Even Samuel Hahnemann, the father of homeopathy, recognized the importance of type and noted that knowing a person’s type was essential to understanding how they might exhibit the same disease and how they would react to similar medicines.
In his essay, Suppression in the Four Hippocratic Temperaments, Samuel Hahnemann observed that each type reacted differently to the medical suppression of rashes. Sanguine people would get piles, hemorrhoids, colic, and renal gravel after the suppression of an itch. Phlegmatic people would suffer from dropsy and delayed menses in consequence of such suppressions, and melancholic people would become mentally imbalanced or sterile by a suppression. He stated that each innate constitutional temperament has its own unique reactions to stimuli. For these reasons, the same pathogen will affect the 4 temperaments and their 12 mixtures differently. For example, the phlegmatic and melancholic temperaments are usually aggravated by cold, while the choleric and sanguine temperaments are usually ameliorated by cold.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TEMPERAMENTS
Note that at any time, if the passages below refer to God or Mother Earth, or spirit, you may substitute any aspect of spiritual life, any energy being you believe in, or any god from any religion. The point is that humans desire a connection to an energy beyond themselves. At no point in time is any passage below meant to indicate that any person should follow a specific religious doctrine. Additionally, I have tried my best to use the word ‘human’ instead of ‘man’ and to alternate between ‘he’ and ‘she’.
SANGUINE, CHOLERIC, MELANCHOLIC, and PHLEGMATIC
The Sanguine Element, as a physiological trait, provides motive energy of the body and stimulates the logical faculty through the veins and arteries. Signs of excess sanguine humor are usually displayed in terms of the circulatory system. A person having excess sanguine or a sanguine person may observe that their veins are bigger (or at least appear so), and fuller than ordinary, their skin is red, they may have pricking pains in the sides, and about the temples, they may sometimes experience shortness of breath or headache, and may have thick, colored urine. Practitioners have observed over time that many sanguines possess all or some of the following qualities: ruddy, smooth, firm, moist, and warm skin, dark brown or fair hair, hairy body, medium stature, muscular body build, a good appetite, quick and good digestion, light yellow urine, brown, firm feces, happy dreams, and happiness. Sanguines typically would eat everything in sight, and in a restaurant, they enjoy talking so much that they rarely look at a menu until the waitress arrives. Sanguine types are often light-footed and rhythmical, much like their counterpart, the circulation system. They usually have expressive faces and sparkling eyes, and often have curly rather than straight hair. The sanguine will be most extreme or imbalanced in Spring or Summer, when exposed to wind or heat (going out in the heat to shop, or leaving the car window open when driving, etc.), and after eating sour, greasy, and spicy foods. Any sort of stimulants, such as sugar, coffee, drugs (even prescription), and in some cases wheat and meat products, are dangerous to the sanguine type. Sanguine types, or people with an excess sanguine condition, should eat greens daily in the form of Swiss chard, parsley, mint, coriander, chives, arugula (jarjir), rigla, dark greens, and lettuce (dark green), and avoid rich or sugary foods. Sanguine types tend towards yeast infections, fatigue, and high nervous system stress because they usually are abusers of stimulants, especially sugar and bread. They find that sugar offers temporary relief during their low cycles and that bread offers comfort during their high-energy cycles (it slows and cools them down), so they use these substances constantly in a subconscious effort to balance themselves. When a sanguine person learns to balance without overeating and to eat more balanced foods in general, they will become more balanced themselves and usually have less trouble with yeast infections and other illnesses. When a sanguine person is acting dreamy or not there, check their sugar consumption or blood sugar levels. An excess of sanguine in general can be corrected by consuming all foods and herbs that are cold, by lemon juice, oxymel, or by cooling activities such as yoga, meditation, or reading. Donating blood can also be beneficial for this type.
