Earth Element / Earth Dakini Earth is shape, form, substance, support, and structure. Too strong and it leads to rigidity, which imprisons. Too weak and it leads to instability or lack of substance, and things never take shape. In reaction, rigidity is often a cover for uncertainty. In response, earth is nurturing, supportive, and free from judgement. Wisdom of Equality / Balance. 
Five Element Meditation:
Transformation of the Earth Reaction Chain (Rigidity) into Sameness Pristine Awareness
Reaction Chain
Bring to mind a situation in which you reacted with rigidity: stonewalling, denying, digging in your heels.- Open to the reaction of rigidity as fully as possible.
- Open to the feeling underneath the rigidity: hollowness, uncertainty, shakiness
- Open to the fear underneath the feeling: instability, loss of balance, etc.
- Observe the tendency to react to the fear by grasping to hold onto something
- Observe how grasping becomes a form of restriction or imprisonment that triggers the whole reaction chain again.
Transformation - Hold all five links of the reaction chain in attention simultaneously
- Observe how a sense of stability arises, a stability that does not depend on any external or internal reference point
- Observe how this stability brings with it an awareness that sees all experience as equal, not good, not bad, just experience
- Rest in the stability and sameness pristine awareness and open to the situation you originally used in this meditation.
More detailed instruction on the earth element and the other element reaction chains (dispersion-water, consuming-fire, busyness-air, bewilderment-void) along with guided meditations can be found in Wake Up to Your Life.
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Quote of the Week
Just as Buddha said that of all the buddhas who attained enlightenment, not one accomplished it without relying on the master, he also said: "It is only through devotion, and devotion alone, that you will realize the absolute truth."
So then, it is essential to know what real devotion is. It is not mindless adoration; it is not abdication of your responsibility to yourself, nor indiscriminately following of another's personality or whim. Real devotion is an unbroken receptivity to the truth. Real devotion is rooted in an awed and reverent gratitude, but one that is lucid, grounded, and intelligent.
- Sogyal Rinpoche
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