Eden Method: You believe the Five Rhythms (Five Elements) are nature's blueprint for creativity. How did you first discover the connection between the Five Rhythms and the creative process?
Marjorie Fein: I’m a highly creative person, and I started noticing that certain aspects of the creative process came very easily to me; others much harder. For example, I was great at initiating projects and getting things done, I also was really comfortable being on stage and speaking to groups, and I loved the feeling of really healthy collaboration.
On the other hand, planning, dreaming, musing were much less natural to me, as was fine tuning and refining things I already created. One day a lightbulb went off and I saw the relationship of the Rhythms to these aspects. Initiation: Wood. On stage: Fire. Collaboration: Earth. Planning, dreaming: Water. Refinement: Metal.
EM: You've been teaching Energy Medicine for an incredible 22 years! How has your understanding of the Five Rhythms evolved through the years?
MF: The longer I live and learn, the more I lean on the Five Rhythms! It’s made me understand the profound importance of being a balanced human and given me a framework to understand and work with becoming one -- both in my personal development and how I see my clients. I look to see where they’re strengths and weaknesses are in terms of the Rhythms and use that to help them find balance in their life.
The Five Rhythms also really informs how I speak and relate to clients. If I have a very “Wood oriented” client, I’ll talk about what their goals are and how we can aim in that direction most effectively. If I have a very “Earth oriented” client, I’ll talk about how if they are healthy, then their family will be healthier, too.
EM: Can you please share a personal story about how recognizing your own dominant Rhythm transformed your creative process?
MF: Actually, it was in understanding my primary Rhythm that got me to really think about the others! Water was the most lacking in me; the ability to not “be productive” and encourage ideas to flow. Ideas don’t come well when you’re a constantly moving target!
So I initiated what I call “Nothing to do and all day to do it!”. This was basically giving myself a day or two a month with nothing planned. I would just drift through the day and see what happened. Very often really good ideas would come to me because I gave them space to arise.
When I am going to collaborate with others on creative projects, I always think about their Rhythm. I want some overlap so we can have an innate way of relating to each other, and I also want some differences so we bring other things to the table.
Excited to discover your own creative superpowers? Marjorie's teaching her transformative Five Rhythms workshop at the EEM Practitioner's Conference Livestream -- now open to everyone! Get your livestream ticket at the lowest price (limited time only!)
EM: In your experience, which phase of the Five Rhythms creative cycle do most people struggle with, and why do you think that particular phase is so challenging?"
MF: I would say in Western culture the Water Rhythm is often the toughest. In the USA, people are not rewarded for sitting around and letting the “muse” come to them! We consider that “doing nothing’. Most people feel bad if they don’t “accomplish” something in the course of a day. But our idea of what “accomplishing” is really skewed. In actuality, we’re doing something really important; letting ourselves be creative internally, leaving space for new things to arise.
Also, the Water Rhythm represents the space between what you might have let go of in Metal and what new things you will initiate in Wood. That space can feel like emptiness or potential depending on where you’re at. If we’ve left a relationship or a job, most of us struggle with staying hopeful about finding new and better versions of these things in the future. So very often we jump to whatever person or job we can find so we don’t have to deal with that space.
EM: What excites you most about teaching at this year’s Practitioner’s Conference?
MF: I’ll be teaching a workshop called “Unlocking Creativity Through the Five Rhythms”. It’s a subject that’s near and dear to me, so I’m really psyched to have the opportunity to share! I’ve been teaching this community for a long time, mostly the EEM curriculum. (which I love!) It will be so much fun to share some of my own ideas with many folks who I have taught from day one!
EM: How might understanding the Five Rhythms help practitioners bring their energy medicine practice more fully into the world?
MF: I think understanding the Five Rhythms helps us connect much more easily with others. Understanding that we all have different natures, see life differently, express ourselves differently helped me to really broaden the way I communicate and interact with others. This facilitated connection and made it easier for me to cultivate community.
EM: What are some transformations people can look forward to after experiencing your workshop?
MF: First we will be looking at creativity as a vital, integral part of the human experience. When we feel creative in any way, shape, or form we feel happier and more fulfilled in life. I want this class to fully facilitate that. Gaining understanding of the aspects of creativity through the lens of the Five Rhythms will demystify the creative process and make it possible to approach our creative endeavors with more confidence and fun.
Folks will get much clearer on what their strengths and weaknesses are in terms of creativity, then learn ways to cultivate the Rhythms that are less natural. This exploration will not only enhance their creative process but broaden out to bring balance to their lives in general.
Marjorie's sharing her 22 years of creative wisdom as a master teacher and energy medicine practitioner at the EEM Practitioner's Conference Livestream. You don’t have to leave home to learn how to become a powerful and complete creator! Get your livestream ticket AND save $200 (limited time only!)
