Spirit Path

The Wood Officials

With Spring well on its way, I thought it would be a great time to reflect on the Wood Element and the Officials associated with this Element and time of year.  This is the paper I wrote in my first year at ITEA on the Wood Officials. 

  The officials of the Wood Element are the Gall Bladder (VII) and the Liver (VIII).  These two officials work together to make and carry out plans on all levels of our being.  The power of the Wood Element is birth, and the Gall Bladder and the Liver are responsible for bringing forth new things and ideas into the world.  This is an amazing job.  There are so many people who may have a good idea, but actually implementing this idea and making it a reality can be very difficult.  Bringing things into form is not an easy task.   Most artist know what kind of frustration can come with the difficulties of trying to bring their vision into form.  This is an area where we can see that we are a physical and a spiritual being.  In creating something we can open ourselves up to the inspiration of our spirit, but then to translate this inspiration into a physical object, like a painting, can be incredibly difficult.  These two worlds do not always translate perfectly, and it is the job of the Gall Bladder and the Liver to aid in this birthing of all things new.  

The Gall Bladder is the Official of Decision Making and Judgment.  To bring a new vision into the world there have to be decisions and judgments.  Someone has to decide how all of the details are going to be handled.  This is why the Gall Bladder is sometimes seen as the site foreman for a building project.  It is almost impossible to talk about the Gall Bladder without mentioning the role of the Liver.  These two officials depend directly on each other.  The Liver is the architect that creates the plan and then the Gall Bladder carries out this plan.  The Gall Bladder decides what needs to be done first and how the to implement the Liver’s plan.  This is the physical translation of the ideas of the Liver into reality, and these two officials depend directly on each other to function properly.  

One important part to the Gall Bladder is that on a physical level it secretes bile.  This is seen in Chinese medicine as a pure secretion of the body.  The Gall Bladder is seen as the only official that deals directly with pure essence.  All of the other Officials will in some way contact polluted essence, but the Gall Bladder deals only directly with pure energy.  This is important when considering the role of the Gall Bladder.  To make good judgments and decisions the Gall Bladder needs this purity.  Every second of every day we are making decisions.  Usually we make these decisions without even realizing it.  When we wake up, we have to decide what we will do with the day and even how we will brush our teeth.  There are big and small decisions that get made all throughout the day, and for these judgments to be made clearly the Gall Bladder needs pure energy.  

When we actually start looking at our lives, we realize just how many decisions are being made throughout our day.  It becomes so automatic that we don’t even notice it most of the time, but this official never rests it is constantly making decisions.  The horary time for the Wood Element is 11PM to 3AM.  Although we are usually asleep during this time the Gall Bladder and the Liver are working making plans and decisions.  This is one of the reasons we have the saying, “I am going to sleep on that”.  Without consciously knowing that the Wood Officials are working through the night most people know that having the night to sleep on a big decision usually helps them decide.  This gives the Wood Officials time during their peak energy to work on a big decision.

The Liver is the Official of Planning.  This official makes all of the plans for our body, mind and spirit.  Just like the Gall Bladder this is an enormous job.  There are always plans that are being made on every level of our being.  Plans are needed for the proper functioning of every system in our body.  Respiration, circulation, hormone secretions, growth, cell regeneration and on and on.  Without a plan there would be chaos within the body.  The job of the Liver Official is to create and maintain the plans of the body to keep all parts of our body working together for the same goal.    

The season for the Wood Element is Spring, and this time of year is about creating a vision for the future.  At this time the farmers plant their fields, and the plants in the natural world begin to start new buds or new saplings arise.  All of this newness has a plan behind it.  All of the information for an enormous oak tree to grow exists within a tiny seed.  This seed has the blueprint, and given time this master plan can be expressed to its fullest.  This is the energy of the Liver Official.  It is powerful and fresh.  

