The 5 Elements or Phases is a common concept in Chinese society, ranging probably all aspects of Chinese thinking and lifestyle, as Traditional medicine, Qigong, cooking, Feng Shui, Cosmology, Astrology, etc. It is derived from the concept of Yin and Yang, and it expresses basic natural patterns or cycles observed by Chinese people, throughout time.

Here in the Retreat Center we are 5, as the 5 Elements, and we already have a specific element for each one of us, regarding our normal behavior expressed everyday. Master Yang made his evaluation and classified us this way:

- Me: Earth
- Tom: Wood
- Patrick: Metal
- Mike: Fire
- Jon: Water

Master Yang told us his personal reasons why we relate to our specific elements. I do agree with most of them but I still don’t understand as much as I wanted the mechanics of the 5 elements to evaluate if they are totally correct. Besides that, we are still on the beginning and we need more time to know each other well, and to let our true self express fully.
One thing I know for sure, we depend on each other for the success of the program the same way each element depends on all the others to balance and attain the Dao. Whenever one is week or to strong, an unbalance will occur and something bad will come. We need to evolute as a team, but at the same time, respecting each one of us individually.

According to the 5 Elements theory, we have two cycles which balance each other and allow existence. We have the cycle of creation, where one element “feeds” or “creates” the next one, generating a cycle of constant growing of the specific aspects related to each element. And, we also have the cycle of inhibition, where one element inhibits the growth of another to prevent a continuous infinite creation that, as we all know, doesn’t apply in physical reality.
By this cycles, Tom creates Mike, Mike creates Me, I create Patrick, Patrick creates Jon, and Jon creates Tom. Also, Tom inhibits Me, I inhibit Jon, Jon inhibits Mike, Mike inhibits Patrick, and Patrick inhibits Tom. This way, we all stabilize each other for the common purpose of finishing this program.

Does this relation of creation and inhibition have any real concept of balance between each other? In what way do I inhibit Jon, or Tom creates Mike? I want to understand if this concept can be applied in this case. Maybe one day, when my mind is clearer…