The elemental fears

The human race has survived all these thousands of years because of its efficient defense mechanisms. The process of fear was, for a long time, an essential ingredient to survival. With time, we grew to become humans with more awareness and intellectual development. Still, we are stuck with the animal behaviors of before. These behaviors are a major obstacle to our self development, and hinders the opening of the energy vortexes that are needed to channel more chi and energy through our bodies.

The fear of fire is strong enough to incapacitate us when we are confronted with a flame bigger than we can usually manage. Of course, we are using stoves and ovens, candles, fireplaces, but our fear of fire is still there.

A lot of people are afraid of heights, and a few of high winds. Others are afraid of water itself, or afraid to touch the bottom of a lake with their naked feet. Our fears of the elements are run deeper than we think they do. Before you say you are not afraid of water, can you stay 30 seconds without any equipment, sitting 12 feet deep on the mushy bottom of a lake? Before you say you are not afraid of winds, did you ever skydive, many times?

Our fear of earth is also related to the fear of dark closed areas, like being alone for an hour in a dark cave.
Besides the physical manifestation of the elements, there is also an emotional aspect of our elemental fears. Our fear of earth is our fear of being left alone, and of being left without enough substance to survive. Our fear of water is our jealousy, our need to be desired and to possess control over others. Our fear of air is both our feeling of superiority and inferiority. Our fear of fire is our fear on anger and violence.

Our physical bodies contain programmed reactions called instinct. Our instinct is both a valuable tool of prediction, and a trap of fear. It was important, once, to do everything we could to protect our capacity to reproduce and to raise a family. For this, we developed jealousy, possessiveness, and aggressive reactions to competition. We also did all that we could to accumulate physical goods to provide for the periods of need. Envy pushed the strongest to become kings. Ambition was under the control of the animal mind. As long as you cling to these past reactions, you will create pain in your heart. These instincts are there to help you, not to hinder your development.

To augment your energy flow, with intensity and magnitude, you must go over your animal fears to become aware of them. Don’t be a fool and throw yourself in a burning fire, just to prove yourself that you are not afraid of fire anymore. Defeating a fear does not mean become stupid. Take the time to look at your behaviors, and try to identify which are not useful anymore.

When you notice your are an hypocrite or a manipulator, do not judge yourself too harshly. These behaviors where necessary for a long time for your race to survive, so forgive yourself and work at becoming a better person.

The rectification of your behaviors can take quite a lot of time before they go away, since they have been there for thousands of years, transmitted from parent to cub, then from parent to child. Never think you are above all of this. Your human body is still an animal. Self mastery starts with the humility to accept the point you now stand, and the courage to look towards your next step.