As we kick start this blog back to life after a six-week hiatus it seems a good time to answer a question Bob and I are often asked - where does the five-element story model come from?
Well, the story part comes from Bob and I and our experience as corporate communications consultants. But the five-element part - the understanding of how the original Greek elements of fire, earth, water, air and space relate to specific psychological processes – comes from our study of the work of contemporary philosopher Oscar Ichazo. That is why our book “The Elements of Persuasion” is dedicated to him.
Ichazo is probably best known for his development of what are now called the “Enneagrams of Personality.” This work has created a cottage industry in the self-help field known as the “Enneagram Movement”. Ichazo himself rejects this “movement” as pop-psychology and coffee-table mysticism, which includes only the barest tip of the iceberg of his theory of the nature of the human psyche and the Mind as such.
The clearest explanation of Ichazo’s work on the five elements (only a very small part of his overall presentation) is in the Autumn 1992 issue of “The Arican” the journal of the Arica Institute and is available for sale on their website at www.arica.org. Be warned, that article is pretty thick going (Icahzo is a serious philosopher after all). If you aren’t going for your Ph.D, but are interested in studying Ichazo’s theories (and believe us, you really should be) we suggest that you start by reading his book "Between Metaphysics and Protoanalysis" available on the same site.
Ichazo is a bit of a recluse and is currently closeted working on his magnum opus. As his loyal students Bob and I wish him well. THKR
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