How much soul-joy we draw into our lives depends on how skillfully we use the three middle instruments to manage energy. The principles of energy management are the same at all levels of our lives, from the spiritual to the trivial. Contractive energy is associated with discontentment, depression, and hopelessness. Expansive energy is fully awake, awaren, and controlled, active but receptive, flowing out to meet the world in peaceful, competent, intuitively guided waves. It's the energy of love, wisdom, and joy.
Feeling is water.
Selfish, contractive, low-energy feeling is stagnant water, a fetid swamp. Active feeling is a mountain stream, rushing wildly down a gorge. Expansive energy is a broad-backed river, flowing powerfully and rhythmically between fertile banks, giving life to the beautiful farmlands that it passes. Will is fire. Contractive will is smoky and sputtering.