Water Element

Water Element Introduction

The Water element represents the power to conserve, concentrate and conceive.

Water is the low point of the matter. It is matter's dying or hiding stage. It's energy is downward and its aspect is stagnant and conserving. The negative feeling associated with water is fear, while the positive feeling is peacefulness. It is representative of intelligence and wisdom, suppleness, and softness . An over-abundance of the water element can lead to difficulties in making choices and adhering to those choices. Water can be fluid and yielding yet it can also exhibit great power when it deluges and overwhelms the land.

Water Element - Common Associations

The following are often associated with the Water element; the colours blue and black, unconscious thought, old age, death, winter, late night, early morning, Mercury, north, hearing sense, water settling at the lowest point, flowing, stagnancy, outwardly static, inwardly moving, ice, snow, stem, purification, cleansing, seeds, primal state, gentleness, support, spontaneity, fear, gathering, original Ki.

Body Parts Associated with the Water Element

The meridian associated with the bladder is a Yang meridian partnered with the kidney Yin meridian. Returning to the government metaphor, it's job is that

of a local minister whose spheres of influence are the pituitary gland, the autonomic nervous system and purification.

The closeness of the spine to the bladder meridian means that it has a role to play in physically supporting the body with the nervous system passing through the spinal column. Any imbalance may cause poor posture and lead to headaches.

Advance Shiatsu practitioners can use the bladder meridian as a diagnosis method. The bladder meridian has Yu points that can be used to assess the condition of other meridians or as a treatment.

Acting like a supervisor the Kidney meridian supervises the organs not maintained by the bladder. It maintains and stores the Ki for use in times of emergency. Besides storing the essential Ki the kidneys are the source of creativity and intelligence. They are also a reservoir of genetic material and propel us to survive and procreate. It is the essence of of the kidneys that sustains our life. If we are wasteful with the energy that the kidneys provide we will not have the incentive requires to survive and our other organs will fail.

The water element also appears in the brain, spinal cord, bones, teeth, hair, inner ear, anus, urethra, ovaries and testes. It's bodily fluids are spinal fluid and sexual secretions.

The Water Element Personality Type

Water element personality types are artistic and are better with concepts than doing. With a high forehead they frequently have a powerful physique. They constantly seek out the truth things using their higher intelligence and creativity. When properly motivated Water element types will commit a lot of time and effort in their quest for the truth. But in the face of adversity they can become very introspective. Often this can become severe and they find that they can't reach out to the outside world. Similarly those in the outside world can't reach in to the Water type when in this state. They exist in an impenetrable emotional dungeon.

In these circumstances sleep can be a relief and they may remain in bed for long periods at a time. When they doe eventually emerge it can often take a while to shake off the torpor. With time they can ignite their spark for life once again. Continuous emotional contact with other element types can act as a counterbalance to their introspectiveness.

Water element people are often obsessive compulsives or hypochondriacs.

Health Issues for Water Element Types

When the kidneys become too powerful they invade the heart and spleen. When this happens it is extremely difficult to experience or feel love. A bit like trying to start a Fire with wet Wood. This can lead to depression. An excessive amount of Water when combined with Earth element feels like mud. This brings about poor muscle tone, a bulging stomach and loose bowels. The lungs may also be negatively impacted leading to respiratory difficulties.

Water Element - Visualisation Exercises

Visualise yourself swimming. As you submerge your body under the water notice that it is difficult to discern where the water begins and your body ends. This is the kind of loss of boundaries that can occur with the fire element energy. You are a part of the flow of the water rather than the more delicate dissolution of Fire. This abandonment of ego has been used in water-based ceremonies such as baptism.

Artists and writers have rivers, lakes and oceans as symbols of the unconscious mind. These people may be very much in contact with their own water energy and have vivid imaginations. By exploring the backgrounds of favourite artists and poets may reveal their connections wit water energy

There are many ways to gain a greater appreciation for water energy including staring at the sea, lake or river, making love, meditating near a body of water, or taking a bath

Water Element Conclusion

Water element types may sometimes appear hard hearted and somewhat aloof. Despite this their obvious intelligence is never in doubt. With greater sensitivity and compassionate they find that their superior intelligence is inestimable.