The 5 Elements/Rhythms
The Rhythm of Life
What are the 5 Elements or Rhythms?
The understanding of the 5 elements comes from ancient Chinese medicine. It is thousands of years old and has been studied for as long. I believe the 5 elements are more accurately translated as the 5 rhythms because they are the 5 different rhythms with which we all lead our lives. The elements assigned to the rhythms only serve as metaphors to help us understand these very different rhythms.
The 5 Elements/Rhythms are Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal. If you like personality tests, then you will love the 5 elements because it is what underlies all personality traits and is by far the most accurate and comprehensive understanding of personality that I have ever found. But, it is also much, much more than that. If it not only fundamental to our personality trains and emotional repression, but also governs the way that our bodies work.
The 5 Elements is foundational to Chinese medicine, but when communists took over China and created what is now called "Traditional Chinese Medicine" they stripped out all references to the 5 Elements. And so now not only are the 5 elements missing from medicine in China and Taiwan (except in small pockets that have secretly kept and used it) the version of Chinese medicine that has been introduced to the western world is stripped of much of its knowledge and power. In my opinion (and many experts) Chinese based medicine cannot be practiced properly without an understanding of the 5 Elements. This is true traditional Chinese medicine.
The 5 Rhythms are so fundamental to our energy systems that people who are very gifted at seeing subtle energy, such as Donna Eden of Eden Energy Medicine, can actually see 5 distinct energy rhythms flowing through our energy systems and that every person has a unique blend of what rhythms are strongest in them. In fact Donna recognized 5 distinct rhythms before she ever learned about the 5 Elements and once she learned about them she knew that was exactly what she was seeing.
The 5 Elements are best shown in chart form and are displayed at the bottom of this page.
Why would I want to know my rhythm?
If you want to understand the world, learn the 5 rhythms!
It is quite obvious that different people live their lives by different rhythms. This may frustrate us all, but it isn't wrong. The key to getting along and having understanding for each other is to understand the rhythms that govern the way we interact with the world. Each rhythm has its strengths and weaknesses, governs a different phase of life, and governs different body systems.
Every person has all 5 rhythms, but is usually very strong in 1 rhythm. This is their primary rhythm and is most important for understanding the way they interact with the world. Then their will be a secondary rhythm (or 2 equally strong secondary rhythms) and a tertiary rhythm, etc.. The 5th rhythm is usually very weak indeed. Ideally a well balanced person is well balanced in all of the rhythms. I have noticed that in general the older a person becomes the more balanced they become as long as they have taken the time to learn the lessons life has offered them, if not, they can become very stuck in their primary rhythm indeed!
All people tend to revert to their primary rhythm under stress so it is very valuable to know what your primary rhythm is and be aware of its weaknesses. And since the rhythms themselves govern different organs in the body, the organs of our primary rhythms tend to get overworked and develop issues. This is very important to be aware of and watch out for.
Ultimately understanding your rhythm brings much peace and self acceptance as well as tolerance for others. Understanding your rhythm help you keep a watch out for your weaknesses and tools to help you strengthen them, helping you become a more balanced person.
Understanding the 5 rhythms is especially useful in family and work relationships and can make all the difference in the world.
Balance your Elements for greater health, peace, joy, and fulfillment
Take a free online class to learn more
What is a Session like?
In a 5 Elements session many tools will be used to gain clues as to your strongest rhythms. Energy tests will be used to discover both your primary stress response as well as your primary sensory type. A personality quiz will be taken, and Angela will ask you targeted questions to narrow things down. Angela can also feel the strongest rhythms coming from you after interacting one-on-one for a time.
Once the rhythm strengths are sorted, Angela will go over with you what that means, what to be careful of, and what to support for greatest physical and emotional health.
If time allows she will check how all of your rhythms are communicating with each other and adjust anything out of balance.
A 5 Elements Exploration Session involves using all the tools available to discover what your primary rhythm is and decipher what your strongest and weakest rhythms are. It will then be explained what this means for you individually. Then if time allows, Angela will check how the rhythm are communicating with each other, which is important for balance. Information on the rhythms will be sent home with you.
