5 Element Acupuncture Seminars

The Five Elements in Nature

The Chinese believe there are five seasons - Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer and Late Summer. Behind each of the seasons there is an elemental energy; the Five Elements - Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood actually creating each of them. By observing nature we can see these five energies in the world around us and also see how these same energies are reflected within our own bodies and personalities.

For example Spring is the beginning of the season cycle, a time of birth and new beginnings. It is also the energy of the element Wood. This is the energy that brings forth new growth. It is the energy that pushes the new grass through the snow and produces new leaves. It does this so nature can take in nourishment.

Spring is also the time of hope; it bursts forward with optimism, offering change after the quiet, still time of Winter. It brings to life the potential inherent in the each dormant seed, awakening, growing. Think of the wood of a tree, it gives nature structure and shape but does not let anything hold it back as it grows. Without change all things would wither and die.

As in nature the Wood energy is part of the energy of our body - the meridians of the Liver and Gall Bladder. Given that each meridian has a job in the body's kingdom, the Gall Bladder meridian is "The Upright Official who Excels in Judgment" and the Liver is "The Official in Charge of Planning". These Wood meridians do for us what Wood energy does in nature. They bring about new ideas and growth: giving us the energy to move forward, to change who we are, to be assertive, to make decisions and to have vision and hope for our future..