“Cycle of Creation” Series
The Teaching of the 5 Elements
The Ancient Taoist Masters taught that emotions are stored in different vital organs in our bodies. Henceforth, an emotion can affect an organ. Also, when flipping the other side of the coin, a malfunction of an organ can be caused by an emotion. This caught my attention, as these teachings are 5,000 years old and yet very remains applicable in our current time. The more I dove into its teaching the more I was awed. I discovered that despite the simplicity of the Wisdom of Taoism, its effects are boundless. This ancient Wisdom taught me the ways the human body truly functions and how to cultivate our energies for the body to function at its optimum.
There exists a divine connection within all things in this reality. Every element is connected somehow to a different element and can reflect a certain aspect of reality/ or personality. As an example, in our body, each
organ represents an element in nature. However, due to the Law of Duality, it would also reflect its opposite. Therefore, the Heart represents Love and Trust, but it also represent Hatred; or the lack of Love. The Kidneys represent Peace and Tranquility, but they also represent Fear; or the lack of Inner Peace. Our bodies are a mirror of the nature that surrounds us and of the life that we lead. Having certain pain or discomfort in an a certain area of the body can be extremely informative in regards to the person’s environment and current way of thinking.
As the environment around us can be portrayed as a system by itself, our bodies also have interconnected systems of their own, which connects, in turn, with our environment. Those systems exist to ‘thrive and survive’. In order for them to function, a connection between the different elements/organs exist. Thus, a progression or a regression in one element/organ affects the whole system, therefore the whole cycle.
This is very much the representation of the ‘holistic model, as we recognize the ‘whole’, as opposed to the western medicine model , which often targets the individual organ. Targeting an individual organ most of the time signifies targeting the symptoms, without fixing the root cause nor rebalancing the overall system. Therefore, we are being prescribed with a number of pharmaceutical drugs that would cover the pain however never actually extracting the cause of the pain itself. In other words, we are just silencing the body that is trying to tell us to “watch out, there is an imbalance that needs fixing”.
Below is a short summary of the relationship between emotions and some vital organs. A deeper description for each organ is posted on separate blogs.
The Lungs hold sadness and depression
The Lungs, and also colon, are the ‘beginning point’ in the cycle. They hold, on a cellular level, sadness, grief, and depression. This makes sense when you think of that heavy feeling in your chest when you feel sad. The lungs represent the metal element in nature, meaning the rocks, gemstones and minerals. This topic is addressed more deeply in my lungs and sadness blog. The lungs also hold joy, laughter, as feeling of strength and courage. When we feel depressed, we can generally have a feeling of weakness.
The Kidneys hold stress, and anxiety
As you can see the lungs support the kidneys. The bladder, and the kidney’s hold fear, fight or flight, nervous tension, anxiety and fear of the unknown. As human beings we long ultimately for peace, joy and tranquility. The kidneys reflect the water element in nature. Water, generally for most people, can evoke a feel of tranquility.
Please see my kidney and fear blog for a deeper understanding and a breathing tool which can help to transform anxiety into peace.
The Liver holds anger, rage, judgement, intolerance
The kidneys support the liver and gallbladder, and the liver stores anger, rage, hostility, frustration, irritability, judgement, intolerance and jealousy. If we can embrace tools that help us move into a place of acceptance, forgiveness and kindness; we can begin to evolve the often genetic pattern of anger into a more gentle place.
The liver represents the tree element in nature. Trees offer us a feeling of inner love, and self-sufficiency. When you walk in the forest, it gives you the space you need in order for you to perceive issues from a different light. You can often feel less irritable, and start to direct attention to how you can rectify a situation in your life that may be causing you to feel angry or resentful.
I will be addressing the other organs in deeper detail with blogs I will post shortly.