Higher Mind Incense

Listening To Incense Program

Earth

“When this principle [of the Elements] is understood, the terminology of the alchemist
becomes less recondite and absurd, for it is seen that the classification into Four Elements
really refers to four modes of manifestation on the physical plane. This method of
classification is of very great value, because it enables the relationship and correspondence
between the physical plane and the life-processes behind it to be readily seen.”
-Dion Fortune

We can imagine the seemingly ageless Earth, resilient against the tests of time and the trials of
the other Elements. Wind, water, rain, and fires rage upon her and beneath her surface, not
destroying or bringing an end, but contributing to a natural cycle, a dance of eternal
Elemental elegance; an ebb and flow of creation and destruction. As these forces exist and act
upon one another in the physical world, they are also very much alive in the spiritual,
energetic, and all other realms of human: mind, body, heart, and spirit.

© 2016 Evan Purcell, Higher Mind Incense LLC. All Rights Reserved.
From the Earth, all living bodies are created. This includes the animal (human and all other
creatures) and vegetable kingdoms (herbs and food plants). Earth is also the undisputed ruler
of the mineral kingdom and all things solid. The physical and philosophical Element of Earth
manifests stability, structure, fixity, and rigidity. It is the foundation for all the other Elements.
It retains, coagulates, sustains, supports, and endures. It represents heaviness, density, and
matter. In ancient Greek philosophy, the Earth Element represented the season of Fall, as the
leaves fall to the the ground and the life force of the plants moves inward and down towards
their roots.

Alchemical Symbol for Earth

Earth Element in Plants

Plants that have a dominant Earth Element correspondence tend to be bulkier in their
morphology. They usually have thick taproots, large bulbous roots, or large root systems in
general. They are often stalky, bushy, dense, or thick in their foliage. Their leaves or flowers
are often very large. Their trunks, branches, or stalks are often hard and stout. Colors most
commonly seen in Earth Element plants are greens, browns, and other earth tones. Typically,
plants who’s roots and wood is harvested for use have a strong affinity to the Earth. Earth
Element plants are not limited to the above features; they range from all types and diversities.
Though generally speaking, these forms are common indications of a strong Earth
correspondence, especially when a number of these characteristics are present.

The core herbal aromas associated with the Earth Element are: sweet, earthy, woody, rich,
green, and herbaceous. Many of the scents that you would find in the forest, in dense
undergrowth, along riverbanks, digging in the Earth, etc., are the scents that are classically
associated with Earth plants. They are often heavier scents, reminiscent of roots and woods.
Sweetness is also an aroma long associated with the Earth Element throughout many systems
including Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese medicine, and Classical Greek medicine. Sweet
tasting plants are also of strong Earth correspondence.

Below are a few examples of different plants that represent common Earth Element features.

© 2016 Evan Purcell, Higher Mind Incense LLC. All Rights Reserved.
 Costus - Dense, sprawling foliage

Costus Root (part used) - Thick, hard roots

Burdock (not an aromatic) - Massive leaves Burdock Root - Long, thick taproots

Cedar Tree - Giant trunks and branches Spikenard Root - Thick, hairy roots

© 2016 Evan Purcell, Higher Mind Incense LLC. All Rights Reserved.
I would like you to begin to refine your sense of smell using the system of the Elements, one
Element at a time. In this module we will be working with Myrrh. This rich resin has a strong
Earth Element affinity. When you sit with Myrrh during your sessions, I’d like you to try to
identify the different aromas mentioned above that are associated with Earth and allow them
to unfold within your awareness. Experience them with receptivity and allow them to come to
life within you.

As you go about your day and throughout this week, while outdoors, in your yard, in your
home, at work, in the city, or anywhere else, keep this knowledge in mind and see if you can
identify different Earth Element aromas you may come across. Tune your focus in to the
energetics and qualities of these aromas and feel into any possible physiological and
psychological effects. Are these aromas grounding? Stabilizing to the mind? Rejuvenating?
Nourishing? How are they revealed to you?

