THE EARTH PERSONALITY

The Archetype of the Great Mother

The Power to Restore

Earth people are advocates for the good of the whole. They are bestowed with the responsibility to maintain balance in all things, distribute resources equitably and fairly, and to maintain commitments. They ask the question, "What is the best use of the resources we have? How can we utilize these resources to achieve the most for the whole?"

Earth people are meant to MODEL sustainability and balance in their own lives before looking to bring balance to the outer world – the archetypal energy seeks to express the model from within, thus creating a point of reference for those sharing the environment.

The Mother energy of a family takes pride in creating an environment that feeds and supports each member of the family to achieve their desired goals. This is an enormously important task, and one many of us take for granted. Just as our earth is showing serious signs of her gifts being used without appreciation, women worldwide have been showing the strain of creating and holding these nurturing spaces without value. We must make more of an effort to recognize and support those who keep the environments working. This includes Mothers, Office Managers, Secretaries, Nurses - all of the traditional women's jobs. Did you know that no country includes Mothering in the GNP?

Life Lesson: To Set Limits

Earth people contain equal amounts of the other four elements. Because of their equal abilities, they rarely stand out in one area. This may lead to being overlooked or de-valued. Often an Earth person is only noticed when they are not doing their job well. They smooth things out between people and advocate equality, making them good managers. They are sensitive to environments and do best in an atmosphere of balance and cooperation.

Earth personalities are highly empathetic. Because they feel deeply what others are feeling, they may be hyper-aware of emotional currents around them. Connected not to just to human life, but all life on the planet, Earth personalities can be subject to bouts of depression as they feel the anguish of species with no voice (or humans who are stuffing their pain). They are susceptible to over-commitment, trying to help others while still maintaining their own responsibilities.

Purpose: To Balance, To Serve

In a group, if an Earth personality feels that one idea/direction/action is being pursued at the expense of the whole, they may choose an opposite direction simply to restore balance. If they do not understand this tendency in themselves, them may feel crazy and out of control. Their empathetic nature and their tendency to bring balance may pull them into co-dependent patterns of trying to "fix" others. They often put themselves last when doling out resources, leaving them struggling to maintain the basic environment (be it their body, their home, or their community).

Earth personalities are highly susceptible to their personal joy coming through service to others. While this is true in a broad sense (they are happy when those they love are happy), service to others must come from personal satisfaction and completion of one's own joyful purpose. When their own needs are met first and foremost, they acquire the resources to serve others while still maintaining their own interests. Like the oxygen mask on an airplane, the mask must first go to the Mother. When the Mother is happy, everyone wins.

Strategies:

Nature is the healer of the Earth element. Spend as much time outdoors or in windows as possible. Your body is your personal Earth - commit to a great relationship with it. Dance. Sing. Exercise. Skip. Play in your body like a child.

Practice saying "may I think about that and get back to you?" Earth people are asked for help most often due to their tendency to give. Practice saying maybe until you get good at saying NO. How to know when to say yes, and when to say no? Listen to your body. If you feel energized by saying yes, then say yes. If the thought of providing the asked-for help leaves you feeling tired, that is your body telling you to say NO. The more you listen to your body, the faster you will find your center.

Put your needs first. When your needs are met, you will be rewarded with the energy necessary to meet the needs of others.

This we know. The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. This we know. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web he does to himself.
Chief Seattle

 

 

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