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The five elements are everywhere. These elements are the building blocks for everything you see around you. They are for lack of a better comparison, the Lego bricks of nature. Every culture has them, but due to cultural views and lenses they differ a bit in name, but not in function. A small understanding of the elements is presented here for your further understanding.

The creative forces.

The elements are the creative force in the world. They are not to be confused with their worldly representations as those are a manifestation of the elements. The manifestations embody the qualities of the element but are not the elements themselves. From the elements all existence on earth is created. A combination of two elements brings forth a new creation. For example, take earth and water. Together they form mud. From mud comes forth wood as the combination of earth and water nourish and allow the wood to flourish. The same mud could shift and transform. If fire is applied, ceramics like bricks are created from the contents of the mud. Earth and water have another product they create called concrete.
One of the aspects of the five elements is to combine with each other in various quantities to bring about a newer creation. It is said that any creation contains within it all the elements of creation. The only difference is the amount of each element present within the creation.

The five elements in focus

The five elements will be covered in order. Both an Eastern and Western perspective will be given to the names of each as they are covered. Although my focus is on Chinese elemental theory, the model still fits into a European, Hindu, or Japanese model as well. Afterwards, the interplay of the five element will be discussed.

The Wood element

Wood is associated with the sprouting and starting that occurs during spring. Trees and other lush vegetation are some of the manifestations of this element. From a Western lens, the elemental association is the air element. After all, what better way to see the air element than to view the movement of air through the swaying branches of a tree.

The Fire element

Fire is an element of action and reaction. Fire expands to cover as much area as possible as quickly as possible. The destructive potential of fire is also beneficial. Fire cooks your food and keeps us warm. Fire is the same across all cultures. Without fire, no human civilization could have survived to modern times especially during the cold harsh winters that occur in some regions of the world.

the Earth element

The earth element is interesting. In the Chinese perspective, it is the center of things. After all we stand upon it and view the stars around us. Earth has many qualities to it, but looking at the Eastern vs Western perspective, major differences show. In the West, we view earth as a cold and dry element. It provides structure and is rigid. In China, not so. The earth element is anything but rigid. In the Western world, we have only four elements. In the East, five elements exist. This missing element in the West is known as Space in some culture. The vastness of space contains everything within it. This is a better understanding of the earth element in Chinese thought. After all, The earth contains all of life and what is needed of life upon it.

The Metal element

Metal is another element absent in the Western view of the elements. However, this element is most closely correlated with the earth element of Western traditions. There is a bit of strange overlap as sometimes metal in China engenders different qualities that muddles the understandings of the elements. All in all, know that metal is cold and rigid in it’s operation. In other words, Metal cuts thorough the fluff.

the Water element

Water is the element of life and flow. The Western element is the same here. After all water is essential to life. Without it most people could not last more than a few days before passing on. Water embodies flow and passivity. What better element to represent this as water visually expands and fills the container it falls into. Water also has a great staying power. The reason is if you view the oceans and lakes, they never seem to dry up.

How the five elements create one another

The elements themselves lead to one another. Water leads to wood. This makes sense as water is necessary for life to sprout and grow larger. Without water raining down, no plant life can grow and thus no life would exist at all. Remember that the wood element represents a sign of life.

Wood in turn will create fire. Another item that makes logical sense. Without wood to fuel fire, it cannot exist. Fire needs a fuel source and wood provides a forever sustainable fuel source. Though fire seems destructive, it is also creative. Something beautiful is birthed from fire like a phoenix rising up from the ashes.

Fire brings forth earth. This one is a little tricky, but here it is. Fire burns wood down to an ash. That looks like soil or dirt especially if heaped together. However those ashes become nutrients. The ashes are leached into the soil with the help of water. Then those same ashes enhance the nutrients within the soil and create a richer soil.

Earth brings forth metal. This makes sense. Metal exists deep within the earth birthed in a womblike environment of darkness and warmth. On the surface, metal is found in the soil and other visible places.

Lastly metal creates water. Full stop. How? Superficially this doesn’t make sense. However it has to do with the observation that condensation occurs. Metal is quite cold. Thus early morning dew would condense on metal. This visual event made it seem that metal generates water. This is like the concept of spontaneous creation. If insects appear on crops out of nowhere, the crops must have generated them! Following this logic, it makes sense that metal generates water at least to the Chinese mind it does.

How the five elements control each other.

Lastly, the elements also control each other. This is how they keep each other in balance and create harmony. They feed one another but also prevent one another from expanding too much.
Starting off is metal controls wood. This one makes sense if you think of the implements used to cut and shape wood. Metal is known to block the flow of energy. A metal nail of the right size and the correct material can kill a mighty tree.

