WATER

Water is the time of winter. In winter, all of nature, including our human form, goes within, is quiet and introspective. Water covers about 70% of the earth’s surface and makes up about 50-65% of the human body. Water exists in three physical states: liquid, solid, and gas. We can see the power of water when we see an iceberg that can sink a ship or a tsunami that can devastate or steam that can power a locomotive. When we contemplate the vastness and depths of the ocean, we have a sense of the unknown and the mysteries of life.

Water constitutions are wise, contemplative and introspective. They take their time thinking things through and observing. They enjoy deep thought, seeking the truth, and solitude. Water constitutions value knowledge. They can be cautious in what they choose to invest their time and money in. Water is comfortable spending long periods of time on their own. Like a philosopher, water can seek deeper meaning in life. The aspect of will is housed in the water element. There are two aspects of will according to ancient Chinese philosophy: our free will of choice as humans and heaven’s divine will for us. The water element is also the place which holds our vital resources and reserves. Our vital qi, yin, yang, and jing, all vital resources that give our body strength and energy, are governed by the water element.

The organs and body systems associated with the water constitution are the kidneys, urinary bladder, spine, bones, adrenal glands, teeth, feet, knees, brain, marrow, and nervous system. Water rules the ears and hearing. The color of water is black or deep blue. The sound of water is groaning. The natural direction of water is inward.

The emotion associated with water is fear. Fear, when experienced habitually over long periods of time, can injure the organs and body systems associated with water. Our autonomic nervous system’s response to fear is freeze, fight, or flight. Water can often feel herself in one of these states. Just like water covers 70% of the earth’s surface, fear can be a predominant emotion. 

When a water constitution becomes stressed, she can become frozen or paralyzed with fear. This fear may be dealt with in a subconscious way by holding onto reserves like money or her time and energy. The water constitution may become frugal and feel the need to hold tightly to the reserves she has. In this scenario her reserves become like a frozen stream, nothing can flow easily or freely. Another way a water can become stressed is to overpower others like a tidal wave or a locomotive powered by steam. This overpowering may feel like a way for the water constitution to ensure her reserves are always abundant. The irony is that she drains her reserves in the effort that comes with the overpowering.

When a water constitution becomes weak, she can feel a sense of futility about her own power to manage her reserves and resources. She may feel overpowered by others and thus squander her resources away by working too hard, again draining her reserves in an effort to conserve her reserves. She may fear that she will never get ahead or feel that she has sufficient reserves, so she pushes herself to work harder to acquire more which ultimately drains her vital qi.

The virtue of water is wisdom. Wisdom is what allows us to face fear and the unknown. Life is full of unknowns. We do not know for sure what will happen an hour from now, tomorrow, or next year. If we choose to employ wisdom when dealing with fear and the unknown, we have a tool to help us recognize the fear and work with it rather than just reacting to it. In nature, water sinks down and settles into the lowest point possible. Similarly, in life, if we use wisdom as a means to working with fear, we have the potential to sink down and settle into the truth and vastness of the unknown of life. Wisdom can help us relax into the fear and the unknowing. This is one of the tenants of meditation practice. In meditation, we focus concentration on our mind, gently reminding our mind to come back to the present moment. Wisdom shows us that all we really have is this present moment. When we embody that concept, we can relax with fear and the unknown. This relaxation is the most efficient way to ensure that we don’t expend or squander away our vital reserves.