The emotion associated with the Wood Element is anger, and it is very easy to see how anger arises when things do not go according to plan.  When this official gets out of balance and becomes rigid, then if things don’t go according to plan it can cause anger.  We see this in people who are stuck in the need for things to go a certain way.  They have made a plan for the way an event, like a wedding, is supposed to go.  However, in life there are always surprises, and things are constantly changing.  It is important for the Liver Official to be able to adapt to the new environment.  As things change the Liver Official needs to be able to take in this new information and make a plan based on what is the best for the current situation.  When someone is balanced in this way, it can be one of the most beautiful things in the world.  A calm leader directing people in the face of new and unexpected changes can be so settling.  The nature of the world is that nothing is permanent.  So even though we make amazing plans they rarely ever get to be totally expressed because unforeseen things always pop up.  The ability to adapt and always be making new and informed plans is the strength of the Liver Official.   

Other important correspondences associated with the Wood Element are the color-green, taste-sour, smell-rancid, sound-shout, part of the body-ligaments, climate-wind.  The best place to start for all of these is always in the season which is Spring.  In this season we can see the green color in the new growth that happens on trees and from the ground.  We can also experience the sour taste from eating some of this new growth which has a classic sour taste.  The climate of wind also makes sense at this time of year because it is Nature’s way of doing spring cleaning.  The wind comes in and creates space for the new.  The sound is shout and this is seen in conjunction with the emotion of anger.  When the emotion of anger wants to be expressed it is usually seen in a shout.  Finally the part of the body is the ligaments.  This makes sense in terms of the Wood Element because it is the ligaments that allow us to move forward with our body and also be flexible to changes.  

When we look at the Wood Element and the Spring we can see how this element is characterized by vision and planning.  This energy is reflected throughout the correspondences and the officials.  The Liver and the Gall Bladder work in tandem to come up with plans and bring them into reality.  The power of birth is the true strength of the Wood Element.  

The Five Elements

To actually fully describe any element in its entirety is impossible.  The elements are different aspects of the infinite and are themselves infinite.  However, it is possible to get a feel for or a sense of a particular element.  I believe that this visceral feeling is of primary importance, and all of the associations and correspondences will make much more sense and actually be integrated in the body as a whole through this cellular understanding.    

The Fire Element 

In our culture and in my life specifically, the experience of the fire element is at its extremes; the bipolar experience of highs and lows.  Amidst these extremes, the true experience of the fire element is in simple joy.  No bells and whistles.  This is not some spiritual peak experience.  It is just garden variety joy.  A simple feeling at the core of us that is totally content with the present moment.  It is like a flame flickering in our center that is quiet and calm but totally alive.  In some ways it is ordinary because it is so simple and because it exists in every being.  However, it is bigger and more amazing than any words could ever express.  It is the flame in our hearts of true peace and happiness.  This flame can expand out infinitely when we put our attention on it, and it is this realization that is so radical.  So the true essence of the fire element within us is very simple, but it is also the most profound secret that is constantly overlooked by humans.  

In Nature the fire element can express as a very focused and direct energy like the sun.  This can be experienced most clearly during the season associated with the fire element which is summer.  The sun is the most intense during summer, and the sun is such a pure expression of raw fire energy.  This heat and energy can support and sustain life, but it also has the power to destroy.  The Earth’s distance from the sun is a perfect balance; any closer and it would be too hot to sustain life, and any further away and the planet would be to cold.  The relationship of the Earth and the sun shows the amazing potential of the fire element when it is in balance.  

The harnessing of the energy in fire through technology has also been extremely important in the growth of civilization.  For example, coal is burned to heat up water which creates steam, and this steam turns turbines which generate electricity.  This harnessing of fire has allowed humans to create a whole new way of life and shows the unbelievable potential that exists within the fire element.  Basically everything in our society is in some way dependant on electricity.  However, this very fire can also rage out of control and burn down the buildings that is was used to create.  Fire has the ability to create and to destroy, and this power must be given its deserved respect.  

