This is my take on the other aspects of the water element. I use the division of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual for convenience. This is entirely my own invention and is not a division that is traditionally part of acupuncture.
Emotional:
the emotion associated with the water element in our body (the kidney and bladder) is fear.
Fear can cause us to urinate. (This is a traditional association.)
In my opinion fear can be very useful (this is not part of traditional acupuncture). It can be a warning of danger. Our emotions are one source of information (not infallible of course, but then neither are our thoughts). When we feel fear we should listen to it. We may then decide that there is no danger or that there is. Suppressing our awareness of our fear can lead to bravado and foolish action (”fools rushing in where angels fear to tread”).
How much is fear part of your life?
- Can you listen to it?
- Does it control you?
- Do you feel the need to suppress or triumph over it?
- How does your fear affect you – physically, mentally and spiritually?
Mental:
generalised awareness, not intensely focussed.
More like just checking out what is going on, getting the lie of the land. Water takes the shape of its container and this kind of awareness adapts itself to the situation.
- Are you able to ‘just be aware’ of what is.
- Your own feeling, desires and thoughts;
- the things around you; and the qualities in your surroundings?
- Can you enjoy this awareness of do you try to rush through it?
Spiritual:
your gift; what you feel you were put here to do/be in life.
- Do you have a sense of your own contribution?
- Your own uniqueness? (This is not to be grandiose but simply to acknowledge that all of us have our own uniqueness.)
This is not part of traditional acupuncture but is part of feng shui (the number one in the magic square that feng shui uses).