Wood controls earth. This makes sense when you view what plants do. The roots carve and push through the soil. Even dense soil is no match for the strength of the roots. The roots also prevent erosion. When water flows by, the roots hold the dirt in place, trapping it. This is how wood handles and controls earth.
Earth controls water. Earth absorbs it easily and completely subdues it. When the soil is compacted clay, it prevent water from being absorbed. When the soil is sandy, it drains water rapidly. If the soil is of a good mixture, water will be retained. The soil dictates what water is able to do. Lastly, the soil is responsible for lakes. Without the soil to control it, lakes would drain into the earth.

Water extinguishes fire. Everyone has seen this at some point. Water puts out the fire. Water controls the temperature of a fire but also cuts it off from it’s fuel source. In a strange way, water drowns fire. Now if fire has not reached where water lies, it won’t cross when it does. This is another way that water will control fire.

Lastly fire burns away at metal. Fire will melt metal given the proper temperatures and setting to do so. Metal has no choice when it comes to this. After all, deep within the earth is where metal got its start. It was birthed from the heat deep inside the earth. Thus it makes sense that it would give itself up to the heat of fire.

five Elements are different amongst cultures.

The last section covers how the elements are viewed in a few different cultures. The cultural perspective is always interesting as it is another way to view the same things. Even in modern times, we have elements in the periodic table that can correspond to these metaphysical elements.
In China, as we have covered, the five elements are: wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
India and Japan have the elements as: air, fire, earth, water and space.
In the western world, specifically Europe, The elements are air, fire, water, and earth.

It’s one thing to read about the five elements. It is another thing to experience them for yourself. Go connect with the real elements in the world and seek them out for yourself. Get acquainted. You can also experience them though a session.

Yin and yang tends to be a misunderstood concept in western thought. Let’s take a deeper dive into the theory of yin and yang. In order to better grasp what yin and yang represent , we need to define them separately and have a basic understanding of how they interact together.

What is Yang?

Yang is typically called the masculine form. The concept came from seeing the sunny side of the hill. This aspect is known as the leader and driver behind many things. As such, Yang is an action taker and thus it is the beginning of all things. Think about fire and how it constantly moves and expands outward. When speaking in western terms, Celestial niter is one of the many names given to Yang and its associated energies.

What is Yin?

Yin is a feminine aspect. It comes from the shadow cast upon a hillside. Whereas action is represented by yang, yin represents passivity and receptiveness. Think of how water fills it’s container. Never does it struggle against it to hold its shape.
In the western sense, femininity represents the yin aspect in Chinese metaphysics. From an alchemical stand point this is known as the celestial salt.

How Yin and Yang interact.

Seeing both yin and yang separately gives a good indication for their qualities and functions, however the whole purpose is to see how they work in conjunction with each other. This is how yin and yang work in real time. Without real world application, you may be left thinking they exist as opposites rather than being part of a continuous cycle. In this article, a better view is presented in regards to yin and yang.

1. Yin and yang are not opposites.

A common misconception in western thought is that yin and yang are more often then not opposites. We think of hot and cold as opposites or even left and right. This puts it on a spectrum instead of viewing it as a cycle. Look at the symbol, it is not a line at all, but a circle. Hence Yin and Yang are constantly at play with each other.
Yin and yang are two aspects of a cycle. The fundamental issue with thinking of them as opposites is that they seem diametrically opposed, but a closer inspection reveals the cycle of play inherent to their design. To further solidify this, lets look at a secondary principle.

2. Yin and Yang create each other.

That’s right, yin and yang both create one another. Confused? Here is an example, take fire and its opposite, water. Does water create fire? Can fire create water? If we think in terms of opposites the answer is a resounding no. But in yin and yang theory that answer is actually yes, it just seems a bit more complicated. Water creates fire in two ways, first it nourishes and grows wood and plants that can feed as fuel for the fire. Secondly, water can decide to not be present and dry things out. Wait…where is the fire’s creation as that isn’t enough.
A fire starts during a lightning strike in a dry forest. What does the lightning strike have associated with it? A cloud, made of water. Strange to think of it this way, but this is one example of how yin and yang will create one another.

Another example is fire creating water. The sun is a fiery orb of light in the sky. It feeds the world with it’s light and heat. That heat will cause the water on Earth to evaporate. The evaporated moisture will then ascend and condense in the sky leading to cloud formation. These clouds in turn become dense and rain upon the land feeding the plant life. If the proper conditions present itself, the clouds will become thunderclouds.

