change.

Understanding the Five Elements is about recognizing the cycle of life and how it relates to your individuality and the experiences that make you who you are. The elements affect each other in a continuous process.

The elements:

WOOD

Wood represents growth. Its color is blue/green and is symbolized by the dragon. The Wood season is spring when plants are sprouting and new growth emerges. Its movement is toward increase. Wood is strong and rooted. People with strong Wood energy have clear goals. They are adept at making decisions and putting them into effect. People with weak Wood energy can fall under the control of anger and indecisiveness. The Wood element is related to the liver and the gall bladder. The liver stores blood, and regulates the smooth flow of Chi, while the gallbladder stores and excretes bile. Anger is the emotion that creates imbalance within the liver, while indecisiveness can affect the gallbladder.

Typical Wood traits include; a systematic thought process, high morality, inner confidence, cooperativeness, and an optimistic life view.

FIRE

Fire represents growth reaching its maximum potential. Its color is red and is symbolized by the phoenix. The Fire season is summer when everything is growing with abundance. Its movement is toward maximum increase. Fire is hot and bright. People with strong Fire energy are charismatic and enjoy leadership positions. They enjoy expressing their views. People with weak Fire energy are susceptible to anxiety and restlessness. The Fire element is related to the heart and small intestine. The heart manages overall circulation while the small intestine is responsible for separating digested food and drink into usable and unusable parts. Anxiety can cause hypertension and palpitations of the heart. Restlessness can lead to urinary problems.

Typical Fire traits include; decisiveness, confidence, intelligence, original thinking and a sense of adventure.

EARTH

Earth represents balance or neutrality. Its color is yellow and is symbolized by a cauldron. The Earth season is late summer when everything flourishes in sun-ripened fullness. Its movement rests in stability at the end of increase before decrease begins. Earth is productive and fertile. People with strong Earth energy are well grounded, nurturing and compassionate. They make good mediators. People with weak Earth energy are prone to digestive problems, diarrhea and a general lack of clarity of thoughts and feelings. The Earth element is related to the stomach and the spleen. The stomach starts the process of digestion, while the spleen receives and dispenses the energy from food and drink throughout the body. Digestive problems are directly related to the stomach while diarrhea and clear thinking problems are usually due to lack of proper energy disbursement by the spleen.

Typical Earth traits include; organized, responsible, reliable, resourceful and disciplined.

METAL

Metal represents decline after reaching the pinnacle. Its color is white and is symbolized by the tiger. Metal season is Autumn when growth has stopped and things begin dying. Its movement is toward decrease. Metal is a conductor. People with strong Metal energy are self-disciplined and well-organized. They are comfortable maintaining structure in their life. People with weak Metal energy may have asthma, allergies or frequent colds. They can also have problems with deep-seated sadness and often are affected by constipation or other bowel problems. They are often overly critical and unable to let things go. The Metal element is related to the lungs and the large intestine. The lungs move vital energy throughout the body while the large intestine is responsible for receiving and discharging waste. Breathing problems, colds and acute sadness are related to the lungs. Constipation and other bowel issues correspond to the large intestine.

Typical Metal traits include; ambitious, determined, energetic, self-reliant and relentless.

WATER

Water represents decline reaching its maximum retraction. Its color is black and is symbolized by the tortoise. The Water season is winter when everything is dead or dormant. Its movement is toward decrease at its maximum. Water is cold and wet. People with strong Water energy are strong, fearless and determined. They are able to persevere through hardship by relying on will power. People with weak Water energy are susceptible to urination difficulties as well as to fertility and sexuality problems. They can be fearful and withdrawn. The Water element is related to the bladder and the kidney. The bladder receives, stores, and excretes urine. Water metabolism dissipates fluids throughout the body, lubricating it, and accumulating in the kidneys. The kidneys also gather, store and dispense water and fluid throughout the body. Urination problems are directly related to the bladder while any issues involving sexuality or fertility come under the influence of the kidneys.

Typical Water traits include; intuitiveness, expressive, flexibility, persuasive and diplomatic.

