Creating A Contract With The Five Elements
A contract is a term used in Transactional Analysis (TA) which refers to a mutual agreement between 2 (or more) people or organisations. You could also think of it in terms of the commitments being made by each person - see my last post here.
When we meet at the beginning of Creative Kinesiology, we will create together a contract, or joint agreement, for the work we will do.
Let's explore this agreement through the lens of the Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.
The element of Earth is a great starting place for an agreement. It brings us into the present moment, offering boundaries and holding as a 'container' for the work that will be done. Earth helps to contain the work in a psychological sense - offering boundaries of time, space, and relational safety, which reflects the work that you are willing to do.
If we extend this thinking to Mother Earth also, She invites us to come into contact with ourselves, to seek nourishment and a natural state of being. The agreement in this sense offers some grounding - where do we start from? - as well as nourishment and goodness.
For the Earth element you can think about questions like: What sort of boundaries or holding do I need? What do I need to know to feel safe? Does this approach nurture my wellbeing?
Next we move to Water, which represents mystery, emotion and the subconscious/unconscious of our Self. Imagine how Water is able to be held by the banks of the Earth. Perhaps a pond comes to mind for you, perhaps a well, perhaps a great lake... perhaps a stream or river or ocean. You can see each of these as representing an aspect of your psyche ready to be explored. The type of water you imagine will give you a clue about what you may be ready to explore psychologically.
Within the Water element are the Kidney and Bladder meridians. These hold your Jing and energy from both your blood ancestry and soul lives. Water is also respresentative of your inner beauty. Water is a healing force and will flow into the space created for it - where you allow the time, the surrender and faith in the process.
For the Water element you can ask yourself questions like: Am I willing to flow with the process? Am I ready and willing to heal and get well?
summer is expecting guests by Elke Mader
Next we move to the element of Wood. Wood is a fantastic element for offering the long-term vision and hope of an agreement, together with the step-by-step actions to achieve your outcomes. This element is all about growth, expansion and being patient with the process - seeds will sprout when they are ready, leaves will fall and flowers will blossom all in divine time.
For the Wood element you can consider questions like: How much am I willing to grow? What is my long-term vision? What are the steps I need to take to get there?
The Fire element is the spirit of the agreement. Are both (or more) people invested with sufficient energy and enthusiasm? Does the practitioner bring passion for their work, and do you bring passion for yourself? This is the fire in your belly which helps to carry you along on your journey, and also provides light when you encounter moments of difficulty and darkness.
Very often at the beginning of the work, if a person has been suffering, there may be a lack of fire. It may have been dampened or snuffed out. Nevertheless, there exists within each one of us a spark of life. And often this may be the focus for the agreement, to increase your inner fire - joy, warmth, compassion and love for life.
For the Fire element you can think of questions like: Does this person I am agreeing to work with have sufficient passion for the work, warmth, love and joy? Am I willing to commit to this spark of life inside me?
Now, to the Metal element. This is the connection to Great Mystery and the divine aspects of human existence. These are hard to contract for, and may simply require a willingness to understand more of your divine nature and spiritual connection. The Metal element is also about the core of who you are, your essence, your soul. Are you willing to work at a soul level?
On the physical plane, the Metal element is also a place of creating structure and space. This manifests through a mutual agreement that outlines the structure - when, where, how, who? The contract describes a protected space and offers security, in order to work with difficult issues and vulnerability.
Questions to ask yourself for the Metal element are: Are my intentions or goals in accordance with my highest good? Am I willing to invite the Divine into my journey, who knows my soul's highest path? Am I willing to reach my potential?
Earth is an excellent metaphor for the essence of the contract - for the sense of support, holding and boundaries that are shaped by the agreement. While Water offers a glimpse into the emotional, spiritual and soulful worlds that can be explored through the work together. Wood shapes the long-term goals and commitment to the step-by-step process to reach them. Fire brings spirit and passion to the journey, and offers the warmth of healing and working together in relationship. Metal breathes inspiration and connection with the Divine, with the core of who you are and everything that you can be.
Are you ready for your journey? To discuss how we might work together contact bryony@creativesoultherapies.com