The Water Element
Kidney/Bladder
“The Water Element is the most elusive and impenetrable of the Elements within us.” J.R. Worsley
The Water Element reflects the time of winter when reserves are accessed and life processes the death and letting go of the past, building up in latent energy to get ready for a new cycle of life and rebirth. 70% of the earth is made up of water yet only 2.5% is drinkable and most cannot survive without water. When this reserve is threatened, poisoned, or missing, a great panic and fear come about and death is inevitable. The emotion associated with water is fear, much like the fear that comes about when our resources our depleted and our future is unknown. The gift of the water Element is purity and strength of spirit to survive in a society of which is a balance of good and evil. The Water Element within us stores our will and determination and gives us the ability to tab into our strength to overcome the obstacles that keep us from living our true destinies and paths. Our bodies our made up of 66% water of which resides in our blood, lymph, and cells and is regulated by the Kidneys and the Urinary Bladder.
The Bladder official has a very similar function as the bladder in our bodies and is in charge of eliminating the excess of water and waste products, resulting from the filtering of the kidneys and setting aside the clean and pure water to be reused within the body. In our mental and emotional body the Bladder official gives us a fluidity and purity of mind and spirit helping us to maintain an inner reservoir of strength and will to grow, flourish and move through the inevitable obstacles of life.
The Bladder meridian pathway starts at the eye, going up the head and back down the back of the neck, down the back, back up the back and down again through the buttocks, down the legs to the side of the feet. As with any other official, when the Bladder is sick we can physically see problems along the channel, such as back pain. In mind and spirit when the Bladder is sick someone might experience no flow at all, being stuck from a stagnated water flow or feel very scattered and depleted from not being able to contain and control ones resources. Because Bladder is responsible for storing the reserves, if one doesn’t feel like they have enough reserves to access, they will begin to experience deep fear and insecurities and the need for self preservation could consume their lives. On the other hand, one might have a lack of fear and no regard for the storage of recourses and reserve expending them thoughtlessly.
Working in partnership with the Bladder official is the Kidney official of which is responsible for distributing the water stored in the Bladder’s reservoir. The Kidneys are responsible for cleansing our bodies of excess and toxins, balancing salts and minerals, and is associated with the ears, reproductive system, the anus, bones, marrow and spine.
The Kidneys are considered to be the root of life connecting to the 8 extra meridians of which are the seas and oceans of reserves in the body. The Kidneys are also believed to store the ancestral energy we receive from our parents and genes and they are also responsible for storing the qi received from breath and food. This official allows us to draw on the reserves of energy, much like a savings account. When the Kidney official is sick there will be problems amongst the ears, reproductive system, bones and teeth, back and spine. One might be unable to tap into the energy stores that give them the strength and will to survive and find their true path in life leaving them hopeless, listless, and dull minded.
The Water Element, consisting of the Kidney and Bladder Officials, have a great responsibility of holding the reserves for the other officials in the body to access when more than just the daily intake is needed for our mental, emotional, and physical well being and survival.
References: Worsley, J.R., The Five Elements and the Officials, J.R. and J.B. Worsley. 1998.
The Water Element reflects the time of winter when reserves are accessed and life processes the death and letting go of the past, building up in latent energy to get ready for a new cycle of life and rebirth. 70% of the earth is made up of water yet only 2.5% is drinkable and most cannot survive without water. When this reserve is threatened, poisoned, or missing, a great panic and fear come about and death is inevitable. The emotion associated with water is fear, much like the fear that comes about when our resources our depleted and our future is unknown. The gift of the water Element is purity and strength of spirit to survive in a society of which is a balance of good and evil. The Water Element within us stores our will and determination and gives us the ability to tab into our strength to overcome the obstacles that keep us from living our true destinies and paths. Our bodies our made up of 66% water of which resides in our blood, lymph, and cells and is regulated by the Kidneys and the Urinary Bladder.
The Bladder official has a very similar function as the bladder in our bodies and is in charge of eliminating the excess of water and waste products, resulting from the filtering of the kidneys and setting aside the clean and pure water to be reused within the body. In our mental and emotional body the Bladder official gives us a fluidity and purity of mind and spirit helping us to maintain an inner reservoir of strength and will to grow, flourish and move through the inevitable obstacles of life.
The Bladder meridian pathway starts at the eye, going up the head and back down the back of the neck, down the back, back up the back and down again through the buttocks, down the legs to the side of the feet. As with any other official, when the Bladder is sick we can physically see problems along the channel, such as back pain. In mind and spirit when the Bladder is sick someone might experience no flow at all, being stuck from a stagnated water flow or feel very scattered and depleted from not being able to contain and control ones resources. Because Bladder is responsible for storing the reserves, if one doesn’t feel like they have enough reserves to access, they will begin to experience deep fear and insecurities and the need for self preservation could consume their lives. On the other hand, one might have a lack of fear and no regard for the storage of recourses and reserve expending them thoughtlessly.
Working in partnership with the Bladder official is the Kidney official of which is responsible for distributing the water stored in the Bladder’s reservoir. The Kidneys are responsible for cleansing our bodies of excess and toxins, balancing salts and minerals, and is associated with the ears, reproductive system, the anus, bones, marrow and spine.
The Kidneys are considered to be the root of life connecting to the 8 extra meridians of which are the seas and oceans of reserves in the body. The Kidneys are also believed to store the ancestral energy we receive from our parents and genes and they are also responsible for storing the qi received from breath and food. This official allows us to draw on the reserves of energy, much like a savings account. When the Kidney official is sick there will be problems amongst the ears, reproductive system, bones and teeth, back and spine. One might be unable to tap into the energy stores that give them the strength and will to survive and find their true path in life leaving them hopeless, listless, and dull minded.
The Water Element, consisting of the Kidney and Bladder Officials, have a great responsibility of holding the reserves for the other officials in the body to access when more than just the daily intake is needed for our mental, emotional, and physical well being and survival.
References: Worsley, J.R., The Five Elements and the Officials, J.R. and J.B. Worsley. 1998.
