I have most likely mentioned elemental magic in previous posts, bit by bit. But today I thought that I would sort of boil it all down into a nice, neat little time-saving organizational instruction that those who practice, or are just beginning to practice, can use as a quick guide. So here we go.
First off, we all have ALL of the elements running through us. Some of us are stronger in some than we are in others. Sometimes that depends upon things such as hereditary abilities and tendencies, or when in the wheel of the year we were born (because if we are born as an Air elemental, we just might have a struggle with the earth element, especially when it comes to staying grounded in our energies, and so on) or even just what we have been taught over the years. But we all have the ability to access any and all of the elements when working magic. Magic comes from within us, not from outside of ourselves. So as long as we trust ourselves, we will be able to access any element we choose when working magic.
A general rule of thumb is this: If you want something done quickly, use fire. To heal, use water. To travel, use air. For longevity you use earth. But what does this mean in terms of practical application? Well, if, for example, you are wanting to release toxic energy from someone and that energy has weighed you down, then you could write a statement of release of that energy on a piece of paper and then burn the paper. Fire reduces everything to the common denominator of ash. That ash can then be used to put nitrates into the soil around a tree, for example. Thus, fire then becomes a nurturing agent for earth.
When someone is feeling ill, what are some things that come to mind when caring for them? For me, it always comes down to water for healing. So a cup of tea, or a bowl of soup will help that person to keep their nutrients up while they are getting better. Homeopathic tinctures and crystal and flower essence tinctures can help us to heal on physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels. Again, the water element is used. When I was in a state of deep grief, I also used my tears in a healing spell. It was amazing how quickly it worked.
Air is the element of the mind. The mind itself is extremely expansive and connects us consciously and unconsciously with the Dream Weave, which is the fabric of the entire universe. To calm the mind, light a stick of incense and sit quietly, breathing, while watching the smoke of the incense lace its way upward to the the highest point in the room. Essentially, it is making its way to the stars! This can be hypnotic at times, and so one will often find themselves “travelling” on a spirit level, or on an astral level, while watching the incense smoke rise. Once one gets the hang of how to travel in this way, there is no destination that cannot be experienced. Also, the spoken word is a part of the air element and of both prayer and spell casting. So if you are wanting to manifest a vacation destination, speak the words of this manifestation into the smoke of the incense. This then takes that spoken spell to the ears of Spirit who then responds by assisting in that manifestation.
If we are working on a spell that we want to have last a very long time, then we can write that spell out, and then bury it in the earth. I also add to this practice the aspect of planting some plant on top of the spell. This way, as the plant grows and develops, it becomes a representation of the growth and development of the spell. You can literally watch the spell grow! Generally, I will plant perennials over a spell. Annuals don’t last long enough for the spell that I would plant. But a perennial will come back year after year after year, so the spell will continue to grow and flourish. You can, however, also use the element of earth by using crystal energy to assist your spell. So whispering your spell into a crystal and then allowing the crystal to emit that energy all around you is an excellent form of earth-based magic.
These are just a few ideas of how to use these elements in the magic practice that you already have happening. But do remember that the imagination is the key to your prosperity, so use your imagination to create ideas of possible usages of the elements. Definitely be creative and know that whatever you put out there is what will come back to you.