Somatic Energy Therapies

Polarity Therapy Training©

APP Module©

Johnny Henderson, Ph.D., Board Certified Polarity Practitioner, RPE

Tom Langan, RCST®, Board Certified Polarity Practitioner, RPE

The Fire Element

Fire is the third of the five elemental chakras. As the elements of Ether and Air step down into denser energy, the element of Fire is created via the interplay of the force and power of rajas and tamas electrical charges. Physically it steps down closer to its Earth formation goal.

This chakra is positioned in the human body between the bottom of the ribs (diaphragm) and the navel. It encompasses the entire solar plexus on the front of the body and structurally is found at Lumbar 1 – 2 on the posterior.

The Fire Element governs the direction of movement generated by the Air element. The element of Air needs direction or it becomes imbalanced by being either destructive or impotent. Fire adds to the elemental equation, direction. Directing balanced energy is important to assist the overall energy process. This attribute keeps the developing element focused and on track.

At this energy level of manifestation, we see and understand it as energy actually coming into form, or life. The Fire Chakra is the first of the really physical chakras in the human body. Ether of course seems mysterious and immeasurable via our physical sense awareness. Air is the element that you can feel, hear, smell, and can only see because of the results of its movements. Air can not be seen with the senses. It can be felt and even at times measured through the olfactory nerves.

Fire can be seen, smelled, felt, heard, and by way of spices in foods tasted. Fire can be measured and contained. Fire can be a constant resource for generating efficiency and power. These qualities distinguish the element of Fire from both element Ether and Air.

From our external environment we bring into our internal one an element from nature that builds the physical form and structure and infuses power and intelligence. In this chakra we breakdown and assimilate not only nutrients for cellular growth and development, but also our thoughts and emotions.

This chakra supports our “fire of intelligence;” the clarity of insight; the warmth of the body; and it is the force for all healing (i.e., extreme fever), physically mentally and emotionally. The Fire Element is the positive charged, expansive impulse behind movement. It is the driving force behind all bodily functions. Remember Air governs movement, but the manifesting atom, cell and body needs Fire to influence Air’s movement. Fire adds the ingredient of direction. It is seen in nature as a Rajas force.

The Fire Element governs intellect as well as the direction of that intellect. A person may be very intelligent but still not have the insight, direction to know how the harness that intelligence. Therefore their intelligence may not be appreciated because it appears that they do not have focus. One can be intelligent, but they can still act like they do not have the sense to get out of the rain.

The English language has various phrases that are used to describe the characteristic of the fire’s influence on intelligence. “Fiery intelligence,” “Dim-witted,” “Quick minded,” “Cooking on low heat,” and, “Lights are on but no one is home.”

On a mental and emotional level, fire governs the quality of insight or insightfulness. Its emotional polarity charge moves between anger and forgiveness. The quality of anger blocked in the emotional body directs that emotion into the body and crystallizes it in and organ, muscle, bone or any other structure of the body. This can be especially true for emotions blocked in the organs of the Fire (element) Chakra.

The Fire Element is the ingredient that provides enthusiasm for life. It assists us in focusing that enthusiasm into creative, positive, productive activity. Without its balanced positive charge we become void of passion. An overcharge in the negative field is an indication of dullness of mind, numbness of emotions and unawareness of physical.

An ingredient that we find to be prevalent in most “natural leaders” is the Fire Element. The Fire Element motivates us to take action, when movement is required. When action is required, we usually need a direction or focus that takes us from one area to another. Judging whether the action is right or wrong does not matter. The Fire Element guides us to do something, rather than nothing. When this chakra (and element) is not in balance, action is the motivator, not the end result. The Fire Element cause people to be assertive, motivated, spontaneous, confident, goal directed, caring, helpful, adaptable, flexible, have a balanced sex drive and eyes that sparkle.

When you meet a person who is warm, friendly, happy, courageous, it is the Fire Element at work in them. The person who wakes up with energy and has “get up and go” are motivated by an abundance of Fire Element. They have clearness of thought and they do what they love to do. The person who is balanced in this elemental chakra will not just find a job, an occupation, but they will be doing their avocation, the heart’s desire. Avocation for them is associated with the passion in their lives.

It is the center of personal power. The fire element is about power issues. When there is an issue, or challenge, in the fire element, the result is a holding back of anger. There tends to be a holding and building of resentment. The person may experience confusion about feeling powerless in most areas of their lives. They begin to feel that everyone’s actions directly affect them negatively. This is the origin of the “victim” mentality. This can result in dull or glassy eyes, and constriction in the solar plexus. The result may appear as hardness and or pain in the thighs. As Polarity Practitioners, we interpret this as an imbalance in the negative field of the Fire Element. Since the thighs are physical motivators in physical movement in the body, the hardness and pain are indicators of limitations, both physical and emotional.

The balance in Fire Element leads to one to be direct and honest. With imbalance, one tends to be callous and insensitive. “Lashes out with a fiery vengeance.” “Honest to a fault.”

