The Five Elements: The Tibetan Wisdom Woven Into The Serene Eye Collection
At Selwha, every piece of jewelry begins not with a sketch, but with an intention—a wish to bridge inner worlds through outer beauty. Our color palettes and material choices are deeply rooted in an ancient, living philosophy: the Tibetan system of the Five Elements. This is not merely a classification of substances, but a profound cosmology that maps the dynamic forces connecting the universe, the self, and the flow of energy.
The Five Elements Decoded: A Tibetan Perspective
In Tibetan thought, the Five Elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space) are far more than physical substances. They are fundamental qualities and forces that shape all experience, both within us and around us. They form a symbolic map connecting the cosmos to our inner emotional and spiritual landscape:
-
Earth embodies stability, solidity, and support.
-
Water represents fluidity, connection, and adaptation.
-
Fire is transformative energy, passion, and warmth.
-
Air signifies movement, intellect, and change.
-
Space is the infinite, open potential that holds all else.
The Inner Cosmos: Elements in Body and Mind
This cosmic system is beautifully mirrored within us. Tibetan medicine and psychology see the human body and mind as a microcosm:
-
Our flesh and bones reflect Earth.
-
Our blood and bodily fluids correspond to Water.
-
Our metabolic heat and vitality are expressions of Fire.
-
Our breath and nervous system’s movement relate to Air.
-
The cavities in our body, and consciousness itself, connect to Space.
Health and harmony are viewed as a dynamic balance of these inner elements, while imbalance can lead to dis-ease. Thus, tending to our elemental state is a path to holistic well-being.
———
The Serene Eye Collection is our translation of this profound wisdom into wearable form. We design with intention. This collection is an invitation to carry a fragment of this harmonious worldview with you. It is a tactile reminder that within you lies the stability of Earth, the adaptability of Water, the passion of Fire, the clarity of Air, and the boundless peace of Space.
Explore The Serene Eye Collection and discover which elemental quality speaks to your journey. Find your anchor, and wear your balance.
- Egan, N.B. 2011. The five elements of Tibetan Buddhism: cosmology, meditation and enlightment. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis. Faculty of the California Institute of Integral Studies. San Francisco, California.
- Tenzin Wangyal. Healing with Form, Energy, and Light. Shambhala Publications, 24 Apr: 2002.
- Zhang, Lan. "Iconographic Representations of the Five Elements." The Tibet Journal, vol. 38, no.34, 2013, pp. 21-34. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/tibetjournal.38.34.21, https://doi.org/10.2307/tibetjournal.38.3-4.21.
