love – Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc https://drsaritaelizabeth.com Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:50:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/favicon-36x36.png love – Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc https://drsaritaelizabeth.com 32 32 Fire – Hug heart to heart https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/fire-hug-heart-to-heart/ Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:15:50 +0000 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/?p=5592 Continue reading →]]> Fire – Hug heart to heart
 
The hug
Next time you go in for or are receiving a hug, take note.  Do you lean in left shoulder to left shoulder, right shoulder to right shoulder or reach for the waist with a side hug? Are you comfortable with a hug? Were you raised with hugs? How long is your natural hug? Do you want to practice hugging?
 
Word Origin
Etymologically, “hug” is thought to come from the Old Norse word hugga, which translates to “to comfort or console”.
 
A lesson from one of my clinical mentors in my Chinese Medicine program has never been forgotten and still settles in my mind and body upon each greeting or departing with the gesture of affenction more than 20 years later. Hugging heart to heart is an everyday Qi Gong practice.
 
How to Give a Heart-to-Heart Hug
 
A true heart-to-heart hug requires conscious physical alignment to connect your energetic centers.
 
Follow these steps:
  1. Approach Left-to-Left: Step forward and slightly shift your body to the right so your left shoulder aligns with the other person’s left shoulder.
  2. Heart Contact: Wrap your arms around them, allowing the left side of your chest (where your heart resides) to press directly against theirs.
  3. Breathe and Hold: Hold the embrace for at least 20 seconds. Take 2–3 full relaxing breaths.

The Scientific Why?

  • Releases Oxytocin: Holding the hug for 20 seconds triggers the release of oxytocin (the “bonding hormone”), which lowering heart rates and reducing cortisol stress levels.
  • Calms the Nervous System: The deep pressure stimulation co-regulates your nervous systems, shifting both bodies from “fight-or-flight” into a restorative “rest-and-heal” parasympathetic state.
  • Enhances Emotional Security: Direct chest contact stimulates the vagus nerve, instantly lowering blood pressure and increasing feelings of safety and social trust.

 
Igniting the Inner Smile: Qi Gong & the Fire Element
 
True connection begins with an open heart. Summer is governed by the Fire element, a powerful force that directly rules the heart, small intestine, and our emotional capacity for joy. When our Fire element is balanced, we naturally radiate warmth, enthusiasm, and compassion—the exact ingredients needed for a deep, meaningful embrace.
 
However, when life gets overwhelming, the Fire element can burn too hot, leading to anxiety, insomnia, or emotional burnout. Conversely, if the fire dims, we might feel isolated or disconnected. Qi Gong offers a gentle, moving meditation to clear this excess heat and rekindle our inner warmth.
 
Stoking the Warmth of Connection
In Qi Gong practice, the heart is considered the home of our spirit, or Shen. To harmonize the Fire element, we use fluid movements paired with the “Heart Sound” (Haw). This specific healing sound acts like a cooling breeze, releasing pent-up pressure from the chest.
 
Qi Gong Practices for kindred fire
 
Step-by-Step Instructions:
 
Clearing the Heart (Disperse stagnation, process grief, reduce blame & hatred)
 

The Setup: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees soft, palms together in a prayer position at the center of your chest.

  1. The Inhale: Breathe in deeply through your nose, feeling your chest expand.
  2. The Exhale: Push your hands straight forward away from your body, palms facing out. Simultaneously, exhale through your mouth while whispering the healing sound “Hawww” to release tension.
  3. Repetitions: Repeat for 6 to 9 breaths.
 
By pushing your hands forward on the exhale and drawing them back to your chest on the inhale, you regulate the heart’s rhythm. You are actively clearing away old hurts and pulling in pure, unconditional love. This practice shifts your internal state from stress to safety, making your physical hugs an authentic extension of your inner peace.
 
Opening the Heart (Invite positive energy and possibility)
 

The Setup: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees soft, and arms relaxed at your sides. 

  1. The Inhale: Bring your hands up to chest height, palms facing each other, then extend your arms straight out in front of you. Gently expand your arms out wide to the sides, opening your chest completely.
  2. The Exhale: Softly bring your hands back toward the centerline of your chest, palms facing your body, crossing your arms, wrapping yourself in an embrace.
  3. Repetitions: Repeat for 6 to 9 breaths.
Balancing your Fire element allows you to show up fully for yourself and those you care about. By cultivating a peaceful heart, your presence becomes a safe harbor for yourself and for others.
 
 
 
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Earth: Be Loyal https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/earth-be-loyal/ Wed, 17 Sep 2025 22:12:40 +0000 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/?p=4858 Continue reading →]]> Welcome to Day 3 of Earth Element Wisdoms. The daily delivery of these clinical pearls, inquiries, musings, tips & Jedi mind tricks will continue until the end of the month.  

I hope this series supports your deep dive into the dynamic of seasonal wellness & inspires you to play with the Element Wisdom Card Decks on your health journey.

If you would like to invite a friend to join our late summer series, they can sign up here

Be Loyal.

Dogs are our best teacher when it comes to unconditional loyalty.

Beyond loyalty they teach us about unrestrained love & living in the moment.

