Life consists of cycles. Birth, growing up, aging, dying. A year consists of cycles, seasons, depending on where we live. A day consists of cycles. Everything in nature, both animate and inanimate, consists of five basic elements, as they are grouped by ancient cultures like the Eastern ones. These are Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, Fire. From ancient times, the description of the elements given by different cultures, their significance, impact, effect on man and his environment, has greatly overlapped within the symbolism of each individual element.
Earth is well known as an element and almost equally important for all of the human race, over all continents and meridians. She is “Mother.” We come from her and to her we will return. She is stable and constant, she is home to foundations, both symbolic and actual. She is the source of life. We plant in her, build on her, make from her.
In the space within which we live, the Earth element implies the energetic symbolism of Earth. She symbolizes care and concern, stability, calm reserve. Earthenware gives a sense of rootedness, tradition, longevity, the warmth of home.
Earthy colors and tones give us a sense of calm and security. The Earth neutralizes all negativity.
When we are not well, it is enough to stand barefoot on the Earth. She accepts us and takes onto herself all the negativity, all the pain, all the frustration.
The Earth represents woman, mother, she belongs to the Northeast, Southwest and the Center of your home. Take a compass to see where it is in your living space and enrich those sections with Earth elements, some Earth details, or Earth colors. This is her natural place and that is where she will do you the greatest good. If the Earth element is missing, whether we lack it in objects, shapes, colors, sections in our home, it indicates a lack of focus and clear reasoning in a household. Earth elements help make our emotional bonds stronger and more lasting. Although it is important to balance everything out as too much Earth will make us inactive, poorly motivated, apathetic and selfish.
In the cycle of creation, Earth is created by Fire. In the cycle of creation, Earth also creates Metal. Thus, if we do not have enough Earth, we will be lacking Fire as well as Metal, as they are in direct contact with one another.
Ceramics in houses and apartments do precisely that, they offset, in an urban setting, all that we have most neglected, forgotten, our deep connection to the Earth. Contact with her. Supporting qualities we often ignore.
When we look around, to what degree does the Earth surround us, both symbolically and factually? Each space should contain an approximately equal share of elements. In order to have balance and flow. The element creation cycle must not be disturbed.
Look around you. How represented is Earth in the colors that surround you, in the beiges, dessert sand, brown, ocher, dark yellow, all shades of baked clay… The shape of Earth is a square. Chinese money, a circular metal with a square in the middle, has the symbolism of the sky, which is a circle and Earth, which is a square in the middle.
Sky is God and Earth is man, and this is an unbreakable bond. God and man.
Look at it through the shapes in your space, which one dominates. Add square shapes. How many earthen objects do you have around you… What kind of dishes do you eat out of, what do you keep your flowers in… Has everything been replaced by plastic, glass or some new materials…
Get back to nature a little. Balance. Harmony. Flow. Discard those things which are not natural, replace them with natural ones. Everything we need is right there, beside us – in nature.
Marija Vrebalov
Photo: Courtesy of Gabriel Jimenez / Unsplash