The Earth Element occurs in a season called Late Summer
It’s a short and unrecognized season in the West, being the last month of summer and falling in the middle of the Chinese Lunar New Year. It is the transition from the expansive growth phase of spring and summer to the inward nature of the fall and winter seasons.
Late Summer is when farmers harvest their crops. This season represents unity, harmony, the mid-point between extremes, highlighting tranquility and effortlessness. This season is about simplicity and using centering practises to feel grounded. If our seeds are of high quality, the weather favourable and the soil aeriated and rich in nutrients, the earth will bear a bounty for the people to feast upon. The soil needs to be fertile for the fruits of the earth to be nourishing. The Earth is said to possess a Motheringrole as a provider, but she also needs to be cared for in return.
Being nurtured and nourished by natures abundance is paramount to having a healthy Earth element
This idea of 'Mother Earth' or ‘Mother Nature’ is deeply rooted in our psyches whereby the qualities of Motherhood can be found in a healthy, harmonious environment. The fruits of the earth nourish and support us, just like our Mother’s do. It is thought that people with a healthy Earth Element can easily give and receive emotional support and nurturing.
The Earth Element organs are our most powerful digestive organs, the Spleen and the Stomach. The Earth Organs are crucial in breaking down the Qi of the food we digest to power our physiological functions. The Spleen and Stomach tend to include some of the functions of the pancreas in a western sense. But in Traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s said to create blood, controls the raising of Qi, the muscles and the four limbs. Its sound is singing, its colour is golden orange and houses the Yi or the intellect; our capacity for sustained intention. When suffering an imbalance, the Earth Element can manifest as a lack of appetite, obesity and fatigue.
The process of digestion goes through various stages, with the Spleen overseeing these functions
Going back to our Kingdom analogy used in Chinese medicine, the Spleen is described as the ‘Official of Transformation and Transportation’. Transformation is the conversion of food and fluids we ingest into Qi while transportation is the movement that accompanies the transformation process. Theprocess of digestion goes through various stages, with the Spleen overseeing these functions. The Stomach is akin to a compost heap or a maceration chamber; breaking down food so it can be transformed or digested. To keep the Spleen and Stomach harmonized, food must be chewed well and taken in an easily digestible format meaning foods should be well cooked; preparing food with care is key.
Do you feel like your Earth Element organs are working in harmony? Are the foods you’re eating giving you enough energy or is there room for improvement? Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are effective methods to treating a variety of digestive issues. Curious? Book a treatment Here.