This issue of ECR is "The 5 Rhythms" issue. It contains an overview of the 5 elements by Debra Hurt, one of Donna's topnotch TAs; a description of the water element by Donna herself; and insights and questions from a number of people who attended the class. And don't miss the special offer of "The 5 Rhythms" videotape and Donna's up-and-coming classes.

Donna and David mentioned that the names "elements," "elemental energies," or "rhythms" could be used to describe the five "types" of energy discussed in the workshop. Another translation from Chinese for these energies is "phases." I point this out because it may be helpful in understanding one of the basic premises of this system. Just as steam, liquid and ice are all "phases" of water, water, wood, fire, earth and metal are all "phases" of what the ancient Chinese considered to be the underlying energy of creation. Each "phase" represented a different process in the evolution of energy; whether in a simple or a complex system. And, of course, each phase would manifest in both yin (feminine, inward-turning) or yang (masculine, outward-moving) expressions.

Water flows and the Wood of plants and trees are nourished. The Wood of plants and trees fuels Fires. Fire produces ash which contributes to Earth. From the Earth spring the ores and minerals of Metal. (And here's where the metaphor gets a little tenuous....) A Metal bowl left under the moon collects the morning Dew of Water.

And it all begins again....

Water thrown on Fire douses it.
Fire applied to Metal melts it.
Metal, in the form of tools and axes, chops down Wood.
Wood, in the form of living roots, breaks up the Earth.
Earth, in the form of a dam, prevents Water from flowing.

Once years ago when I was working on too many clients, and felt absolutely drained, a woman came in who was really needing resources I didn't have to give. An intuitive flash brought me to the bottom of her feet where I held K-1 (I actually did the "wave", pressing in, pulling out, pressing in, pulling out in a slow rhythm with my own body weight for quite some time). The interesting outcome was as she began to be restored, so did I.

Understanding water element helps explain why this would be. Water symbolizes the resources that support life. You don't plant a tree (Wood) without water. You don't start a project without the idea, the seed of its beginnings. And you have nothing to give to a client when you've used up your own resources, when your well is dry. K-1 is called the "Wellspring of Life" point. It is the very first point on Water element (and therefore, the first point on the entire meridian system). By getting into rhythm with it using the "wave", both the client and I were given a surge of life force. The principle is that you would look for that primary resource by going to a Water element meridian. In this case, I went to the very first point on the very first water element meridian. Using the rhythm of a wave to communicate with K-1 (and this then reverberates to everything on Water element and eventually to the whole body), both the client and I were given a surge of energy, of life force

If this hadn't worked, I could have instead gone to spleen (Earth) acupressure strengthening points. Earth dams water (Earth is the control cycle for Water, it helps balance Water). If K-1 didn't get the Water/life force flowing, I would break up the dam to get the primal energy flowing again.

So there is a logical progression. Life force is low. Look to the first rhythm, Water. Stimulate. If nothing happens, go to Earth, the element that controls the balance of Water. If neither works, then you would go to the flow cycle. The flow cycle for Water is Metal. If Metal has not done its job of releasing the impurities in the energies that have come into it, then the energies that flow from Metal to Water will be polluted or blocked (it is an intuitive as well as logical process about whether you would go to the control or the flow cycle first).

Water element people often have issues about having enough energy to see something through, or enough energy to even be "out there" in the world. They must retreat like a hibernating bear in Winter to restore and build up their energy to be able to take themselves, their ideas, their gifts out into the world. Without enough resources, they can feel like they are swimming in the waters alone and tend to feel afraid, the primary out-of-balance emotion of Water/Winter. Without the resources of friends, parents, money, energy; health, they can feel deserted even by God.

Regardless of our constitutional core element, we all have the issues of Water. To examine how these issues play out in your own life, look at your support systems:

1. Who or what resources you?
2. Do you have all the resources you need?
3. Do you give away your resources?
4. Are you exhausted at the end of the day because you spent too much of your resources?
5. Or do you give so little out of yourself that life is stagnant and does not flow like water?
6. Do you resource yourself?
7. Are you resourceful?
8. What are your important resources spiritually, physically, emotionally?
9. If someone needs more of your resources than you have, do you give your last cup of water or give from a well that's almost dry?
10. And what resources do you bring to the table?
11. What is your contract with life? Water element is about ancestral and past-life energies-so there is something you know already that can resource you, that you are bringing forth.

Kidney and bladder meridians are on Water element. A way to work with the energies of the body is to focus on how these energies need to be strong and healthy to resource you. Sedating and strengthening these meridians are crucial to keeping our waterways pure. Sedating does not take power away, but relaxes and releases stress from the meridian so that it can restore in the same way that Water element people need to rest.

Here are some of the most important Water/Winter points to remember:

For several months before the 5 Rhythms workshop, I experienced such low energy that I sought conventional help from my internist. He ran 75 blood tests and sent me for c-t scans. Still there were no clues about the source of the problem. Finally, my intuitive suggestion was to check out the heart. After an echostressgram and negative findings, I knew it was time to see Donna. (Long gone are the days when I could see her in Ashland in her practice and "get fixed").

I still have insights from the 5 Rhythms workshop - and probably will for a long time to come. I benefited both personally and professionally from the workshop.

