Our First Step Towards Ayurveda Begins With One Simple Question: Who am I?

When we ask ourselves Who Am I? we are asking ourselves, what am I in nature? If I deeply observe myself, where can I be seen in my natural environment?

Here in this Native American Indian quote, Patty Harjo’s words inspire us to consider how we belong to nature…

I am all the forces and objects with which I come into contact. I am the wind, the trees, and the birds and the darkness.

- Patty Harjo, Who Am I?

So, we ask ourselves, can I liken myself to the movement of Air - quick thinking, creative, light on my feet, gentle yet changeable? Or am I like Fire - hot, bright, sharp, anaylitical and energetic? Or am I more considered, like Earth - biding my time, providing and caring for others, ever dependable?

We are all different.

If we truly want to understand ourselves we must look more deeply into nature. Ayurveda shows us, that when we understand nature, we understand ourselves.

Ayurveda highlights all the aspects of nature we need to undestand in order to know ourselves.

The elements provide an important foundation in Ayurveda.Generally, it is helpful to learn which of the elements best represents us in both body and mind.

Ether, Air, Fire, Water or Earth?

Ayurveda combines the five elements into different personality types. It’s important to have an understanding of the elements. We must observe them in nature, and observe them in ourselves. There are many resources to help us achieve this understanding.

Here, on Doctor Vasant Lad’s website Ayurveda.com there are resources to begin your own journey of self-understanding. I recommend the questionaires: Discover Your Constitution PDF and Discover Your Present State PDF.