The Phlegmatic Element, as a physiological aspect of humanity, has expelling properties and functions to expel substances not required by the body. This role of phlegm in the body is well known during bouts with the cold and flu, when copious amounts of it are expelled through the nose in an attempt to clear toxins and bacteria. The phlegmatic humor has a beneficial cooling and moistening effect on the heart and strengthens the function of the lower brain and the emotions. Phlegm maintains proper fat metabolism and the balance of body fluids, electrolytes, and hormones through the circulation of lymph and moisture in the same way the sanguine or blood provides nutrition through the circulation system. The receptacle for the phlegm humor is the lungs. Signs of excess phlegm in the system can be exhibited by sleepiness, dullness, slowness, heaviness, cowardliness, forgetfulness, much spitting, a runny nose, little appetite for meat, bad digestion, and white and cold skin. Many practitioners have observed that the phlegmatic types often possess many of the following qualities: pale, smooth, soft, cold, and moist skin, dark blond or blond hair, hairless bodies, shortness of stature, flabby and fat body build, poor appetites, slow or weak digestion, thin and pale urine, pale and loose feces, dreams of water, and the emotion of apathy. At the dinner table, phlegmatic types are the most deliberate eaters of all and are invariably the last ones to finish eating. This can mean they gain weight easily because they stay at the table too long. Phlegmatic types often complain of soreness and pain in the lumbar region, loose teeth, deafness and/or tinnitus, thinning and loss of head hair, weakness and pain in the ankles, knees, and hips, weakness in hearing and vision, impotence, infertility, miscarriage, and genetic impairments. They may also exhibit disorders of growth and development, including problems of fertility, conception, and pregnancy. Phlegmatic types may have disorders of the central nervous system (MS, Muscular dystrophy, or cerebral palsy), diseases of the spinal column, bones, teeth, and joints, and disorders of fluid metabolism. Phlegmatics can generally be balanced by avoiding phlegm-inducing foods such as milk, wheat, and sweets, eating more heating foods, and engaging in more heating activities. They benefit from the herbs anise, cinnamon, valerian root, fenugreek, cardamom, garlic, and ginger.
The Choleric Element is closely associated with the nervous system and increases its rate of function. The choleric element has a warming effect on the body and stimulates the intellect, increasing physical and mental activity and courage. Its receptacle is the gall bladder. Signs of excess choleric element are: leanness of body, hollow eyes, anger without a cause, a testy disposition, yellowness of the skin, bitterness in the throat, pricking pains in the head, a swifter and stronger pulse than usual, troublesome sleeps, and dreams of fire, lightning, anger, and/or fighting. Practitioners have also observed that choleric also possesses many of the following qualities: yellow, rough, warm, and dry skin, dark brown or red hair, very hairy bodies, short stature, a lean body build, a strong appetite, overactive digestion, orange and thick urine, and dry and yellow feces. At the dinner table, choleric people seldom vary their menu from day to day, and when the food arrives, they bolt it down in large chunks, often talking while chewing. The choleric type may experience problems with anxiety, agitation, and frenzy, and may frequently suffer from nervous exhaustion and insomnia. They may also have palpitations, hypoglycemia, rashes, palsy, or strokes. They tend to migrate to mind-altering substances (anything from coffee to chocolate or alcohol and illegal or prescription drugs), and they typically have problems with disturbed sleep, bed-wetting as a child, disturbances of the heart, disturbances of speech or sensation, and blood pressure and circulation problems. Cholerics need to eat foods that moisturize and cool. Good things for the choleric include juicy fruits and vegetables, warm soups, adequate fluid intake, denser root vegetables, sea vegetables, legumes, and fish. Raw and cooked foods can be used to balance the cholerics states of hyper- and hypoactivity. Warm, cooked foods can stimulate the choleric when they are slowed down and tired, and cool, raw foods can calm her when she is overexcited. Cholerics should rarely use ice cream, spicy condiments, yogurt, and icy drinks. Adult cholerics need to avoid overindulging in curry, sugar, alcohol, caffeine, tea, chili, and salt. Choleric children need to avoid colas, sugar, and processed foods.
The Melancholic Element in the body consists of a cool and thick earthly aspect, which is prone to coagulation, and a more fluid, vaporous substance. In normal quantities, the element of melancholy stimulates memory and makes the nature of a person homely, practical, pragmatic, and studious. However, the coldest part of the melancholic element is adherent and, if not eliminated properly, can settle on or in tissues and form tumors. The spleen removes melancholer from the blood and body fluids and serves as the receptacle for melancholer. Signs of an excess of the melancholy element are fearfulness without a cause, fearful and foolish imagination, rough and swarthy skin, leanness, want of sleep, frightful dreams, sourness in the throat, weak pulse, solitariness, thin, clear urine, and sighing. Practitioners have also observed that melancholic types may often display the following characteristics: brown, rough, dry, cold skin, dark brown or black hair, balding hair, medium build, slim body build, large appetite, slow digestion, thick, pale urine, dry and black feces, nightmares, and the emotion of worry or grief. At the dinner table, melancholics are very picky eaters. It takes them forever to make up their minds about what to order, but once it arrives, they savor every bite. Melancholics tend to drag their feet and use their body as if it were a burden to them and may often experience major physical pain from even the most minor injuries. The most effective therapies for melancholic excess or melancholic ailments involve purging or fasting, using cleansing fasts or herbs such as senna pods (always use with cinnamon or cumin, and at most one cup a month). Warming foods, activities, and herbs are good for this type.