3. Yin and yang exist mutually.

Both must both exist alongside and with each other. Otherwise, how can they create each other? True separation cannot be achieved. Let’s speak on dry and wet. Dry and wet are considered opposites. For this case, dry is the yang while wet will be the yin.
Go back to the wood from the forest. If the wood is moistened thoroughly, would that be yin or yang? It is more yin, but not entirely waterlogged. There must exist some dryness within the wood. Why is that so? For a tree to maintain equilibrium and “drink” water, it must have a section that is empty or void.
This causes a change in pressure that aids the water to rise against gravity and moisten the uppermost aspects of the tree. The leaves can serve this purpose. As they bask in the sun and lose moisture via heat and respiration, a dryness forms that allows more moisture to fill the tissues of the tree.

How about if we have dry wood? Dry wood is never completely dry. There always remains a small amount of moisture within it no matter what you do. Another example is alcohol. Ever found 100% alcohol? if you did find some, albeit rare but possible, the simple act of opening allows moisture from the air to enter the bottle. The alcohol then absorbs this small percentage of water and voila! No longer is it 100%. The alcohol will not become water, but enough water will enter that it will stabilized to 98-99% alcohol.

4.Yin and yang control each other, the principle of balance.

This principle affirms the need for balance. However it gives a final perspective into the grand scheme of things. Although they both create each other and exist mutually, yin and yang both keep each other in check. This creates a state of homeostasis or equilibrium. When both yin and yang are present, they must keep each other in check to prevent being thrown off balance. If yin and yang are thrown off balance, then chaos ensues.

ow about an example? Imagine a pot of water on a stovetop. When the gas ignites and the flame is blazing, the pot will begin to heat and transfer that heat to the water. Eventually the water will boil. However, the temperature of the water never matches the temperature of the flame. Nor will the pot match the flame’s temperature while there is water in it. The water dictates how hot the pot can get. Although the fire is hotter than the temperature of the boiling water, the temperature of the water and thus the pot is the upper limit for the temperature. This is yin keeping yang in check.
If the water dries out, then a temperature increase in the pot occurs, and depending on how hot the fire is, damage or warping can occur. This is an example of yin and yang out of balance.

The overarching goal is to return to balance. Keep the flow of yin and yang going. That will keep them in check. This is but only scratching the surface.

If you want to learn more about Qigong or it’s medical aspects, follow the blog here, or check out the FAQs. Prefer to speak to a real person? Book a free consultation here.

What is Qigong?

Pronounced “chee gong,” Qigong is the grandfather of Tai chi that came into existence 4000-6000 years ago. Qi means “life force” while Gong means work or skill. Hence the skill of life force energy. In Qigong, the use of standing postures and moving sets prevail over seated meditation. Occasionally, one might sit and do some inner work with Qigong. The physical movements and postures help Qi flow through the body directing it. The directed Qi will go where needed. Typically, Qigong uses many faculties of the mind at once to produce the intended result such as concentration, intention and breath.

Is Qigong the same as Tai chi?

Tai chi is a martial fighting system. Tai chi also explores the art of movement. Though predominately for self defense, Tai chi also includes moving meditation. The movements and sequences help induce a meditative state. Tai chi can be slow and smooth or quick. Through a combination of mind, breath, movement and intention, one can achieve a state of balance and harmony.

Although Qigong also uses mind, breath, movement and intention, it differs from Tai chi in the sense that qigong is not martial in nature. One can fight with Tai chi, but not with qigong. Tai chi uses many different movements in sequence, while qigong will typically repeat a movement over and over for a predetermined amount of repetitions. Repeating the same move several times stimulates muscle, respiration and other energetic functions in the body to attain a specific result. Qigong is considered the more spiritual of the two processes. Qigong will regulate the body’s functions. Tai chi will also regulate the body in a similar manner using a different method.

What would you use Qigong for?

Qigong has a range of applications ranging from specific to general uses. Would you like to enhance your focus? What about your performance? Wish you could get better sleep? Qigong helps in all these areas. In fact, there are many such studies that indicate positive changes on an objective hormonal level as well as a subjective sleep and depression score. Qigong helps with certain chronic conditions. Bear in mind, Qigong is used for regular maintenance as well.

Qigong works to promote a balanced lifestyle by preserving the body’s vital energy, named Qi, while cultivating and drinking from the fountain of infinity. The key focus should be the preservation of vital energy. Far too many people deplete themselves to the point of exhaustion. Unfortunately this is built into society. This stems from a combination of lack of sleep, lack of physical activity and excess stress.

