The 5 Element Theory – the 5 Seasons of Life

The 5 Element Theory – the 5 Seasons of Life

This post is a continuation of the 5 Element Theory showing another manifestation, that of the 5 Seasons of Life. Each season or phase has a relationship with one of the 5 elements:

• Winter – Water – Transformation 83-108
• Spring – Wood – Sprouting 0-8 years old
• Summer – Fire – Flowering 8-33
• Late Summer – Earth – Fruition 33-58
• Autumn – Metal – Harvest 58-83

• Some of these relationships might seem somewhat obvious as children have a sprouting or growing personality learning and showing their identity and ego from 0-8 years of age.
• A person from 8-33 is seen as flowering or showing their creativity, intelligence, attractiveness, and excessive behavior.
• The 33-58 is the fruition years when one starts to blossom as an adult using their knowledge and experience to further their career, family, and material assets.
• 58-83 brings the harvest of what was nurtured or squandered from the previous years becomes more apparent. Health issues arrive if prior neglect is not addressed.
• The last season of transformation from 83-108 is a reflection on what was accomplished mentally, physically, and spiritually throughout the prior phases. The realization of self and that material possessions are only temporary up until this point.

Most people are looking for some type of balance and harmony within their lives. Often, they have no plan nor method to achieve this other than doing their best on a day to day basis to find happiness. The 5 Element Theory represents ancient wisdom that when studied and applied, can help to find the balance we seek.

Ancient Chinese scholars of the time approximately from 1600-1000 BC, recognized continuous patterns of change and transformation. Initially, these patterns were interpreted using yin-yang (balance) logic, but later these interpretations were expanded to the theory called The Five Elements. The 5 Elements Theory is based on observation, contemplation and meditation of the natural world and the environment we exist within.

A deeper understanding of these concepts and cycles leads to a more detailed interpretation of these stages into the phases of Warrior – Scholar – Sage. This concept could apply towards many paths in life, where someone starts out more physically involved maturing into more knowledge of a subject and eventually gaining wisdom by understanding how to utilize the knowledge best for a given situation. Examples would be that of a doctor, carpenter, teacher, parent, martial artist – among thousands of other paths of which one gathers knowledge and wisdom through the course of study and practice.

In the martial arts and energetic studies community, the warrior phase relates to Jing or the understanding of the essence of the physical body. The scholar phase reflects an understanding of Chi or the breath and internal energy flow within the human body. The sage phase is where the experience and knowledge of the previous phases manifests into Shen which is ones spirit and self-awareness.

The following graphic represents these concepts:

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