A simpler method of balancing the types is to combine foods according to their cold or hot attributes. In the time of the prophet, it was common to combine foods in certain ways according to their properties. In fact, healing and health maintenance can be achieved to a large degree by simply observing excess heat or cold in a person. In general you can observe excess heat (the sanguine or choleric element) in a person by noticing that they have a high fever, they feel hot, they are easily fatigued, they have excessive thirst, they have a bitter or burning sensation in their mouth, they cannot tolerate hot foods, they enjoy using cold foods and things, and they suffer more in the Summer or suffer greatly from inflammatory conditions.
If there is an excess of this heat in a person or they are naturally sanguine or choleric, they would do best on cooler foods such as beef, fish, cow’s milk, butter, goat’s milk, cheeses, buttermilk, lettuce, celery, sprouts, and zucchini. tomato, turnip, cabbage, okra, broccoli, white and sweet potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, apples, melons, pears, figs, apricots, oranges, brown rice, barley, lentils, sunflower oil, green tea, coffee, dill, thyme, rose, vinegar, sour things, and water. They are advised to eat very few, if any, nuts and seeds. They should also engage in cooling activities such as praying, meditating, yoga, tai chi, resting, sitting, or reading.
You can observe an excess of cold (the phlegmatic or melancholic element) in a person if they complain of weak digestion, lack of thirst, and catarrhal conditions. A person with an excess of cold will report that they suffer most in the Winter and cold things in general upset them. If there is an access of cold in a person or a person is naturally phlegmatic or melancholic they would do best with warming foods such as lamb, liver, chicken, goose, duck, eggs, cream cheese, cream, ghee, beets, radishes, onion, mustard greens, leeks, eggplants, red peppers, chick peas, green peppers, turnip, parsley, peaches, plums, limes, lemons, bananas, raisins, dates, figs, olives, dried fruits, sesame seeds, almonds, walnuts, pine nuts, wheat, thin-grain rice, basmati rice, sesame oil, black tea, basil, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, garlic, ginger, mint, honey, anise seed, and curry powder. People with excess cold often do better with sweets or modern medicine than the other types, who often react badly to them. Phlegmatics or melancholics should also engage in more heating activities, such as running, walking, intense exercise, and intense conversations, and other activities.
THE PERSONALITY OF TEMPERAMENTS
A quick definition of each temperament personality is usually given by how they react to stimuli in their environment. Thus, the sanguine temperament is marked by quick but shallow, superficial excitability; the choleric by quick but strong and lasting; the melancholic temperament by slow but deep; the phlegmatic by slow but shallow excitability. The first two are also called extroverts, outgoing; the last two are introverts or reserved.
A choleric person is won by quiet explanation of reasons and motives; whereas by harsh commands, he is embittered, hardened, driven to strong-headed resistance. A melancholic person is made suspicious and reticent by a rude word or an unfriendly demeanor; by continuous kind treatment, on the contrary, he is made pliable, trusting, and affectionate. The choleric person can be relied upon, but with a sanguine person, we can hardly count even upon their apparently serious promises. Without a knowledge of the temperaments of our fellow humans, we will often treat them wrongly, to their and to our own disadvantage.
With a knowledge of the temperaments, one bears with fellow humans more patiently. If one knows that their defects are the consequence of their temperament, they excuse them more readily and will not so easily be excited or angered by them. A person will remain quiet, for instance, even if a choleric is severe, sharp-edged, impetuous, or obstinate. And if a melancholic person is slow, hesitating, undecided; if a person does not speak much and even if he says awkwardly the little he has to say; or if a sanguine person is very talkative, light-minded, and frivolous; if a phlegmatic cannot be aroused from his usual indifference, a person knowledgeable in the temperaments does not become irritated.