Fire is the driving force within each of us. It is the heat that we feel and experience in the healing process. Fire in excess can scorch and burn; such as excessive bile in the digestive tract, or fever out of control. Imbalances affect the digestive organs that can become blocked. This blockage can result in digestive challenges leading to fermentation and gaseous blockages or release. When fire patterns are open and flowing, there is a felt sense of the energy and warmth throughout all systems of the body. Blocked or repressed fire results in exhaustion and illness. A fire imbalance can result in too much acid and bile in the body. “You sure have a lot of gall.” “I’m so angry that I could chew nails.”

Nature gives us a perfect example of the qualities of the Fire Element. These same qualities are identical in the human body. As Polarity Practitioners we can better understand our clients’ issues and challenges with the Fire element as we understand “fire/heat” in nature. However it is described in nature, we have the same explanation for the human body.

In nature, fire can be seen in many ways. In the extreme, the fire element is like a raging forest fire, a scorching desert or erupting volcano, wild and out of control, violent and burning. When in balance, the heat of the fire element can be seen on a comfortable summer’s day. The element can be understood as the roaring fireplace on a cold winter’s day that is providing perfect blend of life-sustaining warmth. Have you ever noticed how the fire place or camp fire becomes the center of all activity on a cold day? The element of Fire draws us toward it for warmth and comfort.

When fire is held in (restricted) and not kept in balance the result can leave one smoldering in resentment. What happens when a house has an ember smoldering in the attic or walls of its structure? With just the slightest amount of air, the entire structure explodes in devastating flames. An active volcano will stay passive only so long. The path of the volcano is always looking for the path of least resistance in order to release tension in the physical earth. Its intent is not destruction, only release and balance of internal powers at play. The out side may look calm with only a few belches of fire spewing into the atmosphere. But watch out when it erupts, it can bring death and destruction. In the case of humans, a minute, seemingly unrelated event leads to an explosion and leaves those around us asking, “what did I say (or do) wrong?” Internalized feelings can result in depression, insecurity, self-abuse and denigration and powerlessness.

A person with balanced fire is seen as warm, caring and helpful in action. An “in-balanced” person with a healthy fire displays intelligence, insightfulness, purposefulness, honest and direct with good vital energy reserves. Their minds tend to have clarity and they act and move with purposefulness. The balanced fire person is able to cut through confusion and turmoil. They know how to ask for what is needed. They have the ability to say no to that which is not wanted or needed to be done.

The Fire Element is one of the four that has a Triune relationship that manifests with a positive, neutral and negative charge. On the positive pole (the eyes and head area) of Fire Triad, an imbalanced fire can result in a self-centered, aggressive, controlling, possessive, jealous, hurtful, critical, callous individual who willfully uses the strength of fire to manipulate, abuse or victimize others. The person can appear as being mad or angry and is often violent with their words toward others. Unbalanced, fire in a person manifests as power-orientation and emotional or physical violence. It is also seen as over stimulation.

Look at your client’s eye to determine the Fire Element balance. The eyes are an indication of how the Fire Element is at work in your client. Their eyes may be dull, blank, glassy, watery, dry, itchy, or expressionless. Notice to see if they can make and keep eye contact with you or do they divert their focus and refuse to meet your eyes.

The “eyes are the window of the soul.” “Wild eyed,” “See the world through rose colored glasses,” “Let me show you the world through my eyes,” “Eyes blazing with anger” “Eyes seething with resentment,” “Eyes locked in fear,” “Moon eyed,” “ Dead-eyed Dick,” “ Bedroom eyes,” “ Eyes fixed in a stare,” “ Eye strain,” “ Eyes like an eagle,” “ Eyes that sparkle like diamonds,” “Sad eyes,” “Dreamy eyes.”

An out of balance fire element in a person may exhibit traits of being passive, nonassertive, confused, wimpy, easily irritated, cranky, complaining, nothing pleases them, lethargic, and resentful. They may find it hard to make decisions; be forgetful; have low energy; experience fatigue; are sluggish and tired; tend to be exhausted or maybe “in a fog.” Also when out of balance, they may have disturbed metabolism and lack of vitality. Simply coping seems to exhaust the fire in a person whose fire is imbalanced.

To become balanced, a person must learn the art of relaxation to conserve fire. There are foods that are necessary to balance and augment, or still fire. There are exercises for balance to stimulate or dampen fire. The awareness of feelings and how they arise are expressed, suppressed or repressed depending upon the condition of the Fire Element in the body. This awareness is necessary to balance the fire element.

The positive pole of the Fire Triad is the eyes. The astrological sign of Aries is assigned to this pole. When this pole is in balance it reflexes the “light of the eyes.” Out of balance this pole is seen as the rage in the “fiery eyes.”

