Five Element Series: Water
An Intro to the Water Element
As we move deeper into winter, it is time to embrace the element of water. Water is the most yin of all elements. Deep and internal in nature, it represents stillness, darkness, and nourishment. Soft yet powerful, this substance cuts through the most durable of matter and moves around any obstacle.
Winter: The Water season
When cold and dark days approach, Traditional Chinese Medicine encourages turning inwards, resting, and preserving our energy. Over-exertion during winter time can lead to the depletion of our kidney energy and may look like fatigue, low libido, back pain, increased susceptibility to illness, and lower stress tolerance. It is important to cultivate a balance between rest and activity. We cannot look externally or compare ourselves to others to determine how much rest vs. activity is appropriate for us individually. We can only look within. Naturally our qi begins to turn inward and gives us the opportunity to restore our physical and mental energy, conserving it for the coming seasons of growth and activity.
Balanced Water Element
You have an appropriate response to dangerous situations, but you are not overly fearful
You have the ability to regulate your nervous system after a threatening situation occurs
You see the big picture and can weigh out risk potential
You have the ability to judge the trustworthiness of another person
You can improvise when things don’t go as planned
Imbalanced Water Element
You tend to be overly cautious and anticipate danger which may hold you back in some situations
Alternatively, you like to put yourself in risky situations and feel a surge of adrenaline
You may fantasize about potential threats and always be on alert
You struggle to let your guard down and often feel suspicious
On the other hand you may be overly trusting and assume that everyone has good intentions
You take pride in having a strong drive and determination
You may feel paralyzed if something happens that you weren’t expecting