One of the things that makes Polarity unique is the way practitioners work with and balance energy based on assessment of the elements.  Rather than working with a generalized or vague concept of "energy," the Polarity model organizes energy into five different qualities, based on the universal elemental energies found in all of nature.  These five elements are Space (or Ether), Air, Fire, Water and Earth.

Space is the basis of all Polarity work.  Its qualities are silence, stillness, neutrality, openness, being without doing, balance, tranquility and simple presence.  You can find Space in nature wherever there are wide open spaces, such as prairies, mountaintops, in the middle of the ocean, frozen tundra, glaciers, a cloudless blue sky, outer space - or in quiet, meditative places such as large caves, cathedrals or an isolated clearing in a forest.

The qualities of Air include lightness, quickness, uninhibited movement in all directions, agility, motion, speed and changeability.  Air is found in nature as gentle breezes, winds, gusts, tornadoes, hurricanes, sandstorms, as well as birds in flight, butterflies and bees dancing from flower to flower, the quick movements of a deer or gazelle, tall grasses waving in the breeze, flags flapping with the wind, or confetti swirling in the air. 

Fire has qualities of warmth, heat, brightness, focus, direction, clarity, enthusiasm, vitality, loudness, expansiveness and outward radiation.  Examples of fire in nature are all sources of heat and combustion, from explosions, erupting volcanoes, lightning bolts and the sun on a hot summer day to sparklers on the 4th of July, the cozy warmth of a campfire or fireplace, a bonfire on the beach, the gentle light of a single candle or a dramatic flaming dessert.

Water's qualities include flowing, merging, cleansing, nurturing, timelessness, fertility, intuition, deep feeling, attachment, receptivity, inclusiveness and the rhythms of life.  Water manifests in nature as the seasons, the lunar phases, and all cyclic patterns, as well as all physical manifestations of water - oceans, lakes, rivers, swamps, creeks, ponds, pools, rain, puddles, and damp, humid, soggy conditions.

The qualities of Earth are density, solidity, structure, steadiness, endurance, strength, patience, perseverance, organization, practicality, groundedness, manifestation and completion.  Earth is seen in nature as all forms of rocks and soil, mountains, deserts, farmland, as well as all buildings, walls, foundations and structures.

The AIR Constitution

Physical Body – Ectomorph – slender, wiry; weight gain difficult; delicate features; long fingers and toes; overall shape is oval

Emotional Body – strong urge to create; desire to see ideas manifest in form; detached, ability to remain emotionally neutral; compassionate; fun-loving

Mental Body – visionary; agile mental faculties; quick-thinking; talent for analyzing, evaluating, problem-solving; witty, love of word-play, jokes, puns, riddles and puzzles; talent for

all forms of communication

Imbalances in the AIR element

may manifest as:

Prejudice; getting lost in serious thinking; disconnection from emotions or body; being overwhelmed by too many ideas; restlessness; boredom; being ungrounded; indecisiveness

Health issues involving the respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous systems; disorders of the skin, thymus gland, shoulders, chest, kidneys, calves and ankles; the thoracic spine

The FIRE Constitution

Physical Body – Mesomorph – well-proportioned; muscular, athletic; medium build;  overall shape is angular

Emotional Body – healthy self-esteem, personal boundaries; direct, assertive, forgiving; enthusiastic, charismatic, boisterous, motivated

Mental Body – focused, direct, honest, blunt; action-oriented; motivational; natural leadership qualities

Imbalances in the FIRE element

may manifest as:

Irritability, resentment, anger, rage; holding grudges, getting even; self-centeredness; bossiness; offensive behavior

Health issues involving the head and eyes; the digestive system, including liver, gall bladder and pancreas; the adrenal glands, muscles, sympathetic nervous system; fevers, infections and inflammations; the lumbar spine

The WATER Constitution

Physical Body – Endomorph – fleshy, well-developed; soft, padded look; tends to be overweight - especially breasts, hips, buttocks; overall shape

is round

Emotional Body –  nurturing, receptive, intuitive, psychic, attachment to people and things, relationship-oriented, ability

to let go and “go with the flow”

Mental Body – non-linear thinking, inclusiveness, making connections;

focus on family, tribe or community; talent for investigative or research work, psychology, counseling

Imbalances in the WATER element may manifest as:

Overattachment, “smothering” love,

being overprotective, moodiness, compulsiveness, addictions; irrational or dramatic behavior; depression, reclusiveness

Health issues involving the reproductive, lymphatic and endocrine systems; the breasts, hips, pelvis, bladder and feet; water retention, menstrual problems, excess mucus

The EARTH Constitution

Physical Body – Endomorph –short or squat with thick neck and limbs; stocky, strong, well-developed; dense, heavy; thick musculature and bone structure;  overall shape is square

Emotional Body – courage, stability, security; groundedness; practical,

“down to earth;” cautious, persevering;

hard-working

Mental Body – organized, detail-oriented, patient; slow but dependable; love of structure and routine; methodical, prefers to do one thing at a time

Imbalances in the EARTH element may manifest as:

Rigidity, inflexibility, stubbornness; laziness, plodding; anxiety, worry, fear, phobias; mental fixations, compulsiveness, obsessions; getting lost in details

Health issues involving bones and connective tissues, cervical spine, colon, knees; spasms, paralysis, growths, cysts, tumors, necrosis