Holistic healing

Interview: Emma Cannon on embracing the earth element

Our columnist shares two ancient practices for traditional Chinese medicine’s earth element phase

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the five elements are known as wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each of them is associated with a certain body organ, a colour, a taste, an emotion and a season of the year – among other things. As we enter the time of year associated with the earth phase, here are my favourite rituals for you to try relating to this element.

Build your boundaries

Needing to please other people can overwhelm the earth type who does not have good boundaries. One of the central themes of earth is: how do we realise our connectedness and our oneness without losing who we are? The answer is through good boundaries.

Ritual: Think about who allows you to feel safe

Imagine now, being with someone for whom you feel safe and think about their characteristics. I expect you know where you stand with that person. They are not afraid to call you out kindly, or themselves. They know who they are and there is a safety in that knowing. They are true to themselves and do not betray themselves. They don’t say one thing and do another. They are clear and you understand where they are coming from, even if it isn’t your truth or even if it causes you some discomfort. They do not take responsibility for your responses, only their own. There is emotional clarity.

Consider your sacrifices

In sacrifice there is an energetic movement away from the reciprocal nature of earth; there is a giving without receiving. The energy of sacrifice is often started within the family dynamic and carries within it the martyr archetype. There is an underlying belief that you can be sacrificed for the greater good, or you will sacrifice yourself to keep the peace. In this dynamic no one wins.

I have also frequently witnessed this dynamic if one of the parents are ill, or there is an unwell child, a badly behaved or emotionally unstable sibling or a financial crisis. One member may decide to sacrifice their own needs which may not be considered as vital or urgent than whatever else is going on within the family structure.

This can lead to a lifetime of sacrificing one’s own needs, to the point of not having any needs or at least not knowing what they are. This makes an intimate relationship challenging, and it may also impact on the person’s ability to have career success as they will always put other needs before their own.

Ritual: Tune into the nature of earth

Write as many adjectives about the earth as you can think of, writing: ‘The earth is…’ Be spontaneous and do not overthink it. Finish this part of the exercise before moving onto the next. Aim for around 15-20 ideas. When you have finished this, replace ‘The earth’ with ‘I am’. Writing: ‘I am …’ and using all the same adjectives. Reflect on how you view the world and therefore yourself.

Emma Cannon is an integrated women’s health expert, registered acupuncturist and author. Check out more of Emma’s fantastic work at emmacannon.co.uk