Being balanced and consistent in the play of the physical, mental and spiritual forces of the world is an experience of the Earth Element. It causes new things to manifest and materialize.

To feel that we are an integral part of life, have a centre and thus a kind of order and harmony out of which we live, describes our Earth.

Centered on the inside, interacting with others and participating in the whole – this is an expression of a balanced Earth-Energy

Yi is the spiritual aspect of the Earth Element. The chinese Character consists of two components – “verbally expressed thoughts” and “heart and mind”.

Accordingly, Yi puts heart and mind into our verbally expressed thoughts. The common translation is “ideas” or “intellect”. However, our intellect must serve the “purpose” of our heart and mind to assume spiritual quality. In this way, our human potential can fully unfold.

Where Yi goes, that is where Ki goes and only if Yi works well the spiritual qualities (souls) of the other elements – Shen (Heart/Fire) – Po (Lungs/Metal) and Hun (Liver/Wood) – fulfill their tasks.

In the Ko-Cycle (control cycle) of the Elements, the Ki of the Gallbladder keeps the Ki of the Earth in check; means e.g. that through its dynamics, after a few days of pondering, it finally allows a decision to be made.

In return, thinking (Earth Element) is able to overcome fear (Water Element) because it enables us to grasp a situation and restore the connection between Fire and Water through the knowledge of the Heart (Fire Element).

Thinking is good when it leads to reflection. Otherwise, blood of the Heart and body and the spirits of the Heart will be consumed.

The task of the Heart is to deal responsibly and appropriately, but also flexibly and freely with all things in life and not to lose all one’s strength and vitality through pondering over a thought.

In any case, the Ki follows the Yi and gives us the possibility for transformation and manifestation

For the translation of Si, the emotion assigned to the Earth Element, there are very different possibilities, such as compassion, empathy, sympathy or mental overactivity (obsessive thinking, brooding).

The symbol Si is represented by a heart under the brain in the skull. The character for the emotion Si contains the two word stems “heart” and “brain”.

So it’s a combination of emotion and reason. “Pensiveness”. However, the translation “Pensiveness” does not convey that in this case the intellect is compassionate and motivated by the heart.

Another aspect results from the ability of the Earth Element to both absorb and release. This gives us the ability to have compassion, empathy and sympathy for others and vice versa.

If our Earth Element gets out of balance, we lose the ability to move fluently from one feeling to another and we will either not be able to accept compassion/empathy or demand constant sympathy or go to submissiveness in our sympathy. Or being so needy that we have no resources for giving to others.

A balanced Earth Element in the human psyche gives us the ability to receive and give in equal measure.

Organ
Stomach, spleen and pancreas

Sense Organ
Mouth

Orifices
Mouth

External, Physical Expression
Flesh

Body Fluid
Saliva

Ability
to be persistent

Releated Chakras

Chakra 2 – Spleen Meridian

Chakra 3 – Spleen- and Stomach Meridian

The Earth holds a special position among all elements; it is the source (“source of life”) from which the other elements unfold.

The Earth Energy is responsible for the ingestion, digestion, absorption, transformation and to a certain extent also for the excretion of food and thoughts. The Ki of the Spleen ensures that we are nourished at all levels.

The function of the Spleen is to convert food into Ki, blood and pure liquids. Together with the Stomach, it transports these substances throughout the entire body and is therefore called the “root of postnatal Ki”.

Spleen and Stomach are not only the basis of good digestion, but also of physical energy.

Since the Spleen provides the “food-Ki” that builds up our physical existence from birth, it can also be seen for the basic substance of our body tissues. It gives us the „Earth” of our body, i. e. the characteristic nature and tone of the muscle flesh, the connective tissue – it “holds the organs in place” and also the blood in the vessels.

Since the Earth Element determines all of our life cycles, Spleen and Stomach (according to Masunaga) also have a relation to hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle and in pregnancy.

Abstract thinking is part of the Spleen. This enables us to analyze experiences and develop concepts that can be used as a basis for intellectual speculation.

The organization of information is part of the “thought metabolism” without which we cannot meet the demands of survival and develop what we call „myself“.

