Coaching

Understanding the Element Brain + How it Might be Running the Show

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As I mentioned in a previous video, much of how we show up in the world – our dominant emotions, patterns of behaviour, reoccurring thoughts, the things that cause is pain, the things we need – they are ALL based in our particular Element… the one Element that is OUR type, out of the Chinese Five Elements… whether that is Fire, Earth, Metal, Water or Wood…

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Generally I always say, that as an acupuncturist, I view the world through “five-element-tinted-glasses”, and have done for well over a decade now – it has offered me a beautiful and insightful way of seeing people and nature and emotions and behaviours and ways of being, that is different to any other model, paradigm or system I have come across…

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But we can also take this “tinted glasses” concept one step further, by saying that actually EACH of the individual Elements view the world through their own tinted glasses, and through each lens, the world looks slightly different…

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So if we see the world though the lens of our particular Element, how we perceive things, and how we view our own stuff, is coloured by that, and it affects how we TRANSLATE or interpret things, creating what I like to call our Element Brain…

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Even more interestingly our Element Brain will collect “evidence” to support what it believes or perceives (through it’s tinted glasses) is true… so a Fire Element person might collect “evidence” through situations, encounters, past experiences, to “prove” the fact and confirm the perception they have about themselves that they are unlovable… which in actual case, this is not true!

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So wouldn’t it be helpful to FINALLY understand WHY you might experience the world in the way you do, WHY it might be or FEEL different to those other people around you in your life…?? Well the WHY comes from understanding yourself from the space of your Element… wouldn’t it feel nice to take away all the blame, the wrongness, the feeling like you SHOULD be different, the thought that you need to be fixed? And just so you know, you REALLY don’t need to be “fixed”, it’s just your Element brain and that is ok…

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But THIS is the kind of powerful and magical stuff that comes from delving into the Five Elements – we can see if your Element Brain has been running the show and taking over, giving you false or incorrect perceptions on things… and we can start to re-wire our Element brains, so that we can look at the GIFTS of OUR Element, and celebrate those gifts, embrace them – celebrate and embrace OURSELVES – enabling us to feel happier and more balanced in our lives!

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And if you don’t know what Element YOU are yet, make sure to download the FREE ebook here – http://goo.gl/VymvnU

Join my transformational coaching course, “Embrace Your Element – 9 Weeks to Life Changing Self Acceptance” – http://goo.gl/zAsghB

Seasonal Wellness Courses can be found here – http://goo.gl/HHbgbN

Read about me as a Water Element type, in my co-authored book “Notes to my Younger Self” – http://goo.gl/yavVZM

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See the other videos in this mini-series of Five Element Vlogs:

Video 1 – What are the Chinese Five Elements + How are they Different?

Video 2 – Why Should I Care What Element I am + How will it Benefit me?

Video 3 – You Don’t Need Fixing: Healing Pain, Stories, Wounds + Triggers

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Why Should I Care What Element I am + How Will it Benefit me?

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So we know there are Five Elements in Chinese Medicine – Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood – the ancient theory states that they are all within each of us, reflecting wider world in nature… but in Traditional Five Element acupuncture, we also recognise that we all have ONE particular Element (out of the five) that we are most aligned to, the one that influences us the most, the one that is like our default setting… It is like a “personality type” if you like – but as I have said before, and I will say it again, it really is SO much more than just that…

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BUT why should you care? Why should you want to know more about this ancient stuff? It is really relevant to us in our modern day lives? I know I’m pretty biased, but oh my goodness, we need this ancient wisdom in our modern lives now more than ever!

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It allows us to have a model through which we can really understand ourselves more deeply, accept ourselves truly as we are, be kinder to ourselves, have more compassion for ourselves, understand why we have (or have had) difficulties with certain themes or aspects of our lives, and so on…

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Looking at ourselves from the space of our Element, and the Five Element framework, really is a holistic process… it really allows us to see ourselves as WHOLE beings, where nothing is lacking, or wrong… nothing is broken or in need of “fixing”…

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So whilst this means that we don’t need to change who we are (we really don’t, we are our Element & that is ok), but it does provide us with a place to reflect, nurture, grow and perhaps even challenge ourselves for our highest good. Understanding yourself at this deeper level (of your Element) gives you choices…

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Understanding who you are, why you behave in certain ways / feel certain things / crave particular things to feed your soul, and nourish your heart, gives you permission to be your true self, honouring your truest self… It is a special space in which to understand and to HEAL ourselves…

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So, is your relationship with your Element / who you are, currently positive or negative? Are you getting what you and your Element NEED from life?