In humans the fire element expresses as the red color in the face, laughter or lack of laughter, the scorched smell, and joy or lack of joy.  These expressions are so obvious when the essence of the element is felt in the body.  It is natural that the explosive potential of this energy would cause joy and laughter in an individual.  In Nature the fire element expresses in the summer season, the hot climate, the taste of bitter, and the power to mature.  Just as with the expressions in humans, these natural expressions seem so obviously expressions of the fire element.  They carry the flavor of direct, focused energy.  When this energy is out of balance it can be expressed as anger and rage, much like a wild fire.  The taste of bitter feels like it is penetrating deep into the tongue.  It is a very visceral experience of directness.  The power of the fire element is maturity.  In the Spring the plants grow up, and in the Summer the plants grow out and thicken. This more horizontal growth can be seen as maturity.     

I also experience the fire element in my own life through the community and the sense of connection that it cultivates.  Summer time is a great time to be outside and with people I love.  Every year I throw a 4^th of July party for my family and friends.  I pull out a slip-n-slide, and water guns, and barbeque up delicious summer time foods.  This party allows me to turn into a little kid again, and I really enjoy connecting with people I love.  The day is warm and everyone is outside together having fun and being joyful.  It seems so natural to be outside with friend having fun at this time of year.  As compared to the gathering in of family during the winter time holidays, this kind of celebration is loud and filled with ruckus and mischief.  At this party people are having fun and being care-free.  Connecting in with loved ones and enjoying life are a big part of this element for me personally.  

The officials that are associated with the fire element are the heart, the small intestines, circulation-sex or heart protector, and the triple heater. Although we have not yet gone into these officials in detail, you can see by their names and functions that they are at the core of the body and crucial in its maintenance.  There is also a feeling that the fire element is responsible for aiding in the movement of energy around the body, so it is no surprise that this element fortifies the arteries.  The potential energy that is contained within the fire element has a primal and raw flavor to it that can be seen in the ways that it expresses in humans and in nature.            

The Earth Element

When I feel into the core of the earth element, I am instantly transported to the season that is attributed to this element which is Late Summer.  This time of year carries with it the flavor of abundance, strength, and integrity.  The earth element is the aspect of the infinite that is totally trustworthy.  It is the feeling of the earth beneath my feet.  It is solid and undeniable supporting me.  This element has the feeling of being very solid.  It is so easy as humans to stray from what feels true in an attempt to get something that we want.  I know that in my life I have left what felt true in an attempt to get love from another person.  There is a belief in place for many people that we have to be something different than what we are for someone to love us.  In contrast, the earth element is so solid and rooted in the Truth that it never goes outside of itself to find what it needs, and this way of being in the world generates an abundance of love.  It is the feeling of having a seal of approval.  Inside I can feel that what I am made of is such good stuff, and I can meet people from this place and express a quality of love that is filled with integrity and strength.  

In Nature one of the clearest expressions of the earth element is a mountain.  Mountains have such a strong, rooted energy to them.  There is an undeniable strength to their presence that is very soothing to be around.  This strength provides a feeling of security.  In contrast to the idea of locking people out to keep safe, there is a way that a mountain is invitational in its strength.  This is and inclusive form of security, and it comes from the ability to stay connected to our own deepest truth in the face of outside pressures.  This connection allows a person to say no and establish healthy boundaries from a place of not being a victim.  Healthy boundaries allow an individual to truly offer their gift to others, and this is where the feeling of abundance comes from.  When these boundaries are not healthy and out of balance, this energy can express as stubbornness and being rigid.  Individuals who are balanced and rooted in their strength become like overflowing springs of love.  There is so much abundance in the universe and when people move into their power, this abundance naturally flows.  

