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April 3, 2024Elements of Change - Earth
"When we touch the Earth mindfully every step will bring peace and joy to the world" Thich Nhat Hanh
As I write, here in the northern hemisphere, we are celebrating the winter solstice, where we experience the shortest day and the longest night. Currently we have six planets in earth signs – the Sun, Mercury and Pluto in Capricorn and the Moon, Jupiter and Uranus in Taurus so it seems an opportune time to reflect on the element of earth.
Earth is the element of the physical world of matter and form. Earth brings stability, containment and firm foundations; it brings connection to our roots and to time. Through our connection to the earth we receive an abundance of material prosperity, energy, strength and support.
Earth brings balance and regeneration, continuous cycles of birth, death and rebirth, of activity, rest and renewal. Earth nourishes and supports our journey through these cycles.
New life begins with a period of incubation and at winter solstice we use the energy of earth to incubate and nurture, to plant the seeds of intention and growth as the sun’s strength returns.
In our meditation practice we honour the ebb and flow of our inner and outer growth. Deep roots create stillness, stability, connection and inner peace. Stay rooted in this deep state of being and presence. Reflect on what is holding you back, what you need to let go of and make room for the emerging seed of your intentions.
Clematis - Courtesy of the Bach Centre
Pay attention to your breathing. When you feel stressed or off centre breathe slowly and send roots deep into the earth to anchor yourself, channelling excess energies into the earth. Draw up the abundant vitality and beauty of the earth which is always available to you.
Good grounding is important for our health as an inability to ground leads to stagnation in our energy field. With nowhere for the excess energy to go, the flow of energy within our body slows. Blockages may develop that inhibit our ability to function physically.
The Bach flower Clematis is indicated when we have our “head in the clouds” or when we break off in the middle of what we are saying. This may be accompanied by feelings of drowsiness or the need to sleep excessively.
When our mind is not focused on the present we are unable to fulfil our purpose. In its positive state, and as Stefan Ball suggests in Bloom: Using flower essences for personal development and spiritual growth “Clematis roots us in reality.”
At this solstice time I am reminded of the importance of community, and I am reflecting on the gifts of cultivating community. At the start of 2023 I joined a community to study A Course in Miracles, a Christian mystic text. I have learned that I don’t need to do life all by myself, that I can bathe in the effortless presence of a never changing love, which sits at the centre of my being, where I am completely held, guided and cared for.
How has belonging to a community impacted your wellbeing and overall sense of fulfilment this year? How can you deepen this as we move into a new year?
Connecting with the energy of the earth allows us to extend our awareness. We might notice an increased ability to sense crystals and minerals, the energy held in stone circles and standing stones, to feel the deep energy of different trees, plants and herbs.
As a Subtle Energy Medicine Practitioner I notice an increased desire to bury some of my crystals in the earth that need to rest or be cleansed. You may notice this too - and I urge you to make a note of where you buried them!
Connecting with the element of earth encourages us to live a simpler life, less overwhelmed by external events and with more connection to other beings who share our world. I wish you a blessed solstice time.