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If you and your Element need reassurance, but someone gives you sympathy, there is an energetic mismatch there, so you will continue to seek reassurance elsewhere, and not feel good… Understanding what exactly it is that we need in any given situation, allows us to get back into balance (and health) more quickly…

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Or if your true innate energetic make-up needs a lot of quiet alone time to rest and reflect, yet you’re living your life at 100 miles an hour, always surrounded by heaps of people – because that’s what your job requires of you, or that’s what society has deemed as the “acceptable norm” – it is very likely that, at some point, it will lead to physical illness, mental-emotional challenges, or a lack of alignment and not being on your path, not fulfilling your destiny on a spiritual-soul level…

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So you can see, knowing what Element you are, its energetic blueprint, what it needs, what it’s challenges, gifts and patterns are – it can affect our lives in BIG ways and on every level – our decisions and actions (+ whether they are aligned or in resistance to our own particular Element) move us more towards, or away from, better balance, and better health in our lives… And the Five Elements are ALL about being in balance… If we work with our Element energy, we can live happier, healthier lives that are in flow… and that is why you need to know about them!

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And if you don’t know what Element YOU are yet, make sure to download the FREE ebook here – http://goo.gl/VymvnU

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Join my transformational coaching course, “Embrace Your Element – 9 Weeks to Life Changing Self Acceptance” – http://goo.gl/zAsghB

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Seasonal Wellness Courses can be found here – http://goo.gl/HHbgbN

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Read about me as a Water Element type, in my co-authored book “Notes to my Younger Self” – http://goo.gl/yavVZM

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See Video 1 – What are the Chinese Five Elements + How are they Different? – http://goo.gl/J2Jrrb

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Eclipse Season, the Wood Element + What to do When You Don’t Know What’s Next

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We are in eclipse season & it’s BIG, there are three this time, when there are normally only two, & most of us are feeling it in one way or another, I know my patients certainly are, & I most definitely am right now… I have recorded you a video of a download I had late at night about what’s going on energetically for us right now, & what to do when you just don’t know what is next…

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And if you prefer to read, rather than watch or listen, then the words are below…

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I’ve been having a lot of chats in clinic about this “emotionally itchy” energy that so many of us are feeling – knowing there are big shifts & big changes happening or ABOUT to happen, but we don’t know what they are, and things aren’t moving forward, we have to wait…

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Itchy energy is Wood Element stagnation, the frustration at HAVING to sit still, HAVING to wait, not knowing what’s next, not being able to SEE what’s next, not having the Wood Element’s virtue of VISION, to have the vision of the future, to be able to see the bigger picture… There’s a reason for that old saying “you can’t see the wood for the trees” when we are unable to see the bigger picture… It’s all Wood element energy in Chinese Medicine…

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Cross, frustrated, impatient, and irritable feelings are all the domain of the Wood Element – that WANTING to shout “hurry up” to the universe, (or to the moon, or the eclipses), you want the next step to be revealed, but it’s too slow & it’s too uncomfortable to be in this “itchy”, restless energy…

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And whilst we aren’t in Spring right now (in the northern hemisphere), which is USUALLY when we might feel this kind of energy within us & around us, (as Spring is the associated season of the Wood Element) – and think about how we have to sit & wait in Winter, before we can actually SEE the growth of shoots & buds coming through the ground – and in some years, it feels like that wait for Spring is endless, it takes sooooo long that we get impatient & frustrated…

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So it’s the same energy we have here now, although in a slightly different context – and yet it’s potentially no surprise that as this eclipse energy, the bigger planetary alignments, as THEY ask us to make big changes, to grow, to expand, to EVOLVE, to ALIGN with growth, to push through the stuff that is illuminated in this eclipse season, to flow WITH whatever happens, not to resist or block things that are changing during this time of crazy big shifts – THIS is what we recognise as Wood energy in Chinese medicine… It’s about FLOW of energy – the Wood Element Organ of the Liver, ensures we have good & correct flow energy in our bodies & our lives – so if we are not in flow, we get stagnation… when we resist, we get stuck, we get stress and pain…

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And THIS is what the planetary stuff, the new moon & full moon eclipses – this season of three eclipses – THEY are asking us, or maybe even forcing us to GET into flow, to GET into alignment… To leave behind the stuff in our lives that has been creating stagnation, things we have outgrown, things that have been causing us pain, not allowing us to flow, to get OUT of sameness, out of stuckness in our lives – physically, emotionally and spiritually…

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And this is the tree, this is the Wood Element at its finest, it is growth, it is upwards & outwards movement… and this is for ALL of us right now, whatever Element type we are, not just the Wood Element type people…

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So what can we do NOW, in this weird, restless waiting time? What can we do to move this stagnant energy, if we can’t move forward yet (because we do kind of have to wait right now), or if we don’t actually know what’s next?!

