Wood Element-Hope in One’s Path
To me, Rāma is the personification of the Wood Element in Chinese Medicine. He is the seventh incarnation of Viśnu, the maintainer of the Universe. He reincarnated in human form as a prince, the son of the king Dasaratha. He was the next to rule the kingdom of Ayodhya; his story is in the Indian Epic, the Rāmāyana.
Rāma is of virtue and justice. He knows his purpose even amid obstacles. He knew what to do, the path to follow even when he was exiled into the forest and his lover, Sita, was kidnapped.
The Wood Spirit is Hun, the "faculty of vision, imagination, clear direction and the capacity for justice. They endow us with the ability to discern our path, stay clear of our direction, imagine possibilities, move toward our goals and take a stand for what we believe is right" (Dechar).
Wood Spirit is the sprout that emerges from the seed. The seed represents the formless aspiration of an intention. The spirit of Wood is Hun; it is the sprout, creation, movement, and action-taking the formless purpose into a form that grows, transforming an idea into reality. The essence of the plant, flower, or tree that emerged from the sprout releases its essence toward the sky, where it becomes the clouds. The clouds rise to the starlight to meet the Spirit of Fire Shen, the season of summer, and brings the formlessness of spirit down into the form of the plant. Wood is formlessness into form and back again. It is the ability to co-create and manifest one's dreams while meandering with life, "going with the flow, and easy/free wandering" (Dechar).
My outward expression and character are the Wood Element personified. It is parts of myself that I have trouble accepting: loud, intense, pushy, demanding. I wanted to transform my perception of the wood element in me. Yet, it is also clear, direct, inspiring, transformative, and full of hope, trust, possibility, and potential.
