Chinese Five Elements and the Art of Letting Go
- Feb 20
- 4 min read
Understanding the cycle of the Chinese five elements helps me live in the moment and realise that when I grasp, I hold myself back, as all matter is in perpetual motion. It’s hard not to become anxious about the inevitability of change and try to hold on to what can’t be controlled.
An example in my life is that I made a mistake with a ceiling renovation. It is now just a matter of time before my ceilings will disintegrate. It may happen in five, ten or twenty years, or maybe even thirty years. The only certainty is that it will happen, and the cost, given asbestos is involved, will be high. I have come to love my house after eight years of making it livable. It is now at a point that it feels mine and reflects who I am.
Whenever I think about that future renovation, my heart sinks as I will have to find the money or maybe even have to sell at that point. But holding on is futile. A cyclone might destroy my house, or my circumstances change, and I decide to move for whatever reason. Or perhaps I come into so much money that the renovation won’t matter. I might even die of old age before my ceilings fall in.
Chinese 5 Elements philosophy
The Chinese five elements are Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire. The five-element theory is a holistic approach to health and overall well-being. It’s been a part of Chinese medicine for centuries. I am an acupuncturist and have found this part of Chinese medicine particularly interesting and helpful.
At fifty-eight, I am in the Autumn time of my life. This is the time of the Metal element. It’s time to wind down and not be driven by achieving in the world, just as we draw in after a busy social summer. My idea of what matters has changed. I notice that I am more interested in my well-being and authenticity and less interested in achieving in a worldly sense. I am working less and exploring other aspects of myself.
My son turns eighteen today. He is in the springtime of life, which is the Wood element. He is very driven in the world and is forming his vision for his future. So much is yet to come.
Within one day, we all cycle through every element. For example, midday is the time of the Fire element and peak activity. This is the Chinese Clock, but more on this at another time.
The five elements are integral to our lives. We experience all five elements within a day, a season and even a lifetime.
To keep it simple, let’s consider the present season. Late Summer, which is February, is the time of the Earth element. Meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine are non-physical channels or pathways that transport vital energy (Qi) throughout the body, connecting organs, tissues, and functions to maintain balance and health. The active meridians for Summer are the stomach and spleen. If those meridians are not flowing smoothly, you may crave sugar and have digestive issues. The related colour is yellow, so it’s a great time to eat pumpkin, corn and vegetables grown in the earth.
The pathogen of the earth element is damp, so if not in flow, you may experience heaviness in your body and inflammation. Emotionally, we worry more if our Earth Element is out of balance. The Earth element is characterised by nurture and nourishment. It’s time for self-care and giving ourselves what we need mentally and physically. Grounding ourselves by walking in nature can help. It’s a good time to assess where our energy is going and whether we are depleting ourselves by giving too much away.
The coming season is Autumn and the time of the Metal element. The active meridians are the lung and large intestine meridians. We draw our energy inwards. In Autumn, we let go of what is no longer serving us and allow ourselves to grieve.
It’s important to experience each season fully and to accept change. If we are giving out too much to others in Late Summer, then we will have a harder time letting go in the Autumn. To let go properly, it’s important to be well nourished and aware of what we need. If we don’t let go in the Autumn, we will not rest properly in the Winter, the time of the Water element, because we are bogged down by what is not meant for us. If we are not rested in Winter, we won’t have the insight or energy to welcome in new beginnings in the Spring, the time of the Wood element.
When Summer comes around again, which is the Fire element, we will be stuck in the troubles of the past and on repeat, rather than bringing new projects and ideas to fruition and being joyful, which is the emotional aspect of the Fire element. Summer is followed by Late Summer, the time of the Earth Element, and the cycle continues.
Going back to my tendency to hold on to my house and worry about problems I will encounter in the future, if I allow constant flux and live here and now, all will unfold as it should.
I hope this has been useful and serves as a reminder that we can’t control what is in constant motion. Just as the seasons come and go, we too have to allow change. It’s essential to be self-aware and intentional, yet fluid and flexible so we can keep moving forward and live a full and happy life.
Thanks for reading. I am an acupuncturist in Margate. My business name is Peninsula Acupuncture and Shiatsu. Here is a link to my website...
By Maria Hunter.
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