People aiming to find the right mate, improve their relationships with their family, or even strive to be better spiritually are encouraged to explore their type and those of the people around them and use this as a map for their path in life. Conrad Hock says: One of the most reliable means of learning to know oneself is the study of the temperaments. For if a man is fully cognizant of his temperament, he can learn easily to direct and control himself. If he can discern the temperament of others, he can better understand and help them. Scientist and Psychologist David Keirsey says that although people dislike the idea that they cannot change, they must learn that we were each created as different types because the world needs them. He says, Of course, some change is possible, but it is a twisting and distortion of the underlying form. Remove the fangs of a lion and behold a toothless lion, not a domestic cat. Our attempts to change spouses, offspring, or others can bring about change, but the outcome is a scar, not a transformation. Similarly, Keirsey says that when we strive to be more spiritual and better as a person, we would have much more success if we realized the attributes of our type, so we could better avoid the pitfalls and more readily strive towards the successes our type is most likely to achieve.
Nobody will fit 100% into a specific temperament. Most people have a dominant temperament, with a learned or secondary temperament on top of that. I’ve tried to present the different traits in a positive or non-judgmental manner. However, if you feel there is room for improvement in this essay, please comment below in the comment section with ideas for change.
THE SANGUINE
Is self-composed, seldom shows signs of embarrassment, perhaps forward or bold. Eager to express himself in front of a group; likes to be heard. Prefers group activities, work, or play; not easily satisfied with individual projects. Not insistent upon acceptance of his ideas or plans; agrees readily with others’ wishes; compliant and yielding. Good in details; prefers activities requiring pep and energy. Impetuous and impulsive; his decisions are often (usually) wrong. Keenly alive to environment, physical and social; likes curiosity. Tends to take success for granted. Is a follower; lacks initiative. Hearty and cordial, even to strangers; forms acquaintanceship easily. Tends to elation of spirit; not given to worry and anxiety; is carefree. Seeks a wide and broad range of friendships; is not selective; not exclusive in games. Quick and decisive in movements; pronounced or excessive energy output. Turns from one activity to another in rapid succession; little perseverance. Makes adjustments easily; welcomes change; makes the best possible appearance. Frank, talkative, sociable, emotions readily expressed; does not stand on ceremony. Frequent fluctuations of mood; tends to frequent alterations of elation and depression.
Superficiality. The sanguine person does not penetrate the depth, the essence of things; he does not embrace the whole, but is satisfied with the superficial and with a part of the whole. Before he has mastered one subject, his interest relaxes because new impressions have already captured his attention. He loves light work that attracts attention and requires no deep thought or great effort. To be sure, it is hard to convince a sanguine person that he is superficial; on the contrary, he imagines that he has grasped the subject wholly and perfectly. The sanguine is always changing in his moods; he can quickly pass from tears to laughter and vice versa; he is fickle in his views; today, he may defend what he vehemently opposed a week ago; he is unstable in his resolutions. If a new point of view presents itself, he may readily upset the plans which he has made previously. This inconsistency often causes people to think that the sanguine person has no character; that he is not guided by principles. The sanguine naturally denies such charges because he always finds a reason for his changes. He forgets that it is necessary to consider everything well and to look into and investigate everything carefully beforehand, in order not to be captivated by every new idea or mood. He is also inconsistent in his work or entertainment; he loves variety in everything; he resembles a bee that flies from flower to flower, or a child who soon tires of a new toy. Tendency to the external. The sanguine does not like to enter into himself, but directs his attention to the external. In this respect, he is the very opposite of the melancholic person, who is given to introspection, prefers to be absorbed in deep thoughts, and more or less ignores the external. Optimism. The sanguine looks at everything from the bright side. He is optimistic, overlooks difficulties, and is always sure of success. If he fails, he does not worry about it too long but consoles himself easily. His vivacity explains his inclination to poke fun at, tease, and play tricks on others. He takes it for granted that others are willing to take such things in good humor, and he is very much surprised if they are vexed on account of his mockery or improper jokes.