In humans the earth element expresses as the color yellow, singing, sympathy, and the fragrant smell.  The bubbling of the spring of life can be seen in these expressions.  Singing is a clear expression of love bubbling out of a human being, and this is one way that the earth element moves through human beings.  The part of the body that is fortified by this element is the muscles, and this seems very clearly tied in with physical strength.  In Nature the earth element expresses in the late summer season, a humid climate, the sweet taste, and the power to decrease.  The idea of decrease is usually misunderstood in our culture that is more focused on always growing.  In late summer when the fruit comes back in on itself just a little bit and the sugars start to break down slightly, that is when the fruit is at its best.  In Colorado it is the peaches that show the beauty of the power of decrease the best.  The fruit decreases just slightly, and that is when it is the most delicious and this only last for a very short period of time.  The officials associated with the earth element are the stomach and the spleen/pancreas.  Although we have not had a chance to look at these officials in detail, they feel in alignment with the energy of the earth element.  The idea of having a gut feeling or making decisions from your belly center are about integrity and the strength to stay true to your voice, and these organs represent that for me in my body.    

The Metal Element

The two officials of the metal element are the lungs and the colon.  This may seem like an odd pairing, but when explored the beauty of their connection can be understood.  The lungs are the most direct way that we as humans receive from the world around us.  We breathe in the air and in doing so we breathe in the energy of life that is all around us.  So many meditation and relaxation techniques are tied to placing attention on the breath.  For me focusing on my breath has the power to bring me back into the present moment and out of whatever mental spin I may be in.  The colon is the part of the body responsible for the elimination of waste.  It is where we let go of what we have taken into our bodies.  When these two organs are seen in this way, it becomes clear how they work as a partnership.  They work in tandem to receive the energy of life and to let go of that which is no longer needed.

In humans the metal element expresses as the color white, the emotion of grief, the sound of weeping, the fortification of skin and hair, and the rotten smell.  The emotion of grief can be seen out of balance in our culture when people are unwilling to let go of that which is gone.  There is a holding on that happens that prevents an individual from being able to received all that is available in the current moment.  This grasping or holding energy actually has a way of keeping a person from experiencing the wholeness of life.  When someone or something important is lost, it is totally reasonable to feel grief.  True grief is a healing emotion.  It allows the feelings of sadness to pass naturally through the body.  True grief is an expression of the deepest love that can be experienced by a human being.  Very often in popular culture grief is portrayed as stagnant, and this type of holding does not allow for emotions to move freely.  

In Nature the metal element expresses in the season of autumn, the climate of dryness, the taste of pungent, and the power of balance.  The idea of balance is based on equality between receiving and releasing.  In my life the only times I have ever been able to receive something totally is when I am willing to let it go.  When my hand is clenched like a fist trying to grasp at something, it is impossible to receive it.  However, when my hand is open, there is space for a true meeting.  This space allows for a relaxed attitude where things have an opportunity to blossom and show their gift.  The other interesting point about this element is its name.  The Chinese used metal to describe this aspect of the infinite.  Metal is very dense and yet it is created by pressure from one of the least dense aspects in the physical realm—-air.  This balance between that which is light and that which is dense is the essence of the metal element.  Walking this razor’s edge requires a high degree of respect for the natural world and the internal authority to make difficult decisions.  The qualities of balance, respect, and authority are expressions of the infinite that are seen in the metal element.  

The Water Element

The feeling of the water element in my body is a stripping down to the core and the ability to contemplate and reflect in a still place.  The season associated with the water element is winter.  This is the time of year where the landscape is more barren and quiet.  Snow has a noise dampening effect that literally reduces the ambient noise.  This makes the landscape literally quiet, but there is also a way that this time of year feels more quiet and contemplative.  There is a drawing in at this time of year.  The superfluous is stripped away and we are left with just what is essential at our core.  Water as a molecule is also very fascinating.  It can change form quite easily from gas to liquid to solid at different temperatures and pressures.  Liquid water has the ability to take on the shape of whatever container it is in.  There is a flow to water that makes it adaptable and almost impossible to pin down.  Another important aspect to water is its depth.  Out in the middle of the ocean we can feel just how deep the ocean is and this experience can be frightening.

