Wood and Earth

I watched a fun documentary the other night called "Dirt: The Movie".  It really reminded me of the necessity of the relationship between Wood and Earth.

The Wood element is life, and the most important forms of life on this planet are the micro organisms and plants that keep the soil alive and in place.  Without them, it would dry up and blow away like it did during the dust bowl and in other places where mining and monoculture farming has depleted the soil.  Without live soil, no other life can exist.  In Five Element theory, Wood controls Earth in just this way.  Without Wood there is no Earth.

I recently learned that the ancient Chinese also associated insects with the Wood element.  They too are one of the first signs of new life emerging from the soil in spring.  The healthiest soil is full of a diversity of insects and micro organisms.   This really illustrates the complexity and subtlety of this ancient philosophy.  Phases of energy can be teased out and looked at individually, but they are really part of an interconnected whole.  In some ways, Wood is Earth.

On another note, I will be in Florence from April 5th through the 11th, so I will not be able to post next week.