5
Air is the element that allows us to communicate with all the inspirational dimensions of our Self. It relates to the transformation of our intelligence and powers our flights of fantasy into other realms.
Air also allows us the luxury of being able to think before we speak, before we act and gives us the joy of our personal inspiration and creativity.
So how can we work with this element?
If we meditate on this element it will bring new awareness and appreciation, a new view of older images, it helps create new communication skills and invigorates, it brings creative flow and allows us to amplify our thoughts
Here is an exercise for you;
Practise deep breathing, inhaling to the count of 4 and slowly exhaling. Do this several times. How do you feel now?
And a few more short exercises. Remember to write down your thoughts afterwards. You could also sketch any images you see.
Visualise yourself with wings, flying in the sky. How does it feel and what do you see beneath you?
Watch how the breeze lifts up things like leaves and litter, then moves them around. Describe how the leaves or litter move.
Now for a longer exercise which is more of a meditative journey. Make sure you are sitting comfortably and will not be disturbed.
Imagine that you are walking along a snow-covered path on a frosty morning during the winter. The snow is sparkling clean and forms a smooth white carpet across the land. The air seems filled with energy on this bright morning. Every breath you take fills you with anticipation and inspiration.
The sparkling snow seems to penetrate your being and you feel so alive and creative and so full of joy.
You stay for some time then rush home with a renewed energy for any projects you have begun. You feel more resolved about any creative ideas you have had in the past and determine to bring them to fruition.
A further little exercise that you can do every day is to stand outside with your eyes closed and take deep breaths. Notice how the air around you feels. Is it hot or cold? Still or moving?
We can now move on to the element of Earth as this is another element that you have experienced through your observation work in Lesson 1.
Let ' s start again with some facts. Try to find at least 10 facts about our planet Earth then try to find 10 facts about the earth in your garden.
One thing you may have realised is that the Earth has several ' meanings '. We call our planet Earth, then we have the earth in the garden which mainly consists of soil and we also often think of our earth as the landscape around us.
If we think about the land around us we can see that it sustains us, supporting us with the crops we grow and sheltering us with its trees, but it also gives us a connection to our ancestors, those who lived before us and who have left us with their stories and their history.
On a spiritual level Earth helps us to regain our connection to the natural spiritual wisdom and teaches us about ancient tribes and their rituals of power. Earth will sustain us as long as we do not strain its material limitations.( this is the real element of recycling).
There is something special about walking around our landscape, the feeling of lightness when walking on grass as opposed to walking on stony roads and a feeling of fulfilment as you tread gently on the earth.
Working in a garden or even just potting indoor plants gives a feeling of peace and renewed energy as you see the rewards of your toil. There is also a feeling of connection with the earth as we do this.
So now you can work through some very simple exercises writing about your experiences in