Is it because they have four feet on the earth all day long? A recent study entitled Grounding (earthing) as related to electromagnetic hygiene: An integrative review discusses inspiring research and anecdotal evidence from patient treatments involving direct contact with the ground. Give it a read by clicking on the title above.

When playing with the Element Wisdom Cards, I invite you to ask yourself what does the card means to you? Does it resonant or no? Does it bring up a curiosity? a feeling? a memory? a story?

I find the same card sparks different responses in a different season of the year or a different season of my life. Today, Be Loyal asks me to be loyal to myself.

I have spent many years being loyal to my education, my career, my finances, personal growth, health practices and so on. Wholesome projects, certainly. I would very often try to give my loyalty to some or even all of these at once. I found myself loyal to professionals that handle my legal dealings, accounts and even to my patients, programs, friends or employees well beyond the season that serves.

The emotional spectrum of the Earth element is worry to faith.  Ask yourself:  am I loyal to worry (the emotion of the lower self)? or am I loyal to faith (the emotion of the higher self)?

2025 is the year of the yin wood snake. The snake asks us to shed our old skins (habits, viewpoints, thinking patterns, maybe even job or locale) that no longer fit.  Yin brings us flexibility, taking it slow while wood garners planning, strategy, vision and certainty. 

May we take a thoughtful review of what deserves our loyalty. Take a fresh look at our dreams, desires, dedications. May we be loyal to our true self.

 

 

 

 

Jamieson IA. Grounding (earthing) as related to electromagnetic hygiene: An integrative review. Biomed J. 2023 Feb;46(1):30-40. doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2022.11.005. Epub 2022 Dec 7. PMID: 36496151; PMCID: PMC10105031.

 

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Water ~ Expand your circle of love https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/water-expand-your-circle-of-love/ Tue, 14 Mar 2023 14:29:53 +0000 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/?p=4515 Continue reading →]]> Expand your circle of love.

When we honor the stillness of winter, love settles.

Winter is the quiescent season.

 

The season to remember, accept, forgive and heal generational to generation.

This is all work to be done in the deep and quiet essence of spirit.

First we find self love.

Then we find love for the other, the beloved.

Next we expand our heart to those with which we have difficulties.

Finally we can honestly expand our circle of love to the greater community.

This is metta. This is the practice of loving kindness.

 

It will rock your world.

 

 

 

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Water ~ You are a visionary https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/water-you-are-a-visionary/ Tue, 14 Mar 2023 14:28:53 +0000 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/?p=4513 Continue reading →]]> You are a visionary.

The water element paired organs that peak in winter are the Bladder and Kidney (plus adrenals).

The bladder meridian travels from the inner canthus of the eye across the head down the back side of the entire body exiting out the little toe. It traverses all of us.

Many of the point names indicate their function: bright eyes, supporting yang, supporting middle, celestial pillar, soul door, spirit hall, spiritual celestial connection, soul gate.

Acupuncture treats all levels of the human – mind, body, spirit.

Treating the bladder points can not only treat our organs like the bladder or the eyes, but it can also treat our spiritual sickness. It can help us see through the eyes of spirit. The dark clouds of our emotions and thinking can be cleared to see the bright blue skies of divine perfection.

Winter is Dreamtime.

Make the connection to your internal visionary this winter.

Dream it.

Envision it.

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Earth: Does your yes serve the balance? https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/does-your-yes-serve-the-balance/ Mon, 19 Sep 2022 21:21:28 +0000 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/?p=3987 Does your yes serve the balance? Ask yourself does my yes serve my health? Does it support my family’s wellness? Does it better my neighborhood? Does it raise the octave of the collective? For an element wisdom guidance session see link in bio 😍#elementwisdomcards #fire #lifecoach #naturopathicdoctor #fivelements #tcm #yes

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Fire – Love Heals. Period. https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/fire-love-heals-period/ Mon, 19 Sep 2022 21:16:57 +0000 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/?p=3985 Love Heals. Period. A shout-out to those beloveds that offer and receive unconditional love. I’m blessed with so much love. It’s a mighty power. Relationships are the theme for the fire season of summer. Did you know you become like the 5 people you spend the most time with?
Let that sink in. Yes, you become like them. Choose wisely.
I choose heart. I choose integrity.
I choose passion, honesty, kindness, presence. What do you choose? With love and all the while, I am super picky about my close-ins and with whom I spend my precious time. #elementwisdomcards #fire #naturopathicdoctor #tcm #fiveelements #love #relationshipcoaching #friends #coworkers

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Fire – Sing, chant, pray https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/fire-sing-chant-pray/ Mon, 19 Sep 2022 21:05:35 +0000 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/?p=3978 Continue reading →]]> This chant clears hatred and affirms Mingli: understanding sacred connection. A Confucian & Daoist resonance via Lao Tzu via Wang FengYi and on to me as a student of Heiner Fruehauf. 💫The people around us are manifestions of our internal universe. 💫 Thank you beloveds for being my practice partners as we journey toward justice, compassion, love, trust & transform hate, blame, anger, criticalness via the deep politeness and the way. Yes, you trigger me. That is part of the grace. I am grateful to each brother & sister in my constellation, my family, my teachers. Clear Hatred. Sing, chant, pray. #grace #pi #5element #fire #elementwisdomcards #emotionalhealing
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