"It is only possible to live the
fullest life when we are in harmony with
these [archetypal] symbols;
wisdom is a return to them." -Carl Jung
The model of the Five Elements, handed down from ancient China, is both
the foundation for a system of medicine and a symbolic representation
that provides a way "to live the fullest life." Essentially, the
elements are universal archetypes that can guide us in the art of living.
From Wood we experience the energy of creation and, like the world in
springtime, we are encouraged to give birth to new possibilities and
find the attributes that permit them to grow.
Fire teaches us of warmth, love,
and the value of relationships, helping us discover that we, too,
have the potential to become a source of light both within and
without.
The Earth element supports us in nurturing others as well as
ourselves, realizing a harvest - and in not forgetting to put
our hands in the soil.
Metal points to the spirit, the
realm of the invisible, and is an image of the letting go and
receptivity that is requisite for life to have meaning and quality.
From the Water element we learn
to flow with changes and understand the importance of rest and
filling the reservoirs.
To participate in an elemental life is to embody the wisdom of indigenous, earth-based cultures, where the
value of living in harmony with the rhythms of nature is considered a central teaching. In essence, the goal of the system of medicine that is based on this model is to assist each individual in expressing their own unique, original nature.
The three thousand year-old Chinese tradition of the Five Elements offers
fresh insights into the roots of
illness, while bringing a positive vision of wellness and the healing
process. In the cyclic aspect of the elements we are reminded of
wholeness and the interconnection of all things, which allows faith in
the endless circle of life. No matter how dark the winter, in time there
will be a spring.
Through an archetypal
approach to Chinese medicine, we can uncover a way to heal the
seemingly insurmountable problems of modern times, which have their
origins in the widespread alienation from the natural world. |