Lessons from the Elements: Earth

Earth is a very profound element. It is not particularly revered in religions besides the worship of, what we now call, ‘Mother Earth’. It is not difficult to ascribe meaning to things like water, fire, and air, due to their prominence in spiritual practices world-wide. Earth, on the other hand, is less thought of. However, I would venture that Earth holds the keys to leadership and humility more so than any of the elements.

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Many would argue that Earth represents opposition to change and stubbornness, I would disagree. The Earth does not resist change, but guides it. Change that happens too quickly can often be detrimental, just look at the ‘democracies’ that Western governments have created after toppling dictators. The Earth guides change gradually, beneficially. Crops don’t just spring forth, they grow gradually and at different times so as to ensure constant food supply. Water does not just instantly form a river or an ocean, instead it must carve a path in the earth, distributing the water underground and across paths formed by the topography of the land. It is in this idea of guidance that we find the teachings of Earth.

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Strength

There is no doubt that the earth is a physically imposing aspect of nature. From mountains to stones and soil, the earth supports not only the growth of life, but also the physical masses of everything that dwells on the planet. Even whilst being tormented by humans (because we are, and have been for years, deeply damaging the earth) it continues to support us. If we think of the earth in that manner then we learn the true virtue of strength of character. It is a pure form of love and requires immense strength to go on protecting, providing, and supporting those who hurt you ceaselessly.

Now, just for clarity, I am not saying we must not be fluid and adapt to situations. I am not suggesting that we let people use us and try to maintain toxic friendships. Even the earth has earthquakes, droughts, and famines.

Instead, I am suggesting that our character must be like that of the earth. If we have a duty we must perform it despite hardships. As Water has taught us, we must not only have fluidity, but fortitude. Earth now demonstrates that which complements fortitude: strength. Fortitude is courage in adversity. Strength is our ability to resist pressure- to act in adversity. There is a reason we say that our characters must be “grounded”. More than that, we must have the confidence to stand by our principles. It is not stubborn to resist those who would change you wrongly. Remember, Earth guides change gradually.

Aside from how we interpret strength of character, Earth also teaches physical strength. To us, this is a lesson of health and mentality. We must be physically strong in body and in mind. To accomplish that which we must accomplish, we must feed the strength of that by which we will accomplish it.

“Strength does not come from physical capacity, it comes from an indomitable will.” – Bruce Lee 

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Humility

Earth, the strongest of all the elements, is the one which all creatures walk on. One of the most powerful aspects of our world teaches us the virtue of humility. Earth makes itself a servant. It gives of itself so that plants may grow, so that we may build and farm, so that rivers may flow. I spoke earlier of how the earth guides change in a gradual manner instead of resisting it. The chief example of this is in the example of rivers. Water runs over the earth, following the path of least resistance. As it does this, being guided by the topography of the ground, it wears away at the rock and earth beneath it. The Earth lets itself be eroded as the water flows, guiding the water to the sea.

It has been said that humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less. This is exemplified in Earth. It does not think less of itself. It knows it is strong. It raises its mountains high for all to see. But even those mountains, the pinnacles of the earth, have rivers which flow from them.

When we learn to think not of ourselves and instead to think of how we may help others, when we learn to give of ourselves so that others may prosper, when we learn to sacrifice even at the peaks of our achievement, then we have learned humility. There is a reason the old saying goes, “You must be down to earth.”

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Leadership

How then does the earth speak to us of leadership? Simply put: strength and humility are the primary aspects of leadership. It is humility which makes you want to give of yourself that others may benefit, it is strength which allows you to do so.

By ‘guiding change gradually’ through erosion of itself, Earth shows that we should lead by serving. When we give of ourselves and guide people to their benefit in a gradual way, not allowing them to simply rush into things, we foster a sense of trust in others. By using the leadership shown in Earth we not only further others, but further ourselves as well.

If you ever chance to speak with a soldier who has seen active combat and saved a fellow soldier, and then you ask them why they did it, they will say one thing: “They would have done the same for me.”

When you give of yourself to others they know that you are someone who will be there for them. The only natural response to this, is to want to support you too. By becoming servants of each other we are able to grow ourselves and grow others in exponential leaps, leading to a better society.

This is how to lead: Strength in Humility; Humility in Strength. This is the Way of Earth.

