Five Element Mastery

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the five elements constitute all phenomena in the universe. Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood encompass every arena of the physical, energetic, emotional, and spiritual worlds. An understanding of Five Element Theory provides insight into the causes and solutions for every physical illness, energetic or emotional imbalance, and every mental or spiritual crisis. This book gives you the tools to put the wisdom of Five Element Theory into practice – to achieve and continually enhance your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The spiritual information that sets this book apart from other instructional guides on Five Element Theory is the connection made to the six paramitas of Tibetan Buddhism. The paramitas inform you as to how to act ethically: with generosity, morality, tolerance, perseverance, concentration, and wisdom. These are the guidelines to all aspirants of Buddhahood and enlightenment; and for the Bodhisattva, a person who commits to being reborn until all beings are free of suffering. This book highlights the natural connection between the six paramitas and the five elements, and provides methods for cultivating physical, emotional, and spiritual health through the understanding and application of this critical relationship. I first discovered the connection between the five elements and the six paramitas in Paul Pitchford's book, Healing with Whole Foods, where he mentions, "...the paramitas are ways to correct imbalances in the elements. For example, in the Wood Element, anger is overcome with patience; in Earth, weakness in the spleen-pancreas and stomach can be helped by giving. The paramita of "keeping moral precepts" means to hold the five traditional precepts of avoiding killing, lying, stealing, sexual misconduct, and intoxicants. A good moral foundation supports a strong biological foundation, and...the kidney-adrenal function is the root and foundation of the body" (Pitchford, 2002, pg. 304). I would never have written this book if it weren't for this small excerpt from Pitchford's work, and I am forever grateful that he was called to include it. I reached out to Pitchford and he informed me that he was inspired by his teacher, Hsuan Hua, to work with the connection between the six paramitas and the five elements. Pitchford's work is the spark that fueled the desire within me to create a means of integrating the principles of the paramitas with the physical and meditative practices of qigong. For many years, qigong was primarily a physical and energetic/emotional practice for me. Now, with the integration of the paramitas, qigong circulates not only energy - but spiritually enriching virtue as well. This book is the culmination of the practices that have made qigong, for me, truly unifying of the body, heart, and spirit. It is my sincere wish that the content of this book sparks a flame of inspiration inside of you to ingrain the enlightening principles of the paramitas within every cell of your body through the practice of Five Element Qigong and the supplemental methods I provide. The magic of this book is rooted in principle, and every practice is interwoven with timeless spiritual medicine. In the context of this work, "spiritual," refers to the non-physical, non-emotional, and non-energetic components of your being: the term is used to discuss the raw data, or information, that constitutes your "spiritual body." The spiritual body is all the ideas, memories, thoughts, and principles that reside in your consciousness. It is important to clarify at the outset that these components of the spiritual body are not you, but yours. Just as the components of your physical body (your bones, blood, internal organs, etc.) are not you, they are yours. The components of all three of your bodies (physical, emotional, and spiritual) are yours to utilize in living a life in accordance with your highest self. This book will not attempt to describe or analyze the full nature of the highest self (or what may be called the soul, true self, or God). Delving too deeply into theories on this subject would divert me from sharing outright the practical tools to help you lead a more joyful and fulfilling life. That is not to say that the materials in this book won't help you to understand and commune with your higher self. To the contrary, the disciplines within help you to do just that. But building a relationship with your higher self, and knowing your higher self, can only be achieved by you, through practice. That is why this volume places a greater emphasis on practice and only provides as much theory as is necessary to make the practice most effective. For example, I share the Five Element Affirmations before I discuss in length the principles they are based on. The affirmations are beneficial as soon as you begin practicing them, and the theory is for you to study to continuously enrich and strengthen your practice. The only critical property of the higher self I need to convey is its role as the observer and master of your physical, emotional, and spiritual being. Identifying with this aspect of your higher self is an essential concept that enables you to utilize the components of your being the way you intend. The contrary is being ruled by the desires of your body; the whims of your emotions; and the errant thoughts of your mind - and this makes you a slave. This book will help you become the master, in communion with your higher self.