the water element
The main qualities of water are smoothness, fluidity and shape-shifting.
In the body, the primary watery location is the pelvis. Water is also present in all bodily fluids, the lymphatic system and the skin.
Our emotionality is connected to the water element. People heavily influenced by water will experience the world predominantly through their emotions, "I feel". As such, they can be sensitive and emphatic, understanding other's feelings or the general feeling or atmosphere in a group situation very intuitively.
The pelvic watery centre is also the seat of the sacral chakra and is connected to gender and nurturing.
Its important to remember that we rarely see one element operating alone. For example, though the skin is connected to the water element, it may also present with fiery symptoms in the form of rashes or spots, as the fire energy seeks to express its hot (sometimes angry) emotional reactions through the skin.
As usual, we seek to establish a healthy balance of each element in Polarity Therapy. Imbalanced water, whether excess or deficiency, can cause problems at every level of being and disrupt the healthy functioning of the other elements.
Water Way of Being
The 3 main water signs are Cancer, Pisces and Scorpio but as with all the elements, water is present in each of us to varying degrees.Water people in balance will tend to be empathic, sensitive, and nurturing, with a soothing quality. They may also have a subtle magnetic quality, like the tides drawing water in and out. Their ability to be fluid and smooth makes them easy to be around and they can blend and shape-shift well in different situations. Water is used as a solvent to dissolve many substances and chemicals. This ability of water to absorb things from outside itself needs to be managed well by water people. They can find themselves enmeshed with others easily, wading into the tide of others emotions and becoming too involved, to the point of negating themselves. Good boundaries can be maintained with a healthy balance of earth and fire to keep water in place.
Water is very reactive, the slightest movement on the surface will cause a ripple effect and this can be reflected as over-sensitivity in the water person. Excessive water can be reflected in the body as swelling due to water retention and emotionally as excessive crying and neediness. Deficient water can cause a person to lose their sense of empathy and sensitivity to others feelings. Water also tends to flow along the same channels over and over and this repeating quality connects it to addictive patterns of behaviour. This makes sense when we consider the connection between water and emotionality, as some underlying emotional need is usually trying to be met through addiction.
The phrase "running water clears itself" gives us a clue as to how to keep the water element healthy and balanced. Water needs movement and fluidity or stagnation can occur. Emotional stagnation in the form of old stuck and repressed emotions is very toxic to our overall wellbeing. Keeping emotions free-flowing then will help keep water clear. Its important to find an avenue to express emotions safely on a regular basis. Simply letting emotions come up and letting tears flow can be very healing in itself. Nurturance (both self-nurture and receiving nurture from the outside) enables us to hold ourselves with kindness when feelings are strong and we feel overwhelmed. This clearing of water makes space for all kinds of new growth, insights, awareness, and experiences. It also frees up all the other gifts of water to flow freely, a healthy relationship with ones gender and sexuality, empathy and fluidity, and creative expression. Honest, compassionate self-inquiry helps us through the watery realm to the deepest parts of ourselves. It can lead us to our deepest truths and the gifts for powerful self-healing that we all have.
Watery Foods
Water vegetables grow just above the surface of the earth, and have a high water content. These will include lettuce, cucumber, squashes, spinach etc. Having a higher sodium content, these vegetables have a predominant salty flavour, which is quite subtle. In Polarity Therapy, it is believed that your diet should consist of 40% food of your element, with the remaining 60% made up of the other 3 elements. So, if you are a Water sign, consider if you are eating enough of these types of foods. An increase or decrease of water element food can also help restore balance in this element in a person of any elemental make-up.
Water and the Other Elements
Balanced Water depends upon harmony and balance with Earth, Fire and Air in the body.
- Water receives support and structure from Earth. Consider what happens when you spill a glass of water. Water flows everywhere, losing its form. This effect is experienced when the earth element is imbalanced, if we are not well grounded we lose our ability to contain our emotionality. When in balance, earth gives structure to water and water in turn nourishes the earth helping to keep it fertile.
- Water and fire have a dynamic relationship. Water is very sensitive to heat, freezing or turning to steam when exposed to extremes of hot and cold. Too much water can put fire out altogether. We experience this when overwhelmed by emotionality and crying, our firey vitality and exuberance may be low for a time. A little water can cool excessively hot fire, adding a little emotionality can help disperse aggression and anger. Water benefits from a little heat, too much heat will dry it out, too little and we can be cold and lack empathy and sensitivity.
- Air acting on water helps to keep it aerated fresh. Balanced air can bring levity and helps dry out excessive water. Water is carried by air as vapour in the form of clouds, which is then returned back to the earth. An airy disposition benefits from this relationship with water, keeping it in touch with emotionality and helping it to stay connected to feelings as well as thoughts.
