Water: The energy of inquiring

Inquiring = Seeking, requesting, investigating, clarifying direction.

This is the energy of flow and fluidity…and when frozen, how to thaw. If you need this energy, you will notice that your relationships disappoint you, let you down, even to the point of betrayal or unfaithfulness.

Increasing this energy begins with this concept… “You may not be upset or disappointed with me, if I do not know what you want.” Preferably, politely asked for. And the same in reverse. “You may not be mad or disappointed in someone else, if they do not know what you want, and politely asked for.”

The energy of water is flexibility and choice. Water makes choices without hesitation, and always chooses the path of least resistance. That doesn’t mean the “easy way out,” it means the most simple, effective direction, which is ALWAYS the honest truth. Keep that in mind with each choice you make. Water may swing around a barrier, but it is still on course for its destination. That is the energy of win- win. If two seemingly opposing desires or needs are confronted, the solution must fulfill both desires or needs.

How? We ask and keep asking. Ideally, we ask until we can clearly see the opposite perspective, so we can include both perspectives in the solution. If you are in an impossible confrontation, you should stop telling, and start asking. Water instantly knows the best way to maintain its desire and needs, while honoring anything it confronts in its environment. Would you say that is a good ideal?

So just start asking. In fact, decide right now to NEVER do anything for anyone else, ever again…and then, when you want to serve FOR YOU, ask them what they want.

This is a protective energy. If you attempt to please, serve, or sacrifice for the ones you love…STOP…and ASK what they want. If you have prepared dinner every day for 30 years…STOP…and ASK if they would like you to make something for dinner.

This is an expansive energy. With all the free time have discovered from not serving without asking, you can expand your influence. Ask “OF” your people as well. Ask for help, and Ask to allow people to be significant to you. Give them an opportunity to serve you. It sounds like this… “Would you be willing to do ____?” You will become more in life and more to people by asking for help.

Ask “INTO.” This is a connective energy. You are inquiring into their head and heart. What do you think of so-and-so? How do you feel about such-and such?

Imagine water with a thinking brain…faced with a barrier such as a hill. It might say… “would you move out of the way (no), would you sink into the earth (no), would you let me climb over your peak (no), would you let me turn left and take this little valley around you (YES).” When paralyzed in choice (frozen) ASK questions to find your way.

Now in your life. If someone in front of you is facing a barrier…ask them what they want. If you are facing a barrier…ask for what you want. And keep asking until you get a solution or a YES.

The five elements philosophy is practical. Without knowing anything about the history or studying the application, you can connect to the essence just through common knowledge. Fire and summer are hot, energetic, alive, colorful…it is easy to see the passion and desire attributes of fire. Water and winter are cold, still, and dark…it is easy to see the patience and flexibility attributes of water.

That is the beauty of the five elements…it is based on common observations, and then applied to all cycles of nature, using the same characteristics and attributes.

The development of an individual passes through these elements many times. An egg resting in the ovary is the essence of water…as it is released into a fallopian tube, it is sprouting from rest, the essence of wood….we won’t get into the fire essence to keep this G rated…and the earth essence is harvest…the birth…which is followed by the essence of metal…reflection, richness, and relaxation.

Once a child is born, the emotional needs become the primary goal. Here are the goals of each element emotionally, how it develops naturally, and what experiences impact the health of each energy (which associates with organ health also).

Fire element: A healthy fire energy allows a person to give and receive love in many relationships,

appropriately and confidently. This element is developed through inclusion and acceptance. Experiences of feeling rejected, abandoned or unloved create imbalance in this element and lead to challenges in developing and maintaining relationships.

Earth element: A healthy earth energy allows a person to give and receive emotional support and nurturing.

It is formed largely by the relationship to mother, or the primary caregiver. Experiences of a lack of bonding or lack of support or care lead to imbalances, resulting in a continued need to seek support or nourishment throughout their life (always looking for someone to take care of them).

Metal element: A healthy metal energy allows a person to take in the richness of life, feel that they have purpose and meaning, and process loss…

(grief/sadness) and move onward in life. This element is developed through validation (you are OK/normal) and the father relationship. Experiences of not receiving validation create imbalance and leave the person seeking recognition and approval in life.

Water element: A healthy water energy allows a person to assess risks and use good judgment in making decisions.

It is formed through reassurance in the face of fear as a child. Experiences of fear without acknowledgement or reassurance or projected fear (over-protection) lead to imbalances and a life of “bad decisions,” which can include a fear of worst case possibility in routine aspects of life.

Wood element: A healthy wood energy allows a person to have a clear vision of their path and the patience to allow it to unfold.

This element is developed by clear rules and structure as a child. Experiences of unclear boundaries leaves a person struggling with their own boundaries and a seeking of power and needing to be right or correct.

When emotional development has been affected with imbalance, there are characteristic observations that can be made in life experiences, particularly with relationships.

FIRE: You will know you need the energy of the fire essence when you observe a lack of appreciation for your efforts, being taken for granted, or being blamed for others problems. This experience indicates that this energy is weakened, and needs the energy described below.

EARTH: You will know you need the energy of the earth essence when you observe a “backing away” in your relationships, leaving you feeling alone and unsupported.

METAL: You know you need the energy of the metal essence when you observe immaturity or selfishness in the people around you.

WATER: You know you need the energy of water essence when you observe feeling disappointed or betrayed by others.

WOOD: You know you need the energy of wood essence when you observe bossiness, overbearing, disrespect, or abuse from others.