Lens-Artists Challenge #327 – 5 Elements
The Chinese Five Elements theory is a fundamental concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Sofia brings up these five elements in this week’s Lens-Artists challenge, asking us to look at “the elements that create the world around us.” Please review her informative post and enchanting photos for more background about the challenge.
For my post, I will concentrate on how the five elements connect with health and wellness. This is only a very brief post. In researching the five elements, I discovered a wealth of information. How one balances these five elements is the key to a healthy life. For more information about the elements and their interconnections, you can check out the following websites: NIH National Library of Medicine (a second article here), Eastern Acupuncture and Wellness, Shiatsu and the Five Elements Theory, and Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation.
I opened with a view of the Rio Grande Gorge outside of Taos, New Mexico. The five elements are presented in that photo:
- Wood – the small trees and brushes;
- Fire – about thirty-six million years ago, volcanic activity and tectonic stretching helped form the gorge and the rocks;
- Earth – the entire landscape before our eyes;
- Metal – the seventh highest steel deck arch bridge in the United States, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is roughly 600 feet (180 m) above the Rio Grande and spans 1,280 feet (390 m). [Wikipedia]
- Water – the Rio Grande River.
How do these five elements influence our health and wellness? Let’s briefly look at that.
Wood is believed to be associated with our liver and gallbladder. It also connects to our bursts of anger and is found in the bitter taste of food.
Fire controls the health of our hearts and small intestines. The emotional connection is responsible for our joyful moments. As for dietary connections, it is arguably no surprise that fire connects to spicy foods.
This scene from Big Bend NP’s Lost Mine Trail is my example of the element Earth. That element helps the healthy functions of our spleen, stomach, and pancreas. Worry is the emotion associated with this element. Sweets are linked to that element in food.
The Metal element controls the lungs and large intestines and their health. Emotionally, metal is the source of grief. If metal is present in your diet, you favor pungent foods.
Finally, we come to the element of Water. I chose this idyllic waterfall scene from the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve. Water is the element that controls your kidneys and bladder health. Emotionally, fear is connected to Water. As for dietary influences, salty foods are related to Water.
I hope you had plenty of smiles all week long. Ann-Christine’s This Made Me Smile challenge was loads of fun. The photos I saw brought smiles to my face.
This week, Sofia challenges us to look at the five elements according to Chinese philosophy. I look forward to your responses, whether you address all elements or just one. Don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag when creating your post so we can easily find it in the Reader.
John will host next Saturday at noon EST in the USA. Tune in to find out another exciting challenge. Please see this page to learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.
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André
thanks fo explaining the 5 element in regards to TCM. I didn’t knew that.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, André. It was all new to me, too.
margaret21
Not only have you chosen terrific images that illustrate the challenge, even without commetary; but you have closely linked it to a fascinating introduction to eastern ideas about health and well-being. A wonderful idea!
Egidio Leitao
Margaret, thank you for this wonderful feedback. I learned a lot with this challenge.
Tina Schell
A very clever, informative and beautiful post Egidio, really well done. I loved the links of each element to the area with which it is connected, and your images as always are stunning. Excellent read and response.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Tina.
Terri Webster Schrandt
Wow, Egidio, not only did you get into some research but you found exquisite images to go with them. And, bonus for the great shot of the bridge. All these elements contribute to our health.
Egidio Leitao
Many thanks, Terri.
Anne Sandler
What a creative approach to this challenge Egidio! Without our health, where would we be? Thanks for helping us understand which elements to various parts of our health. Not only was this post educational, it was beautiful. I loved all your images.
Egidio Leitao
That’s very kind of you, Anne. Thank you.
JohnRH
Wow. Quite the definitive analysis Egidio. Very informative. Excellent photos too. I’ve been to that bridge! Great views.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, John. We have visited Taos and that bridge several times. It is often very windy there.
Leanne Cole
I like your take on this Egidio, I’ve never heard of them like that before.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Leanne. It was new to me, too.
Sofia Alves
Yay, you found one with all elements, Egídio! Love all your beautiful photos, but the Earth one made me dream. Thank you.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Sofia. This was a great challenge. I am learning so much with it.
photobyjohnbo
Gee, Egidio… you stole my thoughts of using my photo of the Gorge Bridge. >grin< (Now, that’s a lie. I didn’t even think about it. ) You’ve hit the mark, though, with that image.
I echo Sofia’s thought on the Earth photo. What a beautiful landscape image.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, John. That Big Bend photo had been forgotten in my catalog. I’m glad it popped up in an Excire search for one of the elements.
Tranature - quiet moments in nature
Beautiful images Egidio and I enjoyed the way you linked all the elements to our health and diet 😊
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Xenia.
Cee Neuner
Beautiful photos of the five elements. 😀 😀
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Cee. Always good to hear from you. I hope you’re doing better.
restlessjo
Wonderful- both explanations and the photo illustrations. Great job, Egidio!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for your kind words, Jo.
Perpetua
Great info and photos, Egidio.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Perpetua.
I. J. Khanewala
Beautiful photos you have here. Specially loved that one of fire.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, I.J. That fire photo was at the yearly Texas Renaissance Festival. I like going there for the opportunities to photograph people doing those things and in costumes.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
Egídio, gorgeois post about the elements, the two photographs that stood out to me are , the one from Big Bend NP’s Lost Mine Trail and the metal, such a lovely metal artwork.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you so much, Ritva. That Big Bend photo was one I had overlooked. I’m glad I “discovered” it now.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
So am I 🙂