The neutral pole is the solar plexus. It is indicated by the astrological sign of Leo, and is like a power generating station. This pole regulates warmth and digestion. It is the place of personal power. It is also the place where this power can destroy or create. Pent-up fire energy is more often detected here. As a result, it affects all the organs, glands, enzymes, blood cells, and nutrition of digestion. “You’ve got a lot of intestinal fortitude,” “You are gutless,” “Can you believe the gall of that woman,” “My stomach is in knots,” “Makes me want to throw-up,” “Got a stomach of cast-iron,” “She has got a weak stomach.”

The astrological sign of Sagittarius indicates the negative pole of this triad. The thighs are the physical location of the negative pole of this element. It is because they exert great force in the fight or flight response of the body to a perceived threat. An overexerted sympathetic nervous system can be detected in this negative pole with symptoms of painful thighs, flaccid muscles or overly hard thighs and hamstrings. This area is the manifestation of movement such as dancing, running, walking, jumping and skipping. Underdeveloped or overdeveloped thighs indicate a place of holding back anger and resentment. “Thunder thighs,” “Thighs like steel,” “ Flabby thighs,” “Brick thighs.” The fire triad supplies the Polarity Therapist with knowledge and insight as to how to address physical imbalances via the Fire reflexes. This information can be used to assist to bring balance in the Fire Chakra. The three poles are areas that can be manipulated to open, stimulate and balance an imbalance of the fire energy.

Description

The “fire” person has a mesomorphic body style with a medium to moderate build, a proportioned, balanced look, good physical balance, muscular without exercising, moderate weight and medium lumbar area. The person seems to radiates much vitality, engage in lots of physical activity and exudes emotional warmth. The body needs and enjoys physical activity to challenge their fiery energies. One of the most important characteristics of a balanced fire is the individual ability to incorporate forgiveness: forgiveness of God, others and themselves.

FIRE CHAKRA DESCRIPTION

Location of Chakra: Solar Plexus/Umbilicus Gemstone: Coral

Color: Yellow Seed Mantra: RAM

Guna: Rajas Art: Painting

Sense: Sight Taste: Bitter/Pungent

Sound: Loud and Staccato; Note of E Spine: L1 & L2

Emotions: +Forgiveness/Enthusiasm/ -Anger/Resentment

Body Structures/Organs (Functions):

Digestion and assimilation

Stomach

Liver

Gall Bladder

Spleen

Pancreas

Cortex

Medulla

Qualities:

To overcome inertia, move upward and outward

Transform raw material through combustion into energy, light, power and warmth

Will power-To align the personal will with the Divine Will

Forgiveness

Sense of identity or self image

Action

Joy, enthusiasm

Quickmind-Ability to cut through confusion

Direct, vital, honest

Passion behind decision or action

Imbalance:

Anger, resentment (anger is the emotion of change- need to channel anger into assertive direction.)

Self-centered-Stubborn

Needing to be center stage

Violent physically or emotionally

Overly Competitive

Fire Shortage:

Flaccid thighs

Weak stomach

Gray-pale skin

Dull eyes

Hair loss

Tense face

Lines between the brows

Mentally slow

Depressed

Lack of sense of direction

Feeling of powerlessness

Eye Strain

Cold extremities

Fire Excess:

Hemorrhoids

Liver problems

Gall Bladder problems

Pancreas problems

Spleen problems

Stomach problems

Digestive disorders

Excess heat

Hiatal hernia

Duodenal ulcer

Fire Challenge: To rise above power struggles caused by the ego and align to the Divine Will where consciousness expands to see more than just one’s own needs and desires.

Fire governs the sense of sight and on a mental/emotional level, the quality of insight. Fire governing Fire results in hunger.

Combined with ether, fire results in the emotional quality of anger and the physical manifestation of sleep.

Combined with air, fire results in the emotional quality shaking and the physical manifestation of thirst.

Combined with water, fire results in the emotional quality of luster and the physical manifestation of urine.

Combined with earth, fire results in the emotional quality of laziness and the physical manifestation of blood vessels.

 GENERAL INDICATIONS 

Sore Thighs

Solar Plexus concerns

Gas

Gastritis

Eye problems

Digestion, elimination and stomach problems (Including knots and acid in the stomach)

Digestive organ problems including liver, gall bladder, pancreas, spleen and intestines

Lethargy

Diabetes

Hot and cold feelings

Weak legs

Diaphragm

Teary

Navel

Vision

Heartburn

Sleepy after a meal

Low energy

High or low blood pressure

Low body temperature

Cold hands and feet

Ulcers (which are from fermented gas-coffee, alcohol, etc.)

Student Copy:

FIRE OF DIGESTION

Alimentary Canal

Mouth:

Teeth

Tongue

Salivia

Pharynx

Stomach:

Mucus

Rennin

Intrinsic Factor

Pepsinogen

Hydrochloric Acid

Small Intestines:

Duodenum

Jejunum

Ileum

Large Intestines:

Cecum (Ileo-cecal Valve) Sigmoid Valvue

Ascending Colon Anal Canal

Hepatic Flexures Anus

Transverse Colon

Descending Colon

Johnny Henderson, Ph.D., RPE & Tom Langan, RCST(R), RPE