The 5 Elements

~ an ancient Chinese health system ~

Simply put- According to Chinese Medicine, EVERYTHING is made of of the 5 elements- Wood, FIre, Earth, Metal(air), and Water. This is more obviously seen in nature but it also relates to our bodies- physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

At the back of the Padma hallway an altar will be created to honor each season and it's corresponding element ( of which there are actually 5- spring- wood, summer- fire, late summer- earth, fall- metal, winter- water.)

Here on our blog, I will give a brief summary of how the element may be manifesting in us. What it looks like when maladapted, as well as adapted and some things which can help one to attain better health and longevity.

Most often, due to some physical or emotional trauma usually occurring during early childhood, an imbalance presents itself and the groundwork for a person’s life is laid down - orientation, attitudes, behaviors and beliefs, thus producing a picture of their constitutional element type i.e. wood, fire, etc.

We are currently looking at the element of Wood.

The Wood element in nature corresponds to the season spring,  the color green, sprouting, growth. In us, it may look- pushy, aggressive, combative, angry, frustrated, needing to control. When adapted these traits can turn to be- visionary, benevolent, patient, forgiving, creative, positive leadership.

The organs or pathways involved are liver and gallbladder which govern planning, direction, vision, imagination,eyes, tendons and ligaments.

Ways to help balance Wood energy:

Recognizing the issues and setting an intention to change unhealthy habits is always the first and biggest step.

Nurturing yourself and creating awareness with any of the healing arts is very helpful and especially the Asian Healing Arts such as acupuncture and acupressure (Jin Shin Jyutsu) to stimulate particular points on the meridians.

Aromatherapy oils- Bergamot, Lavender, Peppermint and Chamomile

Flower essences- Impatients and Gorse applied to related acupoints

To learn more about the 5 elements, I recommend:
 Five Spirits by Lorie DeChar and
The Power of the Five Elements by Charles A. Moss

Spring Time Beginnings

Hello, sun in my face.

Hello, you who made the morning

and spread it over the fields

and into the faces of the tulips

and the nodding morning glories,

and into the windows of, even, the

miserable and the crotchety –

best preacher that ever was,

dear star, that just happens

to be where you are in the universe

to keep us from ever-darkness,

to ease us with warm touching,

to hold us in the great hands of light –

good morning, good morning, good morning.

Watch, now, how I start the day

in happiness, in kindness.

~ Mary Oliver ~

 (Why I Wake Early, 2004)

Welcome to the Padma Center Blog! Spring is here with all its beauty and energy of new life. We at Padma have this new offering of our ‘Health in Balance’ blog to invite you to enjoy and follow. We hope that through our writing you will come to know the work of Padma practitioners much more deeply. There are twelve of us sharing the beautiful treatment spaces at Padma and we will be taking turns offering reflective and inspirational pieces as well as the occasional longer article. You can sign up to follow the blog or visit us here as you wish.

Coming soon will be Janet Wylde’s writing on the wood element according to Chinese medicine. Janet has created a beautiful alter in honor of the wood element at Padma. Here is a little preview of Janet’s writing.

"Wood is the energy of spring, of new beginnings, progressive movement, and reaching toward the future, as well as the qualities of fiber and suppleness that give an organism the ability to maintain growth and transformation."

Happy Spring!