5 Element Relational Field Constellations

Facilitated by: John Cheney of Seattle, WA

October 12^th, 2013

In 5 Element Relational Field Constellations my intention is to illustrate the dynamics of how people relate to each other, and how we can utilize the 5 elements as a practical tool in everyday life. Through the constellation process we will examine the hidden dynamics that effect to whom we are attracted to and those we seem to dislike. We will use the framework of the 5 elements to view the dynamics that arise in relationship to each other, and utilize the elements as a resource that assists to resolve conflict. 5 Element Constellations are many times sensation based, so it is quite often that participants will feel tingling, and other sensations as their system or meridians begin to move/flow.

The Chinese system of 5 elements (Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood) has been used for thousands of years as a device for describing interactions and relationships between phenomena. It is a systemic model of wholeness that reflects our body’s energy system. The 5 elements have been utilized for many different purposes, and in a wide variety of fields and disciplines, including agriculture, astrology, government, martial arts, military, music, tea ceremony, and traditional Chinese medicine.

I have applied the 5 elements of Chinese Medicine to Systemic Constellations. In Family Constellations, we select individuals to represent our family. In a 5 Element Constellation, we pick representatives for the 5 elements and these representatives allow participants to have an objective view of the condition of their energetic body. We will then look at the dynamics of how a client’s relational field is impacted by a relationship issue of their choice, and see how their system may react differently when their system is fully resourced.

A meridian is a path through which the life-energy known as “qi” flows through the body. Altogether, there are 12 meridians involved in regulating the energetic system of the body. There is either a masculine (yang) or feminine (yin) quality to each of the meridians. Yin energy usually has more of a nurturing quality, while yang energy has more of a quality of dynamic movement. The natural phenomena associated with each element can be used to describe the quality of function of an individual’s energetic system. For example, an individual who has quite an edge, who seems to really “go after it” would be seen as having strong qualities of Wood. Like a tree that is growing rapidly in the springtime, the wood person has an irrepressible energy. In Chinese medicine this reflects the function of the Liver and Gall bladder.Each meridian is associated with a corresponding organ. Each organ works like a battery, storing energy that is then circulated throughout the body by its corresponding meridian. The movement of energy through the meridians (which are also referred to as “channels”) can be perceived as a bandwidth of sensation, emotion, drive, flow, and stability.

The 5 Elements and corresponding Organ Meridians.

• Fire = Heart (yin), Small Intestine (yang), Pericardium (yin), and Triple Warmer (yang).
• Earth= Spleen (yin), and Stomach (yang)
• Metal= Lung (yin), and Large Intestine (yang)
• Water= Kidney (yin), and Bladder (yang)
• Wood= Liver (yin), and Gallbladder (yang)

The 5 Elements and Corresponding Emotions, and feelings

This also can be helpful in reading an individual’s primary energetic strengths (balanced/unbalanced):

• Fire= Joy, elation, compassion, calm/ Overexcited, nervousness, exhausted
• Earth= Grounded, abundance, connectedness/ Worried, ungrounded, doubt
• Metal= Structure, cheerful, orderly/ Grief, apathy, cold, heartless.
• Water= Flow, mysterious, creative, deep/ Fearful, reckless, anxiety
• Wood= Drive, Motivated, assertive/ Anger, irritability, bitter

The Language of our Body

It has been my experience that our body speaks a language of sensation. Regardless of the comfort or discomfort associated with the feeling/sensation there is an intelligence that is speaking it’s truth. It might be saying through tingling that, “I am beginning to open up,” or through pain that, “I need help”. In our present culture we seldom have the time to allow ourselves to come in to contact with these sensations. These are conditions that we all know, and some also can be very unconscious. Many of these feelings are uncomfortable, but as we allow them to express themselves we can see their wisdom through the unfolding of their expression. Our relationships then can be fertile ground or a mirror for the sensations to be triggered.

Here are a few conditions/symptoms that can be observed in how they may express themselves. The obvious ones are headaches, nausea, spasms/cramping, and aching muscles. Sensations like tingling, shaking, twitching, butterflies in the stomach, and neuropathy all have a story to tell. Like we have witnessed in Family Constellations, once a feeling is felt, it can transform itself from grief to joy, through the resourcing of the ancestral lineage. In 5 elements constellations the resourcing comes from within the elemental system itself.

This language can be also seen through the archetype of each element. Also, the area of the body that the sensation occurs in tells us what element or meridian is impacted.

The 5 Elements and Corresponding Sensations

• Fire= Too hot/ Too Cold, shoulder pain, tingling in the arms, pain in the heart area.
• Earth= Tingling in the legs, knee pain, weakness in the legs.
• Metal= Difficulty breathing, tightness or pain in the chest, arm or thumb pain.
• Water= Back pain, vision problems, leg spasms, foot spasms.
• Wood= Headaches, vision problems, IT band tightness, shoulder tightness.

Obviously the following symptoms all have a negative connotation. It interesting that when we feel good, there is a sense of wholeness and many times has very little language associated with it. It’s no wonder that we give more importance to what has a negative connotation, because we are so easily impacted by it. Wholeness has a subtle nature and many times is overlooked.

John is a contributing author of the book, “Returning to Membership in Earth Community” (available in the bookstore and on Amazon).

For more information about this work Contact: John Cheney email: Firstbirdenator@gmail.com or go to http://5elementsconstellations.com/