What distinguishes The Holistic Renewal Campaign is its use of nature’s four elements as a reference system for Balance.
With just a little bit of learning, you’ll start seeing nature’s Fire (the sun), Air, Water & Earth (solid ground) as expressing a foursome set of cosmos-spanning (arguably spiritual) principles in balance.
FIRE
The Fire Principle speaks of a Oneness which we are part of; we are meant to feel part of something greater than ourselves.
Meditate for 3-20 minutes each day. Even a short 1-2 minute moment of eyes closed (perhaps directed upward, or into your heart region) can be a quick antidote to the stress, negativity or pain you may be feeling.
Fire is the highest of all four elements/principles. It speaks of having ideals, being creative and having heart. Without Fire’s spiritual (we-are-all-part-of-something-larger-than-ourselves) idealism, we falter and get dragged down by the negative happenings, as well as the lower values of others in our world.
AIR
Nature’s air rises upward; the Air Principle speaks of robust upwardly moving growth, and one’s buoyant hope for a yet better future.
Take the time to breathe with your diaphragm muscle at the bottom of your ribs. Begin with four slow count inhales followed by four slow count exhales to a single breath cycle. Reward yourself with a “good job” each time you do it for at least five reps while at work or at some other activity (like walking) when you breath in this deeper, more mindful way.
When you breath with your upper chest – often shallow and quick – you damage the integrity of your neck as you recruit its muscles to pull on the upper ribs so as to suck air into your lungs – often stimulating the stress (fight or flight) response of your nervous system.
WATER
Water plays a vital role in life. It fleshes life out, gives our body its blood and to our human mind its sentiments, emotions, passion, connections to others (as well as nature itself).
Pay more attention to what you eat. We are meant to feel our connection to nature through our foods. Many foods are counterfeit foods; they dump imbalanced energies into your blood. Read the ingredients listed on food labels. Talk to your children about wholesome foods vs. factory-made ones.
Except for some corn and potato chips out there, stay away from those typical packaged processed foods sold all around you, and artificial colors, especially. Pay attention to your mental-emotional state as you steer yourself away from these counterfeit foods.
EARTH
The Earth of nature is the solid ground; it undergirds the oceans at their bottoms, the banks of a river, the foundation of our homes, holding up our walking bodies. Earth also speaks to the mundane needs of our lives as well as the physicality that gives shape to our personal and collective world.
Find a reason to go out for a walk and take in the physicality of the space. Find yourself posturing yourself, grounding yourself into your feet differently as you do. Begin with heel-striking a bit more than usual – by upwardly flexing (dorsiflexing) your forefoot more than you typically would do.
Earth is about physical place, the whereness of our lives – having a physical body and a physical environment. Engage the physicality of your life – walk, bike, garden; develop a workout routine, a martial art, a yoga practice, a regular sport. And too, join with others locally and beyond toward getting more physical beauty into one or more levels of your world.