The Element of Earth

The Element of Earth is probably the most obvious tohuman perception, since Earth is where we live.

Even those of us in highly urban areas without muchaccess to natural environments are aware that underneath all that pavement isthe Earth , without which we would have nowhere to build our houses, roads, andcities.

Earth is, literally, the ground we walk on, as well aswhere we raise the animals and grow the food we need to survive and thrive. Ithas also been the source of the clay and minerals with which we’ve made potteryand cookware to prepare and eat our food, and the trees and stone we’ve used tobuild our dwellings.

For the vast majority of human history, the Earthprovided everything we needed to survive as a species, with very little in theway of the complex and environmentally damaging processes that go intomanufacturing so many of our modern goods. As modern societies, we seem to holdan awareness of this seeming distance from our origins with phrases like “backto the Earth” or “back to the land,” used to refer to a felt need to escape thebusy, modern city life and spend time in nature.

The idea of being “grounded” is another common metaphorthat speaks to the central role Earth plays in our lives. Whether it’s ateenager being punished for staying out too late or a busy adult trying toshake off the distractions of the work day through meditation, there’s atradition in modern culture that emphasizes “keeping our feet on the ground” inorder to navigate this life successfully. Earth is certainly the most“grounding” of the Elements, with its stable, heavy, passive energy and calmingeffect. As a physical reality in and of itself, Earth mostly appears to beunmoving. As such, Earth is associated with the qualities of patience,endurance, and permanence. However, we do see movement in the animals that roamthe Earth and, at somewhat slower paces , in the growth of plant life. Thisconnection to growth brings the qualities of diligence and commitment , and theability to reap what one sows.