The elements themselves can be thought of as symbols to describe how everything in the world relates to everything else. An analogy between the features and actions of something, and the characteristics of the five elements can be made so that the properties of things that are similar to those of wood are classified as wood; those things similar to fire, as fire, etc. Directions, for instance, can be classified according to the five elements. East is classified as Wood because the ascending characteristics of wood are similar to the sunrise. South is classified as Fire because the heat of fire is similar to the warmth found in the south (at least in the northern hemisphere.) West is classified as Metal because the descending characteristics of metal are similar to the sunset. North is classified as Water because the coldness of water is similar to the cold found in the north (again the northern hemisphere.) Finally the center is classified as Earth because it is the balance or neutrality of the directions, the reference point.

Each element is intricately entwined with the others. There are two main cycles within the Five Elements: the Promotion Cycle and the Controlling Cycle.

Promotion Cycle

The promotion cycle is similar to the relationship a mother has with a child. The child is unable to reach its potential without nurturing from the mother.

Wood promotes Fire. Fire cannot exist without Wood to burn.

Fire promotes Earth. The ashes that result from a Fire become Earth.

Earth promotes Metal. Metal is created deep within the Earth.

Metal promotes Water. Metal gives off Water vapor.

Water promotes Wood. Wood cannot grow without Water.

Controlling Cycle

The Controlling Cycle is sometimes called the destroying or conquest cycle. The relationship can be thought of as similar to an elder disciplining a child.

Wood controls Earth. Wood displaces Earth as it grows.

Earth controls Water. Water flows where the Earth leads.

Water controls Fire. Fire is doused by Water.

Fire controls Metal. Metal is melted by Fire.

Metal controls Wood. Wood is cut by Metal.

Overabundance

Becoming aware of the natural cycles that exists within all things allows you to see the world more clearly. Learning to balance the five elements helps to align the energy of your environment in order to create an atmosphere that is conducive to your obtaining access to your maximum personal energy. If you can learn to recognize when there is an overabundance of one or more of the elements within your self then you will be able to address this imbalance.

Overabundance of Wood

An overabundance of Wood can lead to inconsistency or lack of assertiveness. What often starts as an overzealous beginning is eventually left unfinished. The will grows weak. You become too passive, so that no action is taken. Other times you may become too dependent on the actions of others. There is a tendency toward laziness and procrastination, only doing just enough to get by.

Work to gain control of yourself. Finish projects you start. Begin to make decisions without waiting for others to take the initiative. Assert yourself to shake off the lethargy.

Overabundance of Fire

An overabundance of Fire can lead to a lack of sensitivity and compassion towards others. There is a tendency to be forceful and impulsive, to drive through your agenda without a care for anyone else’s thoughts or feelings. There seems to be an underlying impatience with everything. This impatience leads to frustration which, in turn, builds until there is an emotional outburst.

Step back. Take notice of others around you and see if your actions are disturbing them. Relax…there is no need for everything to be done immediately. Allow the possibility that there may be another way to do things.

Overabundance of Earth

An overabundance of Earth can lead to getting stuck in a rut of your own self-interest. There is a lack of desire for any type of adventure. Fear of the unknown leads to fear of everything new. Nothing new is attempted and nothing new grows. You begin to second-guess yourself as you lose faith in your intuition.

Seek out change. Do something to shock yourself out of your routine. Do not be afraid to fail. Even if you don’t succeed you will become stronger for having put in the effort.

Overabundance of Metal

An overabundance of Metal can lead to an aggressive thirst for power or wealth. There is an underlying aggressiveness. The mind becomes unreasonable and inflexible in its drive towards its goal. Like a thirst that is unquenchable, there is a continuous desire for more and more.

Stop accumulating things. Be generous and give something of value away. It is fine to be autonomous and pioneering, but don’t cut yourself off from humanity. Learn compassion.

Overabundance of Water

An overabundance of Water can lead to moodiness and depression. There is a tendency to become immersed in your own issues. You become insular and shun contact with others. Behavior often becomes subjective and unpredictable.

Get out and meet new people. Start a new hobby. Do something that takes you out of your little box and lets you interact with the world. Everyone you meet is an opportunity to learn something new and different. Take a chance.

Each person has some combination of the Five Elements within them. Being aware of the Five Elements can give you insight into why you react in certain ways to certain situations. Modern readers are not expected to take the five elements and their application literally. Instead let them be symbols of very real states of body and mind and draw from them special insights into your individuality. Doing so will assist you in discovering the workings of the universe and yourself.