CULTIVATE BALANCE THROUGH THE WISDOM OF THE FIVE GREAT ELEMENTS
BY: Laura Hand
“The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff.” – Carl Sagan
This “starstuff” that Carl Sagan describes, refers to the elements. In the present-day study of our natural world, science has revealed to us 118 unique elements; these can also be thought of in more universal terms as space, air, fire, water and earth. Each of these Pancha Mahabhuta, five great elements, represents a state or quality of matter that can be observed through direct experience. With practice and attention, we begin to recognize these Pancha Mahabhuta within our elemental bodies as a reflection of those comprising the observable universe. In essence, we can attune our biorhythms to those of the world around us to bring greater balance and deeper cosmic connection into our lives — this is elemental medicine.
In the sister science of yoga, Ayurveda, the five great elements are presented from subtle to gross. As the elements progress from less dense to more dense, each one contains the essence of those coming before it. The balance of space, air, fire, water and earth inside the body can be continually regulated according to our needs through the food we take in, the cultivation and management of Prana (internal energy) and our interaction with the physical world.
In this article, we will explore a cursory overview of the elements with guidance for developing elemental practices both on and off the mat. While this is by no means a complete prescription for elemental medicine, it is aimed at sparking curiosity while offering a few quick ways to invite elemental intelligence into daily life…
Read the full article on Gaia.com!