Aromatic Incense Plants that express a strong Earth Element:

Benzoin
Cedar
Coriander
Costus Root
Cypress
Myrrh
Patchouli
Spikenard (Jatamansi)
Sandalwood
Vanilla
Vetiver

Earth on the Psycho-spiritual Planes

There are many ways in which the Earth Element can manifest in our lives on psychological,
energetic, and spiritual levels, within us and outside of us. It can create boundaries and
limitations, as well as assertiveness and grounding. Like all of the Elements, Earth plays a role
within the mind, body, spirit, emotions, subtle energies, environment, relationships, astrology,
life choices, struggles, challenges, and just about everything else on the road of Life. As we
begin to learn where our own Elemental imbalances lie, we can consciously work towards
greater harmony on many levels using the wisdom of this ancient Living Language of
energetics.

We are all born with varying levels of each Element: our own unique Elemental makeup. One
person’s natural levels of these forces might differ drastically from another’s. Though we each

© 2016 Evan Purcell, Higher Mind Incense LLC. All Rights Reserved.
have our own balance of these forces, when there is a deficiency or excess in one or more of
them, the effects are generally the same from person to person.

When someone becomes deficient in their Earth Element, a sense of “un-grounding,” mental
fog, indecisiveness, or spaciness in the mind can occur. Deficient Earth can also lead to
disorganization, chaotic thoughts, and the classic monkey mind. When in excess, too much
Earth Element can cause mental rigidity, inflexibility, obsession, closed-mindedness, and the
inability to see other’s perspectives. A person can become too deeply rooted in their own
thoughts and opinions.

The Earth force has the ability to deeply fix the mind and emotions as its energies are down-
bearing and contracting. A few ways that can help us to remember these qualities is to
imagine the force of gravity: Earth’s downward pull into itself, its solid surface, and its many
gifts of abundance. The ancient Alchemical symbols of the Elements hint at their qualities and
can be helpful in remembering their nature. Earth and Water: down-facing triangular
symbols, Fire and Air: up-facing triangular symbols. These symbols signify how these energies
move.

When Earth is out of balance in a person, it can have a strong affect on the emotional body as
well as the mental faculties. People with over-abundant Earth can often have deeply fixed
emotions. This can lead to difficulty in expressing emotions, longer lasting emotions, and
emotions can feel as though they are closed in or closed off from the world. Often times
people who experience this can feel overburdened with their feelings or emotionally stuck.
When in deficiency, a lack of this Element can lead to insecurities, anxieties, worry, and weak
willpower.

When our Earth Element is in a more natural state of harmony and balance, we have a
stronger sense of commitment, dedication, permanence, and self-assurance, and anxiety and
worry is reduced or non-existent. Our minds are calm, collected, and decisive, and our bodies
feel nourished, vibrant, and strong.

Connecting to the Earth

Using different aromatic plants to achieve a greater balance within is one of the oldest
practices in human psychology (before the term or science of it existed). All around the world,
incense has accompanied healing in nearly all of its forms. By simple observation, people have
recognized the sacred Elemental forces within plants for millennia, and have harvested these
plants for medicine and incense to be used on a psycho-spiritual level. As we have learned so
far, incense herbs with an Earth correspondence can help us on many levels, bringing
grounding, assertiveness, solidity, presence, self-confidence, and so much more.

In additional to burning Earth incense herbs, here are some other ways to connect with and
understand the Earth Element in your daily life. One of the easiest and best ways to recognize
Earth qualities is in your diet. When we eat root vegetables like potatoes, yams, carrots, beets,
and turnips, as well as meats, dairy, and other heavy foods, we tend to feel heavier after our

© 2016 Evan Purcell, Higher Mind Incense LLC. All Rights Reserved.
meal. This is due to their strong Earth qualities. For many, these energies slow us down,
making us tired or lethargic during and/or after digestion. These foods are denser and require
more of our digestive system to break down.