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I go through breaking down the big visions and our big plans, into smaller, easier steps to reduce overwhelm, ALLOWING us and ENABLING us to move forward more EASILY, in my online Spring course, but for today focus on JUST ONE SMALL THING that you COULD do today to move forward – it can be a TINY thing, but just STARTING TO SHIFT some of the stagnant Qi, that WILL help you feel better…

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And right now it’s hard because NONE of us, including me, really know what is next for us, what the big vision or big change in our lives is going to look like… so if you can’t even take one tiny PRACTICAL step forward right now, because its too unclear, just focus on moving the stagnant Qi in your BODY and your emotions…

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Drink hot lemon water, or green tea… MOVE your body – walk, dance, do yoga, stretch – all of these MOVE Qi physically and emotionally – if you can’t do something with the BIG life stuff yet, do one of these small things to shift the Qi & get some sense of FLOW back again…

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And obviously, I must say, I am not an astrologer – I have some amazingly talented people that I consult when I need more insight – but Chinese Medicine wisdom very much has the “as above, so below” school of thought, with heavenly Qi & the importance of balancing our connection to the heavens (through the Metal Element) as well as to the earth (both the literal Earth, the ground, & the Earth Element itself)…

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And THIS is how we live a Five Element life & how we live in alignment & flow – we see what the energy of the moment NEEDS, or what it is asking us to do, and adapt or live accordingly, even when it’s challenging & “itchy” – because as long as we let go of resistance, remove stagnation & embrace flow, we have balance – and in Chinese Medicine, balance is key – balance in our bodies, our minds, our emotions & our souls…

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I hope this has been helpful & maybe gone some way to explain some of the stuff you’ve been feeling or wrestling with these past couple of weeks – let me know, & let me know if you’d like me to do more of these kinds of Element energy videos for you…

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Sending much goodness & bye for now

R xx

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If you don’t know what Element you are, download the FREE ebook here

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Learn more about the deep coaching course, “Embrace Your Element – 9 Weeks to Life Changing Self-Acceptance”

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Or check out the all seasonal wellness courses that you can access online & do at home

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The Scorpio Full Moon + The Element Brain

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It’s those full moon vibes you get when you’re meant to be doing work for clinic, but you can’t concentrate + you feel restless because the Scorpio full moon’s like “hey, come do the personal deep work RIGHT NOW!!”…
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As a Scorpio with Scorpio rising, I’ve been itching to respond to the call of the moon since Friday night where it’s magical beams were keeping me awake, until the early hours, by shining brightly into my bedroom window…
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The full moon in Scorpio, plus a Mars-Pluto alignment, is pushing us towards intense growth, deep transformation, intimate emotions, introspection, surrender + magic spiritual discoveries… But it’s not always comfortable or easy, I know…
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This screenshot is from last week’s module video in my “Embrace Your Element: 9 Weeks to Life Changing Self-Acceptance” course, + in it I’m talking about how our “Element Brains” deeply affect our perceptions of ourselves…
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And this week’s module, is about identifying, + then shifting, our blocks, stories + triggers – so it’s pretty spot on for what the planets are encouraging us to do right now… Love me a bit of universal alignment!
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So, now it’s finally time for me to settle in for an evening of meditation, reflection, writing, illumination, self work + letting go… What about you? How have you been feeling in these full-on Scorp moon vibes?

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Why I Don’t Make New Year’s Resolutions & Neither Should You

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I will firstly caveat this whole post, by saying it really applies to those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, where the New Year celebrations fall in the middle of Winter – for all you gorgeous Aussies, Kiwis & Southern Hemisphere dwellers, I will get to you guys shortly…

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Winter Wellness Workshop Thame Rhiannon Griffiths Acupuncture

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So, why would I adamantly suggest that you shouldn’t make resolutions for the new year? After all, I am a coach & massively champion change & growth & positive movement forward in life, emotions & personal development… And I used to make New Year’s resolutions (that often failed in the first week of January!), so what changed?

