The Embrace of Earth
I don’t transition well. Never have. The space in between has always caused discomfort for me. I like to know where I’m going. I like to build on past success and move forward with certainty. Full stop. That’s not how life works, is it?
Life is full of transitions. You grow from the innocence of childhood to the responsibilities of adulthood to the reflections of your wisdom years. Sometimes these changes happen beyond your awareness. You just wake up one day and life has changed. Other times, the transition is bumpy – you get caught in the between. Not quite who you were and not quite who you are becoming.
The four seasons are a perfect example. As we prepare to transition from summer to autumn, there’s a period of time when Mother Earth seems confused. One day it’s summer. The next there’s a chill in the air. This flipflopping can continue for days and sometimes weeks.
This time of seasonal transitions was described by physicians in ancient China as the earth element, also known as the earth rhythm. In the five-rhythm energy system (water, wood, fire, earth, and metal), the earth element is associated with the autumnal equinox and the summer solstice.
The earth rhythm is characterized by the balance between worry and compassion. You can surrender to worry and settle for mediocrity and stay in your comfort zone. Alternatively, you might manage change by becoming too nurturing, too nice, too helpful. Your compassion might be misdirected.
But when your earth rhythm is in balance, worry is replaced with healthy compassion. Compassion for yourself and others.
Are you consumed by worry? Has a co-dependent relationship been created by misplaced compassion rooted in worry?
With simple, non-invasive energy medicine practices a rhythm that is out of balance can be rebalanced in a matter of minutes. And there is simple self-care that you can do to keep your earth rhythm in balance.
Is it time to get your rhythms tested? Is it time to shed the worry and replace it with compassion?