Rediscovering Earth, Wind and Fire

One of the popular groups of my teenage years was Earth, Wind and Fire. I never heard anyone call them their favorite group, but they were a group everybody liked.

In my searching twenties, water got added to the mix as I learned about the four classical elements: earth, wind, fire and water. Ancient Greek philosophers, like Aristotle, proposed that these fundamental forces and states of matter make up all things in the universe.

In my spiritual thirties, these four elements turned into four challenges: the lethargy of earth, the gentle distraction of wind, the anger and self centeredness of fire, and the pleasure of being immersed in water. In the summer months we can relate to all four at once, lying on a lounge chair, a breeze in the air, the heat of the sun overhead, water waiting for a swim. It’s a postcard perfect picture of summer pleasure.

The elements come together for a well needed rest. But rest is not the same as growth. Left alone, lethargy keeps us passive, distraction keeps us scattered, self centeredness keeps us small, and pleasure keeps us wanting. These four forces get in the way of happiness in relationships, of our search for meaning, of living with purpose.

The wiser path is not to reject these pleasures but to lift them. Enjoy them, be thankful for them, and still strive for something higher. When we need to counter these four forces, we can turn to four traits: service, awareness, enthusiasm and connection. These are spiritual traits that work off the same four elements.

I hope to explore the four traits in more depth soon.