We do not receive nourishment without acceptance of our task at hand. Partaking with some sense of openness, we may transform our duty into something of personal, and even greater, value. This ability to transform is a central focus of the earth element in oriental medicine. Sometimes the experience we must digest does not resemble something conferring nourishment, rather like a pile of something indigestible; something difficult and unwanted that we are faced with.
The spirit of sympathetic kindness, both to offer as well as to receive, is an emotional attribute of the earth element. The simple sweetness of sympathetic kindness or empathy can be of nourishment to anyone in the process of facing a daunting experience.
The sweetness of sympathetic kindness can serve to remind us of what our transformation is ultimately for, so that we have a little more ‘stomach’ to digest and make good from the challenge that has been presented to us.
Well-Wishes to You