I have experienced this fear directly in my life while SCUBA diving. As part of learning how to SCUBA dive and getting certified you have to go through different training exercises, and as you go further into the certification process these exercises become more difficult.  For one exercise, I had to take off my mask down at about 60 meters below the surface.  I did not think this was going to be a difficult exercise initially, but once I got down to that depth I felt fear.  There was something terrifying about not being able to see and being that far from the surface.  When I took my mask off, I instantly became terrified and starting having a panic attack.  I was trying to breathe slowly and relax, but the fear had taken hold of me.  The ocean was too big, and I was too deep to be able to calm down.  I panicked and went for the surface.  This was dangerous because I did not ascend at a safe rate which could have really injured me.  This possibility of injury was not even on my mind because I was not thinking clearly.  I was just panicking.  Once I got to the surface I was able to calm myself down, and I had luckily not injured myself.  I realized that I had to trust my diving partner and the air tanks to truly complete this exercise.  We went back down a second time and I felt the fear again.  I continued breathing slowly and made sure I felt safe before I removed my mask.  This time I was able to trust in my buddy to keep me safe and that I would be ok.  I got my mask back on and cleared it so that I could see.  This experience has always stuck with me, and I can see how in stressful situations my body may have a tendency to panic.  I can also see how I actually lose my ability to keep myself safe and think clearly when I panic.  It is easier said than done but the ability to stay calm and grounded in the face of fear can actually keep a person safer.       

In humans the water element expresses as the color blue, the emotion of fear, the sound of groaning, the fortification of the bones, and the putrid smell.  When out of balance this element can become stagnant and can cause a person to feel frozen or stuck.  This experience of being frozen can cause intense fear and dread.  There is no hope and the future looks bleak.  From this place the individual may feel hopeless like there is nothing that he or she can do.  When in balance, this element can help to cleanse the system as a whole and bring energy to areas that feel stuck.  The officials associated with this element are the kidneys and the bladder.  These officials tie right into the idea of cleansing and movement.  The kidneys process fluids in the body, and the bladder is responsible in the movement of fluid from within the body to without.  One other aspect to the water element is its mysterious quality.  In the depths of the ocean there is another world with totally different kinds of fish and animals.  These different species have found different solutions for living in this more mysterious world.  Similarly, the water element has the ability to present new and different solutions that may not make sense to the mind.  

In Nature the water element expresses itself in the winter season, the climate of cold, the taste of salty, and the power of emphasis.  When all the superfluous is stripped away, the core of an issue is emphasized.  When the core is emphasized it can be seen more clearly and explored.  The fact that the water element fortifies the core of the body, the bones, is no surprise considering this idea of stripping down to the most basic.  There is a clarity and a reflective quality to the water element that helps an individual to see issues in his or her life more clearly.    

The Wood Element

The power of the wood element is birth, and this power is evident during the spring season which is associated with this element.  The spring time is a time of explosive growth, and this is the energy of the wood element.  It is a strong creative energy that has the power to push through obstacles and make room for what is new.  This energy also has vision; it can see where it wants to go and forges ahead to this place.  However, when this energy is out of balance, it can become pushy and controlling.  Sometimes there are sacrifices made because there is so much attention put onto the goal, and this leads to actions that are out of balance.  Balanced wood energy is really a site to behold because there is amazing creativity and potential in this element.  

