The
Five Phases of Personal Evolution
by Bruce Eichelberger M.T.O.M., O.M.D. (China), L.Ac., Dipl.Ac.
(NCCAOM)
If a species or idea is to survive for long, it must be fundamentally
sound and able to adapt to its ever-changing environment. The
5,000 year-old concept of the Chinese Five Elemental Phases
(Wu Xing) is an idea that continues its usefulness to this day.
The Five Phases of Personal Evolution is a model for human
development and harmonious living based the structure and processes
of the ancient Five Elemental Phases. It combines with these
concepts aspects of the Native American Warrior's Path, NLP
(Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and a specific set of Qi Gong
movements for cultivating vitality. This synthesis represents
a further evolution of the classical Five Phases.
Below is a skeletal representation of the Five-Phase Personal
Evolution Model. Each phase as well as each interaction in this
model matches major aspects of the traditional Five Phases.
How Each Phase Works
Each of the five phases is described in positive, process-
oriented terms reflecting the "ideal" attributes of
each. These ideal states are guidelines or objectives for balanced
and integrated functioning. They also reflect the relationships
and interactions between phases. In addition, there are descriptions
of imbalances caused by either excessive or deficient activity
in each phase.
Fire:
Representing the heart as well as the Shen (Spirit), Fire corresponds
with Opening - unconditional giving, responding to events with
spontaneous resiliency and adaptability. Our ability to show
compassion, experience joy, and share with others manifests
here, as does the aliveness in our eyes.
Fire pathology shows as being too open-hearted (to the point
of self- detriment); little or no sense of limits or boundaries
in interpersonal relations; inability to give emotionally or
to be spontaneous; lack of joy.
Earth:
Corresponding with the spleen and Yi (Mind), Earth is associated
with Connecting - patience, focusing thoughtful attention and
making useful mental associations. It is also the ability to
be clearly in the moment. Stability, home, service and tasting
Life's abundance belong here.
Earth pathology manifests as obsessiveness, inability to be
in the moment, acting in a scattered or distracted way, lack
of awareness of surroundings, or difficulty moving (feeling
'stuck').
Metal:
Metal (Gold), lungs and P'o (Corporeal Soul), corresponds with
Releasing - stepping back from an experience to evaluate and
sort it out, refining goals and directions and the ability to
let go of excessive emotional attachments to people and events.
Inspiration, acknowledging self and others and refining one's
character all show up here.
Metal pathology is characterized by chronic grieving or sadness;
aloofness; living in the past; extreme attachments; low self-esteem.
Water:
Water relates to Aligning, the kidneys and Zhi (Will) - setting
foundations, maintaining integrity and balance, gathering energies
and storing reserves. It is the ability to stay rooted even
in the face of chaos. It may be thought of as a rudder in the
flow of life. There are times where we enter the Unknown and
must allow Life to guide us without preconceptions, judgments
or panic. In such times, Aligning is our optimal response.
Water pathology shows up as lack of direction; inability to
complete things; extremism; fear; fixation on only one way of
doing things.
Wood:
Wood, liver and Hun (Heavenly Soul), is expressed in the idea
of Trusting. Focusing intention, doing your best and transcending
limitations, both inwardly and outwardly, all correspond to
this phase. This is where you reach out into new territory,
and express creativity.
Wood pathology manifests as depression; being overly cautious;
lack of courage; impulsiveness; lack of purpose; anger, irritability
and frustration.
How The Phases Interact
The Phase interactions can be simply expressed thus:
Opening:
is supported by Trusting
is controlled by Aligning (prevents excess)
controls Releasing (limits detachment)
supports Connecting
Connecting:
is supported by Opening
is controlled by Trusting (reaching beyond limits)
controls Aligning (prevents stagnation)
supports Releasing (being present to release past)
Releasing:
is supported by Connecting (releasing the past)
is controlled by Opening
controls Trusting (tempers impulsiveness)
supports Aligning (with Will)
Aligning:
is supported by Releasing
is controlled by Connecting (keeps it current)
controls Opening (keeps balance)
supports Trusting (foundation for further growth)
Trusting:
is supported by Aligning (foundation)
is controlled by Releasing (allows for focus)
controls Connecting (allows for going beyond limits)
supports Opening
Applications of the Five Phases
Any comprehensive, self-contained, self-balancing system has
so many possible interactions that it is difficult to fully
describe them. Here are a number of illustrative examples of
how these ideas relate to one another (refer to the diagram
above):
Example 1: Releasing
An aspect of Releasing is the quality of detachment. Healthy
detachment is prevented from becoming excessive by keeping a
sense of openness and adaptability (Releasing controlled by
Opening). Similarly, since attachments are typically a function
of past/future associations, a healthy releasing of such attachments
is supported by being in the present (Connecting).
Example 2: Aligning
Aligning is also to a large extent the act of balancing and
harmonizing all aspects of a situation. Since life is a flow
of energy, a static balance is not healthy. Therefore balance
must be an on-going process and is prevented from stagnating
by providing the foundation for new expansion (Aligning supports
Trusting), and staying in the ever-changing flow of the present
moment (Aligning controlled by Connecting).
Example 3: Trusting
Just as each Phase is healthiest when supporting the following
Phase in the nourishing cycle, it is also healthiest when applying
limits to the following Phase on the controlling cycle. Trusting,
an aspect of which is going beyond limitations, functions best
when it can temper the tendency of Connecting to stay exclusively
in the moment. When done appropriately, planning (another aspect
of Trusting, i.e., going beyond the limited perception of the
immediate here and now) tempers any tendency for imbalanced
indulgence to be only in the here & now (Trusting controls
Connecting). Planning also stimulates movement, which paradoxically
makes spontaneous action more likely (Trusting supports Opening).
Effective Use
The most important question regarding this or any model is,
"How can this information be put to effective use?"
In the world at large the idea of the Five Phases have historically
been used as guidance for everything from planting crops to
family interactions to running governments and businesses. The
above concepts are useful to guide personal growth and development.
Most essentially this set of concepts is a tool for self-examination
and personal evolution. They are exceptional as a basis for
meditation or incorporation into other yogic, meditative and/or
affirmation practices. The Qi Gong exercises accompanying these
concepts integrate them at a deep cellular / energy level, aiding
in fuller understanding.
When working with others, the Five Phases may be used as a
basis for evaluating personality traits and tendencies. In the
context of a complete holistic treatment, appropriate counterbalancing
and supporting affirmations might be assigned, or suggestions
given to the patient to enhance, at the level of the patient's
beliefs, the idea of total balance. Always, the goal is to contribute
to the overall sense of balance, purpose and vitality in a persons
life.
Embodying the Five Phases as a tool for personal evolution
is limited only by your imagination.
Dr. Bruce Eichelberger, OMD has dedicated more than 30 years
to working with people seeking natural alternatives for relieving
pain, stress and other health problems. He specializes in individually
personalized treatments, addressing each patient's unique health
situation with a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine,
metabolic typing, therapeutic exercise and medical qigong. Licensed
in the State of Nevada as a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, he
is also nationally certified in acupuncture and Chinese Herbology
through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture
and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). "Quality of Life is Everything."
You can reach him at his practice in Reno, Nevada. (775) 827-6901.
© 1995 Bruce Eichelberger All rights reserved.
