Nurturing your Natal - Elemental Healing

by Kira Sutherland

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From the beginnings of time we have watched the earth and her elements in full power, trying to understand the world we live in and how it works. The 4 elements make up all that is around us, we are used to experiencing them as the seasons change. But what of the elements within us? Many ancient cultures came to similar ideas of how the elements work within our bodies, flowing in health or being blocked in times of disease/imbalance.

When an element is strong in our chart it can bring great benefits to our health, empowering and balancing our daily lives. It is possible for an element to be overstimulated or to fall into a state better known in medical astrology as ‘in excess’. Elements can also be ignored or underused in our chart and fall into a state known as ‘lacking’ or ‘depleted’.

We are each born with our own make up of elements, some high others low or maybe missing. We often overuse our strong elements as they are energy that is familiar and easy to access. This habit of ‘overuse’ can easily lead to an imbalance where we are then called on to use our opposite element to try and re-balance the situation.

The actions we take, how we sleep, the foods we choose, who we communicate with and how we go about building our lives are all influenced by our elemental makeup. Below is a list of the 4 elements and their general framework of operation. I often ask clients to look at their charts, discern their elemental makeup and then to read the lists below. For a week I get them to observe how they use their elements, what they over emphasize and how this plays out in their health and wellbeing. Do they ‘blow out’ one of their abundant elements or have they created a lifestyle that brings in the energy of one of their low or missing elements?

Below are small descriptions of what each element has to offer and how it works. Take note of where you recognise yourself here and how you use each one in your daily life.

Fire

Fire is the element of action, courage, getting things done and high energy. It is hot and dry and creates great movement and force. It is stimulating, creative, dynamic and radiates energy. It corresponds to one’s vital force, motivation and our actions. It rules the body’s heat and digestive fire, muscles, physical movement, perspiration and the adrenals.

When fire is in balance it creates great energy, vitality and body heat. It is optimistic, courageous and confident. In excess it expresses as anger, impatience and aggressiveness. It can lead to such ailments as heart burn, adrenal exhaustion, headaches and inflammation. In deficiency it presents as poor circulation, stiffness and low energy levels. Digestion can suffer from a lack of power and one can feel uninspired and a lack of motivation.

Earth

Earth is in charge of the physical body and grounding us. It is dense or heavy, ruling our physical form and structure. It has a cold and dry nature that is form building and melancholic. The earth element rules all 5 of the body’s senses.

When Earth is in balance a person feels stable, consistent and has good endurance. Excess Earth can create a sluggish, heavy feeling in the body. It can lead to lethargy, weight gain, melancholy or a crystallization of thought. When low it can present as a dreamy, ungrounded nature where the person is not tuned into their physical body. They can have brilliant ideas but struggle to put them into action. It can also lead to a lack of focus on the physical body, and taking care of one’s health.

Air

Air rules the thoughts and our mental focus. It is light, hot, moist and changeable. It creates movement, connects things together and has a quick and mental nature. Though moist in temperament it easily creates dryness due to its quick and windy nature. It rules our nervous system and our lungs.

An overabundance of air can create anxiety and restlessness. Sleep becomes light and interrupted as the mind refuses to quiet down, leading to a depletion energy and one’s vital force. Lack of air can create problems of energy flow in the body. Tiredness, breathing difficulties and a more sluggish mental feeling or brain fog can be felt.

Water

Water is in charge of one’s emotional state and is cold and moist by nature. It is emotional, intuitive, cleansing and creative. It rules all cycles and fluids of the body, the lymphatic and the reproductive system.

Water in excess creates can create weight gain, lack of energy, sleepiness and highly emotional

or sensitive states of being. It can lead to a dreamy and ungrounded nature, with a focus on security both in the emotional and material worlds. Without enough water the body becomes dehydrated and cold, with dry skin and stiff joints. Sleep problems can occur and emotions become hard to express or sense.

Take the time and observe yourself for a week, see what insights can be uncovered about your daily habits, unconscious actions and style of elemental use. Half of healing the body is just being aware of what you are doing! Have a play with the elements, find activities or things that will bring the unfamiliar elements into your life.

Yours in health,
 Kira Sutherland
BHSc, Grad. Dip. Sports Nutrition, Adv Dip Nut Medicine, Adv Dip Naturopathy, Adv Dip Herb Med.

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Images:

1. Fire: Photo by Francesco Paggiaro: https://www.pexels.com/photo/burned-wood-branches-1374883/
2. Water: Photo by Marcus Bergh: https://www.pexels.com/photo/body-of-water-2410327/
3. Air: Photo by Sascha Düser: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-cloud-with-sunlight-187364/
4. Earth: Photo by Crusenho Agus Hennihuno: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photography-of-green-plant-1251026/

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First published in: FAA Journal, September 2018.

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Author: Kira Sutherland

Kira is an Australian Naturopath, Nutritionist, Herbalist and Astrologer. She divides her time between clients, writing and lecturing on health, wellbeing and medical astrology. Known for her vibrant, straight forward teaching style, Kira has lectured in Medical Astrology within Australia, North America and Europe. In private practice for over 25 years, Kira combines her knowledge in Natural Medicine with her passion for Medical Astrology into a wonderful mix of mind/body medicine.
 Kira can be contacted at:
kira.sutherland@gmail.com
www.astrologyofhealth.com