Tag Archives: Earth

Earth: Develop an environment of deep trust

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

  Earth:     Lǎo shànrén kàn wǒ xìn shí. Wǒ xìn shí. 老善人看我信实。我信实。 Cleansing doubt & blame. Affirming信实xìn shí, the virtue of deep trust, integrity & trustworthiness. ~Confucian Chant, 500BCE Trust (n) As early as 1200AD the word traust appears likely originating in the Old Norse referring to help, confidence, support, reliance from sound qualities; religious faith (v) have faith, to rely, make safe and strong *source The emotional spectrum of the Earth element is worry to faith. The organs associated with the Earth element are the spleen, stomach and pancreas. Worry can manifest as blame and doubt, while faith express … Continue reading →

Element Wisdom Card Decks – Ways to Play ~ Mandala

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Check out the many ways to play with Element Wisdom Cards!   This is one of the amazing ways: Mandala ~ Create sacred space. Choose 5-8 cards. Arrange them in a circle within concentric rings of found or precious materials like seasonal fruits/vegetables, flowers, leaves, shells, stones, sticks, feathers, etc. Choose an elemental center piece: an earthenware filled with soil/clay, a transparent vase of water, a bell, a wooden bowl, an incense burner. Cards and objects may also be arranged by cardinal directions.     Did you know you can search the card titles on the Cultivating Wellness Blog?  Our … Continue reading →

Earth: Down to earth

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Down to Earth. What does the phrase ‘down to earth’ mean to you? Earth Writing Exercise Take a moment. Find pen and paper. Transcribe the phrase Down to Earth.  Place both feet on the ground. Take three deep breaths, expanding your ribs. Write free associations of what ‘down to earth’ means to you for 90 seconds. Wake the spleen, an earth organ with the exercise below.  Repeat the automatic writing exercise.   Wake the Spleen With both feet on the ground, raise your left arm. Wake the spleen organ by tapping on your left side, one hand width below the … Continue reading →

Earth: Too much sitting injures the spleen: qi gong

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

The digestive organs are injured by stagnation.  Desk or remote virtual jobs, long hours of studying, research and writing keep us seated.  Relaxing and decompressing may also become habituated to screen time, gaming or media binging. Fatigue sets in from lack of activity; a sedentary life is injurious. Frankly, it is killing us slowly. The combination of oversitting and overthinking is a harmful combination for the earth organs,  particularly the spleen.  The lack of healthy circulation settles dampness deep into our systems. If you are prone to oversitting, please build in healthy habits.  Set a timer at the desk for … Continue reading →

Earth: Fill your spleen, stomach, pancreas with golden light

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Enjoy these healing sounds for the solar plexus:  These 18 days around each equinox and solstice is ruled by Earth.  Sound and color are powerful agents to help balance the Earth organs of spleen, stomach and pancreas. The color yellow in Ayurvedic medicine is associated with Manipura Charaka, digestive organs, individuality and trust. The color yellow/gold strengthens the function of these organs and emotions.  Wear a gold layer near your digestive organs.  Wrap in a golden scarf. Use golden linens on your table. Place your element wisdom cards in a earthen bowl on your table or kitchen bar and choose … Continue reading →

Earth: Touch the earth

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Nature based prescriptions are one of the fastest growing therapeutics globally as humans grow increasingly disconnected from nature. The research is promising for treatment and prevention of disease. Therapeutics from forest bathing, time spent in nature or greenspace, wilderness activities, even a view from a window and caring for a potted plant have been studied for reduction of disease specific disorders and general well-being. Spending time in the woods—a practice the Japanese call “forest bathing”—is strongly linked to lower blood pressure, heart rate and stress hormones and decreased anxiety, depression and fatigue. Time in a forest is linked to decreased inflammation, which has … Continue reading →

Earth: Change directions without losing balance

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Earth: Change directions without losing balance. The Earth element is associated with times of change throughout the year, which happen between each of the seasons around the two solstices and the two equinoxes.  Solstices and equinoxes are astronomical event of the Sun reaching its highest position in the sky as viewed from the North or South Pole, one day to mark the onset of the winter season and one day to mark the onset of the summer season of 72 days each . On these days the tilt of the axis of the Earth (with respect to the Sun) is … Continue reading →

Earth: Convert discord into harmony

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Convert discord into harmony.       It is time to come home. It is time to find your true center.    The 18 days around each solstice & equinox hold the power of transition. The fifth season of earth resonates with trust, harmony and abundance.       Here are a few practices that I encourage my patients to utilize during the earth season to break up discord:   1. Take a walk.  Nature works best but a few flights of stairs, a walk around the building or the block interrupts the pattern.   2. Bring awareness to your … Continue reading →

Earth: Develop equanimity

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Develop equanimity.    Even mindedness.    Earth season is about walking the middle path. Walk barefoot on the Earth   Even mindedness is the capacity to accept whatever comes with the wisdom that everything is impermanent.   We can encourage this disposition by coming back to the present moment when we have gone astray.    The present may be comfortable or uncomfortable. We often time travel backward or forward because of uncomfortable feelings in our body. These sensations are experiences locked in our body.   Ease is rooted in acceptance. Accepting things exactly as they are. Our minds become agitated … Continue reading →

Roasted Rosemary Sweet Potatoes

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Post thanksgiving through Christmas, I live on a steady diet of one Christmas movie a night, beginning with the sappy, modern hallmark types and ending with the classics. I simplify my personal meals during this mini season between gatherings, events and celebrations.  Simple whole food sides are a form of self love and sometimes a full mono meal. I bring a simple, whole foods dishes to gatherings.  They are time savers, stress reducers and super foods! Believe it or not, it starts a lot of conversations. One of my all time favorites is Roasted Rosemary Sweet Potatoes.  ONLY 2 main ingredients 1. … Continue reading →