Elemental Journaling Series - The Spirit Of The Earth Season
- Bryony Webster
- Aug 28, 2023
- 4 min read
What is Elemental Journaling?
Based on the Chinese Five Elements Practise we will be journaling our way around the seasons. An introspective opportunity to connect with ourselves in cycle with the seasons through a series of journal prompts over the next year. Inspired by John Kirkwood’s work we will be ‘exploring, pondering and playing’ with the vibrations of each phase, learning about the elements and seasons and how they affect our lives. Starting in September 23 as we move into Earth.
The Spirit Of The Earth Season
Earth season falls around the harvest. Late summer into autumn, where the sun is at its most listless, marking the change in pace from the ‘doing’ to the ‘being’. It hangs in the balance between these states, giving a moment of stillness for us to ground ourselves in the element our planet is aptly named. There is a gentle heaviness about this season one where there is both saturation and wilting simultaneously. There is an atmosphere of fruition and fullness, where the plants have produced their flowers, berries, and fruits, plump and ready. Where the cycle of the elements has reached its peak. It is when nature is at its most plentiful, displaying all the hard work and efforts of the seasons before with each striking colour or glistening fruit you spot. Earth energy presides over a time of nurture, abundance, maturation and ripeness. It is the evidence of collaboration from the rest and rejuvenation of Winter’s Water, rapid growth of Spring’s Wood and the nourishment of Summer’s Fire.
In the eyes of The Five Elements, Earth is represented by the character of tu. “The top horizontal line represents the surface of the soil while the bottom line represents the subsoil or bedrock. The vertical line represents all that is produced by the earth. The character therefore conveys two significant qualities of Earth, those of nourishment and stability” (Kirkwood 2018). This time offers much insight into our achievements, manifestations and sense of balance.
The Soul Of Earth
Earth energy lives in the space of vitality. From the colours you wear to the fragrant and joyful expression of self. Yellow is this season’s colour, eye catching and full of light, it transitions us into the deeper mustards of autumn with grace and peace. Earth energy gives us permission to show who we are on our sleeves, singing and dancing our identities in the same way that flowers both catch our attention and indicate the plants they belong to. Nurture and self-care is much encouraged.
Processing Our Lives
Two themes are working together at this time. The first is 'giving and receiving', nature's harvest, fruits, nuts, flowers and berries, provide gifts of nourishment. It is a time to receive with ease and increase your energy, reaping the rewards of summer's fire. You can catch yourself in imbalance if you are feeling overwhelmed, overburdened, or giving away too much of your energy. It can be felt in the body through our digestion, whether we are sluggish or energised, and our mental chatter, are we caught in cycles of worry and anxiety or stable reflection?
The second, just as the birds spread the seeds for the next harvest, relates to 'processing all outcomes', abundant or not, reflecting on how we create space for our growth, ambitions and dreams. It is an important moment to acknowledge how far you’ve come and where you want to go next. As we lead towards Autum’s Metal and the Water of Winter, we get to dive even further into our ideas to sew the seeds anew in Spring.
In Our Bodies
Earth energy lives in two organs – the Stomach and Spleen. These organs are the powerhouse of processing and nourishing. The Stomach is the organ of transformation, breaking down foods into their digestible parts and working with the surrounding organs to create the right chemistry to do so. The Spleen transports energy from food around the body and moves fluids through our lymph. In Traditional Chinese Medicine our Spleen’s health is most correlated to our energy reserves as it absorbs the essences from our digested food to nourish our blood. When our Spleen health is under pressure, this can manifest in our ability to over-think and worry (Kaptchuk, 2000).
Journaling
Over the next few weeks we will be journaling our way through Earth’s themes and coming back into balance in preparation for the slower months. We will be looking at abundance, stability, expression, giving and receiving, through a series of journal prompts dedicated to this glorious season. We will be preparing for the transition into Autumn’s Metal element and settling into the change with intension.
Get cozy and come on the journey with us on Shinrin Musing’s Instagram page!
Everyone Sang by Seigfried Sassoon
Everyone suddenly burst out singing;
And I was filled with such delight
As prisoned birds must find in freedom,
Winging wildly across the white
Orchards and dark-green fields; on – on – and out of sight.
Everyone’s voice was suddenly lifted;
And beauty came like the setting sun:
My heart was shaken with tears; and horror
Drifted away…O, but Everyone
Was a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing will
never be done.
References
· Kaptchuk, T., 2000, The Web That Has No Weaver, London: Rider
· Kirkwood, J., 2018, The Way of The Five Elements, London: Singing Dragon
· Seighart, W., 2017, The Poetry Pharmacy, London: Particular Books
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