Feng shui, acupuncture, and other traditional Chinese practices contain concepts from Taoism. This centuries-old philosophy emphasizes flow, harmony, and balance. Everything in our universe contains a fundamental cosmic energy known as qi. Five elemental phases illustrate how nature works, but they also have energies that can interact and combat each other. Chinese philosophy explains how things work when these phases are balanced – and the resulting problems when they’re not.
Creative and Destructive Cycles
The five elemental phases occur in two primary cycles – creative and destructive. The former, known as “shēng,” illustrates how one element can aid in generating another. In this context, “creation” isn’t literal. Rather, it’s an endless cycle of transformation and revelation. Wood fuels fire to create earth, which holds the metal that collects water.
The second primary cycle, “kè,” is somewhat destructive. But “kè” best translates as “restrain” or “overcome.” In this cycle, each element mitigates another one’s effects. Water puts out fire, which can melt metal. With enough force applied, metal can cut wood. When a tree seed germinates, wood erupts from earth by pushing out of the soil. Earth can form solid barriers that block the flow of water.
Chéng: The Cycle of Overwhelming
Wandering Dao describes the nature of both the shēng and kè cycles. The parent-child metaphor best characterizes shēng. Why? Because every element nourishes another and helps it grow. Daoist philosophy sees kè as a grandparent-grandchild relationship. Why? Well, this cycle alternates elements. Instead of water interacting with wood, it interacts with fire. By skipping phases, water dampens fire instead of nourishing wood.
In feng shui and other traditional Chinese practices, applying the kè cycle results in balance. But you can have too much of a good thing, and that’s what happens in an overwhelming elemental cycle. This is called “chéng,” a Chinese verb meaning “to multiply” and written as Hanzi as “乘.”
Excessive restraint is the key feature of the chéng cycle. It progresses in the same way as the kè cycle, except its energies act with brutal force. Fire can vaporize metal at extremely high temperatures – for example, on exoplanets like KELT-9b. This distant gas giant boasts surface temperatures around 7,800 degrees Fahrenheit. Its atmosphere contains several heavy metal gases such as iron, titanium, and chromium. And while metal can cut down trees, this turns into deforestation when taken to extremes.
Insult With Injury: The Wǔ Cycle
Just as kè energies destroy when they exert too much force, they can also be weak with too little effort. When this happens, the second element pushes back against the first. Taoist philosophy calls this “wǔ.” It’s a Chinese verb that means “to insult” and written with the “侮” Hanzi character.
Wǔ energies move in the opposite direction of kè. Fire can evaporate water, which in turn floods or muddies earth. When there’s too much earth, it can bury wood. If a tree withstands a metal cutting implement, its wood can dull the blade. Metals with high thermal conductivity can transfer heat.
Some call wǔ the weakening or counteracting cycle. To understand why, let’s look at an example. A river bisects the land it flows through. That divided land becomes its left and right banks, which hold the river and direct its path. But should that river rise too high, it overflows its banks and floods surrounding communities. Thus, water counteracts earth’s restraints.
A Balanced Approach to Life
Ancient Chinese tradition speaks of elemental phases that operate in cycles of generation and overcoming. So when things fall out of balance, this can cause chaos. The wǔ and chéng elemental phase cycles show how that chaos plays out. Even if you’re not into Taoism, understanding and resolving these imbalances can help create a more harmonious life.
A long romance can be special. The longer you’ve been with your significant other, the more likely it is you’ve fallen into a routine. Sadly, allowing yourselves to slip into patterns can be an easy way for the fun and excitement to drain out of your connection. You don’t need to renew your vows or take a lavish vacation to invigorate the romance in your relationship. In fact, most actions you can take right away are incredibly simple. Review these options and inspire your own journey to a more passionate future.
Hold Hands
Early in your relationship, it stands to reason you couldn’t keep your hands off your partner. Holding the hand of the person you love is such a simple gesture, and yet many people stop this practice the longer they have been together. If this is familiar to you, then there’s no better way to surprise your partner than by grabbing his or her hand. The more you practice this, the more connected you’re going to feel.
Interestingly, there is a scientific reason why holding hands is a great way to feel connected to loved ones. Prolonged physical contact with another person starts to produce the hormone oxytocin in both individuals. This hormone is responsible for establishing and securing bonds between people and is often called the “love drug” because it is found in higher quantities in the earliest years of people who have fallen in love. Hold hands and your brains will do the rest of the work!
