Best article I have ever read, mixing Junguian Psychology & Elemental Alchemy.
Written by Ike (Eeka) King B.H.Sc (Bayside Acupuncture)
According to
ancient Chinese philosophy, the Five Elements – or the five pillars of Creation
– are the building blocks of the universe. In order, the elements are: Wood,
Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. The five elements are considered to be phases of
a cycle of change. Each person’s physical and mental constitution can be
described as a balance of the elements in which one or more may naturally
dominate.
The proportion of
the elements in a person determines his or her temperament. Oriental medicine
considers the ideal condition as one in which all the five elements are in
balance or in harmony. Wood is said to be the mother of fire and the son of
water. (Water allows wood to grow, wood provides fuel for the fire). Using
these relationships one can describe all possible yin-yang imbalances within
the body.
The thrust of
five element acupuncture and diagnosis is to isolate and treat the patient’s
imbalanced constitutional element. An imbalanced element is like a weak link in
your energetic chain that can undermine the strength of your mind, body and
spirit. Strengthening the weakened element will bring you back to centre or
back ‘into your element’ and any resulting signs and symptoms of disease or
disharmony will ultimately disappear.
🔥Wizard Emotion:
Joy.
Reddish face,
pointed head/chin, curly hair or not much hair. Soft willowy physique, long
neck, arms and legs. Walks fast. Seeking magic and excitement. Strong point:
blood and blood vessels.
🌍Peacemaker
Emotion: Sympathy.
Darkish face,
large head, wide jaw. Round firm physique, strong thighs, soft, peachy skin.
Walks without lifting feet high. Constantly arranging and harmonising the world.
Strong point: muscles.
🌲Pioneer Emotion:
Anger.
Darkish face.
Tall muscular, square physique, strong and straight back. Walks with
determination. Determined to make things happen. Strong sense of vision, hope
and purpose. Strong point: bones and sinews.
🔩Alchemist
Emotion: Grief.
White face,
triangular shape. Broad and square shoulders, strongly built body. Walks slowly
& deliberately. Meticulous, rational, independent and strong-willed. Strong
point: lungs and voice.
🌊Philosopher
Emotion: Fear.
White face and
skin, round face. Round body, loves movement. Spine is longer than normal.
Relentlessly in pursuit of truth. Strong point: digestive system.
WOOD TYPES
Wood people
either excel or have trouble in planning, decisions, and action.
The future and
their ability to see it can be their strength.
When out of balance they may procrastinate, become indecisive or have a
sense of no hope.
- Seeks challenge
and pushes to the limit
- Enjoys and does
well under pressure
- Admires speed,
novelty and skill
- Loves action,
movement and adventure
- Likes to be
first, best and only
Typical problems
- Intolerance and
impatience
- Volatile emotions
- Extremism;
impulsive or over-disciplined, self indulgent or self punishing
- Vascular
headaches, muscle spasms, high blood pressure, nerve inflammations,
migratory/moving pain
The power of wood
comes from the capacity to rapidly expand and build up pressure. Wood types
need to modulate their intensity and stay flexible, to be able to retreat and
yield as well as serge forward and be undaunted
Wood types tend
to be ambitious have strong Type A personalities, and high vitality. They love
life, and are so eager to succeed they can be highly competitive. Wood types
are apt to be leaders in their fields, CEOs of big companies, or elite
athletes. They are extroverted, and have a strong sense of hope, vision, and
purpose. However, Wood types are so driven they tend to manifest conditions due
to stress—such as high blood pressure, premenstrual syndrome, breast and
ovarian cysts, headaches, and tight muscles. On an emotional level, too much
work may thwart their usual sense of purpose in life, and they can become angry
or depressed.If you are a Wood Type, keep your element balanced by taking time
to replenish your energy with relaxing activities that quiet your mind like
yoga, tai chi, and meditation. Create playtime in which the journey is more
important than the goal, eat healthy food, avoid alcohol, and indulge in
sour-tasting foods (which are beneficial to Wood types). As I often tell my
patients who are Wood types, the most important thing to remember is that
attaining and maintaining great health will allow you more success in reaching
your life goals.
