We Are Five

It has struck me that in many spiritual paths there are five elements. They are usually earth, fire, air, water, and spirit with spirit being the unity of the other four. I find that people seem to be four elements combined into a whole so this might be the reason for this mythological spiritual construct. People are physical, and energy, it’s how we move our muscle folks. Also we are mental or thinking beings and we have a soul, whatever that is. I tend lately to think that our emotional being is our spirit. All together this makes the soul that we are. The main problem we have spiritually is that we think too much. Our mental state combined with our physical bodies dominates our world. We all know there is more to us than that and that it requires our attention. I think that our thinking about food, and what we’ll do for fun, when do we get paid, does the laundry need doing, etc. all dominate our lives so much that we neglect what we truly are. It is this neglect that makes us unhappy. We are all souls. We are all united together in the greater universe. I personally think our soul outlasts this lifetime. Our thoughts crowd out what we feel because the brain is too busy to know to process what we really feel. I find that by meditating I do get to know what I am feeling more accurately. This is not always comfortable but it does help me grow. Lately I am trying to figure out why I react a certain way. Is it because I am afraid of something? I do not yet know but I will meditate and let what comes, come. Who knows, I may actually find out in the stillness of my mind. Stillness of my mind, oh if only… my committee in my head seems to want overtime.
I have found that if I make the meditation a ritual it is more effective. I think this is because the repetitive actions for setup and the candles being lit help the mind and body realizes what I am going to attempt to do. It also makes the symbols of the elements more present in my awareness. Who knows maybe one day I to will become enlightened. At least for now I become more aware of what is around me and more aware of what I feel about things. It is funny how unexpected emotions arise during a meditation. I find dealing with them by recognizing them and then letting them go so they have less control over my actions is very helpful to me being a better person. I truly believe only I can make me a better person. This is frightening and liberating at the same time. So balancing all four aspects of what I am is both very hard and very rewarding.

Namaste