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Introduction
Mind-Body Types
Who are
you? Of course, you are Spirit - eternal, infinite, and universal.
When Spirit enters a body, the energy becomes denser as it binds itself
to earth plane. The Energy of Spirit appears as streams of consciousness.
The ancients called them ETHER, AIR, FIRE, WATER, and EARTH.
One or more of these streams (elements) dominate in us today.
Think about the last time you were with a group, and see if you can
recognize each element in action. Sue sat quietly, observing, above
it all. Someone called her spacey. Her ETHER element was strong! Joe
was quick and alert. He came up with lots of ideas. A great inspiration
to others, but most of the time he was just full of AIR. Jack was
a go-getter, risk taker, and liked being boss. He suggested many creative
projects. Sometimes quick tempered, direct, and aggressive, Jack burned
with the FIRE of inner creativity. Mary used her deep, intuitive,
emotional senses to tell everyone how she, and they, felt. Her WATER
element focused on the emotions of the group. Sam came up with practical
ways to accomplish all the ideas of others. He was solid, dependable
and down to EARTH. We need all five of these personalities blended
and in balance, in order to accomplish our goals in life.
Polarity Therapy, developed by Dr. Randolph Stone, D.C., D.O., (1890-1981),
is a comprehensive system of balancing these body/mind/spirit energies
through hands on energy balancing, nutrition, exercise, and counseling
. In Part 1 we explore the 5 basic mind-body types. In Part 2 we discover
ways to balance each element using diet, exercise, touch, and meditation.
THE 5 ELEMENTS AND YOUR MIND-BODY TYPE
ETHER is the prime element latent in all things, providing
space and balance for all elements to unfold. Ether is essential
to our sense of connectedness with spirit and wellbeing. In the
body, ether is space, particularly in the chest and joints. Out
of balance, we have problems with our breathing, joint pain, and
difficulties expressing ourselves. Balanced ether promotes our sense
of joy and union. Lack of ether is connected with the feeling of
grief and separateness.
AIR is lightness and movement. On a still day we feel listless
and heavy, while on a windy day we feel refreshed and enlivened.
Air is associated with the east, a new day, and new beginnings.
Air signs include: Gemini (shoulders and arms, lungs and respiration);
Libra (kidneys); Aquarius (legs). Imbalances are seen as nervous
exhaustion, panic attacks, headaches, gas, bronchitis, heart problems,
neuralgia, and leg cramps. Balanced air promotes our sense of love,
devotion, and compassion.
FIRE is light and heat. Fire is transformative and is associated
with willpower and creative force. Fire is connected with the south,
the summer, and purification. Fire signs include: Aries (head);
Leo (solar plexus); Sagittarius (thighs). Fire imbalances include
headaches, eye disorders, digestive disorders, liver problems, pain
and weakness of the legs. Too much fire results in sympathetic dominance
or the typical type A personality – stressed and burned-out!
Unbalanced Fire shows as anger and resentment. Well-balanced fire
is forgiveness and enthusiasm.
WATER, the source of all life, formless and flowing. Water
is associated with the west, the fall, the time to go deep and let
our emotions flow. Water signs include: Cancer (breasts); Scorpio
(genitals), and Pisces (feet). Imbalances show as breast tenderness
and lumps, skin, menstrual, prostate problems and foot and back
pain. Balanced water allows us to relax and let go, while unbalance
reflects our attachment to worldly things.
EARTH is dense, passive, the great provider. It has permanency
and stability. Earth is associated with the north, winter, and material
affairs. Earth signs include: Taurus (neck); Virgo (bowels); and
Capricorn (knees). Balanced earth reflects in strong bones, active
assimilation and elimination, and flexible necks. When unbalanced,
fear takes over and we experience neck stiffness, constipation and
weak bones (osteoporosis). Balanced we find courage and contentment.
USE YOUR IMAGINATION to bring elements into balance. To cool
a "hot head", imagine floating in water. Generate new ideas
by letting them soar in the clouds and then ground them by planting
idea seeds deep in the earth.
USE YOUR HANDS. Your right hand is your positive or giving
hand. Your left hand is your negative or receiving hand. By placing
your hands on your body opposite each other (front to back, side to
side, or top to bottom) you automatically establish an energy flow
between the positive and negative poles. Draw out inflammation by
placing your left hand over the area and your right hand opposite
it. Relax tight areas by placing your right hand over them to add
healing life.
REFERENCES
Beaulieu,
John
Polarity Therapy Workbook, BioSonic Enterprises, Ltd. New York,
New York.
Campbell, Morag
Quinta Essentia: The Five Elements.
Masterworks, Devon, England.
Stone, Randolph
Polarity
Therapy, Volume One,
Polarity
Therapy, Volume Two
Health
Building
CRCS Publications, Sebastopol, CA.
Books are also availible at the
Mountain Valley Center Bookstore
And special
thanks to my Polarity Teacher, Angela Plum, PhD, RPP, Academy of
Natural Therapies, Marshall, NC
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