In my life I experience the wood element the most clearly when I am painting.  I paint with acrylic on canvas, and my paintings feel a lot like a little sapling when they are just beginning.  There is this creative impulse that is being expressed and it can be somewhat delicate.  There is all this great potential attempting to come out through the paint and it can be crushed.  When I am painting and someone comes up and is very pushy about what they think about the painting, it can be very frustrating.  I feel like I have to push them away and create space for my little sapling to grow.  I can see a particular vision for my painting and outside influences can feel very smothering.  It feels like a plant trying to push through a rock or something hard buried in the ground.  There are also times though that a person’s opinion can be very helpful and constructive.  It is like they were the needed nutrient for growth.  For something to take form and become alive it needs space to be what it is, and I feel this strongly when painting and being creative.  

In Nature the wood element expresses itself in the spring season, a windy climate, and the sour taste.  The spring season is such a wonderful example of this energy.  The explosiveness of this element cannot be understated.  The image of a plant growing up through a sidewalk in a busy city shows the tenacity and determination of this element.  There is an aspect of this element that will not give up and pushes through any adversity.  In forests in the spring time, this energy is all around.  It expresses in all the new plants that are growing and trying to find their place in a crowded landscape, and also in the old established plants that continue to expand their stake in this world.  The inherent wisdom that exists within everything can be seen during this time of explosive growth.  All of these plants know exactly how and when to grow.  There is not some long deliberation and deciding period.  The plants just do what they know how to do; they grow.  

In humans the wood element has the same feeling of enthusiasm and tenacity, but there is a planning aspect that is also part of the energy.  Humans have the ability to think and plan, and this allows humans to channel this energy into a specific project.  Humans are able to see into the future and plan because of our mental capacity, and this allows human beings to be more deliberate with this energy.  However, this also creates a place for excessive planning and micromanaging.  When this element is out of balance in a human being, it can result in an angry rigidness.  Everything must be done a certain way that is part of the vision, but it is done to an extreme.  This imbalance squeezes down the space and usually squashes creativity.  In human beings the wood element expresses itself in the color green, the emotion of anger, shouting, and the rancid smell.  The emotion of anger and shouting are very closely tied together, and it is pretty clear to see that if something gets in the way of this huge energy there is a good chance for anger to occur.  This is a big powerful energy that is willing to push obstacles out of the way to achieve its goal, and sometimes in human beings this can be very pushy and insensitive.  

The gall bladder and the liver are the two officials associated with this element.  The liver is the only organ that can totally regenerate itself, and this is an example of the awesome potential of the wood element.  The ligaments are the part of the body that is fortified by this element.  The ligaments feel like the roots of the bones.  They are the connective tissue that allows the bones to grow and move in a natural way, and this is in alignment with the general themes of this element.  

The wood element is a very expressive and dynamic energy that defines itself through movement and growth.  It is a very important aspect of the creative cycle because in some ways it can be seen as the starting point.  It is the creative beginning of a tree or a human life and it helps to seed the elements that follow it in the sheng cycle.  It is true that there is no beginning or end to the sheng cycle, but the wood element has the feeling of being a beginning.  This assertive and visionary growth is a wonderful aspect of the totality that is expressed in the wood element.   

When I feel into the core of the earth element, I am instantly transported to the season that is attributed to this element which is Late Summer.  This time of year carries with it the flavor of abundance, strength, and integrity.  The earth element is the aspect of the infinite that is totally trustworthy.  It is the feeling of the earth beneath my feet.  It is solid and undeniable supporting me.  This element has the feeling of being very solid.  It is so easy as humans to stray from what feels true in an attempt to get something that we want.  I know that in my life I have left what felt true in an attempt to get love from another person.  There is a belief in place for many people that we have to be something different than what we are for someone to love us.  In contrast, the earth element is so solid and rooted in the Truth that it never goes outside of itself to find what it needs, and this way of being in the world generates an abundance of love.  It is the feeling of having a seal of approval.  Inside I can feel that what I am made of is such good stuff, and I can meet people from this place and express a quality of love that is filled with integrity and strength.  

