Now that winter is edging closer and the harvest season is done, it’s finally coming to cave time. This is a time of year when we spend more time indoors, probably seeing our neighbours less as we run from house to car and back again (in the dark!). So, this is a time for learning, contemplation, and feeling into what we want for the spring and summer to come.
So, what better time to start learning about the building blocks of all things – the elements that make up the world around us and our bodies that give the qualities to each season and the strengths and quirks of our individual bodies.
Most traditional forms of medicine around the world use a system of elements to describe the world. TCM (from China), Ayurveda (from India), and even our own Western tradition all use a system of interdependent elements.
The elements I refer to in my practice are Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. We are all familiar with them – but perhaps you haven’t ever realised just how they affect you every day.
Structural, stable Earth: moving, flighty Air; transformative, heating Fire and fluid, cleansing Water. If you think about it, you probably already have some thoughts around what the qualities of each element could be. That’s because they pop up in our language all the time.
Understanding what elements are dominant each season, even each day, and which are dominant in you is the key to helping you understand why some seasons are challenging for you and some are a breeze. And most importantly, how to deal with challenges before they even begin.
The key qualities that the elements bring are Hot, Cold, Moist, and Dry. What qualities do you think are strongest in you?