FIRE TYPES
Fire people love
to reach out and be in relationship with all people. They enjoy having a laugh
and sometimes they carry a sadness or lack of joy deeper in themselves.
- Relishes
excitement and change
- Delights in
intimacy
- Intuitive and
passionately empathetic
- Believes in the
power of charisma and desire
- Loves sensation,
drama and sentiment
- Likes to be hot,
bright and vibrant
Typical problems
- Anxiety,
agitation and frenzy
- Bizarre
perceptions and sensations
- Nervous
exhaustion and insomnia
- Palpitation,
sweating, hypoglycaemia, rashes, pasly
- Abuse of mind-altering
substances- addictive personalities
The power of fire
comes from the capacity to liberate heat and light and realise joy and
fulfilment. Fire types need to temper their chemisty and contain their
resources, withdrawing and separating as well as embracing and merging.
Fire types are
fun, charismatic people who have a great deal of enthusiasm for whatever they
are involved in. They are full of love and passion, seek out drama, and thrive
on travel. They also enjoy expressing themselves verbally, and often speak
rapidly. Fire types tend to laugh a lot, even when they are talking about
something that isn’t funny. When it comes to relationships, Fire types have an
enormous amount of social energy; a seemingly boundless capacity for
interacting with others.
When Fire types
have too much excitement in their lives, they can experience anxiety, heart
palpitations, insomnia, and depression. When women who are Fire types are in
peri-menopause or menopause, they are likely to have hot flashes or night
sweats more often than other women. If you are a Fire Type, I recommend you
balance your element by creating a schedule that includes time to nurture
yourself. Spend time alone each day to write in your journal or meditate. It’s
also important to stay clear about what is important in your life and what
isn’t. Remember to eat regular meals, don’t allow yourself to get too hungry,
and limit your intake of spicy foods.
EARTH TYPES
Earth people have
the ability to nourish like a mother can nourish a child. Thus food and understanding are important.
Sometimes an Earth person can feel a sense of emptiness or neediness in their
own life.
- Wants to be
involved and needed
- Likes to be in
charge but not in the limelight
- Agreeable and
accommodating; wants to be all things to all people
- Seeks harmony and
togetherness
- Insists upon
loyalty, security and predictability
Typical problems
- Worry, obsession
and self-doubt
- Meddling and
overprotective
- Overextended and
inert
- Lethargy,
indigestion, unruly appetites, water retention, muscle tenderness
- Unrealistic
expectations and disappointment
The power of
earth comes from the capacity to link, nurture, and sustain. Earth types need
to balance their devotion to relationship with solitude and self-expression,
developing self-reliance as well as building community.
Earth types are
compassionate, loving people who are apt to be nurturers and caretakers. They
have a tendency to feel deeply compassionate toward other people, even strangers,
and welcome all types of people into their lives. Because of their
understanding nature, they are natural arbitrators who can resolve disputes
between others quickly and effectively. Earth types have a strong connection
with the earth, and they feel a great sense of comfort and peace when they are
in nature. As a result, they are inclined to be environmentalists and
conservationists. They also find solace in eating, and have a sweet tooth.When
Earth types give too much and neglect themselves, they are prone to digestive
problems, food allergies, heartburn, fatigue, PMS, and easy weight gain. If you
are an Earth type, imbalances in your life can also cause you to become
excessively needy for love, affection, and attention. At the same time, you can
become so sympathetic to other people’s needs that you try to take care of them
in ways that may ultimately prevent them from figuring out how to take care of
themselves. To keep yourself in balance, I suggest you surround yourself with
loving friends, maintain healthy emotional boundaries between yourself and
others, say “no” when you need to, and avoid eating too many sweets.