Have a Conversation
The “how was your day” routine is a familiar one for those who have been in relationships for a while. Though the question might begin as an earnest one, a point comes when both parties stop fully listening to the answer. Though a bad habit to fall into, it is an easy one to break. Instead of discussing banal details of your routine, spark up a talk about a topic of interest. It doesn’t need to be some deep existential discussion, though this is also fine. The goal is to just chat.
Being around someone all the time doesn’t mean you really know what is going on in his or her head. Time changes people and their perspectives. By engaging in routine conversation that permeates deeper layers below “how was your day,” you can use curiosity to drive your romance and attraction constantly forward.
Romance Without Your Phones
Couples in the digital age have far more distractions to deal with than relationships of the past. Nowadays, people are glued to their digital devices. Whether you’re out to dinner or hanging around the house watching TV, it stands to reason one or both of you are intermittently looking at your phones. Sadly, this is a very easy way to start driving a wedge between you and the people in your physical proximity. Though you both might be guilty of the act, all it takes is one person to suggest a “no-phone date night” and you can see a difference.
Have Outside Activities
Couples who get along well will often do a ton of activities together. While you might not tire of your partner’s presence, it can be important to separate yourself to a certain degree with outside interests. Having hobbies and passions that you pursue without your significant other allows you the chance to grow on an individual level and always have new and interesting things to bring back to the table in your relationship. Learn to balance the time alone with the time engaged in common pursuits, and it can add robust new dimensions to your romance.
Though time is always going to impact a relationship in some capacity, you can easily do your part to withstand whatever is in store. Find simple ideas that work for you and start taking action to keep the romance alive.
A family legacy is a great way to have loved ones remember you and all that you have done.
May was National Leave a Legacy month, a public awareness campaign that encourages people to leave a gift to a favorite charity when they die. The idea was to support a cause that was near and dear to your heart with money as a lasting family legacy, kind of a footprint to be remembered by those in your community.
Most people hope that their life matters. Maybe you don’t have the money to leave to a charity. A financial gift can do a lot, but according to Billy Graham, “The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.” Although no one likes to consider their death, the best way to leave a legacy is to consider it now. Here are five things to think about when planning your legacy:
What’s most important to you in your life?
Think about what you want to leave as your legacy. If your family were to think of you 10 years after you die, what would you want them to remember?
Where did you find inspiration or transformation in your life’s journey?
Maybe you had a life-changing moment in a college class. Were you touched by cancer? What has made you who you are today?
What blessings have you been given that you want to share with others?
These blessings could be tangible, for example, a set of chinaware given to you by your grandmother, or intangible, such as peace or kindness. If you have tangible items that your family doesn’t appreciate, think about who might use the objects. Check with local museums or charities.
What causes are important to you?
Most people support at least one organization in some way. It could be a church or synagogue. Maybe you have a favorite 5K run you do each year. Your passion is your legacy.
Who do you mentor?
Mentoring isn’t always a formal relationship. You can mentor people in your family, your church or your community just by being available. These relationships can last a lifetime, even after the period of mentorship is over. These people are your legacy.
Planning a Family Legacy
Your will is not a legacy, but it can be part of it. A written memorial can help your family know what you want after your death, but your legacy encompasses so much more. Whether you plan to leave a legacy or not, you will have a legacy. You may not ever think about how people will remember you, but they will remember who you were and what your passions were. You can’t really tell people how to think of you after you die, but you can leave ideas on how you want to be remembered.
Think about the people in your life who have passed on. Maybe you remember your grandpa smoking a pipe and telling stories. For some, it might be the smell of fresh apple pie coming from Aunt Mabel’s kitchen. Those are the legacies of your loved ones. It’s likely that Aunt Mabel never told you to remember her apple pie, but you did. Your children and grandchildren are likely to be the same way.
Those activities and character traits you pursue will be your legacy. What you’ve been dedicated to throughout your life is what you will be honored for. If you don’t like the legacy you are leaving, then it’s time to change your life. Maybe you will want to give money to a charity or leave a note to your family about something special to you. More importantly, think about relationships, faith and character. Are you living the way you want to be remembered?