In Nature one of the clearest expressions of the earth element is a mountain.  Mountains have such a strong, rooted energy to them.  There is an undeniable strength to their presence that is very soothing to be around.  This strength provides a feeling of security.  In contrast to the idea of locking people out to keep safe, there is a way that a mountain is invitational in its strength.  This is and inclusive form of security, and it comes from the ability to stay connected to our own deepest truth in the face of outside pressures.  This connection allows a person to say no and establish healthy boundaries from a place of not being a victim.  Healthy boundaries allow an individual to truly offer their gift to others, and this is where the feeling of abundance comes from.  When these boundaries are not healthy and out of balance, this energy can express as stubbornness and being rigid.  Individuals who are balanced and rooted in their strength become like overflowing springs of love.  There is so much abundance in the universe and when people move into their power, this abundance naturally flows.  

In humans the earth element expresses as the color yellow, singing, sympathy, and the fragrant smell.  The bubbling of the spring of life can be seen in these expressions.  Singing is a clear expression of love bubbling out of a human being, and this is one way that the earth element moves through human beings.  The part of the body that is fortified by this element is the muscles, and this seems very clearly tied in with physical strength.  In Nature the earth element expresses in the late summer season, a humid climate, the sweet taste, and the power to decrease.  The idea of decrease is usually misunderstood in our culture that is more focused on always growing.  In late summer when the fruit comes back in on itself just a little bit and the sugars start to break down slightly, that is when the fruit is at its best.  In Colorado it is the peaches that show the beauty of the power of decrease the best.  The fruit decreases just slightly, and that is when it is the most delicious and this only last for a very short period of time.  The officials associated with the earth element are the stomach and the spleen/pancreas.  Although we have not had a chance to look at these officials in detail, they feel in alignment with the energy of the earth element.  The idea of having a gut feeling or making decisions from your belly center are about integrity and the strength to stay true to your voice, and these organs represent that for me in my body.    

The title of this blog is the name of an acupuncture point.  In Worsley Five-Element Acupuncture (WFEA) each point is given a name.  It is not just a Roman Numeral and Number system.  Each point has a spirit or an essence.  Spirit Path is the fourth point from the little finger on the Heart Meridian (I4).  It is on the inner arm proximal (more towards the core of the body) to the wrist.    

This is a very beautiful and powerful point.  It is the point of the Metal Element within the Heart Meridian which is a Fire Meridian.  This point empowers the Heart with the characteristics of the Metal Element.  This is the power of being totally grounded on Earth while remaining open to the inspiration of the Heavens.  This connects a person’s Heart with their own spiritual path and purpose.  This gives direction to the compassion and love of the Heart.  This point brings a depth to the love that the Heart can give and receive. Rather than just remaining on a superficial plane, bringing the attributes of the Metal Element into the Heart deepens and brings richness to the love of the Heart.   

This allows us to move from a limited view of love to a place where we can see the strength that comes from a grounded form of love.  This can be seen in the world around us in the way a Mother bear would defend her cub.  This is not a soft and cuddly kind of love.  It is focused and direct, and it has the power to generate change in the world around us.  In certain spiritual circles this kind of direct and powerful love can be disowned in the confusion around what love is supposed to look like.  Love is seen as something that is always happy and light, but this point reminds us of the strength and courage that exists in a true form of love.  There is no force in this world that is more powerful than love.  And the spirit of this point can remind us of the feeling of strength and focused directness that is another aspect of love.  

In my life there have been moments where I have been sliced open by a spiritual teacher in their love for me.  It was incredibly powerful and left me feeling raw and vulnerable.  It was as if the teacher was calling me into a greater part of myself. They had had enough with my particular story and WHAM! Just sliced right in two, the rug pulled out from under my feet.  And this is a fierce form of love.  It allowed me to grow so much more as an individual than if my teacher had just played nice with me and tried to soothe my distress.  Instead it was a smack across the face to wake me up to the reality of what I truly am.  This is the kind of love that I am interested in, and this is the kind of love that I want to slice me open every day to a deeper and deeper sense of the truth that I am.