7
In both cases you could take some photos to add to your notebook.
Now it is time for an imaginary journey with the element of water. Make sure you are sitting comfortably, relaxed and with your feet on the ground.
Imagine yourself walking by the side of a stream high up in the hills. The stream burbles as it moves rapidly over stones and around larger rocks.
You follow the path by the stream, stopping every so often to listen to the sound of the stream and the call of a few birds high in the sky. The stream goes round a bend and you follow on the twisting path.
Ahead of you, there is a wider part of the stream forming a large pool and cascading down over a rocky ledge into the pool is a waterfall. The waterfall is about 10 feet high and as the water flows over the rocky ledge, there is a lot of spray shimmering with all the colours of the rainbow.
You pause at the bottom of the waterfall and take off your shoes. You dip your toes into the water; it is cold! So you decide to explore and as you move forwards again you see a narrow path between the rocks and the waterfall.
You step onto this narrow path moving slowly and carefully. Looking out through the water you are amazed at the sparkles of light and rainbow colours changing rapidly as the water flows downwards. You feel refreshed and invigorated by this wonderful sight and stay there for a while.
Soon you realise that you must return to the path and return home but you know that you will remember this experience for many years.
You return down the path and when you are home you write about your experiences in your notebook.
Water in a river is always on the move flowing continuously towards the sea. How often do you hear the words ' Go with the flow?' What do these words mean to you?
I think it is now time to move on to the element of Fire. It may be harder to find 10 facts about Fire but do try to do this.
The main fact is that Fire consumes and transforms. If you burn anything like paper or coal you are left with ash afterwards. So you can see how fire transforms one thing into another. Fire both creates and consumes. It is also the force of life.
On a spiritual level, fire is the element of strength, of faith and personal power. It gives us courage and strength and enables us to recharge our energies through physical sensations. Like the phoenix which rises from the ashes of self transformation we too can be reborn and transform our lives through the element of Fire. Fire is the magic of the Ancients. Can you imagine how they felt when they first learned how to make fire?
We also have an inner fire, the energy that moves through our body. It keeps us steady and strong and helps us to stand up against others when needed.
So your first exercise is to stand or sit still and with a straight back, try to sense the energy moving through your body. If you have done any martial arts you will find this quite easy. Otherwise it may take some time to feel the energy moving.
Another small exercise for you now.
Light a candle or sit by a fire and concentrate on the flames for a few minutes. Notice the movement of the flame and the colours in it. Sometimes you can see images in the flames.
As I write this, Bonfire Night is less than a month away. But this year, 2012, has seen many beacons lit throughout our countryside. In ancient times, beacons were used to communicate, mainly as warnings. Why do you think we light beacons now?
Now I am going to ask you to attempt a much harder imaginary journey.
See yourself sitting in a small room with a log fire. You are sitting on the floor in front of the fire. The logs are burning brightly and you watch the flames with interest. There are many colours and shapes within the flames.
You draw nearer to the fire and as you do so you see an image of an old man appear in the flames. He asks you to remember all the friends and family who are no longer with you and to