Tattvas and the Tattvic Clock

Sometimes all it takes is to slow down for a moment and notice how we breathe. A pause like this can be the beginning of an interesting exploration. At Club NATURAMEDICIN, we also have this opportunity at Bohuslav Větrovský’s seminars. One of the subjects we explore together is the tattvas.

What are tattvas and the five elements?

Earth, water, fire, air and ether, or space. These are the five elements represented by the tattvas in the traditional understanding of yoga and Ayurveda. Earth is associated with stability, water with flow, fire with transformation, air with movement and breathing, and ether with space.

Does that sound unfamiliar? Think of a moment when you needed firm support, or a day when everything seemed to be in motion. Images like these can help us understand what the individual elements express in this traditional view.

Bohuslav’s approach at seminars on the tattvas

At a gathering devoted to the tattvas, Bohuslav introduced the subject through everyday awareness. Conversation alternated with participants’ questions and practical demonstrations of conscious breathing. There was time to observe what we were experiencing and try looking at familiar things a little differently.

That is part of the appeal of an in-person seminar. A question need not remain unspoken, and an explanation can continue as a conversation. Everyone brings a different experience, which also contributes to the atmosphere of the gathering.

What is the tattvic clock and how can we understand it?

In the traditional understanding, the tattvic clock describes a cycle in which the individual tattvas alternate throughout the day. Earth, water, fire, air or ether is assigned to each period. The clock thus helps illustrate how this interpretation understands the changes of the day; it is not a conventional clock that simply tells the time.

At Bohuslav’s seminars, we explored it as an inspiration for noticing our own rhythm. Discussions of the tattvas connected with conscious breathing, questions and participants’ experiences. The aim was to notice more clearly what we were experiencing and connect the explanation with our own experience.

Try pausing for a moment: when did you find it easy to concentrate today, and when did you need rest? Observations like these can raise an interesting question for a future gathering. On their own, however, they do not determine which tattva is currently active. Practical work with the tattvic clock is best explored alongside an explanation of its traditional foundations.

The Club as a place to meet

Club NATURAMEDICIN combines an interest in natural products with a desire to learn and share experiences. Its members meet at seminars and cultural and social events. Those who wish can also take part in partner collaboration by recommending products.

Bohuslav Větrovský’s seminars are one part of this shared life. The tattvas show how an interesting subject can become an opportunity for questions and personal exploration. Perhaps a gathering like this will appeal to you too.

Would you like to get to know the Club better? Read about Club NATURAMEDICIN and membership or browse the current events calendar. Each event lists its location, date and participation details.