I had a great conversation with a friend of mine named Steve and he had made a statement that really brought out a different viewpoint on life. He said that we should not live to work but instead we should work to live. What a profound statement! When I heard this I immediately thought to myself that life is an experience that is why we are “human beings” and not “humans doing”. It is our being that enables us to live and if we spend our time devoted to the “man” then we do not experience the wonders of life.
So then I thought about what exactly makes us do what we do? What part of us is the essence of our actions? Why do people walk the path that they are on? These are some questions that flew through my mind the days after my conversation with Steve. Then one day it hit me like the proverbial ton of bricks…our actions are caused by our personality. This message came to me and with that I began to write this.
If you think of our personality explained through the four elements of fire, air, water and earth, you can gain a greater insight to what makes us act the way we do. Each of the four elements have certain qualities associated with them, which I refer to as Behavioral Elements, while focusing on the four elements as our Personality Elements.
The Personality Elements related to each of the four elements, are better known as humors. Hippocrates, a Greek doctor, was the originator in the development of human personalities. His doctrine of the four temperaments as a medical theory was called Humoralism. He believed that the fluids in our body are what caused our different styles of temperaments. The most common names of these temperaments are:
· Choleric (pronounced ko-LAIR-ick), - is a person who is the active type
· Sanguine (pronounced SAN-gwin), - is a person who is the lively type
· Phlegmatic (pronounced fleg-MAT-ik), - is a person who is the slow type
· Melancholy (pronounced MEL-en-kol-e), - is a person who is the dark type.
If you think of our personality explained through the four elements of fire, air, water and earth, you can gain a greater insight to what makes us act the way we do. Each of the four elements have certain qualities associated with them, which I refer to as Behavioral Elements, while focusing on the four elements as our Personality Elements.
The Personality Elements related to each of the four elements, are better known as humors. Hippocrates, a Greek doctor, was the originator in the development of human personalities. His doctrine of the four temperaments as a medical theory was called Humoralism. He believed that the fluids in our body are what caused our different styles of temperaments. The most common names of these temperaments are:
· Choleric (pronounced ko-LAIR-ick), - is a person who is the active type
· Sanguine (pronounced SAN-gwin), - is a person who is the lively type
· Phlegmatic (pronounced fleg-MAT-ik), - is a person who is the slow type
· Melancholy (pronounced MEL-en-kol-e), - is a person who is the dark type.
Our Behavioral Elements, or our “BE”ing, are the descriptive terms that are used to identify with our Personality Elements. I describe these “BE”ing’s as dry / wet and hot / cold. Right now take out a piece of paper and a pen. Draw a circle on it and split it into two sides vertically. You now have a circle with a left and right side. On the left side place the word dry and on the right side place the word wet.
Now, similar to what you just did, draw another circle and split it horizontally so you have a circle that has a top half and a bottom half. On the top half place the word hot and on the bottom half place the word cold. You now have two circles and four halves which hold the four Behavioral Elements. These two circles represent your “BE”ing.
Our dry “BE”ing, teaches us that we can be tedious, subtle, humorous, serious and sarcastic. This dryness would seem to describe a person that stays consistent in their methods and that gives form to their actions. This type of behavioral element would hold most of the leaders of the world because others are attracted to them, seeing that they are not easily influenced and show an attitude of purpose.
Our wet “BE”ing, teaches us that we can be receptive, responsible, astute, irritable and rational. This “wetness” drives people to learn about others, as they want interaction. This connection includes talking, caring and sharing. This temperament is very sensitive about themselves and other people and they have a desire to be aware of those feelings.
The planet that I think about when I hear the word “hot” is the Sun. The sun is what gives us life here on earth. When we transition from winter to summer, vegetation starts to come back to life, animals become more active in their environment, and things just begin to happen. Life becomes more energized and begins to flow in a pattern. Those who vibrate more in tune with their hot “BE”ing can be energetic, active, effective, potent, powerful and strong. When a person is in balance with this “BE”ing, they have a tendency to be aware of circumstances that surround them. Our cold “BE”ing, teaches us to take time to do things right. People with this behavioral element have lots of patience and stamina. Growing up, when winter came, it was very cold outside. The coldness taught me patience because you had to wait for your car to warm up before you drove and you had to put on multiple layers of clothes and then your snow suit before you went outside! Those who vibrate more in tune with their cold “BE”ing can be dull, reserved, calm, cautious, prudent and established.
Think about the descriptions of the “BE”ing’s. On the balance of dry and wet, which side would you say you lean more towards? Place a dot on that side of the circle. On the balance of hot and cold, which area would you say you fall closer to? Place a dot on that portion of the circle.
