The Earth Type. Five Element Acupuncture for earth elements.

Earth Element

The Earth Type

Emotion: Sympathy and Worry
Season: Late Summer
Struggle with: Worry
Need: To be heard
Strength: Sympathetic and Giving
Organs: Stomach and Spleen

The Earth Element

The nature of Earth is supportive, it nourishes, it provides us with abundance and fosters all life. The small planet we live on hosts an incredibly complex web of self-sustaining support systems that manage our atmosphere, temperature, weather and maintain all this within the tight boundaries that allow life to exist.

More specifically, the season of the earth element is late summer or harvest time. This time of bounty and fruition links directly to the organs of Earth, the Stomach and Spleen. It is the tireless work of our digestive system that turns natures bounty into the energy we need to sustain ourselves. The Stomach and Spleen are literally and metaphorically at the centre of our being and provide the sustenance around which everything else revolves.

Earth element types share many of the abundant characteristics of the Earth itself. They are very generous with their time and compassion, often being the one people turn to in their time of need. They are very good at providing a sympathetic ear or a shoulder to cry on, and are also particularly prone to feed anyone who comes into their space! Furthermore, they are ‘earth mothers’ in the primal sense and tend to feel maternal affection and concern for all their family and friends. They can also take in the role of mother tiger for their friends, fighting their corner and fiercely defending the rights. On occasion this tendency can become imbalance and their concern can become overbearing or even suffocating.

Like all concerned mothers, Earth’s also tend to worry. Unfortunately, because they are such a central part of so many people lives, they are prone to worry about everyone…! This can be a particularly difficult place to be as often the source of their worry is out of their hands, so there is very little they can do to resolve their fears. Like food that can not be digested, their worries are churned over and over, leading to feelings of discomfort and dis-ease.

Sadly, Earth Elements often find that their boundless generosity is not always reflected by the world around them, and it can come as quite a disappointment when they do not receive from others, the care and compassion that they give out. Like the earth itself, their reserves can become depleted from inconsiderate use, particularly as they also often disregard their own needs for the sake of others. An important lesson for all Earths to take on board is that “Your compassion is not complete until it contains yourself”

At a time in their lives when they feel like they are being taken for granted by their family and friends, Earth’s can rebel and become quite angry, and fed up. When pushed out of balance in this way, they may also become quite needy themselves. Worries about their own health often arise and are sometimes even manifested. Conversely, another response to imbalance can be that Earth completely reject sympathy from others and don’t want to talk about themselves at all.

This can be a difficult pattern for Earth’s to break, but with self-reflection and good friends they can do it. Many also use this opportunity to educate themselves in health and well-being – knowledge that they then, naturally, share freely with their friends and family.

To feel happy and healthy and whole Earth’s need to feel valued, to feel heard and to know that there is enough for everyone they love to be okay. If these foundations are in place their abundance of kindness, and their inclusive temperament, is a treasure for all those exposed to it.

Rachel Geary

Rachel Geary BA(Hons), Lic. Ac. MBAcC is a fully qualified acupuncturist, having graduated from the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine in 2002. She has previously practised in Inverness and Barnstaple. "I first became interested in acupuncture whilst I was at university studying History and Philosophy. I was particularly drawn to eastern philosophy, which I found particularly elegant and beautiful. I then went on to complete a three and a half year course of study in acupuncture and discovered it to exemplify these very same qualities. I feel very privileged to have been able to learn so much about the Chinese understanding of health and to be able to use this knowledge to help others." Rachel Geary is a Registered Acupuncturist, she is registered at The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), and The Association of Community and Multibed Acupuncture Clinic (ACMAC).