Four Elements

We are often living our lives disembodied, out of balance, and out of synch with nature. Beyond all the being and doing that is daily modern life, it may be helpful to remember that we as human beings have emerged from something far more ancient than the trappings of this contemporary life--we come from the earth.

This four-elements meditation encourages us to sense the body as composed of the same qualities inherent to everything in nature. We can sense the four elements of earth, water, fire, and air internally within our body, and externally in the world around us, and see that they are the same.

The elements serve as a means to remember and bring parts of ourselves back together again and help us to loosen our clinging to a small sense of self or feeling separate from the rest of life.

Transcript

Welcome to this Four Elements Guided Meditation practice. As moderns, We are often living our lives disembodied, Out of balance, And out of sync with nature. Beyond all the being and doing that is daily modern life. It may be helpful to remember that we as human beings have emerged from something far more ancient than the trappings of this contemporary life. We come from the earth. This four elements meditation encourages us to sense the body as composed of the same qualities inherent to everything in nature. We can sense the four elements of earth, Water, Fire, And air internally within our body and externally in the world around us and see that they are the same. The elements can serve as a means to remember and bring parts of ourselves back together again. Helping us to loosen our clinging to a small sense of self or feeling separate from the rest of life. So let's begin by taking a position that is comfortable for you. This might be sitting, Standing, Or lying down. Settling into the moment. Softening into the body. Noticing perhaps sounds, Thoughts. Sensations. Neither grasping nor rejecting any of these experiences. Taking some time here to attune to that from which we come so that we can feel the pulse of life within our own bodies. We'll begin with the earth element. The characteristic quality of the earth element is firmness, Which we sense through texture, Pressure, And resistance. In the body, Earth is sensed as solidity, Weight, And density. So noticing the weight of your body. The solidity of your body is the earth element. It is heavy and stable. And as you connect to that sense of solidity, Allow your body to soften and rest deeply into the ground, Into the floor beneath you. Feeling into the density of your body, Your bones, Your flesh. The fat of your body. All that is solid and dense. This is the earth element. So continuing to connect with this felt sense of the earth within you. Allowing it to ground you. Feeling your solidity. Deepening into groundedness, Presence. And stability. And as you feel the stability of the earth within you, You can know that it's connected to all the earth elements around you. The ground, The trees, Rocks. Mountains. All that is solid and stable. The earth element in you is connected to the earth element all around you. I'm exploring here what it feels like to know this connection to the earth. Knowing that you are of the earth and inseparable from the earth. Next we'll explore the element of water. The characteristic quality of the water element is liquidity, Which we sense as wetness, Slipperiness, As well as cohesion. Within the body, Water is sent through the various bodily fluids. Water is smooth and flowing. Most of our bodies are composed of water. Perhaps you sense the water element in the moistness of your eyes. The saliva in your mouth. And the blood coursing through your veins. In all that is fluid and flowing through your body. And as you feel this water within you, Perhaps you can sense that this water is in balance with the water that covers our planet. This planet also being composed of mostly water, Just like us. The oceans, Rivers, Lakes, Rain. Clouds. So knowing that this water element in you is connected to the water all around you. So taking a few moments here to explore what it feels like to know this connection we all have with water. Aware of the fluidity inside and outside the body. Sensing your watery nature. And as you're ready to beginning to explore the element of fire. The characteristic of the fire element is heat, Which we sense as temperature, Both hot and cold. And the body fire is present in sensations of warmth or coolness as we feel the difference between our body temperature and our environment. As well as in the actions of digestion and energy production. So noticing the temperature in your body. Where might you feel internal heat? Sometimes we might connect with this fire element in the belly. Or the heart area. Anywhere that feels warm or hot. And knowing that this fire element within you is connected to the fire element all around you. Our sun is the epitome of the fire element, Keeping our planet warm and alive. So having some knowing that the fire element, The warmth and heat within you is connected to the fire element all around you. Exploring what it feels like to know that connection we all have with fire. And finally, The element of air. The quality of the air element is movement, Which we sense as change. It's light and ephemeral. In the body, We can sense air as the breath moving within and out of the body. So noticing the air as you breathe, Breathing in and breathing out. Connecting to its sense of lightness and changeability. And knowing that your breath, Your air is connected to the air all around you, To the sky. To the wind. To the air that circulates around our planet. Breathed in and breathed out by many, Many beings. So resting your awareness on the breath for a few moments. Exploring what it feels like to know that you are connected to all of nature through the air you breathe. And when you're ready, Bringing your attention to the felt sense of your body as you sit, Stand or lay here. Feeling your connection to the life within and all around you. Connecting with your sense of belonging to this world.