Feng shui, acupuncture, and other traditional Chinese practices contain concepts from Taoism. This centuries-old philosophy emphasizes flow, harmony, and balance. Everything in our universe contains a fundamental cosmic energy known as qi. Five elemental phases illustrate how nature works, but they also have energies that can interact and combat each other. Chinese philosophy explains how things work when these phases are balanced – and the resulting problems when they’re not.
Creative and Destructive Cycles
The five elemental phases occur in two primary cycles – creative and destructive. The former, known as “shēng,” illustrates how one element can aid in generating another. In this context, “creation” isn’t literal. Rather, it’s an endless cycle of transformation and revelation. Wood fuels fire to create earth, which holds the metal that collects water.
The second primary cycle, “kè,” is somewhat destructive. But “kè” best translates as “restrain” or “overcome.” In this cycle, each element mitigates another one’s effects. Water puts out fire, which can melt metal. With enough force applied, metal can cut wood. When a tree seed germinates, wood erupts from earth by pushing out of the soil. Earth can form solid barriers that block the flow of water.
Chéng: The Cycle of Overwhelming
Wandering Dao describes the nature of both the shēng and kè cycles. The parent-child metaphor best characterizes shēng. Why? Because every element nourishes another and helps it grow. Daoist philosophy sees kè as a grandparent-grandchild relationship. Why? Well, this cycle alternates elements. Instead of water interacting with wood, it interacts with fire. By skipping phases, water dampens fire instead of nourishing wood.
In feng shui and other traditional Chinese practices, applying the kè cycle results in balance. But you can have too much of a good thing, and that’s what happens in an overwhelming elemental cycle. This is called “chéng,” a Chinese verb meaning “to multiply” and written as Hanzi as “乘.”
Excessive restraint is the key feature of the chéng cycle. It progresses in the same way as the kè cycle, except its energies act with brutal force. Fire can vaporize metal at extremely high temperatures – for example, on exoplanets like KELT-9b. This distant gas giant boasts surface temperatures around 7,800 degrees Fahrenheit. Its atmosphere contains several heavy metal gases such as iron, titanium, and chromium. And while metal can cut down trees, this turns into deforestation when taken to extremes.
Insult With Injury: The Wǔ Cycle
Just as kè energies destroy when they exert too much force, they can also be weak with too little effort. When this happens, the second element pushes back against the first. Taoist philosophy calls this “wǔ.” It’s a Chinese verb that means “to insult” and written with the “侮” Hanzi character.
Wǔ energies move in the opposite direction of kè. Fire can evaporate water, which in turn floods or muddies earth. When there’s too much earth, it can bury wood. If a tree withstands a metal cutting implement, its wood can dull the blade. Metals with high thermal conductivity can transfer heat.
Some call wǔ the weakening or counteracting cycle. To understand why, let’s look at an example. A river bisects the land it flows through. That divided land becomes its left and right banks, which hold the river and direct its path. But should that river rise too high, it overflows its banks and floods surrounding communities. Thus, water counteracts earth’s restraints.
A Balanced Approach to Life
Ancient Chinese tradition speaks of elemental phases that operate in cycles of generation and overcoming. So when things fall out of balance, this can cause chaos. The wǔ and chéng elemental phase cycles show how that chaos plays out. Even if you’re not into Taoism, understanding and resolving these imbalances can help create a more harmonious life.
A long romance can be special. The longer you’ve been with your significant other, the more likely it is you’ve fallen into a routine. Sadly, allowing yourselves to slip into patterns can be an easy way for the fun and excitement to drain out of your connection. You don’t need to renew your vows or take a lavish vacation to invigorate the romance in your relationship. In fact, most actions you can take right away are incredibly simple. Review these options and inspire your own journey to a more passionate future.
Hold Hands
Early in your relationship, it stands to reason you couldn’t keep your hands off your partner. Holding the hand of the person you love is such a simple gesture, and yet many people stop this practice the longer they have been together. If this is familiar to you, then there’s no better way to surprise your partner than by grabbing his or her hand. The more you practice this, the more connected you’re going to feel.
Interestingly, there is a scientific reason why holding hands is a great way to feel connected to loved ones. Prolonged physical contact with another person starts to produce the hormone oxytocin in both individuals. This hormone is responsible for establishing and securing bonds between people and is often called the “love drug” because it is found in higher quantities in the earliest years of people who have fallen in love. Hold hands and your brains will do the rest of the work!
