A Cross Cultural look at South, Summer, the Fire Element
Suzanne Lewis, Editor
Did you plant your garden early this year? It is common knowledge that the winter water pack makes or breaks the growing season to follow. Water like the blood of we humans is depleted and it is harder to keep things vitally green.
According to the Oriental Five Element Theory, when the water element is out of balance, immediately the fire element is injured. South or summer on the Great Wheel of Life is the home of this fire element otherwise connected to the heart and small intestines (triple heater and pericardium). How are you handling issues of relationships, health and communication in your summer life?
According to the teachings of White Buffalo Calf Woman, we are all one family…the earth, the stars, the four legged, two legged, winged ones, waters, winds, trees, those that creep and crawl…we are all related and we are to be in good relations. At a cellular, spiritual level, we are the same. South, summer, is the season for advocating our intimate connection with all. If the waters are out of balance, if the fire is out of balance outside in nature, it is out of balance inside our physical nature too.
Recently I had the good fortune to train with my Planetary Peacemaker Spiritual Teacher Dhyani Ywahoo. Seeking tools to deter the negative, bully energy so prevalent in our culture, we prayed, sang and danced to obtain wisdom that will help all the family of life. What I ultimately received were the following five steps:
First, always come back to one’s intimate wholeness
Second, affirm neutral emotions
Third, pray for mental clarity
Fourth, be willing to hear the cries of the suffering
Fifth, at least send back love
Wholeness equate authentic spiritual integrity, emotions connects with our waters our feelings, mental acuity relates to our fires, passions and commitments; the suffering weaves with our physical, very human existence and love is the framework that holds the form.
When we stepped into this 21st century the Dalai Lama was interviewed by Larry King and asked “What he foresaw in the upcoming century?” and he said, “The last 100 years was about warfare, conflict, harm. Each being must learn that the other one we aim to reign over is the same as you. If you hurt another you hurt yourself.”
He predicted the 21st century would be about dialogue. When we fail to maintain clear communication with active listening, disturbances brew. The secrets that came home in the forties after WWII set in motion dysfunctional family patterns cloaked in alcohol and image. The children of WWII, called the ‘Baby Boomers’ in tern experienced the Viet Nam error and resultant drug malign and thus we have their children readying to take the baton of leadership and involvement with the family of life.
Our young adults have a bundle of family patterns to address or ignore. Unlike the generation gone by today our new generation of warriors and warrioress have a new strength, we their parents and grandparents can stand beside them as a community. We are a circle and thus as strong as our weakest link. If one person is allowed to go down we all feel the weight. There is no more time for secrets only truth.
To come back to our wholeness, personal responsibility is required to account for one’s actions and involvements, remembering that all that I am is God but God is much greater than I am. Turning everything over to the highest good then allows us to gain equanimity with our emotions, strength in our thoughts, compassion for the suffering and the ability to respond with love.
Dhyani Ywahoo speaks to “the three principles of awakened mind that guide enlightened action:
Will to see the Mystery as it is,
Intention to manifest one’s purpose for the benefit of all and
Courage to do what must be done.”
The cliché, “Whole Person, Whole Planet” deserves to be adjusted to “WHOLE FAMILY…WHOLE UNIVERSE”. Are you ready to be involved? I AM!
