The 5 Elements of Life

You are a unique spark of Divine creation. There is no one like you, never has been and never will be. While we all share the same core essence of love, bliss, and radiance, each of us manifests and expresses it in different ways, similar to how the same kind of flowers growing side by side in a garden will have subtle differences. One of them may have blossoms that open a tad bit more, or the color is a little more vibrant. Maybe one is bushier than the other. It’s the same for you and me.

This is why there is no one size fits all to healing and/or living. There’s no magical 7 step process that can be replicated to get you from where you are to where you to go. There are general guidelines and within those guidelines, there’s a whole lotta nuance.

In Ayurveda, everything can be broken down into the 5 elements: ether/space, air, fire, water, earth. From the most subtle to the most dense. From a single cell in your body all the way to furthest reaches of outer space, the 5 elements are present, dancing and creating the universe around us and within us. As below, so below. As within, so without. We are a microcosm of the macrocosm.

These elements exist in varying amounts in each person and in every thing—animals, plants, seasons, time of life—which brings us back to the fact that there is no one size fits all to living because we each have varying needs depending on our constitution. Those who have more fire in them will have different diet and lifestyle needs than someone who has a lot of earth.

But for now, let’s talk about how each of these elements presents itself in our bodies, our life, and the world. This is a very high level overview to help you begin deepening your relationship with each of the elements.

Ether/space is the void, the essence of emptiness. It’s the space that holds the other elements or the space the other elements fill. It’s the safe spaces created in community and intimacy, and the sacred space you take up. It’s the hollows of the body like the intestines, bladder, and lungs. And it’s the ether element that carries sound. Those with a lot of ether in their constitution have an ear for music and frequencies that others may not be able to hear. They tend to be very ethereal in nature and pursue interests in mystical arts like tarot, oracle reading, and astrology. When in balance, ether allows you to easily sense your intuition. You feel organized. You’re comfortable taking up space and holding space. When out of balance, you may feel unclear about your purpose. You may feel empty and lonely. Your living space may be cluttered. You may shrink and try to take up less space than is being asked of you. Or you may overcompensate and try to take up more space than is needed/required in an effort to be seen and noticed. Notice your relationship to the space around your body, the space of your environment, and the spaces to which you give your attention. Do they align with your values? Do they promote a sense of connection and invigoration? If not, how can you freshen up those spaces and what do you need to (re)claim the space that is yours to embody?

Air is the element of lightness, motion, and breath. Air is the activated potential inherent in ether. Whereas ether is the void, air is the movement within and through that void, and it’s associated with our sense of touch. Because it’s the element of motion, it’s responsible for the pulsing of our blood, the elimination of our bowels and bladder, the breath in and out of our lungs, the movement of electrical impulses through our nervous system. It’s catabolic in nature, meaning that, overtime, air will deplete and deteriorate that in which it touches. Like a mountainside whipped by wind, excess air element can lead to dryness and roughness. You may experience constipation, anxiety, overwhelm, dry skin, depletion, and/or energy that easily dissipates. It’s most present during times of major transition like sunrise, sunset, seasonal equinoxes, birth, and death. Air is also related to our movement through space and time. Your relationship to air can be reflected in how you schedule your time. Take look at your calendar. Where are you spending vs investing your time? Do you find yourself often feeling short on time, behind in life, or like there’s never enough time? You may need to create some structure for the energy of air to be channeled through so it can help move you in the direction of your vision and goals. When you have the right amount of air element for you, you’ll be able to easily move that which needs to be moved and you’ll feel in touch with your purpose and desires.

The element of fire is held within the element of space while the element of air causes friction which creates fire and continues to fan the flames, thus providing the capacity to burn. It’s because of air that fire can never be still and is erratic in nature. Just as the sun generates energy for the earth, fire generates energy for the body. It’s most closely associated with physical digestion, the fire that transforms food into bodily tissue. But it’s also the emotional digestion that allows us to learn from our experiences, turning information into wisdom, and it’s the sensorial digestion that allows us to take in stimuli and produce a response. As a result, the element of fire is responsible for our sense of sight. People with a high concentration of fire will often have a sharp, clear vision for what they want to achieve in life. However, they need to be aware of their tendency to overwork and burn out. Though overworking doesn’t feel like overwork for them, they’ll notice when the fire is burning uncontrollably when their anger gets the best of them and resentment is a common occurrence. They may also experience rashes, inflammation, infection, and breakouts. Instead of allowing the fire to run wild, the aim is to create a hot bed of coals that produces an even, consistent output of energy for sustainable growth. What do you have your eyes set on? Does your vision for the future feel sharp and clear? Or dark and muddy? Allow the fire to illuminate your desires while burning away the muck standing in the way so your true essence may radiate forth.

Water is the source from which life as we know it evolves. From the first single celled micro organisms that grew in water, to the waters of the womb and breast, to the water we drink, water is the most basic form of nourishment and is related to our sense of taste. Water soothes the fiery flames of inflammation, provides a sweet respite from the jarring roughness of air, and protects against the dissolution of all consuming space. It’s cohesive in nature, meaning it helps to bring things together and build things up. In the body, it relates to secretions, fluids, and mucus. We need water for healthy digestion, but too much can dampen the digestive fire and result in slow digestion, low appetite, and/or incomplete break down of foods. So, how is your digestion and elimination? In the mind, water reflects our emotional state. The calmer the water, the calmer the mind, like a still lake reflecting the light of a full moon. Do you feel stuck, stagnant, and bored? If so, you may need to invoke the water element to help churn things up and bring in fresh energy. Water carries currents of energy. Thus, water is related to currency or money. Does your money feel stagnant like a boggy pond? Does it feel hard to retain and moves straight through you like a flash flood? Can you provide a safe, stable structure for your money to move through and feel at home in like that of a riverbed, allowing the water to gently flow, creating a sanctuary for all kinds of life to visit?

The most dense and formed element of all is earth. Earth provides stability and structure. It’s the ground you walk on, the crystals you hold in meditation, the bones and muscles of your body. The structure that earth provides is the conduit through which the other elements can move. It’s related to our sense of smell which is the oldest of all the senses and directly linked to memory. Think of the smell of wet earth after a summer rain. There’s something primal about that smell that awakens ancient memories that remind us that we are of the earth. The food we take in comes from the earth. Our tissues are formed from that food. And when we die, our bodies will go back to the earth. Earth is memory. Earth is also support. Do you feel supported in your life? What sources of support do you need to feel safe? Try laying on the ground, with your back directly touching the earth. Feel how the earth cradles you as you exhale, and rises to hold you as you inhale. You are innately supported. Because the earth element is related to our bones and muscles, tune into these parts of your body. Do you feel strong and stable in your physical form? Do you feel strong and stable in your sense of worthiness and ability to receive nourishment? What do you need to feel strong in your sense of self? Lifting weights might be something to consider to connect with the earth element. The sensation of heaviness helps to ground the airy energy and provide structure for the other elements to move fluidly.

I hope this overview helped you gain some insight to what element you might need support in and what already feels abundant. In The Garden, we’ll be spending 3 months on each element. You’ll get educational, analytical workshops as well as experiential, spiritual ceremonies so you can have a well rounded, Wholistic relationship with these 5 Elements of Life. Within each elemental theme, there will be fun “challenges” and experiments for you to incorporate into your own daily life and a community to share your experience with. We start with the Element of Fire on April 22nd to enkindle curiosity and co-create with the element that’s drawing life up from the depths of the deep, dark soil. Come join us <3