Our wet “BE”ing, teaches us that we can be receptive, responsible, astute, irritable and rational. This “wetness” drives people to learn about others, as they want interaction. This connection includes talking, caring and sharing. This temperament is very sensitive about themselves and other people and they have a desire to be aware of those feelings.
The planet that I think about when I hear the word “hot” is the Sun. The sun is what gives us life here on earth. When we transition from winter to summer, vegetation starts to come back to life, animals become more active in their environment, and things just begin to happen. Life becomes more energized and begins to flow in a pattern. Those who vibrate more in tune with their hot “BE”ing can be energetic, active, effective, potent, powerful and strong. When a person is in balance with this “BE”ing, they have a tendency to be aware of circumstances that surround them. Our cold “BE”ing, teaches us to take time to do things right. People with this behavioral element have lots of patience and stamina. Growing up, when winter came, it was very cold outside. The coldness taught me patience because you had to wait for your car to warm up before you drove and you had to put on multiple layers of clothes and then your snow suit before you went outside! Those who vibrate more in tune with their cold “BE”ing can be dull, reserved, calm, cautious, prudent and established.
Think about the descriptions of the “BE”ing’s. On the balance of dry and wet, which side would you say you lean more towards? Place a dot on that side of the circle. On the balance of hot and cold, which area would you say you fall closer to? Place a dot on that portion of the circle.
Now draw yet another circle and split it into four, combining the previous two. You should now have an equal armed cross or the symbol for the planet earth. This is significant because the physical realm is where everything is manifested. Place your combined dots in the proper area. For example if you placed a dot in the top and left side of the circles place the dot in the corresponding section of the third circle. When you combine the Behavioral Elements you get the manifested Personality Elements. While you continue to read see if you fall into the following descriptions of the Personality Elements.
These combinations are:
· Dry and hot describe the element of Fire
· Wet and hot describe the element of Air
· Wet and cold describe the element of Water
· Dry and cold describe the element of Earth
· Dry and hot describe the element of Fire
· Wet and hot describe the element of Air
· Wet and cold describe the element of Water
· Dry and cold describe the element of Earth
A person who is a fire personality element is an outgoing, energetic person who is very talkative. Their priority is people, as they will be surrounded by many because of their charisma. This personality makes great motivational speakers. A person who is an air personality element is a composed, thoughtful person who is very intelligent. They will only give an answer to a question if they know it, which they most likely will because they are knowledgeable about many things. This personality makes great teachers. A person who is a water personality element is a quiet loving person who wants to be liked by everyone. This is seen in their actions as they do many things for others. This personality makes great therapists. A person who is an earth personality element is an extrovert and a doer. They are quick to take action. The can be forceful but it is only because they see the best in everyone. This personality makes great leaders. So how did you do?
There are four different behavioral elements and the blending of these elements is what forms our ego. We have all four of these personality elements in us but some of them, usually two, dominate more then the others. After the description of the personality elements you should be able to pick out the styles that best correspond to you and the ones that you have no or little connection with. These are the personality elements that you are strong and weak in. Keep in mind that you have all of the personality elements in you. The blend of each of the behavioral elements creates such a unique personality, that is yours, and no one else is the same. Just like each snowflake is created from the same substances yet, no one is similar.
There are four different behavioral elements and the blending of these elements is what forms our ego. We have all four of these personality elements in us but some of them, usually two, dominate more then the others. After the description of the personality elements you should be able to pick out the styles that best correspond to you and the ones that you have no or little connection with. These are the personality elements that you are strong and weak in. Keep in mind that you have all of the personality elements in you. The blend of each of the behavioral elements creates such a unique personality, that is yours, and no one else is the same. Just like each snowflake is created from the same substances yet, no one is similar.
Now that you have a bit of an understanding of why you act the way you do, it is up to you to learn how to use this knowledge to communicate with others properly. Those of you, who are like me and consider yourself an occultist, may find that it is sometimes hard to get respect because of the misconceptions others have about those very beliefs. The life of a mystic is very hard, so why not make it easier by knowing how to interact with other people. This way they cannot say that you are incompetent. If we can understand and communicate better with each other, then working together will be easier. Occultist and mystics are teachers; we are walkers between the worlds learning and then informing. Some of us focus solely on the otherworlds and because of this people sometimes perceive us as “flaky”, “odd” or a “whack job”. Even those of us who are well grounded are looked upon as “bizarre”, “peculiar” or “abnormal”. If we could only learn how to communicate so that others understand us, maybe some of these terms will start to disappear.
Blessed Be