I have come into my wood, which was lacking and contributing to depression that has plagued me for over a year and a half. I recognized relationships throughout my life and experiences that have been trying to bring to my attention that I was not balanced in wood. As soon as I began claiming wood and balancing this element, water and metal came into balance for me, which have been continuously going out for 2 years. What Donna said during the workshop is exactly what is happening for me - my perspective of myself and my relationships as well as understanding family members continues to expand and deepen for me AND changes the way I relate!

The advanced techniques taught Saturday night were exactly the reason I came to the class. The star diagnostic on the back and deep hookup of central and governing were techniques that I immediately recognized were what I needed for myself and to incorporate in my healing practice.

I was very impressed with all the ways in which people are using and extending this information. Art, books, games, handouts, approaches for kids -- it was very empowering for me. Like, "Oh, I could do something with this!"

Personally the most important change for me from learning more about the 5 rhythms was understanding on a deep level not to take things personally. Many times actions that feel as if they are aimed at me aggressively are really only that person's rhythm. So triple warmer can calm down.

I am curious. What season is: aggressive worrying? damming rivers? artists who can put in every hair in a picture?

I thought the whole 5 Rhythms workshop was awesome. I feel especially pleased to be in an environment of healers who are open to growth and sharing ideas and problem solving techniques. I usually live day in and day out with folks who have little or no awareness of all this alternative wellness/healing information. I was so terrifically impacted by the atmosphere I have been significantly better "tuned in" to myself and others since attending the workshop.

I am looking for the name of that herb Donna mentioned that is good for the liver, not in the form of herbal tea but as a foot soak.

Response from Donna:

Since Donna's Boulder workshop in October, 2000, I have been working on strengthening my energy system with Energy Medicine practices and sessions. I also lie on the earth, releasing and taking in energy, hoping to mend my grid, which probably has been out since early childhood. After this last workshop, I had a session with Shanti Duree. With amazing skill and a loving heart Shanti held the points and guided me through an emotionally painful but freeing process of grid work until it was done. What I want to share is the experience of Triple Warmer being turned off for the first time in a long time. It's like suddenly being out in a landscape where fresh snow has fallen and everything is quiet, peaceful, and beautiful. It seems I can also think more clearly.

Donna always talks about how Spleen 21 are her points and if anything is wrong with her, thumping those points will fix her. She then always states, "and if you find _your_ points, life will be much better".

I actually thought I knew what she was talking about, but now it's clear to me I didn't. What Donna has been continually referring to is the Morphogentic field that she is dominant in. Donna is primarily Fire Element and strong Earth Element. Fire/Earth Element has 6 major Meridians that are affected for good or bad by those two elements.

So, since I am not Fire/Earth element primarily, but Wood Element, the points that affect Donna are probably NOT the points that really affect me. And no matter how hard I thump Spleen 21, the results will be much less dramatic than what Donna gets.

So, what do I do instead? Well, since I'm dominant Wood Element I went to the chart and noticed Gall Bladder Meridian and Liver Meridian are my two primary Meridians. I looked at the chart of "problems" that happen to Wood Elements and saw that I had many of those problems.

Then I remembered the drill that Donna gave for the "gait" reflexes on the top of the foot that correspond to many of the Meridians, especially the Liver Meridian. When that Meridian was deeply massaged, I screamed with pain. That was a good clue to me that I needed to work on Liver Meridian. So I did. Twice a day I've added Liver Meridian drills and "gait" massage to my daily routine.

During the 5 Rhythms class, Richard Duree said that the enteric system in the gut makes 80-90% of our seratonin. Wow! Never heard that before.

Questions that came up as I reviewed my notes:

What stood out for me was that the toning/sound experience is really funny and made me feel totally JOYFUL. I am just reading about and learning more about tones and healing through sound. I understand that there is a frequency and vibration to the sounds but I also think there is an enhanced vibration for the level of fun and joy experienced. As we know, disease can't exist at the higher frequencies. I think that incorporating sound into the healing process is effective due to the potential to raise the frequencies not only through the sound but through the fun of making the sounds!

Registration: You must register early for lowest rates.

This lively interactive class is a response to your requests for "supervision-style" education. It will in part be focused around the actual cases of class participants ( if you wish, describe a tough case in writing in advance; a few that best lend themselves for learning will be among Donna's jumping off points in teaching the class) plus there of course will be demonstrations as well as review and new information on the best pain techniques and "how-tos" for working with illness.

Pre-requisites:

Required: 5-day Intro Class or equivalent in shorter classes and study plus Intermediate 5-day or the Energy Tracker class or to have viewed and practiced with at least one other person the Energy Tracker Video Program and submitted the Certificate test.

Strongly Recommended: Knowledge of how to energy test for each of the 14 meridians. There will be a class on this topic taught by one of Donna's top students on Friday from 9 to 5, immediately preceding the workshop. Completion of the "Freeing the Spirit" class or video program is also recommended.

Where: By popular demand this class will be in a "great energy" luxury hotel rather than a more rustic setting, yet we have been able to keep the price to within $25 of the Boulder and Sedona modules ($360 includes tuition, shared room, reception, lunch, and breakfasts).

More details and registration information will be posted at www.innersource.net by this Monday, March 11.

5-day Advanced Intensive

Where: Fabulous Kiawah Island Resort in South Carolina

January 16 - 21, 2003