Nature’s Five Elements
Reference to the five elements of nature has been understood since ancient times to mean earth, water, air, fire and ether. Although philosophers have debated this interpretation and scientists now would query the need for the addition of others, but for us, these five allow us to consider their existence in nature, and to recognize the different spheres or elements in our in our own personality and being.
In childhood each of us reacts different to external realities of nature. One child will show a love of the earth and material things; another will relate well to water; another has the need for air and the outdoors; and one will love to play in the sunshine and be fascinated by fire.
The fifth element is universal as we all feel conscious of the need for love, and to express to a greater or lesser degree our own affection through harmonious behaviour.
Negative behaviour of an infant can offer a further demonstration of the proportion of an element in its nature. When it is upset a child will tend to revert to contact with the element where he feels most comfortable.
For instance…
a dominant earth child will throw himself in tantrum on the floor or ‘throw things’
a water child will resort to tears, need a drink of water or will enjoy a swim
an air child will use the lungs to cry and sometimes struggle from a cuddle and try to go somewhere
a fiery child will demonstrate anger and often seek to retaliate or to hurt something or someone
a child with ether dominant will tend exhibit a maturity and understanding of life beyond its years.
All of us whether child or adult respond to soothing comfort, kindness and loving care of the integrating fifth element.
As human beings we possess all nature’s components within ourselves. These five major elements are cultivated, directed or changed as time goes by until they are all integrated as we mature and the life energies used appropriately. Many of the differences between people can be explained by the symbolism associated with earth, water, air, fire and ether and the proportion of each element represented in their physical body, personality or character.
Relating to great nature outside ourselves, the ideal would seem to be that we accept and relate to each external element harmoniously so that we could enjoy mountains and earth, oceans and water, fresh air in nature’s vast environment, and the heat of firesides and sunshine.
If we could achieve all this in our personal nature we would likely be practical and down to earth, as well as emotionally balanced and creative, mentally keen and communicative, enthusiastic and idealistic with all the elements blended in wholeness and well being, by loving kindness and inner peace.
Fire- heat, light, energy, power, creative and destructive
In human nature is fervour, passion, activity, willpower
Earth - solidarity, life preserver, anchors growth, dependable
In human nature is reliable, constructive, physical
Air - ethereal, formless, transmitter of energy,
In human nature is restless, intellectual, communicator
Water - liquidity, mutable, life nourisher, sustains life and growth
In human nature is emotional, caring, sensitive
Ether – the vapour, the invisible energies, the spirit or energies of things, of people, of nature.
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