This lack of deep passions is of great advantage to the sanguine in spiritual life, insofar as he is usually spared great interior trials and can serve (Spirit, Mother Earth, God, or other energy here) as a rule with comparative joy and ease. He seems to remain free of the violent passions of the choleric and the pusillanimity and anxiety of the melancholic. He feels happy when praised and is therefore very susceptible to flattery. Cheerfulness and inordinate love of pleasure. The sanguine person does not like to be alone; he loves company and amusement; he wants to enjoy life. In his amusements, such a person can be very frivolous.
Dread of virtues that require strenuous efforts. Everything that requires the denial of the gratification of the senses is very hard on the sanguine; for instance, to guard the eyes, the ears, the tongue, to keep silence. He does not like to mortify himself by denying himself some favorite food
The life of inner meditation of the sanguine suffers from three obstacles: He finds great difficulty in the so-called interior meditation for which a quiet, prolonged reflection is necessary; likewise, in meditation, spiritual reading, and examination of conscience. He is easily distracted by his ever-active senses and uncontrolled imagination and is thereby prevented from attaining a deep and lasting recollection of (Spirit, Mother Earth, God, or other energy here). During inner work, a sanguine lays too much stress upon emotion and sensible consolation, and in consequence becomes easily disgusted during spiritual aridity.
The sanguine is very helpful to neighbors and friends and is always willing to lend a hand. He is sociable and easily makes contact and talks to new people. He is entertaining to listen to and usually very willing to please. They may get mad easily, but they just as easily forget they were mad and usually bear no grudge. Even if the sanguine is occasionally exasperated and sad, he soon finds his balance again. His sadness does not last long but gives way quickly to happiness.
To make the best of who he is, a sanguine person must give himself to reflection on spiritual as well as temporal affairs. He must cultivate those exercises in which meditation prevails; for instance, morning meditation, spiritual reading, general and particular examination of conscience, meditation, and the presence of (Spirit, Mother Earth, God, or other energy here). Superficiality is the misfortune, reflection the salvation of the sanguine. Regarding temporal affairs, the sanguine person must continually bear in mind that he cannot do too much thinking about them: he must consider every point, anticipate all possible difficulties; he must not be overconfident, over-optimistic. He must daily practice moderation of the senses, the eyes, ears, tongue, and the sense of touch, and guard the palate against overindulging in exquisite foods and drinks. He must absolutely see to it that he is influenced by the good and not by the bad; that he accepts counsel and direction. A practical aid against distraction is a strictly regulated life, and in a community.
He must cultivate his good traits, such as charity, obedience, candor, cheerfulness, and sanctify these natural good qualities by supernatural motives. He must continually struggle against those faults to which he is so much inclined by his natural disposition, such as vanity and self-complacency; love of particular friendships; sentimentality; sensuality; jealousy; levity; superficiality; instability.
The education of the sanguine person is comparatively easy. He must be looked after; he must be told that he is not allowed to leave his work unfinished. His assertions, resolutions, and promises must not be taken too seriously; he must continually be checked to ensure he has really carried out his work carefully. The sanguine child must be consistently taught to practice self-denial, especially by subduing the senses. Perseverance at work and observance of order must be continually insisted upon. The child must be kept under strict supervision and guidance; he must be carefully guarded against bad company, because he can so easily be seduced. Leave to him his cheerfulness and let him have his fun, only guard him against overdoing it.
Remember, the sanguine type is like a plant in a vegetable garden. The Spring comes, and the plant grows larger and larger and stronger and stronger until one day it blossoms. How well the plant does is directly related to the soil it grows in and the gardener who tends it. Then in the Summer, its blossoms become fruit, and it offers this fruit to those around it. Then comes the fall: the fruits become fewer, the green plant’s richness fades, and it enters a cycle of decline. The leaves change color, and the fruits eventually fade away. The plant wilts, starts to mulch itself into the soil around it, and decomposes. After the Fall comes the inevitable Wintertime. The plant is completely mulched into the ground and dies. But then the Spring comes again, and the plant once again starts to blossom. And this time (the next year), it blossoms even more splendidly than before because the mulch from the year before has enriched its soil even more. It does not matter what the soil was to begin with; the next year is always better for the plant as each year its mulch enriches the soil around it.
