Element of Surprise

Cognition is not an element of mental action, nor even in any real sense of the word an aspect of it, the distinction of cognition and conation has if properly defined a definite value.Samuel Alexander

On the surface, things of the world may appear to be so complex and disorderly that it seems they have no relation to one another whatsoever. However, it is believed that everything is actually interrelated, and that all things are determined by order and laws. Ancients of our people discovered a law that determines the interrelationships and invisible order of all things in the world. To study the environment, five elements are used to achieve harmony and balance in any space. These elements are: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each of these elements have their own characteristics and properties. They constitute all things on earth. This same practice goes far beyond this. With the theory of Five Elements, we are able to explain the corresponding relationships between heaven, earth and humans.

The element of metal corresponds to the direction of west, the season of fall, and the color white and sometimes gold. It is associated with coolness and expiration, similar to when the sun sets in the west. It is our adult lives, and the representation of the lungs, the skin and the colon. Its expression is grief and sadness. The flavor of it is spicy. The selective positives of metal are inspiration, respect, meaningfulness, endurance and self esteem.

These were the beginning of my studies as well as my own personal reasons for finding balance in the physical world around me. To say this was what Fonce was teaching me is a misrepresentation on my part though it went hand in hand well with his guidance and meditations. I was unshielded; open to everything and everyone I was exposed to. To hear them, to feel them was confusing, frustrating and draining.

It all began with my watching Pacu practicing with his bow and noticing the point of his arrow. I needed to understand how the arrow continued its path despite the friction it encountered. I needed to understand the properties of its make up. The arrow’s point would be the point where I began this journey of understanding.

Metal.

Fonce had given me direction, and Ayguili had been a great help in tangible ways, showing me how it was formed by the fires, the air and water. The metal workers explained its origins in the dirt itself, and how it came to be what we see.

I was avoiding Ayguili, however. I had not processed everything that had happened the night at the stream and I knew too that he would ask more questions than I had answers to. I wasn’t even sure if I liked him anymore.

The women of the tribe occupied the fires the next night so I pulled up a fur to join them. As usual, the various subjects that wove their way through conversations could be about anything. Asria asked about water. Like my quest with metal, she wanted to know its connection to people. Somehow everything took a unique tangent.

Cana explained that to her water was the one of the most powerful and important of the elements. Asria agreed then added that it could conquer even the strongest of them. Tarra said that before that was decided to make sure we understood that. Asria told her that no one was making decisions, we were just talking. Cana said she guessed each was as important as another but she had given water more thought. Tarra backed her up in that though made sure we understood all five were important to every day life. It was here my elder looked to me and asked if I knew what was important to water, and why as an element it was important. I told her that it was ever changing effortlessly yet it still retains its originality. We are made of water in great degree, it rules our body. It rules our emotions. It rules our health. She said it ‘was’ emotion. I did not agree or disagree there but listened to what each of the other women had to say.

Cana added that it gave us life. Asria in her way said it could destroy life as well. I suspected there was something deeper to her original question and that may well be the hinge to it. Tarra added it is our subconscious mind, our intuition, the mystery of ourselves. It is the essence of love. It is constantly changing, it can be gentle, and easing into and around everything it can also rise suddenly into a raging force. She told us we were all right, but there was one thing that we had to understand of water, it meant to dare. Now that shook a few synapses to be truthful and I put it away to sort through at another time.

Much of the rest would probably be boring to some but we were all fascinated, intrigued and full of ideas and questions. It was quite a lively discussion. Tarra finally asked us if we knew what the five elements were. Cana was the one to speak up, she said fire, earth, water, metal and wood, right? That was the point that I became confused. The elder Haruspex said, “No.” Metal was not an elemental element, it is an element in another way ... wood is not elemental but each was important.

Now I wanted to know what the five she was talking about were since obviously my answer would have been the same as Cana’s. I groaned inwardly as I got hit with a question as answer to a question. Tell me, what they are Mezoo? Sky, If I knew what was inside her head I would not have had to ask. I cannot read thoughts and glad most cannot read mine. The mutter there internally would not have been lady like. She did help me along by naming fire, earth and water ... and??? This was where I explained that my studies have been those that Cana just spoke of but Tarra had said they were not what she was looking for. Okay so I knew the basics : Wind, fire, earth and water are the four elemental elements. What was the fifth she spoke about? Again she answered with a question … what surrounds everything to protect and guide? She even offered a clue there that I was still trying to wrap my head around … we each have it within us. Each of the women gave their own answer and I felt so completely naïve and ignorant that my shoulders fell.

Spirit

Soul

Heart

Love

Correct ... an eternal circle of love, heart, soul and all we are.

I was now distracted from my original quest in search of this new element.

(Reiki is a technique of opening yourself up to channel the Universal Life Force energy in order to help facilitate healing for yourself and others.)