Have a Conversation
The “how was your day” routine is a familiar one for those who have been in relationships for a while. Though the question might begin as an earnest one, a point comes when both parties stop fully listening to the answer. Though a bad habit to fall into, it is an easy one to break. Instead of discussing banal details of your routine, spark up a talk about a topic of interest. It doesn’t need to be some deep existential discussion, though this is also fine. The goal is to just chat.
Being around someone all the time doesn’t mean you really know what is going on in his or her head. Time changes people and their perspectives. By engaging in routine conversation that permeates deeper layers below “how was your day,” you can use curiosity to drive your romance and attraction constantly forward.
Romance Without Your Phones
Couples in the digital age have far more distractions to deal with than relationships of the past. Nowadays, people are glued to their digital devices. Whether you’re out to dinner or hanging around the house watching TV, it stands to reason one or both of you are intermittently looking at your phones. Sadly, this is a very easy way to start driving a wedge between you and the people in your physical proximity. Though you both might be guilty of the act, all it takes is one person to suggest a “no-phone date night” and you can see a difference.
Have Outside Activities
Couples who get along well will often do a ton of activities together. While you might not tire of your partner’s presence, it can be important to separate yourself to a certain degree with outside interests. Having hobbies and passions that you pursue without your significant other allows you the chance to grow on an individual level and always have new and interesting things to bring back to the table in your relationship. Learn to balance the time alone with the time engaged in common pursuits, and it can add robust new dimensions to your romance.
Though time is always going to impact a relationship in some capacity, you can easily do your part to withstand whatever is in store. Find simple ideas that work for you and start taking action to keep the romance alive.
A family legacy is a great way to have loved ones remember you and all that you have done.
May was National Leave a Legacy month, a public awareness campaign that encourages people to leave a gift to a favorite charity when they die. The idea was to support a cause that was near and dear to your heart with money as a lasting family legacy, kind of a footprint to be remembered by those in your community.
Most people hope that their life matters. Maybe you don’t have the money to leave to a charity. A financial gift can do a lot, but according to Billy Graham, “The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.” Although no one likes to consider their death, the best way to leave a legacy is to consider it now. Here are five things to think about when planning your legacy:
What’s most important to you in your life?
Think about what you want to leave as your legacy. If your family were to think of you 10 years after you die, what would you want them to remember?
Where did you find inspiration or transformation in your life’s journey?
Maybe you had a life-changing moment in a college class. Were you touched by cancer? What has made you who you are today?
What blessings have you been given that you want to share with others?
These blessings could be tangible, for example, a set of chinaware given to you by your grandmother, or intangible, such as peace or kindness. If you have tangible items that your family doesn’t appreciate, think about who might use the objects. Check with local museums or charities.
What causes are important to you?
Most people support at least one organization in some way. It could be a church or synagogue. Maybe you have a favorite 5K run you do each year. Your passion is your legacy.
Who do you mentor?
Mentoring isn’t always a formal relationship. You can mentor people in your family, your church or your community just by being available. These relationships can last a lifetime, even after the period of mentorship is over. These people are your legacy.
Planning a Family Legacy
Your will is not a legacy, but it can be part of it. A written memorial can help your family know what you want after your death, but your legacy encompasses so much more. Whether you plan to leave a legacy or not, you will have a legacy. You may not ever think about how people will remember you, but they will remember who you were and what your passions were. You can’t really tell people how to think of you after you die, but you can leave ideas on how you want to be remembered.
Think about the people in your life who have passed on. Maybe you remember your grandpa smoking a pipe and telling stories. For some, it might be the smell of fresh apple pie coming from Aunt Mabel’s kitchen. Those are the legacies of your loved ones. It’s likely that Aunt Mabel never told you to remember her apple pie, but you did. Your children and grandchildren are likely to be the same way.
Those activities and character traits you pursue will be your legacy. What you’ve been dedicated to throughout your life is what you will be honored for. If you don’t like the legacy you are leaving, then it’s time to change your life. Maybe you will want to give money to a charity or leave a note to your family about something special to you. More importantly, think about relationships, faith and character. Are you living the way you want to be remembered?