METAL TYPES
Metal people
search for what is pure and spiritual.
They set the highest standards for themselves and others, respect is
important. Sometimes they live in a
sense of what could have been.
- likes definition,
structure and discipline
- organised and
methodical
- seeks to live
according to reason and principle
- holds self and
others to the highest standards
- reveres ceremony,
beauty and refinement
Typical Problems
- Indifference and
inhibition
- Autocratic,
strict and difficult to please
- Formal, distant
and unnatural
- Stiff joints and
muscles, dry skin and hair, shallow breathing, poor circulation
- Self-righteousness
and disillusionment
The power of
metal comes from the capacity to shape and refine. Metal types need to
compensate for their rationality, self-control, and meticulousness with
passion, spontaneity and social involvement.
Metal types are
quiet, meditative, intellectually sharp, spiritually inclined, and unusually
creative. They seek perfection in everything that they do, and they are likely
to be serious artists and craftspeople. They are self-disciplined,
detail-oriented, and will naturally spend endless hours in a deep, almost
trancelike state of concentration while they are involved in the creation of
their art. In their personal relationships, they dislike small talk and they
are usually very committed to a small number of people. Physically, Metal types
have a fast metabolism and they often crave spicy foods.If you are a Metal
type, when your life is not in harmony you are apt to have upper respiratory
infections and skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. I highly recommend
that you keep yourself in balance by doing regular aerobic exercise to enhance
the health of your lungs, exploring your creativity, eating regular meals, and
making sure that you maintain creative outlets for stress.
WATER TYPES
Water people have
a persistence and determination and will often excel in situations that others
find too scary. Sometimes they may hide
a deep sense of being frozen or washed away by their own fear.
- Articulate,
clever and introspective
- Self-contained
and self-sufficient
- Penetrating,
critical and scrutinizing
- Seeks knowledge
and understanding
- Likes to remain
hidden, enigmatic and anonymous
Typical problems
- Emotionally
inaccessible and undemonstrative]
- Isolation and
loneliness
- Tactless,
unforgiving and suspicious
- Hardening of the
arteries, deterioration of the teeth and gums, backache, chilliness and loss of
libido
The power of
water comes from the capacity to conceive, concentrate and conserve. Water
types need to offset their toughness, bluntness and detachment with tenderness,
sensitivity and openness, risking softness and contact, exposure and
attachment. In their youth, they typically possess a quality of
being “wise beyond their years.” As adults, Water types are known for being
unusually deep thinkers, always searching for truth and meaning. If you are a
Water type, you are a philosopher, comfortable in the world of your mind, and
you often prefer your own thoughts to a superficial dialogue with other people.
You are strong-willed, and seek out quiet, tranquil environments. Physically
you are healthy, vigorous, and have enormous willpower and a tremendous
capacity for endurance. If you are a Water type and you spend too much time
alone, or in “survival mode,” you tend to manifest conditions associated with
the kidneys and bladder. On an emotional level, when imbalanced your normally
deep reservoir of inner strength can spill over into fear. I frequently advise
my patients who are Water types to keep themselves in balance by drinking
plenty of fluids and socializing regularly so they don’t become too emotionally
isolated.
Knowing which of the five elements dominates our personality can guide
us in taking better care of ourselves. Discovering the personality type of
intimate partners or friends is also fun and important as this knowledge can
lead to better relationships and a greater understanding of each other’s flaws
and weaknesses and why we sometimes act the way we do. By keeping our five
element personality type in mind, we will be able to make choices about our
health that will help us create a lifetime of wellness.
✫*¨`*✶
And best book about Element Archetypes:
https://chinesemedicineworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/five_types.pdf
✫*¨`*✶
"Hugo Humberto Navarro is my father. He was born on April 19, 1943. We both have moons in Aries and share a fiery impulsive nature. He was a skillful magician, a writer" - Centehua Sage. Lunar Rhythms / Garden Gatherings / Education
