Table of Contents
Acknowledgments xii
Preface 1
Introduction 3
Part 1 Space Element 15
1 If Space Could Speak 17
2 The Open Secret 19
3 How Trouble Began in Paradise 23
4 The Dark Side of Space 26
5 The Space Element's Personal Touch 29
6 Befriending the Demon of Space 33
7 What Buddha Might Recommend 37
Part 2 Water Element 41
8 If Water Could Speak 43
9 The Ocean Inside Us 45
10 Feminine and Masculine Aspects of Water 49
11 Distortions of Everyday Life 53
12 Fearing Our Own Depths 56
13 The Water Element's Personal Touch 60
14 Everything We Meet Is Bright 64
15 What Buddha Might Recommend 68
Part 3 Earth Element 71
16 If Earth Could Speak 73
17 Our Body's Natural Eroticism 75
18 Feminine and Masculine Aspects of Earth 78
19 The Seasons of Our Life 82
20 Imitation of Earth 84
21 Earth's Shadow 88
22 The Earth Element's Personal Touch 92
23 Practicing Equanimity 95
24 What Buddha Might Recommend 100
Part 4 Fire Element 103
25 If Fire Could Speak 105
26 The Exuberant Heart of Fire 106
27 Feminine and Masculine Aspects of Fire 109
28 Distortions of Eros 112
29 The Shadow of Desire 115
30 The Fire Element's Personal Touch 118
31 Transforming Passion into Compassion 122
32 What Buddha Might Recommend 126
Part 5 Wind Element 131
33 If Wind Could Speak 133
34 Dancing with the Wind 135
35 Breath as the Sacred Marriage of Masculine and Feminine 139
36 The Trap of Compulsive Busyness 142
37 Befriending the Demon of Anxiety 145
38 The Wind Element's Personal Touch 149
39 Inviting Meaningful Coincidence 153
40 What Buddha Might Recommend 158
Epilogue: E Pluribus Unum 161
About the Author 164