Imagine, if you will, that Qigong is similar to storing up energy in a battery. A battery will run out from daily activities and needs recharging. Sleeping will recharge the battery. For most people, sleeping leads to waking up less than adequately charged. Assume you are running at about 60% charge for that day. Qigong helps close that gap. Meditation, such as Qigong, correlates with replacing sleep. The added benefit is that Qigong will not only fully recharge the battery, but also do more to enhance your quality of life.

What are some benefits?

Some of the benefits from Qigong treatments and practice are as follows:

• Improved focus and concentration
• Improved recovery leading to better daily performance
• Better balance
• Better range of motion and flexibility
• Improved pain management
• Better strength
• Improved respiratory functions
• Improved immune functions
• Better circulation
• Balanced nervous system leading to better rest and deeper sleep.

What is Qi or life force?

Qi, also known by other names like prana, is the energy that makes us alive. It animates the body, regulates the functions and helps us experience emotions, Qi is an interesting concept in that it covers many different functions of the body. For example, there is qi from the food you eat. There is the qi from the air that we breath. There is also qi surrounding the body called the Wei Qi. It provides a protective barrier. Qi courses throughout the body in different forms and has cycles that run at different times of the day. Everything uses qi and it surrounds is in our daily life.

Qi ties in to many physiological functions. Although from a western allopathic perspective, no one bodily system can account nor define qi, it is fair to say that qi represents a sort of bioelectricity. However at the same time, Qi has an intelligence to it. Qi knows what to do, but Qi can also be directed. Qi is subtle. This factor is responsible for why Qi is difficult to detect despite our technological advances. Despite that, Qi still remains the foundational aspect behind the theory of Chinese medicine.

How does this work with Chinese medical theory?

Chinese medical theory forms the basis and the principles behind the construction of Qigong. Thus it works via the five element theory. The five elements being: Wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Yin and yang, also called passive and active, are woven in with the concept of five elements. Overlay these concepts onto the energetic and physical anatomy of the body and you get a basic working theory of Chinese Medicine. The physical aspect relates to the organs within the body. The energetic aspect also starts with the organs and then blossoms out into a system of meridians and points.

Think of it like this. The organs themselves would represent lakes. The meridians would be rivers. The acupuncture points are like pools or even puddles and estuaries that form alongside it.

How does Qigong affect the energy?

Since the mind can lead the qi, the concentration and the intention of the individual performing the practice will enhance the practice beyond simply doing the movements. An example being if you were working on a movement for the lungs, the focused intention of working on the lungs allows more of the qi to flow to that area.

Qigong movements and sequences will also affect the physical body and thus by association the energy body. The stretching and moving of the tissues will stimulate the expansion and contraction of meridians that facilitate the flow of qi. Other tissues, like the internal organs, are massaged or compressed. This pumping action allows stuck qi to be expelled bringing in the much needed fresh qi. Specific exercises target specific meridians, organs or even areas of the body.

The breathwork comes into play to affect the mind and the energy flow. Deep abdominal breathing massages internal organs, but will also allow the mind to calm and settle. A more relaxed mind will then lead to a more relaxed body. This is how the body is rebalanced.

Why move the Qi?

We want flow. Good flow ensures the body works at a high level and functions optimally. Just like blood flow keeps the cells and tissues alive, qi flow keeps the body going. With hampered flow, a level of stagnation forms within the body. Imagine you get struck really hard. A bruise forms. That bruise is a form of stagnation namely blood stagnation. The medical term being a hematoma or blood cluster.

Blood and blunt force are not the only things that affect the energy flow. Energetic issues will also cause areas of stagnation or stuck Qi. For example, someone who is talkative in a one on one setting, but goes blank in a group setting would have an energetic block that manifests in that situation. Something prevents that person from speaking, but it is not a physical malady per say.

Tack on top of this the spiritual body. We have a physical body that moves through an energetic function, but it is the spiritual aspect that causes it to move. The thoughts and the intention of the person play a critical role. The thoughts lead the mind. The mind leads the qi. This is why Qigong is an all encompassing skill of working with your life force energy.

What about sessions?

Treatment sessions are Qigong applied to the person as opposed to being done by the person. This benefits you because we tend to be unaware of our blind spots. Consider that before the advent of cameras on cell phones, the best way to learn and improve your exercise form was to use a personal trainer. The trainer not only guided you, but would point out areas you were didn’t know needed improvement.

Having a session with a practitioner of Medical Qigong or a Chinese Energetic Practitioner, is similar. What you need to improve is shown to you, saving you years of struggle and discomfort. Life is too short to live in pain and suffer needlessly. If you are ready to move past these pain points in your life, start the process and book a consultation here.