The Complementary Opposites: Earth and Water

Wrapping up the topic we started in the last post, today I bring you the other two opposite and complementary elements: Earth and Water.

To do that, let's recap...

When we discuss polarities, Earth and Water form the Yin polarity, this polarity relates to a feminine, receptive, and introspective energy that is in contact with the unconscious, with interiority, and with thoughts and feelings.

At the same time, these elements possess opposite and complementary energies. That is, when we have an excess of one element, we need to work with the concept of light and shadow, seeking a little bit of the opposite and complementary element to balance those energies and promote the development of our personality.

So, thinking about Earth and Water, Earth is that practical, objective, pragmatic element. An excess of it brings a life experience that is very much based on the five senses—on what can be seen, tasted, touched, and applied. This can make life a bit too rigid.

In such cases, it's important to be able to access the world of fantasy and sensitivity, learning to dream of possibilities different from the present reality. In other words, to believe that something exists beyond materiality, bringing a sense, an intuition, an inspiration to objective life. And it is Water that provides this perspective.

In fact, when we think of these elements in nature, Water is fluid, has no shape of its own, and always finds a path to follow its destiny toward the sea. Water nourishes the Earth and makes it fertile. The Earth, on the other hand, is the riverbed; it provides a boundary for the Water, setting limits, containing, channeling, and shaping its fluidity.

When we have an excess of Water, we can become a very sensitive person, a "sponge" that absorbs the energies and nuances of the environments around us. This excess of water can also manifest as difficulty dealing with one's own body or coping with the reality of things, often by dreaming of something that isn't in the here and now. An example I can mention is clients who have confided that their thoughts are so real that they don't feel like "coming back" to the reality of the present moment.

This world of dreams is very important; it's what motivates us to move forward and gives us hope. However, it's essential to remember that life happens in the present moment, and it is in this present that we will bring our dreams into reality.

To give an example of light and shadow, of how much Water has to learn from Earth and vice versa, we can think of the Cancer and Capricorn axis.

The sign of Cancer represents sensitivity, intuition, affections, bonding, nurturing, intimate relationships, the relationship with family, the sense of belonging, and the search for emotional protection and security.

On the other side, we have the sign of Capricorn, which represents reality, dealing with responsibility, maturity, work, discipline, achievement in the world, ambition, organization, planning, structure, practicality, objectivity, and material realization and security.

In this axis, we can see the dichotomy of intimacy and work, the personal life and the home, which is opposite and complementary to the life outside, at work. One energy is more sensitive and emotional, and the other is more pragmatic and objective. Cancer needs to learn from Capricorn to deal with reality; Capricorn needs to learn from Cancer to listen to its intuition and heart. This is how we combine these two elements: the dreams and intuition of Water with the discipline and organization of Earth.

It is essential that we can promote this balance so that our journey through life is more harmonious and happy.

Did you enjoy learning a little more about these two Opposite and Complementary elements?

Tell me about it—I'd love to know!

With love,

Kim Bins