So, the sanguine person is strongly influenced by the people around them, the place they live in, the weather, and other external stimuli, including books and movies. The sanguine person is also very affected by the gardener who tends them. This usually is the spouse, mother, father, friend, or doctor. The key thing to watch in a wood person is over-stimulation (over-watering the garden), which creates a selfish, dissatisfied attitude, or under-stimulation, which creates an angry, dissatisfied individual. The sanguine type themselves also need to realize what stage they are in. They will be either under- or over-stimulated most of the time, so they need to seek balance, and when they are not balanced, they need to hold their tongue about their TEMPORARY dissatisfaction and instead administer the cure (which would be either to cut down or increase activity and nurturing, and/or nutrition).
A sanguine child THRIVES on structure, and as an adult, they crave and need organization. They are often skilled at organizing their homes, people, or projects. Ironically, though, they often have trouble staying within their own organizational bounds because of the constant balance-seeking they are doing. As a sanguine person becomes more aware and balanced, they will find it easier to stay within their own bounds.
THE CHOLERIC
The choleric man is a human being of enthusiasm and passion; he is not satisfied with the ordinary but aspires after great and lofty things. He craves great success in temporal affairs; he seeks large fortunes, a vast business, an elegant home, a distinguished reputation, or a predominant position. He aspires to the highest also in matters spiritual; he is swayed with a consuming fire for a spiritual life. Many dictators, commanders, rulers, and missionaries are of this type. However, these traits are rarely so negative or powerful as those examples.
He sees only one road, the one he took in his impetuosity without sufficient consideration, and he does not notice that by another road he could reach his goal more easily. If great obstacles meet him, he, because of his pride, can hardly make up his mind to turn back, but instead he continues with great obstinacy on the original course.
The choleric has a great deal of self-confidence. He relies too much upon his own knowledge and ability. He refuses help and prefers to work alone, partly because he does not like to ask for it, partly because he believes he is more capable than others and is sure he will succeed without their help. It is not easy to convince the choleric that he needs help (from Spirit, Mother Earth, God, or other energy here), even in little things. Therefore, he dislikes asking for help and prefers to combat even strong temptations by his own strength. Because of this self-confidence in spiritual life, the choleric often falls into many and grievous sins. The choleric may be proud and aloof, secretly or openly, feeling he is superior to his fellow man.
However, if the choleric develops his faculties and uses them for good and noble purposes, he may do great things, for the benefit of his fellow humans, and for his own temporal welfare. He is assisted by his sharp intellect, his enthusiasm for the noble and the great, the force and resolution of his will, which shrinks before no difficulty, and the keen vivacity which influences all his thoughts and plans.
The well-trained choleric is very patient and firm in endurance of physical pains, willing to make sacrifices in sufferings, persevering in acts of penance and interior mortification, magnanimous and noble toward the indigent and conquered, full of aversion against everything ignoble or vulgar.
The choleric is also very successful in his professional work. Being of an active temperament, he feels a continual inclination to activity and occupation. He cannot be without work, and he works quickly and diligently. A choleric needs high ideals and great thoughts; he must draw them from the word of (Spirit, Mother Earth, God, or other energy here) by meditation, spiritual reading, sermons, and from the experience of his own life. The choleric will make still greater progress if he can humble himself to ask his fellow men, at least his superiors, or his confessor, for instructions and direction. The Choleric Temperament is self-composed; seldom shows embarrassment, is forward or bold. Eager to express himself before a group if he has some purpose in view. Insistent upon the acceptance of his ideas or plans; argumentative and persuasive. Impetuous and impulsive, he plunges into situations where forethought would have deterred him. Self-confident and self-reliant; tends to take success for granted. Strong initiative; tends to elation of spirit; seldom gloomy or moody; prefers to lead. Very sensitive and easily hurt; reacts strongly to praise or blame. Not given to worry or anxiety. Seclusive. Quick and decisive in movement; pronounced or excessive energy output. Marked tendency to persevere; does not abandon something readily regardless of success. Emotions are not freely or spontaneously expressed, except anger. Makes best appearance possible; perhaps conceited; may use hypocrisy, deceit, disguise.