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Well, first & foremost, I’m also an acupuncturist who has lived a “Five Element Life” for the last decade, so I know the importance of honouring the seasons & living in alignment with the energy of the associated Element. It’s like living in sync with the phases of the moon, or being mindful of the different parts of your menstrual cycle & how varied the energy & emotions & actions can be. It is living out of rhythm of nature that creates more disharmony & dysfunction in our bodies, minds & emotions.

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Winter is the season associated with the Water Element. My own Element is Water, so it is even more important for me to be mindful of what this Element needs; it is integral to my wellbeing. But it is important for ALL of us to honour Water, whatever our own Element personality type is – even nature slows down during Winter, everything retracts inwards and retreats under the ground, animals get cosy & rest & hibernate. Winter is nature’s season of REST, preparing the roots & seeds below the ground, for the energetic growing time of the following Spring. There is very little ACTION at this time.

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This time is for:

+ reflection, like the still, peaceful lake that you can see your face in

+ diving deep into your emotions, like you would in to the depths of the sea

+ pausing, being still – like the animals hibernating during Winter

+ ask the questions, gather the wisdom – the Water Element is renowned for its ability to do this

+ plant the seeds, READY for growth when the Spring arrives – the BIG POTENTIAL is in the seeds hidden underground in Winter

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Spring is really the start of the New Year in Chinese Medicine, it is when we have the RIGHT & APPROPRIATE energy to tackle New Year’s resolutions, change things in our lives, start new things, take action. In January, in the Northern Hemisphere, we are still in the depths of Winter, that is hibernation time, time to be still, time to reflect. The ENERGY of the season just does not match New Year’s resolutions or big bold new beginnings. It is not the time to be planning and doing, we need to wait until Spring for THAT kind of energy to rush in!

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So yes, do your journalling NOW, do take time to be STILL, to pause, to reflect; get the vibes you want to take over in to the new year, identify the feelings you wish to have, & plant the seeds, set the scene READY for 2017, but now is NOT the time to ACT, or expect yourself to DO heaps of things as soon as the clock strikes midnight & we tip over in to the new year… Water & Winter are about BEING, waiting for the potential to blossom into Spring!

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Possible questions to reflect upon:

+ what amazing things can I celebrate from 2016?

+ were there things that didn’t go according to plan in 2016?

+ what could I have done differently in 2016?

+ how do I want 2017 to FEEL?

+ what word(s) will set the scene for 2017?

+ does 2017 have a different colour / logo / mascot to 2016?

+ who do I need to be next year to make 2017 amazing?

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And this blog post isn’t intended to be about MY reflections of 2016, it is supposed to be encouraging YOU to pause & reflect, though there has been some pretty cool stuff for me this year:

+ ran my in-person Spring Health workshop, here in the UK, it was super fun

+ featured in publications including The Guardian, Healthy Magazine, Woman’s Weekly (twice), Women’s Health (three times), Woman & Home

+ went to the Maldives to write my first book, about the Five Elements, & made some little videos for you

+ trained as a Yin Yoga teacher (look out for workshops, classes & online stuff coming in the Spring!)

+ launched my first online course for you, Winter Wellness Wisdom

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You can learn more about the Water Element & how to live in alignment with the season of Winter in my brand new online course, Winter Wellness Wisdom, for physical & emotional wellness HERE, plus the Spring version will be hot on it’s heals in a couple of months, with exercises designed to REALLY get you going & moving forward with resolutions! So put any BIG actions on hold until then if you can…

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As for you Southern Hemisphere dwellers, you guys CAN afford to be more ACTIVE in your intention setting, as you are currently in the season of Summer, with it’s associated Element of Fire. It has busy, upwards & outwards Yang energy – if you choose to make plans & implement them as soon as 2017 starts, you WILL be more aligned with what the season is doing. Therefore you are more likely to make plans stick & be successful in your resolutions, as the energy of the time is supporting you in your endeavours!

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And if you don’t know what Element you are yet, you can download my FREE ebook here: https://goo.gl/NTmEF9

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Wishing you all a VERY Happy & Healthy New Year, wherever you are in the world – I’m grateful you’re here with me!

Sending heaps of goodness

Rhiannon xx

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© Rhiannon Griffiths 2016

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