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Reading the Feet The Elements
 
Reading the feet is an additional skill that can be developed by reflexologists who wish to interpret what they discover by looking at and analysing the nuances of their clients' feet. It can also be used as a stand-alone technique to relay useful information back to the client about their own life and strategies for living.
 
It is largely an intuitive skill that is developed over time but once the basics are known it is relatively easy to apply. One part of reading the feet is by looking at the elements of air, fire, water and earth and attributing them to parts of the foot.
 
Parts of the feet
The foot can be divided into four distinct parts: the toes; the ball of the foot; the instep; and the heel. Once described as a 'masterpiece of engineering' by Leonardo da Vinci, it is a part of our body that we often hide away in footwear or recoil away from in distaste. Yet the foot is an important indicator of our overall health with many other physical diseases having a direct effect on foot health, such as diabetes, gout, or skeletal problems. Physical conditions do not manifest alone and are part of a complex system of imbalance that can sometimes be evident on other levels. A reflexologist will be able to detect these imbalances and relate them individually to their client. Often an imbalance found on a foot reflex cannot correlate directly to any physical symptom but when applied to the client emotionally or spiritually, most answers can be found.
 
Reflexes of the feet
Reflexologists map out the body systems and organs onto the feet as corresponding reflex points. The toes represent the head area including the brain and senses; the ball of the foot represents the chest area including the heart, lungs and shoulders; the instep represents the digestive system and internal organs; and the heel represents the pelvic area and reproductive system. The reflexes on the feet can also represent the state of the person's wellbeing in a holistic way on a mental, emotional and spiritual level. By doing a sequence of moves on the feet, the reflexologist covers all the reflex points and therefore addresses the 'whole' person. As well as being an indicator of physical wellbeing, to a foot reader the feet can portray the underlying characteristics of the self. This includes the elemental aspect of our human nature as portrayed by the seasons, nature and the balance of matter through air, fire, water, earth and ether.
History and origin of the elements
Air, Fire, Water and Earth are the basic constituents of life. Empedocles, an ancient Greek philosopher wrote of these four classical elements that exist and co-exist in all matter. The diagram of a square upon a square shows the corners of one as the classical elements, air, fire, earth and water and the corners of the other as their properties. Air as wet and hot; Fire as hot and dry; Earth as dry and cold; and Water as cold and wet.
 
Elements and their Properties
Hippocrates later described the body as consisting of four humours: blood, yellow bile, phlegm and black bile, and applied the elements in a medical context relating to these. The predominant fluid was used to define the type of personality and a fluctuation or diminishment in these fluids would result in symptoms or behaviour dominant to that fluid's characteristics.
Blood as hot/wet most characterised the sanguine person who displayed as happy and warm. Yellow bile as hot/dry most characterised the choleric type who displayed as angry and vengeful. Phlegm as cold/wet most characterised the phlegmatic personality who displayed as placid and lethargic. Black bile as cold/dry most characterised the melancholic type who displayed as the name implies, sad or melancholic.
 
The imbalance of these four humours was thought to lead to the cause of illness in the body. Galen greatly influenced this as a medical theory for many years until the mid 1800s when cellular pathology displaced its popularity. Symptomatic interpretation of disease is still used widely in mainstream medicine but the increasing trend of complementary and alternative medicine has encouraged investigation into the 'cause' of illness rather than just treating the 'symptoms'. The interrelationship of aspects of the human being (mind, body and spirit) and their effect on health and wellbeing is a core foundation of all holistic therapies. Reflexology encompasses this holistic nature and through treatment on the feet or hands covers the aspects in a natural and unobtrusive way.
 
How are the elements shown on the feet?
"To the elements it came from Everything will return. Our bodies to earth, our blood to water, heat to fire, breath to air."
 
'Empedocles on Etna' by Matthew Arnold
 
The reflexologist interprets the foot as a representation of the whole person and so can draw a parallel to that individual's patterns, motivations, traits and overall wellbeing. By dividing the foot into distinct areas it is evident that as well as mapping the physical organs and systems of the body, the elemental nature can also be applied.
 
The elements emerge from subtle to dense, high to low, external to introspective and show on the feet from the toes to the heel, air to earth. The reflexologist will most often treat with the plantar side of the feet facing them. This is the hidden, most secretive part of the foot. Namely the sole is a descriptive term for the bottom of the foot and its synthesis with the word 'soul' is remarkable because it portrays just this to the trained eye of a foot reader; the hidden soul of the person.
 
When the four elements are applied to the four distinct areas of the foot, the dominant and submissive parts of the individual are revealed. Indicators on the feet such as shape, texture, colour and temperature also reveal present and past characteristics.
 
AIR
The toes are representative of the air element, reaching upwards and associated with the brain and sensory organs of the head. The element of air is limitless, standing for truth, purity, integrity and expression. Too little air will mean suffocation and restriction, too much air leads to detachment and ungrounding.
 
FIRE
The ball of the foot represents the element of fire, abundant and expansive in the reflex areas of the heart, lungs and shoulders. The element of fire is bright and vibrant like intense passion and desire, spreading quickly, unrestricted in its movement. Too little oxygen or fuel and fire cannot survive, too much fire can be destructive and out of control.
 
WATER
The instep shows the water element, often the largest section, covering the digestive system and internal organs. Humans are 70% water and cannot survive without it. The element of water can take many forms just as our emotions do; when controlled it can be cleansing and renewing, when stirred or unmanaged it can be dangerous or stagnant.
 
EARTH
The heel as the earth element, in contact with the ground, strong and sturdy like the bony pelvic area and reproductive system, representing foundations for growth and nurturing. The element of earth is secure and steady, solid enough to hold all the other elements. When nurtured and respected the fertile earth is naturally abundant and productive. When agitated, shattering earthquakes can occur. If our foundations like the element of earth are shattered or destroyed we are unsteady on our feet, left ungrounded and unstable
 
Reading the Elements on the Feet
The main aim of reflexology is to bring the person back into balance on all levels. When coupled with foot reading we can ask questions about how the feet present in terms of the elements. These will provide clues to that person's main traits and motivations and what is central to their core being.
 
Questions to ask include:
1. Firstly ask if they had a favourite part of their foot what would it be - this gives an indication of the element they are most in tune with at that time.
2. What is the largest proportion of their foot when divided into the four main sections? This will give a clue to the dominant core elemental traits.
3. What is the smallest proportion of their foot when divided into the four main sections? This will give a clue to the least core dominant elemental traits.
4. What other signs and indicators are there e.g. colour, texture, marks, temperature?
5. Are the elements completely distinct or is there an overlap?
6. Is there conflict within an element section? e.g. look at the texture, colour, any markings etc.
7. Is there conflict between any elements?
 
Dominant traits of the four elements
AIR expression & intuition; perceptive and mentally agile
FIRE passion & desire; confident and talented
WATER emotion & self-worth; sensitive and flexible
EARTH stability & security; hard-working and realistic
 
Looking at the elements is only one part of reading the feet and should be analysed with other indicators as well to become as individual as each person. Remember, when you read someone's feet you are looking directly at their 'soul' or hidden self, so any feedback you give should be directed in a way that is suitable and empathic to that client.
 
Polly Hall
BA (Hons), MAR, Member of the VRT Network
Polly is a qualified reflexologist and teaches foot reading and reflexology in Glastonbury, Somerset. For details of workshops, products and treatments contact:
Tel - 07811 447213
info@pollyhall.co.uk
www.pollyhall.co.uk
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