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The Ones That Watch

Here’s a question for the ages: is there a god? What of this one: what happens when we die? Even better: why should we care? For many, these questions do not enter their minds until they are lying awake at 2.13 am on a Saturday morning staring at their ceiling in the shroud of night. For some, the questions come when they get tired of being forced into churches which seem, on the whole, boring and dour- often discriminatory even. Yet still for others, these are questions which we ponder as we go about day to day life in some sort of effort to find meaning, or lack thereof, both of which are greater than ourselves.

In ancient Celtic culture the druids worshipped spirits of nature, believing in a life force that extends and flows through all. On the other side of the world, in Japan, people followed Shinto and worshipped kami, spirits of nature, believing in a life force that extends and flows through all. Wait, something sounds rather similar there.

In some Native American tribes the Great Spirit was worshipped. Half way across the world the Jews worshipped the god YHWH. In Norse culture Odin was honoured as the All-Father. In Christianity God the Father is revered. Again, similarities.

One step further takes us to similarities in other Eastern cultures, from Hinduism to Zen Buddhism. And anywhere we look, especially in Africa, we find some sort of ancestor worship.

… and so?

Well firstly we see a need to answer the previously posed questions. Secondly we find commonalities in the methods of answering those questions. But with what relevance to us? Why should an atheist, for example, care about any of this?

I’d like to forward the argument that we are all seeking something greater than ourselves not to comfort us, but to hold us accountable for our actions and to combat the little points of vain pride which cause our downfall. Some chase after money and feed their pride in an attempt to be happy, but so often we hear stories of how these people fail. Instead, it always seems to be the humble who are happiest.

To the theist, God reigns supreme and guides us and holds us to account. For the theist, God is an ultimate expression of our utter helplessness. To the animist, we are connected to all that exists, and thus to harm something is to harm ourselves in the process. To the atheist, the knowledge that nothing supernatural exists confirms the complete meaninglessness of life and forces them to hold themselves accountable to the greater purpose of serving humanity. It is a sad reflection of humanity that we take such noble ideas and turn them into means for hatred and conflict. Indeed the Ones that Watch, be they YHWH and the angels, or Vishnu and Krishna, or even the great intellectuals of the past, must feel great sadness at watching humanity divide itself.

From my own theology, traditional though it is, I look out and see the fruits of eclecticism. Even when I was atheist I could see the immense beauty that shone from religion and human fortitude- a light bright enough to shine even through the wars and deaths that we had tainted it with.

Should we all come together one day before some cosmic jury, our kind will be found wanting. More than that, our religious and non-religious prophets, who claimed to speak truth to us, would be guilty of our sorry state for warping and corrupting the Image of God. And when I say the Image of God I mean the purity that exists in all those ideas I spoke of earlier.

But, you may say, what is pure about recognising yourself as flawed? What is pure about believing yourself to be inconsequential in the universe? Conversely, what is pure about believing yourself to be an intrinsic part of the universe?

The purity and importance of these ideas manifest in two ways. The first, is the ability to give your life meaning by placing it in relation to the world and those around you. If you treat yourself as a servant, thinking of others before yourself, you can come to a state where instead of asking “Why me?” when things go wrong, you instead can ask “Why not me?” This, far from being negative and self-destructive, is empowering and liberating because not only can you use your suffering to help others, but you can also fully appreciate and empathise with others when they suffer. If all humanity regarded each other in this manner, I dare say we would have a far more equal and beautiful society.

The second, is the ability to defeat yourself. Now, what I mean here is the ability to defeat your ego, I say ‘yourself’ because, for most of us, our ego is the self that we portray to others and the self which attacks our inner self. When you recognise yourself as intrinsically flawed you begin to deconstruct the pride of your ego which causes you to harm others and yourself. I’ll probably dedicate another post to pride somewhere along the line.

Ultimately, purity is found first in ideas and ideals. Through careful thought, and sometimes acceptance, of these ideas we begin to transform ourselves into purer, happier beings. There is no reason that we can’t believe that gods and spirits both exist and don’t exist at the same time. Why? Because we can all be certain that, at the very least, they exist in our minds and in our textbooks. Dedicating one’s life to science, dying as a warrior defending one’s clan, and giving to the poor are all acts of surrender to some greater ideal which we ourselves seek to become a part of.

So, this was really just me writing as thoughts came to mind, but hopefully it was at least interesting, if not helpful in some way. Peace be with you.