Each one of us is a unique and special manifestation of life. We come into life with certain predispositions, qualities of being and strengths. As we develop, our natural strengths and ways of coping are covered over, and limiting characteristics, beliefs, emotions and behaviors take their place. These limitations generate a feeling of emptiness, a lack or a flaw which we reproduce through our beliefs and behaviors thus creating suffering while we try to change others. In this workshop we will have the opportunity to stimulate change from within instead—enhancing our capacity for love, life and work.

In understanding and changing ourselves, it is helpful to use a working model that honors our uniqueness and at the same time helps us recognize our personality orientation with its strengths and limitations. The Five Phase (Element) Model of Chinese Medicine represents a way of understanding the world, ourselves and others, a theory of personality and a description of the evolution of our being. Traditional metaphors such as fire, earth, metal, water and wood describe aspects of our being including physical, emotional, mental and spiritual functions as well as principles and qualities of being.

In a supportive environment, this in-depth self-exploratory workshop will offer the opportunity to work with aspects of our being. For self-development it is vital to understand our strengths and limitations in each of the five phases as well as our predisposition towards our preferred personality orientation.