Elements: Earth

The earth is the common element around which all the others work.  The water flows over the earth and through it's substance storing, cleaning and pumping water with a beat like a heart.   Wind blows over the earth helping the water flow, the dirt and rocks travel. The wind also brings air, seeds and nutrients around the planet renewing and preserving our very food sources.  The fire cooks everything together bringing life and renewal.   Each of these elements are part of the full body that is earth.

This trip we went to the mountains.  The mountains are a common pull for.  People who are mountain people feel the pull to the energy these giants produce.  They are huge and silent and powerful yet they have a beat to them, a pulse that we may not quite feel.  Yet we recognize the brilliance and power in itself.  It brings us a sense of calm like a dog when it lays down and makes that big breath out. 

In the human body we have our heart that pumps, keeping the life blood of the body flowing while bringing nutrients and cleaning out toxins.  Without this we have no life.  We also have the lungs that bring in oxygen to the body.  Again this is a powerful force that brings in energy and cleans out toxins we would have not life.  We also have a burning heat in our bodies that represent life.  Without this inner core burning to keep us in balance we would not exist.  The body has a beat.  Anyone who has lain their head upon their loved ones chest knows that beat. Anyone who has grown another body within them knows that beat.  Anyone who has lain in their parents arms with a skinned knee or sore tummy knows that beat.  

The earth has that beat.   Before this trip I went to Wakarusa and listened to the beat of music.  No matter what culture you are from there is a music that brings your soul to life.  It gives you energy or peace or passion or all three.  The earth provides it's people, us, with that beat at a level that you need to focus on and feel.  Yet this beat is part of us and can bring us all peace, calm and life.  

On this trip I met so many amazing people and went to so many amazing places each of which recharged my soul and connected me with the beat of the earth.  At times it was the wind wiping out of the canyon, at times water bringing life and clarity and at times fire bringing unconditional love with it's smooth energy. 

On this trip the beat was also the beat of the mountains, the streams, the native culture and drums, the swaying of the trees, the noises of the birds and animals, all bringing the symphony to life.  It was also the laughter of my children and their exclamations of awe at sights of natures beauty and power. "Wow Mom..."  

It is in returning from this trip that I recognize the feel of connection to that beat.  I don't have to be in the mountains to feel their strength, I don't need to be in the wind to feel it's support and I don't need to be in the water to feel its clarity.  I don't even need to be in the sun to feel it's heat.  However, if I close my eyes I can be the wind, water, fire and earth as one.