*This session can be done remotely over the phone
*This type of session can be purchased as part of a 60 minute Session Package at a discounted price.
A 5 Elements Couples/Family Session is a group session for a married couple, boyfriend & girlfriend, or parent(s) and 1 child. It is not therapy, but it is wonderful for helping people understand each other better and learn how to interact with each other in a constructive way. We will discover the primary rhythms and sensory types of everyone at the session and go over how these rhythms are interacting with each other, how they are likely clashing, and how they can work together constructively instead of destructively. Information on the rhythms will be sent home. This type of session is great for parents having conflicts with their children, couples who are struggling to understand each other, and are a great gift for serious relationships, engaged couples and newlyweds to keep their relationships going strong!
*This session can be done remotely over the phone
*This type of session can be purchased as part of a 60 minute Session Package at a discounted price.
A 5 Elements Balancing Session can be scheduled after a 5 Elements Discovery Session for a general balancing of the 5 elements/rhythms flowing through your body. The balance of each rhythm and how they are communicating with each other will be checked and balanced and a any questions can be answered about the 5 rhythms.
*This session can be done remotely over the phone
*This type of session can be purchased as part of a 30 minute Session Package at a discounted price.
How can I find out my rhythms?
There are a few ways to gain clues as to which rhythms are strong in you and which are weak.
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Read a book about the 5 Elements to learn more deeply what they are and then see how each rhythm fits with the way you live your life.
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Energy tests can be administered based on the stress response of the 5 rhythms and sensory types.
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Take a 5 elements/rhythms personality quiz
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Have a consultation with a skilled empathic 5 Rhythms intuitive
Angela's Qualifications
Angela absolutely loves the 5 rhythms and shares this knowledge with anyone who will listen! It has changed her life and given her much peace.
She has studied human emotion all her life, and being strongly empathic is very skilled at deciphering the root emotions that people are feeling. When she learned about the 5 rhythms/elements she discovered that she had a strong gift for deciphering the rhythms of others, even when they can't figure it out themselves. She loves helping people figure out their rhythms in a kind and nonjudgmental way and loves how helping people understand themselves better brings them more self-acceptance, peace, freedom to be themselves, and more tolerance for others.
She has written her own comprehensive 5 Rhythms personality quiz and is in the process of creating Rhythm Wisdom Card Decks for each rhythm that allow people to get a dose of guidance and wisdom designed to help each individual rhythm.
She has been trained in 5 element theory in Eden Energy Medicine, Medical Qigong, and in acupressure. She is also well read on the subject.
To learn more...
Read these books:
The 5 Elements by Dondi Dahlin
The 5 Archetypes by Carey Davidson
Fire Child Water Child by Dr. Stephen Cowan
Wise Water
Working Wood
Fun Fire
Empathetic Earth
Moral Metal
The 5 Elements try to get something done
Water: Let's have dinner while we talk about doing it
Wood: It's done. I did it yesterday.
Fire: Woo-hoo! Everyone's doing it!
Earth: Can we do it together?
Metal: It's not about doing; it's about being
-excerpt from The 5 Elements by Dondi Dahlin
5 Element Support Cycle
Water helps Wood grow
Wood feeds Fire
Fire ash makes Earth
Earth contains and builds Metal
Metal creates Water by condensation
5 Element Control Cycle
Water puts out Fire
Fire melts Metal
Metal chops Wood
Wood hold in place Earth
Earth sets boundaries for Water
5 Elements/Rhythms Chart
5 Element Quotes
Water
Is there no way out of the mind? - Sylvia Plath, Poet
Wood
I never gave anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell - Harry S. Truman
Fire
If you're gong to be able to look back on something and laugh about it, you might as well laugh about it now - Marie Osmond, Performer
Earth
When we practice loving kindness and compassion, we are the first one to profit - RUMI
Metal
Grief is the price we pay for love - Queen Elizabeth II