For someone who is deficient in the Earth Element, especially those with high metabolism,
these foods can be very nourishing, energizing, and grounding. They can also help to build up
body tissues in those with skinny or frail body types. Foods with a naturally sweet taste are
also very nourishing and have strong Earth qualities. For individuals who already have an
overly abundant Earth Element, eating these types of foods can lead to weight gain, low
vitality, and other health issues.

Most Earth Element foods are usually harvested in the Fall

and Winter months, when energies have moved down under
the Earth’s surface, and should be consumed more during this
time of year to build nutrients and nourishment during the
cold and rainy seasons. They should be eaten a bit less during
the warmer months of Spring and Summer. Eating seasonally
by incorporating foods harvested during the current time of
year is a great way to find a healthier balance and learn to live
in greater harmony with the Elements.

Another simple way to connect to the Earth Element is to

walk, run, or hike in nature. Walking the Earth or around
your yard with bare feet is also a good way to absorb the
Earths energies and can be very grounding for certain people.
In modern society, we’ve become so accustom to wearing
shoes everywhere we go, even indoors for many people. In
fact, the rubber or plastics on the soles of most shoes act as a
barrier, absorbing or blocking the Earth’s subtle frequencies,
causing a sort of disconnect from Mother Earth. There are
many interesting studies on this subject alone.

© 2016 Evan Purcell, Higher Mind Incense LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Gardening can be another great way to understand and connect with the energies of the
Earth. Digging in soil, planting, harvesting, and tending to nature in your backyard is one of
the most rewarding ways to experience this sacred Elemental force. Especially when
cultivating aromatic plants ;)

Working with your hands, crafting, wood carving, wood working, cooking, leatherwork,
sewing, beadwork, metal working, chopping wood, working with stone, landscaping,
construction (especially natural or earthen building), building things in general, and exercise
are all great ways to connect to the Earth Element. By acknowledging and getting more in
touch with your senses and bodily sensations you are also acknowledging and getting more in
tune with the Element of Earth.

Though it may seem simple, learning to be more present, anchored, and grounded in our
physical bodies, minds, and realities is one of the best ways to gain understanding in the
lessons of the Earth. Through learning to see and acknowledge the Elements all around you
and in everything you do is the best way to experientially turn this knowledge into wisdom.
Using this wisdom in the practice of aromatics and incense can be of great benefit, and in
combination with proper diet, activities, and many factors mentioned above, learning how to
work in better alignment with the qualities and energetics behind the sacred invisible
Elemental forces can bring greater balance and harmony to the mind, emotions, heart, and
spirit.

Earth Correspondences:

Human Body: Bones, Liver, spleen, large intestine

Sense: Smell
Balanced Emotions and Psychology: Groundedness, assertiveness, fixation of thought,
contentment, empathy, security, stability in mind and nervous system, nurturing, nourishment,
concern for self and others
Imbalanced Emotions and Psychology: stubbornness, rigidity, inflexibility, self-centeredness,
insecurity, uncaring, opinionated, obsession, anxiety, worry, self-doubt
Rulership: Physical Body
Chakra: Root chakra (1st)
Dosha: Kapha
Plant Parts(most common): Roots, certain woods, below ground parts
Effect: Physiological Virtues
Season: Winter
Medicine Wheel: North
Aromas: Sweet, Earthy, Woody, Rich, Green, Herbaceous
Environments: Mountains, foothills, wooded areas, dense forest, valleys, canyons
Tastes: Sweet and Sour
Astrological Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Carl Jung’s Psychic Function: Sensation

© 2016 Evan Purcell, Higher Mind Incense LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Energetics: Yin, feminine, receptive
Qualities: cold, damp, heavy, dry, solid, hard, dull, stable, rough, cloudy

© 2016 Evan Purcell, Higher Mind Incense LLC. All Rights Reserved.