The Story of Fire: Part 2 of the Five Phases of Energy

by Eileen Rolland

Fire is fed by Wood and controlled by Water. It is often represented by a flame or by the colour red. Fire energy takes that which Wood has brought into being to the next level. It is represented by the strong Yang of Summer when buds open and everything is in full flower. It is a time when the earth is alive with colour, fragrance and sound. The days are long, and full of heat and light. People are most active too, taking advantage of this natural peak of activity. Projects have gone from humble beginnings to works in progress and are now in full swing. People involved with them are excited, ‘fired up’ and willing to put in extra effort. Care must be taken not to overdo it. Fire can be destructive too. It spreads, consumes and swallows up everything in its path if not controlled by Water’s strong Yin influence.

Fire has many faces. It is associated with transformation. Whether baking a cake, firing clay in a kiln or forging metal, fire alters the internal structure to produce something new and different. On an emotional level, Fire energy can alter our attitudes, for example by changing the pain we feel from a given situation and motivating us toward new growth, making us stronger. Many cultures include fire in their traditions. In that respect, it has often signalled a connection with the Divine with everything from candles for prayer or meditation, to ritual fires and even bolts of lightning. There is a connection with spiritual awareness, when an individual recognises the spiritual aspect of their being and begins to find ways to nourish it. Fire is also associated with passion, whether a romantic attachment, a strongly held belief or an inclination towards something, like a ‘passion’ for the outdoors.

In the human body, Fire energy is associated with adolescence, the time when the body transforms and the infant from the Wood phase goes from being a child to becoming a young adult. The child is transforming physically and emotionally and looking to find their place in the world. Fire directs us to connect with other people, to find common interests and forge new friendships. After all, Fire’s Yin organ is the Heart and the Heart houses the spirit. The Yang organ is the Small Intestine. It is said to help us determine what is true and is the source of our ‘gut reactions’.

The Fire element is unique in that it has two other organs associated with it - the Heart Protector (Pericardium) and the Triple Heater

(Sanjiao). These are not recognised as organs in western medicine but, because they have their own energy channels, they are used in Chinese medicine for diagnosis and treatment.

The Pericardium is the band of muscle that surrounds the Heart and protects it. The Triple Heater is essentially the torso divided into three parts. The upper part is everything above the diaphragm - the Heart and Lungs; the middle part is the Spleen/Pancreas and Stomach and the lower part is the Kidneys and Bladder. These are sometimes referred to as the body’s ‘cooking pots’, hence the term Triple Heater’, as they are the places where qi is gathered and transformed.

Fire’s flavour is Bitter. Some examples of foods with a bitter flavour are romaine lettuce, rye, alfalfa, watercress, bitter melon, dandelion greens and aloe juice.

Fruit that grows around a central seed, such as cherries, apricots and peaches are also associated with Fire and foods that spread outwards as they grow - spinach, kale and broccoli.

Deficient Fire energy is indicated by palpitations or a weak pulse. A person might feel restless, have trouble sleeping or have cold hands and feet. An excess would show a ruddy complexion or the person might have a pounding pulse or be subject to infections or inflammation.

Fire helps to promote the existence of Earth by creating ash, so Earth is next in the cycle.