Resourcing: The Elements
In the book Somatic IFS by Susan McConnell, she mentions briefly the concepts of the 4 elements, earth, air, water, and fire. She writes about their relationship to somatic work in the way of grounding, breath, emotions/fluids, and movement.Is it possible that in a more literal way, though, these elements can be very healing for us? I was thinking about this and what I've observed the last couple of months.
Sometimes nature is enough to hold deep therapeutic space for us.
Personal:
Plants-EarthI've noticed a desire to have some plants the last few years, and have built up a small collection of some easy to take care of house plants. I enjoy them. They make my apartment feel a little more like a home. Their color, their texture. A small way to remind me of life, of growth. Of their dependence on me for care, and of them supporting me in cleaning the air and making it a nicer living space.Olympic-Earth, Air, WaterI took a trip to Olympic National Park in the fall of 2025. The trees and plants there were amazing. Never have I seen so much variety of textured thick green before. The ferns, lichens, mosses, at times hanging down several feet off of the trees. The trees were massive. They don't even compare with trees elsewhere such as in California, but still. Their size, their age. Hundreds of years old. Seeing it all was calming and nurturing.Toward the end of the trip, I drove up deeper into the woods. By the map, it was just a few miles. But it ended up taking me close to an hour or more just to drive down the bumpy trail. I parked at the trailhead parking lot. Some backpackers start here and hike for miles down into the Enchanted Valley, which looks incredible. I started walking up a trail up the ridge, but I was running out of time and out of energy. I turned back around and found a little spot to sit near the Quinalt River, close to the picture on this page HERE.I was tired. I was a bit frazzled from the stress of the trip. I was disappointed that I was running out of daylight here. I was disappointed at my fatigue that never goes away. At the dreams of being able to do hikes and other adventures like backpackers and travelers do, and knowing I couldn't have the capacity for them. I was tired of being alone.Sometimes, I can tell ahead of time when I will have an emotional release. It doesn't happen often. There is this impulse that is hard to describe. It's a beautiful feeling to be able to tune into. That there is something bubbling up. Something surfacing. It just needs a little help to break free. The conditions are almost there for something to release. Something is going to happen. That I need this song, this piece of nature, this movie, this assurance. Right now, this is the thing I need to support me. It can hold the space for me.I put my head back and loosened up my legs and my hips and just let my body move. Grief surfaced and broke free. Tears. I remember it feeling more gentle and easy than some other releases.Fire: After my aunt passed away, I received her wall mounted imitation fireplace. I'm not generally a fan of imitation stuff. However, I found to be very helpful to my nervous system. I have had several experiences of nice emotional releases and grief surfacing by turning the lights down, turning the fireplace on, and getting comfortable and relaxed, laying close to it.Somatic Sessions:The silence. The non-judgment. The lack of people, of faces. Just presence. Orienting.
Practical Application:I invite you to observe what element is most important to you right now?
fire, warmth
Ocean, river, creek, lake, bath, shower
Earth, dirt, mud, sand, plants
Air, wind
What does the element offer to you?
A sense of quiet?
A sense of stillness?
A sense of non-doing?
A sense of being held?
A sense of comfort?
A sense of mystery?
A sense of interdependence?
A sense of solitude?
A sense of calm?
Could you experience more of this element as a resource?
Is there fear or resistance to any elements?
Curious to work with me in the future? Send me a text, email, or call HERE. and I can put you on a waiting list for whenever I start up again.
*Notice: I'm glad to provide these resources to empower your personal health journey, not as a substitute for professional medical care. While I encourage sharing links, please respect the intellectual property of Mountain and Meadow Health, LLC. You are responsible for your own health outcomes. Consult with your trusted health advocates before making significant changes. Contact Evan Ritter for professional licensing."
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