The Five Rhythms
The Five Rhythms/Elements
Water - Wood - Fire - Earth - Metal
Ancient cultures studied humans and the environment and found that we are made of the same elements as of our environment. There is are rhythms that flows within each person that relate to the Five Elements. When we understand the rhythms, we can understand when they are in optimal balance and when they are not.
WATER
Archetype: poet, philosopher, thinker
Emotional stress response: fear
Energy: Can be as translucent as water and can sink deep (into depression).
Related organs: Kidney (yin) & Bladder (yang)
Season: Winter
WOOD
Archetype: Commander in Chief, Military, Leader
Emotional stress response: anger
Energy: Goes directly to its goal, goes through things.
Related organs: Liver (yin) & Galbladder (yang)
Season: Spring
FIRE
Archetype: Passionate Lover
Emotional stress response: panic
Energy: Goes up and burns, can burn itself and other up.
Related organs: Heart, Circulation Sex (yin) & Small Intestine, Triple Warmer (yang)
Season: Summer
EARTH
Archetype: Mother, Peacekeeper
Emotional stress response: worry. over compassion
Energy: Sways
Related organs: Spleen (yin) & Stomach (yang)
Season: Indian summer/solstice
METAL
Archetype: Alchemist
Emotional stress response: grief
Energy: Structured solid
Related organs: Lung (yin) & Large Intestine (yang)
Season: Autumn