The Spleen-related aspects of the human mind are the sectors of ideas, logical thinking, and the ability to playfully deal with them. Through the ability of the intellect to perceive opposites, it is the source of our sense of humor.

A one-sided orientation towards the intellect tends to lead to an imbalance of the Spleen. If the aspects of the Spleen-Function of decoding of information and mental analysis are overused, it leads to mental exhaustion.

In return, mental fatigue also exhausts the Ki of the Spleen and thus its physical functions. On the emotional level, it is our ability to pass on sustainable love and support to ourselves as well as to others that nourish us.

Normally, the energy of the Earth gives our general affect a touch of silence, peace, tranquility, compassion and earthliness. With their cheerfulness and ability to reflect, these energies balance the energies of the other elements.

Ingestion, digestion, absorption, transformation and to a certain extent also excretion of food and thoughts.

Supplements the prenatal essence of the Kidneys with the profusion of Ki and essences (postnatal essence)

Conversion of liquids

Creates the basis for physical energy

Is responsible for the characteristic nature and tone of the muscle flesh

Control of the ascent of the Ki – “keeps the organs in place” (responsible for the firmness of the connective tissue) and the blood in the vessels

Provides the Heart with food essence and pure fluids for blood formation

Eating habits

Reproductive hormones – menstrual cycle and pregnancy

Digestive problems; food allergies; loss of appetite; lack of saliva and stomach acid; over- or hypoglycaemia; over- or underweight

Diabetes mellitus; thirst; water retention and urinary problems

Edema

Thin, watery stool (diarrhea); bloating of the abdomen

Muscle weakness; shoulder blades of different heights

Big toe nail, inflamed or deformed

Disturbances of the immune system

Menstrual problems; vaginal discharge

Problems with connective tissue; easily gets “bruises”; organ prolapse; cellulite; phlebitis (varicose veins); connective tissue nodules; myomas

Numbness

Epilepsy

Dizziness; heavy limbs and restlessness in the legs

Fatigue

Overactivity of the mind; brooding; loops of thoughts; worrying; result of studying too much, etc.

-> Every chronic disease requires the treatment of Spleen and Kidney!

According to Simon Mills, there is a special relationship between Earth and Fire. According to this, the “sweet” taste associated with the Earth disperses an excessive tension/activity of the heart function and thus promotes stability and calm in an charged situation

Building bonds – exspecially the process in which bonding matures – is the universal symbol of the energies of the Earth Phase; problems in making bonds

Ego-Development and Boundaries; Lack of Earth Energies -> boundary problems

Feeling of formlessness and lack of structure

People who have a “spleen” – is also an indication of the earth element; e.g. “collecting passion”

Dependencies and addictions; in Western psychology there is the concept of the “oral” personality, which primarily refers to the world through the mouth – this type embodies many topics of the Earth-Energy such as neediness, greed, the need for other people who give security, addictive behavior

People with an imbalance in the Earth Element can unreflectingly accept and pass on the opinions of others; they can hold very dogmatically to their own point of view or have no stability in their views and give them up as soon as someone has a different opinion

Sorrow

Loops of thoughts

irregular meals

Multi-tasking

Chaotic schedule

excessive consumption of cold food (e. g. fruit, salads. . . ) and cold drinks

too much candy

and others

Touching, such as Massage/Body Therapy, is particularly good for the Spleen. But also other physical touches, like hugs of dear people or the loving work with the own body are particularly important, simply said the human closeness.

Mindfulness, discipline and especially regularity leads to a strengthening of the mind.

All holistic natural healing methods, such as Acupuncture, Homeopathy, nutrition counseling or similar

Holistic body therapies such as Shiatsu, Chakra-Balance and others

Makko Ho Exercises

Yoga, Tai Chi,

Pilates

regular muscle training such as weight training, gymnastics, etc.

Every kind of movement that is fun, e. g. walks, dancing, etc.

Listening to music instead of reading books

also participate in retreats or at least one retreat for one hour a day

Conscious perception of nature (Mother Earth) strengthens the Spleen (walk barefoot in the morning dew, gardening, dig with your hands in the earth, just lay down in the grass and enjoy how you are carried by the earth)

note: Only if a person values himself enough to take care of himself, then he is also able to care for others.