Fire

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Alchemical symbol for Fire

Fire is (usually) the first of Classical Elements.


Correspondences

Eastern associations

Color: Red

Taste: Bitter

Direction: South

Season: Summer

Emotion: Surprise, shock, sudden joy

Yin organ: Heart

Yang organ: Small Intestine

Created by: Wood

Creates: Earth

Controlled by: Water

Controls: Metal

Fire

Fire

The above elements are listed in the order of the creation cycle. Another cycle, known as the destruction or control cycle, is ordered as follows: Earth controls Water, Water controls Fire, Fire controls Metal, Metal controls Wood, Wood controls Earth.

In Japanese theory, there are two systems of elements, the go dai, and the go gyo. What is outlined above is the go gyo section only. It describes how the elements in creation interact with each other through organic processes within the body, and is used chiefly as a mimetic device for students of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The Go Dai uses a slightly different set of elements (earth, water, fire, wind, void) to describe how the 10,000 things arise from out of the void. It is used for more metaphysical purposes, in order to understand creation. Neither is considered to be "true" in an absolute sense. they are mearely devices for catagorisatoin and learning, nothing more. Medical practitioners that rely to much on the go gyo wind up missing some of the finer points of organ theory, as it tends to oversimplify processes.

The Go Dai also corresponds to areas of the body in certain martial arts with mikkyo buddhist leanings. They are used interchangably with the concept of chakras. The legs and perenium correlate to the earth element, as well as stable, grounded postures. The Pelvic girdle houses the water element, and is associated with adaptivity, receptivity,and neutralizing postures. The Solar plexus houses the fire chakra, and is associated with intensity, activity and the lessons of humility. The wind element is housed in the heart and shoulders. It deals with flight, vision, and the purification of desire. When activated, compassion results through empathy. The void rests in the throat and head. There are actually three parts to this one, but they interrelate and are called collecively "entering the void" when activated. The first part is the jade gate at the base of the brain. It is associated with the larynx, eloquence, and the lymbic system that is the seat of the emotions. The second level is the ajna or "third eye" in the brow. It is associated with crative vision, the powers of the 'imagination' and telepathy. The third level relates to the pineal gland and higher brain function. Activating it leads to the development of one's 'halo' as the phosphenes are seen as white light emanating from the head of the practitioner when viewed by a 'clairvoyant'. It transcends the personal and leads to realization of the interconnectedness of all things.