The Choleric in relationships tends to burn up those around them. They are very free in giving and in taking emotion, things, and support. Since they are very free in giving and very enthusiastic about their generosity, they do not feel they are asking too much of others. What they do not realize is that others (who are not choleric) lack their burning passion and energy and are actually UNABLE to give what they can. So, the choleric (fire) person ends up burning up their friends and family with their requests and needs, yet always feels unsatisfied because their own needs are not met. The fire person needs to understand this. They need to understand that other people are willing to give them what they want. They DO love the fire person and want to make them happy as their friends and family, but they are unable to. It is not their fault, nor does it mean they are shallow, unloving, or unworthy of a choleric person. The choleric person also needs to understand that the demands they put on their friends and family may be too much. Not just for their sake, but for their own. When the fire person asks for too much and is constantly disappointed, they will be hurt and sad and withdraw. Instead, they need to expect less from the people around them and disperse their fire.
THE MELANCHOLIC
The melancholic must cultivate great confidence in (Spirit, Mother Earth, God, or other energy here) and love for suffering, for his spiritual and temporal welfare depend on these two virtues. He should always, especially during attacks of melancholy, say to himself: It is not so bad as I imagine. I see things too darkly, or I am a pessimist. He must, from the very beginning, resist every feeling of aversion, diffidence, discouragement, or despondency, so that these evil impressions can take no root in the soul. He must keep himself continually occupied, so that he finds no time for brooding. Persevering in work will master all.
The Melancholic Temperament is self-conscious, easily embarrassed, timid, and bashful. Avoids talking before a group; when obliged to, he finds it difficult. Prefers to work and play alone. Good in details; careful. Deliberative; slow in making decisions; perhaps overcautious even in minor matters. Lacking in self-confidence and initiative; compliant and yielding. Tends to detachment from environment; reserved and distant except to intimate friends. Tends to depression; frequently moody or gloomy; very sensitive; easily hurt. Does not form acquaintances readily; prefers a narrow range of friends; tends to exclude others. Worries over possible misfortune; crosses bridges before coming to them. Secretive; reclusive; shut in; not inclined to speak unless spoken to. Slow in movement; deliberative or perhaps indecisive; moods frequent and constant. Often represents himself at a disadvantage; modest and unassuming.
Inclination to reflection. The melancholic’s thinking easily turns into reflection. The thoughts of the melancholic are far-reaching. He dwells with pleasure upon the past and is preoccupied by occurrences of the long ago; he is penetrating, is not satisfied with the superficial, searches for the cause and correlation of things; seeks the laws which affect human life, the principles according to which man should act. His thoughts are of a wide range; he looks ahead into the future; ascends to the eternal
Love of retirement. The melancholic does not feel at home among a crowd for any length of time; he loves silence and solitude. Being inclined to introspection, he secludes himself from the crowds, forgets his environment, and makes poor use of his senses, eyes, ears, etc. At work, he is often distracted because he is absorbed in his own thoughts.
The melancholic is a stranger here below and feels homesick for spirituality. This is where the melancholy comes from – not because he is sad. Inclination to passivity. The melancholic is a passive temperament.
He is reserved. He finds it difficult to form new acquaintances and speaks little among strangers. He reveals his inmost thoughts reluctantly and only to those whom he trusts. He does not easily find the right words to express his sentiments. He yearns often to express himself, because it affords him real relief, to confide the sad, depressing thoughts which burden his heart to a person who sympathizes with him. On the other hand, it requires great exertion on his part to manifest himself, and, when he does so, he goes about it so awkwardly that he does not feel satisfied and finds no rest.
What he could do today he postpones until tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or even next week. Then he forgets about it, and what he could have done in an hour takes weeks or months. He is never finished. For many a melancholic person, it may take a long time to decide on his vocation to the religious life. The melancholic is a man of missed opportunities
He is slow in his thinking. He feels it necessary, first of all, to consider and reconsider everything until he can form a calm and safe judgment.
He is slow in his speech. If he is called upon to answer quickly or to speak without preparation, or if he fears that too much depends on his answer, he becomes restless and does not find the right word, and consequently often makes a false and unsatisfactory reply. This slow thinking may be why the melancholic often stutters, leaves sentences incomplete, uses the wrong phrases, or searches for the right expression. He is also slow, not lazy, at his work. He works carefully and reliably, but only if he has ample time and is not pressed
The pride of the melancholic has its very peculiar side. He does not seek honor or recognition; on the contrary, he is loath to appear in public and to be praised. But he is very much afraid of disgrace and humiliation. He often displays great reserve, thereby giving the impression of modesty and humility; in reality, he retires only because he is afraid of being put to shame. Because of their peculiarities, they are frequently misjudged and treated wrongly. The melancholic feels keenly and therefore retires and secludes himself. Also, the melancholic has few friends, because few understand him and because he takes few into his confidence.
