Module Four
EARTH
Tell me about your mother,
Earth is the peacemaker element. Earth is our original mother; she nourishes and sustains us, so long as we honour the reciprocal energy that is the true nature of Earth; not to take or give too much. She blossoms where there is balance and harmony.
Late summer is the season of the Earth element; a time to start gathering our energy back in as the light mellows. It is a time for harvest, time to reap the abundant rewards of our endeavours. It is time to return to ourselves after the expensive time of fire. Revisit our boundaries and ask ourselves what are our priorities and what nourishes us.
Earth offers the space in which we can integrate what we have learned so far and then act. Whatever we give our attention to will grow, so pay attention to where you are putting your attention. Renew commitments. Take the time to invest in your nourishment and set time aside for self-care. Consider the fine line between service and sacrifice. Remember that in order to give, you also need to receive. This also includes the absorption of ideas, allow them to really sink into your body rather than letting them take over your mind through worry and ruminating. Earth asks us to nurture a sustainable life. To sit in stillness without feeling stuck and to develop self-expression. The Earth medicine woman will bring you home to yourself.
You Are The Medicine, Emma Cannon
Earth Element (Late Summer)
Earth is the beginning of things turning more Yin - more inwards. When Earth is in balance nourishment and intimacy are at the forefront. A strong maternal instinct shines through, a want for sharing, family, hospitality and community - nurturing food are key but when out of balance they might fall into a place of lack, a feeling of inadequacy and self-pity, victim mentality can surface. Blaming can be quite frequent. It’s generally quite a female tendency compared to say the liver which can be more male (and Yang). Pensiveness, obsessive thinking and worry can develop when the Earth element is out of balanced - this is why it’s so important to create nourishing balanced plates of food.
Season - Late Summer
Emotions
Balanced: Compassion and empathy
Imbalanced: Worry and overthinking
Colour - yellow
Organs: Stomach and Spleen
Time: 7am - 11am
Energy: Grounding, harmonizing, and centering
Injurious Climate: Dampness
Direction: Center
Characteristics: Supporting, Transporting, Receiving
Tissue: Muscle/Flesh
Personality
Balanced: Friendly, calm, and nurturing
Imbalanced: Overly needy
Functions: Controls water distribution
Show: in the flesh and lips
Bodily Fluids: Lymph and saliva
Cooking style: Soups, casseroles, and broths
Taste: Sweet which Relaxes and strengthens
Opens to: the mouth (chewing is beneficial)
The spleen rules the muscles, flesh and 4 limbs.
The spleen transports Qi and blood to the muscles and flesh.
Sweetness - Tonifying Yin, supplements Qi and blood, builds muscle and tissues, harmonises and calms the nervous system. Builds Qi and strengthens in cases of deficiency. Harmonises all flavours. In moderation it relieves pain, eases coughs, reduces ulcer and constipation.
If you DONT build digestive fire - it results in DAMPNESS, obesity, water retention, stones, tumours, fatty deposits
SYMPTOMS
EARTH OUT OF BALANCE
Too much sweet weakens the Earth element and it will become deficient and stagnate and you’ll get excess conditions of damp heat and phlegm.
QI DEFICIENCY
No foods that are cold or raw
Regulate meals – after crazy Summer heat
Eat foods that are noursihng and easy to digest – soups, stews, root veg, bone broth
Avoid sugar and damp creating foods – excess dairy
Drink warm drinks
Rest during your periods
Avoid exercise which is exhausting
ingredients to support the earth element
YELLOW/ ORANGE AND BROWN FOODS – for example, yellow split peas, dhal, chickpeas, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, corn,
FOOD –
The stomach loves grains and vegetables. Avoid raw and cold, excess fruit can be challenging too. Ice cream not great as again can deplete digestive fire.
Probiotic rich foods are great - like yoghurt and kefir