Forests of Imagination

Working with the elements

talk by Padmayogini (Wendy Le Ber) from the 2006 event

Over the weekend, we will be discovering and exploring something of the mystery and beauty of the elements. We will mainly be focusing on the elements as they are understood in the Buddhist tradition, but I will be drawing from other ways of thinking about the elements and mentioning other traditions during this talk.

There are different combinations of elements used in different systems, we probably think mostly of the four elements, earth, air, fire and water, this weekend we will also be including space and consciousness.

We can often lose sight or experience of the elements living in the city, and part of the aim of this weekend is to give us a taste of a retreat type atmosphere. Retreats are quite often held in the countryside because It is often helpful to be the nature, to be in contact more fully with the elements. To experience more deeply the wind blowing on your face, the rain, Sun and the blues sky, is to be part of the natural cycle of the world which has its own restful qualities. Here in the city the elements may seem more of a challenge, if it’s pouring with rain as we try and make our way to work, or if the tracks are frozen on the train lines when we trying to make our way somewhere and it may be hard to actually see the blue sky above the tall buildings.

In our early history the experience of the elements their worship and veneration were part of everyday life. The sun was seen as perhaps a most magnificent and amazing fiery body that gave us light and heat and caused the crops to grow. Sometimes the sun was drawn through the air in a chariot ridden by gods Water was needed for all life and the forces the natural forces in the world, could be savage as well as beneficial, bringing floods and fire so respect was necessary Being able to create fire was itself a magical act, but today with our more scientific control over the natural world, we have probably lost the appreciation of the elements, and we may not see these rather mysterious forces as anything amazing or magical at all.

In astrology for instance the elements earth air, fire and water are ascribed to various astrological signs. Some of these associated qualities have come down into popular culture, such as the fire signs Aries, Leo and Sagittarius being associated with forward momentum, action , leadership passion and sometimes quick temperedness. The water signs Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio are associated with the emotions the moon, and sometimes introspection, intuition, may be psychic ability and empathy. The Earth signs of Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn are associated with the home, relationships, generosity, luxury, expansion, security and sometimes stubbornness and inflexibility. The air signs, of Gemini and Libra and Aquarius are associated with the intellect, quick thinking and decision-making, communication and sometimes indecision

This weekend we will be looking at our own connection with the elements, perhaps looking at those that attract us or those perhaps that we’re not drawn to We will and be experiencing what the qualities of the elements feel like both internally in our bodies and our mind and also externally in the world. We will be paying what is called wise attention to this aspect of our experience, which is contained in all our activities. From the ground that we are walking on, to the food and drink that we will eat this weekend, the air that we breath and is all around us ,to the spaces that we are using in the room and the materials that we will use to connect creatively to the elements.

I find when I am contemplating the elements in this way that it gives me a greater sense of connection both to the world of form and two other people. We all share the elements in common, we are composed of these elements, and this sort of practice actually brings me a certain sense of joy and happiness, so I am very much looking forward to sharing this experience with all of you over this weekend.