The Earth Element

The Five Elements of Life

Have you ever heard of the 5 elements? Do you know what they are? If not, this free series will teach you all about the elements and how they show up in the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual body. 

The 5 elements are fundamental and the cornerstones of health. They are present in everything, everyone, and all the time. 

Your daily practices, habits, and rituals shape your health. We do the same things every single day and some are contributing to your health and some are chipping away at it. Often times, we don't even notice our habits until we experience symptoms or become ill.

Understanding the 5 elements of life is the foundation for Ayurveda, TCM, and holistic wellness. This is the start! 

So let's dive in, shall we?

The Earth Element and It's Qualities

The earth element is the solid, dense, grounding principle. If we think about the qualities of this element we can picture ourselves going outside and putting our hands down onto the ground. What would you feel? 

According to Ayurveda, the qualities of the earth element are solid, gross (in mass), stable, dense, cool, and moist (depending on where you are at).

The Earth Element in the Physical Body

Since the earth element is solid, this element shows up in the physical body as the skeletal system. There is nothing more hard or dense then your bones. Our bones literally keep our form. Without them we would be a pile of mush. 

Around the age of 6 months the earth element begins to build in a baby's body. A tooth may emerge (also the earth element), we begin eating solid foods, and baby's begin to gain their density. There is a big difference in holding a newborn fresh out of the womb versus a 6 month old. I know personally I feel a lot more comfortable holding a 6 month old than a newborn.

Growing pains in a baby can also develop around this time because their bones are literally growing - another sign of the earth element developing. 

How to Tell if the Earth Element is Weak in the Physical Body

You know how the elderly tend to be more prone to bone breaks or fractures? Or there is that young person who seems to be susceptible to breaks? This is because the earth element isn't as strong in those individuals. They need to focus on building up the earth element with minerals, strength training, protein, and vitamins. 

The Earth Element and Food Intake

I was reading this book called Good Energy (I recommend!!) written by Casey Means and she described the inside of our bodies being this dark, warm, moist environment with our cells being blind. Because our cells are blind they are waiting for nutrients to pass by, and when they do, they reach out and grab onto them. 

If we are feeding our cells bad energy then our cells aren't going to function optimally but if we are ingesting high quality whole foods then our cells will thrive. 

Since whole food is grown from the Earth, the quality of our food equals the quality of the earth element in our body.

In regards to diet, if anyone tells you that there is one diet that fits all. RUN! 

Every single person has a very unique constitution, doshas, and nutritional needs. A woman in her fertility years has very different needs than a teenage girl. 

This is also where we have to understand that it's not what we eat, but instead, how we assimilate. If our gut health, stomach enzymes, or acids are insufficient to breakdown food and absorb the nutrients then all of that food is just coming out as poop. 

Digestive Symptoms and Food

Learning to listen to your body after eating a meal is one of the most important ways to determine food intolerance. Do you experience cramping, bloating, sluggish digestion where it feels like hours until you metabolize the food, or metabolizing too fast. Understanding what foods may cause symptoms gives you insight into the state of your health and digestion. 

Potential highly inflammatory foods like gluten, dairy, and eggs should be avoided until you can get to the root cause of the gut imbalance.

Vitality and the Earth Element

You can learn really quickly how the earth element presents itself in your physical body by your vitality. Do you feel good? Do you feel invigorated, energized, and clear minded? Or do you feel overweight or brittle. Think on this - how do you feel in your body?

The Earth Element in the Mental & Emotional Body

Like I said, the earth is heavy. The earth element in our mental/emotional state keeps us grounded. There is a feeling of being supported and steady in life. We aren't always on edge, feeling threatened, or anxious.

When we have a balanced amount of the earth element in the mental/emotional body we are able to move energy down our legs, into our feet, and down to the earth. 

When the Earth Element Is Too Much

When there is too much of the earth element that is when we can feel depressed, lethargic, unmotivated, like there is a heavy rock on top of us and we are unable to move out from underneath it.

One key sign of too much earth: resistance to change. When you’re oversaturated in earth energy, your system wants to stay static and doesn’t want to shift. 

When the Earth Element Is Too Little

On the flip side, the deficiency side is equally challenging. If we don’t have enough earth in our system then this is where all of our energy lives in the upper part of our body and we can feel anxious, chaotic, frazzled, and overwhelmed. 

There could be a sense of floating through life and disconnected from the physical realm. People who are intense meditators can often feel like this. Where they live in outer space which means they lack grounding (earth). 

What Does Imbalance Look Like in Daily Life?

Here’s how these extremes might show up in real life (and how I’ve noticed them in myself):

How to Balance Yourself: Practices That Help

Here are a few of my go-to's for balancing the earth element. 

1. Nourishing, Dense Foods

If you lack the earth element then eat from the earth, literally. Root vegetables (beets, potatoes, carrots), well-cooked grains, nourishing soups — food that feels solid and substantial. These help ‘feed’ your internal earth.

If there is too much earth then lighten up on those foods. Literally, eat lighter. 

2. Slow, Intentional Movement

Rather than high-speed cardio or constant hustle, opt for practices that gently yet firmly connect you to your body: yoga with grounding poses, walking outdoors (bare feet when you can), or stretching. Movement with presence helps the energy settle.

3. Rest & Deep Time

Not just “sleep,” but quality rest. Time when nothing is demanded of you. When earth is depleted, our system sometimes rejects rest (we feel guilty), but that’s exactly when we need it most.

4. Rituals & Consistency

Routines, rhythms, and daily anchors help the earth element. Some of us can find routine boring but if there is too little earth then a routine is a must for you.

5. Connecting to Nature

This one is obvious but powerful. Get your hands in soil, walk barefoot, hug a tree, spend quiet time outdoors. Let the literal earth remind you of your roots.

My Personal Journey: Where I’m At With Earth

I’ll get vulnerable for a minute here: I don’t always get this “grounded balance” right. There have been seasons when I over-focus on change, growth, expansion — always stretching — and neglect routines, rest, and stability. That tends to lead me into earth deficiency. Other times, I get so entrenched in the comfortable, safe zone that I resist growth or shifting, which is a symptom of excess earth.

One thing I’ve learned: shifting back into “balance” is not about a perfect schedule. It’s about listening to your inner feedback loops. When I start to dread movement, avoid choices, feel heavy, I know I’m tilting. I gently bring in more earth-nourishing practices. On the flip side, when I feel scattered, I lean back into anchored practices.

What's important is that you notice the season of life you are in and what you can do to balance yourself. You are constantly in flux!

Next Steps

Watch the video on the Earth Element!

Sign up for the free series on the 5 Elements here!