THE FIVE PHASES OF PERSONAL EVOLUTION
by Bruce Eichelberger
M.T.O.M., L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. (NCCA)
No species or idea survives for long unless it is fundamentally sound
and able to adapt to its ever-changing environment. The 5,000 year-old
concepts of the Chinese Five Elemental Phases (Wu Xing) continue their
usefulness to this day. The Five Phases of Personal Evolution is a model for
human evolution based the structure and processes of the ancient Five
Elemental Phases. It combines with these concepts aspects of the Native
American Warrior's Path, NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and Qi Gong
energy cultivation movements. This synthesis, originally refined during a
three-year period through an advanced Taoist Nei Gong exercise called the
Five Dragons, represents a further evolution of the classical Five Phases.
Below is a skeletal representation of the Five-Phase Personal Evolution
Model. Each phase as well as each interaction in this model matches major
aspects of the traditional Five Phases.
PHASE CORRESPONDENCES
Each phase correspondence can be understood in positive, process-
oriented terms reflecting the "ideal" attributes of each. These ideal states are
guidelines or objectives for balanced and integrated functioning. They also
reflect the relationships and interactions between phases.
FIRE:
Representing the heart as well as the Shen (Spirit), Fire
corresponds with Opening - unconditional giving, responding to events with
spontaneous resiliency and adaptability. Our ability to show compassion,
experience joy, and share with others resides here, as does the aliveness in our
eyes. Fire pathology shows as being too open-hearted (to the point of self-
detriment), little or no sense of limits or boundaries in interpersonal relations,
inability to give emotionally or to be spontaneous.
EARTH:
Corresponding with the spleen and Yi (Mind), Earth is
associated with Connecting - patience, being in the moment, focusing
thoughtful attention and making useful mental associations. It is also the
ability to be clearly in the moment. Patience, stability, home, service and
tasting Life belong here. Earth pathology manifests as obsessiveness, inability
to be in the moment, acting in a scattered or distracted way (not present), lack
of awareness of surroundings, or difficulty moving (stuckness).
METAL:
Metal (Gold), lungs and P'o (Corporeal Soul), reflects Releasing
- stepping back from an experience to evaluate and sort it out, refining goals
and directions and the ability to let go of excessive emotional attachments to
people and events. Inspiration, acknowledging self and others and refining
one's character all show up here. Metal pathology is characterized by,
chronic grieving & saddness, aloofness, obsessiveness, living in the past or
extreme attachments.
WATER:
Kidneys and Zhi (Will). Water relates to Aligning - setting
foundations, maintaining integrity & balance, gathering energies, and storing
reserves. It is the ability to keep rooted even in the face of chaos. It may be
thought of as a rudder in the flow of life. There are times where we enter the
Unknown and must allow Life to guide us without preconceptions,
judgements or panic - Aligning is our optimal response. Water pathology
might show up as lack of direction, not completing things, extremism, fear, or
fixation on only one way of doing things.
WOOD:
Wood, liver and Hun (Heavenly Soul), is expressed in the idea
of Trusting. Specifically this means trusting in God/Universal Flow/Great
Spirit. Focusing intent, doing your best and transcending limitations, both
inwardly and outwardly, all correspond to this phase. This is where we reach
out into new territory, express creativity and focus our intention. Wood
pathology might show up as timidness, depression, being overly cautious,
lack of focus, "running on empty," impulsiveness, etc.
THE PROCESS INTERACTIONS
The Phase interactions can be simply expressed thus:
Opening:
is supported by Trusting
is controlled by Aligning (prevents excess)
controls Releasing (limits detachment)
supports Connecting
Connecting:
is supported by Opening
is controlled by Trusting (reaching beyond limits)
controls Aligning (prevents stagnation)
supports Releasing (being present to release past)
Releasing:
is supported by Connecting (releasing the past)
is controlled by Opening
controls Trusting (tempers impulsiveness)
supports Aligning (with Will)
Aligning:
is supported by Releasing
is controlled by Connecting (keeps it current)
controls Opening (keeps balance)
supports Trusting (foundation for further growth)
Trusting:
is supported by Aligning (foundation)
is controlled by Releasing (allows for focus)
controls Connecting (allows for going beyond limits)
supports Opening
APPLICATIONS OF THE FIVE PHASES
Any comprehensive, self-contained, homeostatic system has so many
possible permutations that it is difficult to fully describe them. Here are a
number of illustrative examples of these ideas:
Example 1:
An aspect of Releasing is the quality of detachment. Healthy
detachment is prevented from becoming excessive by keeping
a sense of openness and adaptability (Releasing controlled by
Opening). Similarly, since attachments are typically a
function of past/future associations, a healthy releasing of
such attachments is supported by being in the present
(Connecting).
Example 2:
Aligning is also to a large extent the act of balancing and
harmonizing all aspects of a situation. Since life is a flow of
energy, a static balance is not healthy. Therefore balance
must be an on-going process and is prevented from stagnating
by: 1) Providing the basis for new expansion (Aligning
supports Trusting); and 2) Staying in the ever-changing flow
of the present moment (Aligning controlled by Connecting).
Example 3:
Just as each Phase is healthiest when supporting the following
Phase in the nourishing cycle, it is also healthiest when applying
limits to the following Phase on the controlling cycle.
Trusting, as aspect of which is going beyond limitations,
functions best when it can temper the tendency of Connecting
to stay exclusively in the moment. When done appropriately,
planning (another aspect of Trusting, i.e., going beyond the
limited perception of the immediate here and now) tempers
any tendency for imbalanced indulgence by Connecting to be
only in the here & now, and stimulates the energy to move-on
to Releasing where it can evaluate what is most important in
the experience.
EFFECTIVE USE
The most important question regarding this or any model is, "How can this
information be put to effective use?" Most essentially it is a tool for self-
examination and personal evolution. The concepts are exceptional as a basis
for meditation or incorporation into other yogic, meditative and/or affirmation
practices. The Qi Gong exercises accompanying these concepts integrate them
at a deep cellular / energy level, aiding in fuller understanding.
Working with others the Five Phases may be used as a basis for evaluating
personality traits and tendencies and, in the context of a complete holistic
treatment, appropriate counterbalancing and supporting affirmations might be
assigned, or suggestions given to the patient to enhance, at the level of the
patient's beliefs, the idea of total balance, thus contributing to the overall
effectiveness of treatment.
In the world at large these concepts have historically been used for everything
from planting crops and family interactions to running governments and
businesses. Embodying the Five Phases as a tool for personal evolution is
limited only by your imagination.
Bruce Eichelberger
L.Ac.
, has been practicing Qi Gong and Taoist healing
arts for over twenty-five years. In addition to his healing practice he teaches
classes in Personal Evolution, healing arts and Qi Gong - including "The Five
Movements of Personal Evolution," and "Dancing with Chaos"(sm).
(c) 1995 Bruce Eichelberger All rights reserved.