The Pancha Maha Bhutas: Earth Element

In a previous blog I introduced the overall concept of the pancha maha bhutas, "The Five Great Elements", and in this essay I'd like to dive in deeper to the densest of the five: the Earth Element. Here, I'm going to share what I feel is important to reflect on during your contemplation of this element. Of course, there is a lot of potential material for reflection, and our task is not a simple one: to bring the esoteric to life via practical observation and progression. Alas, we will attempt to get the ball rolling with some words. Let's dive in.

The Earth element corresponds to the muladhara chakra, the psychic center at the base of the spine (tailbone & coccyx area). The bija mantra, or seed sound, associated with this center is LAM. Ganesha, or Ganapati, is said to the be the gatekeeper and deity presiding over this region. The yogis suggest that it is this chakra which is responsible for the embodied feelings of security, survival, and stability. I believe that the first step in our analysis of what all this means for us is to take a very practical perspective.

When we look at the root of the spine and the tailbone, we can see how this area or region is like the threshold or passageway downwards, towards the feet. Here we can study the fascia of the body, which is the interconnected web of connective tissue that weaves everything together and holds the muscles, bones, tissues and ligaments in a singular continuous fibrous network.

Just here in this graphic, one can see the connection between the heels & ankles of the feet and the tissue stretching all the way along the backside of the body to the forehead. This is why, in something like paschimottanasana, (the seated forward fold), we may experience the sensation of stretch along the tension lines spanning from the hamstrings all the way up the spine to the neck, occiput, and if our body is sufficiently sensitized, all the way into our third eye.

I have posted a handful more of graphics here based on the recent science of the fascial network. I feel that it will be helpful to look at these graphics to get a comprehension in terms of how the body interconnects and how lines of energy are connected between different parts of the body. Please take a look.

This graphic to my right, and the one below demonstrate what manifests in the body as "tensegrity", which is the balance between compression & tension which leads to structural stability. This concept can be most easily explained by remembering those Chinese finger-torture devices. Basically, the understanding that we've received from the studies into the system of fascia (which is a recently developing field of science) is that the entire body is held together in a network of connective tissue as a sort of matrix in which the bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments sort of "float" inside of. The strongest fibrous threads are the ligaments, and the softest and most supple become muscles, where the bones and the blood/ lymphatic system exist on either end to the extremes of this spectrum. Everything "hangs" on everything else and to a degree depends on the "right" vector of force applied along the lines of energy spanning in all directions through the body. This is important to consider for the yogi, as "alignment" in asana serves the practical purpose of optimizing the flow of energy and information along the chains.

The yogis were not "scientifically" aware of the fascia, and yet their observations from practice revealed to them the comprehensive system of nadis which correspond closely to this fascial network. In Chinese medicine, the system of nadis is known instead as the meridian network. In Ayurveda, the study of the nadis and their function in the body is known as marma therapy. It has been suggested that blockages to the flow of energy in the body leads to dis-ease, as certain parts of the body remain "trapped in the dark" so to speak, and fail to receive the life-giving essence of the Light that is Consciousness. Acupuncture is a long-standing practice based on how to un-obstruct the flows in the body so that light can circulate more freely and get to the places that it needs (or wants) to go, which leads to a feeling of literal lightness and more importantly, brings the targeted tissues out of the darkness. We must think of this esoterically but also practically. The material lens of the Western science does not, yet, acknowledge what I am referring to as "Light" although there are close correlates. To the yogis, this "Light" is the causal principle and the cosmic intelligence which gives form to life; it is from this Consciousness that our body (and everything related to it), manifests. Another way we could say this is that the body manifests inside of Consciousness, and the nadi system is the geometry which holds or contains this light as it floods in. I want you to think about this.

The idea here is that, if we put our body in the right alignment, the light flows into its optimal configuration. If our body is an incorrect alignment, the light flows in a distorted manner. The incorrect circulation can end up causing problems down the line. These problems look like a variety of things, but notably and most obviously unnecessary TENSION in the body. When and where unnecessary tension occurs, there is an obstruction to the flow that can be present. When and if unnecessary tension is eradicated, a person experiences a greater ease and flow of energy. If the body is well prepared and energy flow is optimized within one's organism, a person may also experience a greater flow between themselves as individuals and their environment. The exchange and responsiveness of the Light is noticeable. As it approaches perfection, the individual becomes indivisible from the Source, and all that is left is a constant flow of light & energy into and between the forms of the manifest world. This is known as Yoga.

This conceptual knowledge is important as we begin to integrate the foundational ideas of Hatha Yoga and especially the chakra system of the subtle body. Remember that the chakra system is based on the vortices of energy running up and down the central channel (closely related to the spinal column) and how the nadis weave together and intersect at varying points along the length of the centralized pillar. Where a number of key nadis intersect we find a particular chakra as a sort of whirlpool or vortex of highly concentrated energy and information. Since different parts of the body hold different & distinct functions, each chakra relates to and corresponds to different manifestations of the Light. As an obvious example, and to contextualize what we are talking about here, we can think of the muladhara chakra and how this area at the tailbone connects, literally, to the root system of the body via the fascial network running down to the feet; the musculature of the pelvic floor runs all the way down to the big toes. And just like we see in the Chinese finger-torture device example, to gain optimum tension in the pelvic floor, one must be aware of the pulling action at the other end of the chain via the toes. This brings into clarity very important awarenesses to cultivate during our practice -- what parts of the body respond to & are connected with other parts of the body ? How do the interlocking parts interact with each other? How can I practice in such a way that no part of my body does the work of any other part of my body?

Knowledge of this and more importantly its application in practice will help us discover how to move towards optimum alignment, and begin to observe the body as an interconnected geometric pattern of energy and not merely a meat suit of tensions and mental/ emotional processes.

Back to the Earth element and the root: the feet serve a different purpose, quite distinct, than the hands, for example. Symbolically, the feet hold us rooted on the Earth, but also determine literally which direction we walk. Firmly planted feet and a sure-footed step brings about qualities of purpose, stability and security. Shaky steps and a poor connection to the ground through the foot brings about qualities of insecurity, lack of grounding, and uncertainty. We are talking about the psycho-emotional connection to the somatic experience in the body. We must always remember that the body reflects the experiences being had in the mind & emotions, and vice verse. The yogi, then, is one who self-reflects and pays attention to the ways in which the body is reflective of life experience, and furthermore takes into consideration ways bring about balance and alignment. This is why, I believe, the study of the elements makes sense. The technology of bhuta shuddhi , or the purification of the Elements, was & is revered in numerous Tantrik texts as an important spiritual technique to bring one into greater alignment with Reality. One may think of their body as an interconnected part of the cosmos and observe, directly, their relationship to the different functions and patterns in the body to get a better sense for what is working or not working. Having trouble with the feet? Could be a sign that there is some root imbalances. Noticing the manifestation or symptoms of root imbalances in everyday life? Could be an opportunity to take a few corrective measures in daily practice as a way to cultivate what is needed for balance. This is all, of course, totally speculative and dependent on one's own curiosity and self-observation... however, the pathway of Yoga is rooted in svadhyaya, the ability to study oneself in order to attain true knowledge. I believe that these are all clues left by the sages as a sort of treasure map for those of us who are interested enough and inspired to look deeper.

I think that for now, this is enough. Please contemplate on what has been shared here and we will go in deeper in future essays. For more information on the upcoming course, a 6 week online program on Tantrik Hatha Yoga where we go into all of these subject matter in detail with theoretical instruction and practice, check out the course page here and sign up if you're interested in joining.