Without the five elements of earth, air, fire, water and ether, there would be no physical life as we know it. All things and beings manifested on Earth are made up of these five elements. When we respect nature and acknowledge how deeply intertwined with it we are, a sense of reverence and gratitude grows. Here in Bali with hot springs, sea air, beautiful red and green helonconia flowers and frangipani, the role of the elements is evident in everyday life. The huts are made with thatched roofs. Belts are made from coconut and twine. Water flows abundantly into the rice fields bringing ample harvests. Rooms stand open to the elements. Stars are visible overhead, and a sea filled with red, yellow and green corals and an array of fish in many forms offers its marvels to anyone willing to watch.

The five elements infused with sparks of the divine take on all the forms we see and experience in nature and in everyday life. All is God. All is Divine. All is from the same source and the same five elements. As much as we focus on the beautiful or ugly differences, in essence we are all the same.

As you go through your day make it a spiritual practice to note what unites rather than what divides. Even though we’re of shared elements and essence, some things and people are better kept at a distance. Discernment and respect of the five elements will bring a deeper appreciation of life and a balance to nature.

Bio: Debra Moffitt is author of Awake in the World: 108 Practices to Live a Divinely Inspired Life. A visionary and teacher, she’s devoted to nurturing the spiritual in everyday life. She leads workshops on spiritual practices at the Sophia Institute and other venues in the U.S. and Europe. Her mind/body/spirit articles, essays and stories appear in publications around the globe and were broadcast by BBC World Services Radio. She has spent over fifteen years practicing meditation, working with dreams and doing spiritual practices. Visit her online at http://www.awakeintheworld.com.