Associação Portuguesa de Acupunctura Japonesa (APAJap)
https://www.acupunturajaponesa.org/
Issue 5 – Spring 2026 Excerpt from:
HARA – JORNAL DE ACUPUNTURA E SHIATSU
Interview: A Terra – por Natália M. Rodrigues
By Natalia M. Rodrigues
EARTH, THE ELEMENT OF SOIL:
THE MOVEMENT THAT SUPPORTS, NOURISHES, AND CENTERS THE OTHER FOUR.
A silent pact exists between the seed and the earth. A gesture of mutual trust where darkness is not absence, but gestation. The Earth reminds us of the center that sustains, nourishes, and supports every transition in life. It teaches us to wait, to digest experiences, to find our place, and to transform lack into healing.
What will a seed feel when it enters the earth? Perhaps comfort, security, belonging, and tranquility, among other possible feelings.
Although the seed in the living earth is surrounded by darkness, its relationship with the earth is one of sharing; the earth supports it, and the seed fills it, and this has something luminous about it.
Similarly, according to Eastern medicine and the study of the 5 Transformations, the Earth/Soil element vibrates with these characteristics: supporting, maintaining, nourishing, and giving support.
This element, whose energy is present in all seasonal cycles and changes, offers a center, a support, contributing to the ability of all beings to adapt to new cycles, supported by the security that the earth element provides, which allows life to manifest, since adaptation to the environment ensures its survival and evolution.
In popular wisdom, when speaking of a stable person, it is said that “they have their feet firmly planted on the ground.”
The earth cares for, nourishes, and protects; it is associated with feminine energy and the mother. The mother who nurtures what she creates and who knows how to wait for her creation to mature before releasing it to take its place.
The earth possesses the wisdom to wait for the tiny seed to take root and gather strength, so that it may emerge into the world awaiting it.
As this element strengthens within us, we too as human beings,learn to wait for the right moment to reveal ourselves or simply to find calm.
Appreciating each moment without desiring anything else contributes to a life free from anxiety.
In this state, we live without wasting energy, which reinforces the balance of our immune system.
When we feel supported and nourished, we cease to be needy; we do not overeat, we do not overindulge in sweets, and we do not push ourselves beyond our limits.
Recognizing our place makes us more empathetic and compassionate; in this state, blood sugar levels and lymphatic system function, both closely linked to this element, remain balanced.
When we feel nourished and secure, our inner and outer musculature strengthens, and we become like the earth: we nourish the roots of our body and our thoughts, allowing us to digest life with tranquility and confidence.
By recognizing the appropriate movement for every situation, we develop a nurturing attitude, cultivate our talents, and acknowledge the importance of our role in the development of the whole.
In this state, we avoid depression, which is accompanied by a sense of worthlessness. We cultivate a positive attitude and become nurturers rather than consumers.
The earth element teaches us how to nourish the life that animates us and reminds us of the importance of the planet that sustains us, unconditionally and without preference.
We feel secure at every moment of life, and it is essential to nourish this element with the wisdom of love, a love that is gentle, warm, and patient.
My parents named me Natalia, a name that contains the word *Natal* (Christmas). It is essential to know how to simply *be*, how to appreciate, how to wait and, above all how to nurture every moment and situation, so as not to shake the earth nor let it become stagnant.
The Earth Element speaks to us of a sweet, warm flavor reminiscent of mother’s milk, the taste we knew when we entered the world, when we sprouted into this life, and when we broke free from the seed’s hard shell to become who we are today.
That is why the Earth Element thrives on warmth and sweetness, the sweetness of gestures, affection, and patience allowing us, to wait for the time needed to bring forth new life.
Life is made of cycles, and the transition from one to the next, is fueled by this energy.
Perhaps inspired by this celebration that shares my name, I love being with people and sharing moments that are truly life’s most precious gifts.
For forty years, I have followed a diet based on Macrobiotic principles, and through this lifestyle, I have nurtured my own personal growth.
I offer training courses in this field and have written several books on the subject, with nutrition as the common thread. I live and celebrate Christmas every day, honoring the name I was given.
Natália Rodrigues
https://www.acupunturajaponesa.org/ https://www.facebook.com/ApaJap
Bibliography:
HARA – Jornal Acupuntura e Shiatsu Issue: No. 05 – March 2026 Publisher: APAJap – Associação Portuguesa de Acupuntura Japonesa e Shiatsu
Director: Ana Sofia Pacheco
Editorial Coordination: Francisco Galope
Graphic Design and Coordination: Ana Fontinha Gameiro
Editorial Project: Elsa Jorge
Editorial Board: Fernanda Sousa Tavares | Luis Gameiro
Review: Luis Gameiro
This issue was written by: Catarina Caetano, Ivan Bel, José Faro, and Natália M. Rodrigues (guest contributors), Ana Sofia Pacheco,
Carlos Chan Cordeiro, Francisco Galope, and Fernanda Sousa Tavares
Frequency: Quarterly
Format: Digital
Contact: info.apajap@gmail.com
Website: https://www.acupunturajaponesa.org/
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