THE FIRST ELEMENT, ETHER

 
 

Autumn, according to its qualities, is governed by the Vata dosha. When talking about Ayurveda, we hear a lot about the Doshas - the three biological energies - but where do these stem from? 

In the Ayurvedic understanding of life there are 3 Maha Gunas (psychic energies) from which the physical world manifests; Sattva (harmony and balance), Rajas (activity and passion), and Tamas (darkness and chaos). These 3 psychic energies manifest to form the 5 Elements (physical energies AKA as the 5 Great Elements or 5 Universal Elements) which are the building blocks of everything in the natural world. We then group these 5 Elements into the 3 Doshas (biological patterns) that we use in Ayurveda to describe our individual mind-body constitution. 

In Sanskrit, these 5 elements are:

  • Akasha (Ether)

  • Jala/Apas (Water)

  • Prithvi (Earth)

  • Teja (Fire)

  • Vayu (Air)

We start off with Ether - part of the Vata element so very relevant at this time of year. Ether is the very first of the 5 Elements, and it is from here that the other elements evolve, with Ether remaining a component of them all. As the elements manifest, in the evolution from one to the next, their nature becomes denser. So as Ether becomes active it evolves into Air. Together, Ether and Air, give Fire the space and capacity to burn. Fire causes the Air to become dense and form Water. This process continues until Water gives us, at the other end of the spectrum, the Earth element - the most dense of them all. Therefore, all 5 Elements are contained in Earth as one.

In Ayurveda the name for Ether, ‘Akasha’, means all-enclosing, omnipresent or all-pervading. It is the subtlest of all the elements because despite being everywhere, you cannot sense its profound presence. It is known as the source, pure intelligence and the creative life force that gives consciousness to existence.

Since Ether is expansive, without boundaries and has no resistance, it provides us with freedom in which we can move. It has none of the attributes of the other elements eg. the firmness of earth, the coolness of water, the heat of fire or even the movement of wind, so it is therefore the very essence of 'emptiness'. 

Ether is best described as the element of space around us - hence it can also be referred to as ‘space’ (you might also hear ‘sky element’). Other qualities of Ether include: light, still, dreamy, imaginative.

VEDIC PROPERTIES OF ETHER 

Ether, Akasha Tattva (Tattva means element in Sanskrit), is connected to the ‘Vishuddha’ otherwise known as our throat chakra. 

According to Ayurveda, Ether is the element that connects us to spirit, intuition and other realms and planes, an understanding also shared by the Ancient Greeks.

Air and Ether make up the Vata dosha, therefore the imbalance of Ether leads to an imbalance of Vata. Also, any imbalances in the other four elements can also cause the restriction or expansion of Ether within the body.

If you have an excess of Ether this can sometimes be presented as feelings of spaciness - ie. feeling spaced out, detached, ungrounded, dizzy, restless and suffering from insomnia. Working on your spatial awareness can help to balance it out. Body-scan meditations, yoga and Qi Gong are simple ways to help you do this and bring you back to the present moment.

However, if you are deficient in Ether this can present itself as feeling tight, restricted and inflexible - think asthma and muscle soreness. It can also present as feelings of being unheard or isolated. As the element of Ether is linked to the throat, moving this part of the body via singing is known to be a great way to increase Ether, as are  practices such as meditation and pranayama.

HOW TO BALANCE ETHER

The Ether element is all about creating space, clarity, and lightness.

Incorporating specific foods and herbs that resonate with the Ether element can help. Sage for example is a great herb to use when we want to refresh and re-set, or remove stagnant energy. Add it to dishes, rub it in your hands and inhale, or try the ancient ritual established in Native American culture of sage smudging, which is said to remove old energies and blockages from your room or energy body.

To connect to the Ether element in your yoga practice try adding in more inversions, especially those that require you to focus more such as balancing postures, and those that direct energy towards the throat or gently open the throat area. These can help by enhancing the space element within us, cultivating more clarity and lightness. Try Viparita Karani (legs up the wall pose) or Sarvangasana (shoulder stand), Headstands and Pincha Mayurasana (forearm balance), Fish pose, Camel pose, and any backbends.

Here are some of my favourite quotes about the element Ether or Space: 

  • “Unencumbered by our definitions we experience ourselves as conscious intelligence aware of itself as open, endless space.” - Gangaji

  • “A great silent space holds all of nature in its embrace. It also holds you.” - Eckhart Tolle

  • “You are pure space, uncontaminated by anything. You are just a mirror reflecting nothing. ” - Osho

Jasmine Hemsley