The Spirit of Summer: The Fire Element

     

In ancient Taoist philosophy there are five elements- Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal.  Each element has its own physical, emotional, and spiritual associations.  Elemental Alchemy is the process of studying how these elements are working in our own lives, and using nature's wisdom to create  balance and achieve our goals.

Yin and Yang, represented in the symbol on the left, are the two opposing forces of nature that create harmony in all things.   The summer is associated with the Fire element, the height of Yang. Yang is associated with movement, heat, energy, spirit, and light- so Fire is the archetypal Yang energy, just as Water is the archetype for Yin.  Here are some more associations with the Fire element: 

Sun in the Soul  

If your personal anthem is "Here Comes the Sun", than there's a strong chance the Fire element is working its magic in your life!  The sun is the archetype of the Fire Element that has meaning in many cultures and spiritual systems.  In this case, the Sun is literally the spark of divine light that lives in the center of each of our hearts, and can be seen as the light of the spirit that shines through our eyes. 

Blossoming into Light 

We see it all around us- birds chirping, flowers blooming, and all of the natural world full of effortless movement.  The Fire Element corresponds to the blossoming phase - that phase when our projects flourish and we start to enjoy the fruits of the our labor. 

Our fiery passion is alive and drives us tirelessly to manifest the vision we created during the Wood phase. But we have to be careful that as our projects take on a life of their own, we temper our fire with periods of rest and relaxation so that we don't  burn out!

Follow Your Heart

In Chinese medicine, the character for heart, Xin, is best translated as heart-mind.   The heart is the seat of consciousness and the resting place of the spirit.   It's the ability to know ourselves and act with integrity- hence the phrase "following your heart".  The heart has the capacity to perceive what the normal senses cannot, and  integrates the opposites of logic and intuition.   When the Fire element is out of balance, it may effect our hearts- giving rise to symptoms like anxiety, heart palpitations, or sleep problems.  Click here to learn more about how Western science is catching up to this ancient wisdom.

Laugh for No Reason

The Fire element is associated with the emotion of joy.  With a balanced Fire element, our joy is

able to rise to surface, and we can laugh easily and enjoy life!  In fact, people who have a strong constitutional Fire element often have a laughing sound in their voice- a voice that rises and falls with inflections that resemble a dancing flame.  Depression, or the inability to find joy in the present moment, may be signs that your Fire element needs a little attention.   People with a challenged Fire element might also have a hard time laughing genuinely, or have a laugh that falls flat.    And if you you've never thought about the health benefits of joy, try a Laughter Yoga class at Maha Rose and see how different you feel! 

It all comes down to love

Try this simple experiment: strike a match and hold it very close to, but not touching, the wick of a candle.  Notice how the flame seems to jump over to start a new flame?  That's because the nature of fire is to spread- to share its spark and inspire another  light to brighter. The same is true of the Fire within us-  it is a driving force that makes us want to share our light- our true selves- with another.   The Fire element governs our relationships and intimacy- it controls how close, and how often, we connect with others.  So if your relationships seem continually out of whack, or if the status of your relationship determines the stasis of your day, then chances are your Fire element needs some light.

How's your Fire element this summer?  What else do you associate with Fire?