The five elements: living in cycles

In my previous blog Winter is Coming and Water and Fire, I have already talked a lot about the Water element and its organs. The kidneys are complex, but incredibly important. The Water element, along with the kidneys and bladder associated with it, is the mother of the Wood element. What exactly that means, I will now explain further.

First things first: what are the elements?
The theory of the Five Phases was first described during the Warlords period (476-221 BC), a time of social and political turmoil in China. Confucius wove this theory into his philosophy to bring structure and harmony to society. The Five Stages focus on movement, change and interrelationships in nature and were later applied to social structures to create balance and order.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Yin and Yang forms the basis: where there is too much of one, there is too little of the other. Where there is light, there is darkness. In short: one cannot exist without the other. The Five Elements theory is a variant of this but brings more structure and categorises specific characteristics but also shows how everything is connected. Each element has specific characteristics and influences the natural cycles of humans, animals and the environment. How these influences work out differs from person to person and this determines how the right balance is created for an individual.

What does a cycle look like?

In spring (Wood), nature awakens. Buds burst open, fresh greenery appears, animals become active and people move out again. It is the time of big cleaning, impulsive ideas and popping!
Then comes summer (Fire): what grew is now allowed to bloom. Everything is bubbling with life. The flower that rose in spring is now shining in all its glory. Your plans, too, come to full bloom here.
In late summer (Earth), peace returns. It is the time of ripening and harvesting. Nature slows down. You may now enjoy everything you have sown and harvested - physically, emotionally or spiritually.
Then comes autumn (Metal). Leaves wither, fruits fall, but seeds remain. Old leaves nourish the soil. You look back: what do you keep, what do you let go of? It is the time of clearing and reflection.
Winter (Water) brings silence. On the surface, everything seems to be at a standstill, but underground, life bustles on. This is the time to recover, to learn from what was, and to get ready for what is to come.
And then... everything begins again. Spring breaks in. New life awakens.

Wood - Spring

The Wood element represents growth, renewal and direction. It helps you take action, just like spring. It is connected to the liver and gallbladder, which ensure smooth energy flow, both physically and emotionally. When it is balanced, we feel creative, driven and energetic. Anger and frustration are the emotions that belong to Wood. When these get stuck, stagnation can occur, manifesting as headaches, muscle aches or bloating.

Fire - Summer

Fire represents connection, joy and passion. It is connected to the heart and our emotions and relationships. When Fire is balanced, we feel alive, enthusiastic and connected to others. It is the time to share our creativity and strengthen our social bonds. When Fire is out of balance, we may experience feelings of chaos or overheating, both physically and emotionally.

Earth - Late Summer

Earth represents stability and nourishment. It supports the spleen and stomach, the organs responsible for digesting both food and emotions. In balance, we feel grounded, calm and in harmony with our environment. When Earth is out of balance, we may feel empty or have trouble processing information or emotions. This can lead to worry, overthinking or feeling insecure.

Metal - Fall

Metal represents release and purification. It is connected to the lungs and colon, which are responsible for removing waste products. Metal helps us let go of what is no longer needed, both physically and emotionally. In balance, Metal helps us reflect and make space for the new. Imbalance can manifest as difficulty letting go, clinging to the old or a feeling of stagnation.

Water - Winter

Water represents depth, wisdom and peace. It is connected to the kidneys and bladder, which manage our deepest energies. This is the time to rest, replenish our reserves and prepare for the new cycle of spring. When Water is in balance, we feel calm, deep and able to make the right decisions. Imbalance can manifest as exhaustion, anxiety or a lack of direction.

The 2 main mutual movements in the 5 elements

Nurishing Cycle

Nurishing

- Wood feeds Fire (Wood burns and produces Fire),
- Fire feeds Earth (Ash from Fire feeds Earth),
- Earth feeds Metal (Earth contains metals),
- Metal feeds Water (Metal condenses Water),
- Water feeds Wood (Water feeds the growth of Wood).

Controlling Cycle

Controlling

- Wood controls Earth (Wood can root out Earth),
- Earth controls Water (Earth can absorb Water),
- Water controls Fire (Water extinguishes Fire),
- Fire controls Metal (Fire melts Metal),
- Metal controls Wood (Metal cleaves Wood).

These two cycles work together to create a dynamic balance, with the elements feeding or dampening each other to get the right balance.

What does this mean for you?
It is important to understand that you are never just one type. You may have a natural inclination towards a particular element, but it is valuable to look at the other elements as well. For example, if you are often stressed, you may be stuck in the Wood element, with Water (the mother of Wood) being overloaded or Metal (the grandmother of Wood) being too weak to temper the Wood.
It is a dynamic whole, and it requires an open approach to your unique personality. We are not one-dimensional beings; we are nature, and we go through the same cycles as the seasons. How we deal with those cycles, and where our strengths and weaknesses lie, is personal and unique. The ultimate goal is to move smoothly through all the elements. We can be angry, but can we let that go? We can have lots of ideas, but what comes of them?

Preview
In the coming blogs I will discuss the other elements in more detail, but since the Water element and winter have already received a lot of attention, here I am already giving an example of the interaction between the elements with Water as the main character. The other elements will follow later! And since spring is literally setting in, my blog on the Wood element will follow soon.

Water feeds Wood
Water allows Wood to grow. It is like a tree expanding and becoming a forest. Imagine this: you have just graduated, take time for rest and reflection, and then the ideas for the future come.

Water controls Fire
Too much Fire can be extinguished by Water. An example is menopause: the Water element is under pressure, has too little Yin, and we get literal hot flushes. Or you're a chatty person who stands around chatting delightfully at parties, but doesn't really have an ear for the other person. This is a weakness in the Water element and a “too much” in the Fire element.

Earth controls Water
Earth builds boundaries on the water bank. There is a time to plan and a time to do. Too little Earth causes you to stay in your head endlessly and your little stays swimming in thoughts. Unboundedness can also lead to burn out, you keep going and there are no limits. If there is too much Earth, there can be a dam, causing no movement and stagnation. This can manifest as a fear of taking steps and you hinder your creative spirit.

Metal nourishes Water
Although Metal is dry, it contains minerals that help Water get into a physical and nourishing form. Metal also helps clean up: what is important, you take away and serve as a learning opportunity. At menopause, fertility comes to an end, but it is also a fertile time for wisdom. I often see in practice that people choose a new direction in their lives during this phase, for example a different career.

As you can see, everything is interconnected. We are not one-dimensional beings. We are nature, and we go through the same transitions. How we experience those transitions, and where our strengths and weaknesses lie, is individually determined. Remember, perfect balance is virtually unattainable, but the movement towards it makes life interesting.