The melancholic practices with ease and joy in interior prayer. His serious view of life, his love of solitude, and his inclination to reflection are a great help to him in acquiring the interior life of prayer. This temperament causes difficulties in prayer, since the melancholic person easily loses courage in trials and sufferings and consequently lacks confidence in (Spirit, Mother Earth, God, or other energy here) during his meditations, and can be very distracted by pusillanimous and sad thoughts.
One must always encourage him. Rude reproach, harsh treatment, and hardness of heart cast him down and paralyzed his efforts. Friendly advice and patience with his slow actions give him courage and vigor. He will show how grateful he is for such kindness.
Because melancholics take everything to heart and are very sensitive, they are in great danger of weakening their nerves. It is necessary, therefore, to watch the nervous troubles of those entrusted to one’s care. Melancholics who suffer a nervous breakdown are in a very bad state and cannot recover very easily.
In the teaching of a melancholic child, special care must be taken to be always kind and friendly, to encourage and keep him busy. The child, moreover, must be taught always to pronounce words properly, to use his five senses, and to cultivate piety. Special care must be observed in the punishment of the melancholic child; otherwise, obstinacy and excessive reserve may result. Necessary punishment must be given with precaution and great kindness, and the slightest appearance of injustice must be carefully avoided.
THE PHLEGMATIC
The Phlegmatic Temperament is Deliberative; slow in making decisions; perhaps overcautious in minor matters. Indifferent to external affairs. Reserved and distant. Slow in movement. Marked tendency to persevere. Consistency of mood. The soul or mind of the phlegmatic person is only weakly or not at all touched by impressions. Eventual impressions fade away very soon. He has very little interest in whatever goes on about him. He is not easily exasperated by offenses, failures, or sufferings. He remains composed, thoughtful, and deliberate, with a cold, sober, and practical judgment. He has no ambition and does not aspire to lofty things. This makes the phlegmatic the most peaceful of all the temperaments and the one usually responsible for upholding traditions.
The training of phlegmatic children is very difficult because external influences have little effect on them, and internal personal motives are lacking. It is necessary to explain everything most minutely to them, and repeat it again and again, so that at least some impression may be made to last, and to accustom them by patience and charity to follow a well-planned rule of life.
Phlegmatic types have a quiet will of iron. They may seem quiet and pushovers at times, but they will turn into a wall when pushed against their will. They may resist change and seem lazy at times, and may not be the most exciting people you know, but they are kind, take time with their friends and family, are easy to get along with, and are inoffensive, good listeners; they have compassion and concern and do not get upset easily. Keep in mind that the life of the water type is to be appreciated for its steadiness rather than its excitement or romantic nature. This type is often unappreciated because they do not provide the glitter and glamor that attract many people, but they are usually appreciated by their friends and family, who know they can always depend on them.
Phlegmatics are natural meditators. Remember Winnie the Pooh from the 100-acre woods? He always seemed to be in a constant state of meditation – always looking at the clouds and seeing Hephalumps in them or something! People of the phlegmatic type don’t usually need instruction in meditating or finding time to meditate. For a phlegmatic, meditation happens when it will, throughout the day, alone or in a crowd, in the form of daydreams, short naps, sleeping in, and sitting peacefully. While others may find this behavior irritating, phlegmatics are often told to get up and do something useful. We could all learn a bit about meditating from their natural state of being. The challenge for phlegmatics in meditation is to focus on themselves rather than distractions. If one is trying to center themselves, they need to spend some time meditating on their own inner being and life. A phlegmatic can easily get distracted by thoughts of Hephalumps and honeypots.
SOURCES
The Traditional Healers Handbook: A Classic Guide to the Medicine of Avicenna by Hakim G.M. Chisti, N.D.
Natural Childhood by John Thomson
Please Understand Me II by David Keirsey
Personality Plus by Florence Littaner
Between Heaven and Earth Chinese Medicine
Complete Herbal and English Physician by Culpeper
Other Sources:
Childhood: The Study of the Growing Soul by Hydebrand
Teaching as a Lively Art by Marjorie Spock
Leave a Reply