Help from the Four Elements
Fire, water, earth and air — the four elements — have always fascinated people. For centuries, priests, magicians and shamans have looked for magical powers in them. Can we use their help in the 21st century? Of course we can! With simple meditations using the four elements, you'll bring harmony and positive change into your life. Working with people as a healer, I see the bad consequences of neglecting yourself and your state of mind. Negative emotions build up in the body and start spoiling our lives.
Find a quarter of an hour or so for yourself. Before each exercise, quiet down. Sit comfortably, take a few deep breaths and relax.
Fire: Burn Away What Weighs on You
Fire is the element of strength, energy, vitality and cleansing. It helps us deal with difficult emotions. All you need is a candle in a color and scent that suit you — its shape makes no difference at all.
To get rid of the negative emotions collected during the day, gaze into the flame. Imagine it burning away every single thing that won't leave you in peace.
If that's hard to picture — don't worry. Write your worries, regrets and anger on a piece of paper, light it in the candle flame and drop it into a large bowl or an old pot until it burns completely. Scatter the ashes out of the window.
Imagine it burning away every single thing that won't leave you in peace.
Air: Get to Know Yourself
Air is the element of movement, thought and communication. It helps us find people who are well-disposed toward us and speeds up contact with someone we miss.
You'll need incense — herbal or an ordinary stick, in a scent that gives you pleasure. Stand up straight, light it and hold it in the hand you use most.
Slowly make clockwise circles with it and smudge yourself, from the soles of your feet up to the top of your head. Don't forget your back! Just turn to the right. Do this with the intention of getting to know yourself.
If you miss someone very much and want them to get in touch, light the incense and open a window. Think about that person for a few minutes and blow the smoke out of the window, asking the air to remind them of you.
Earth: Find Your Balance
Earth is connected with abundance and wealth. It will help you stabilize your emotions. When your feelings start to overwhelm you, go outside for a moment and find a spot where you feel safe. Take a deep breath, quiet down, then start stamping energetically on the ground, first with one foot, then the other. Imagine bad emotions escaping into the earth — it collects them like a lightning rod.
For abundance, prepare a flowerpot, a coin that's in circulation (ideally gold-colored), potting soil, and seeds or a seedling of a plant you know how to care for. Pour in some soil, imagining your financial situation improving. At about a third of the pot's height, place the coin, add more soil and plant on top. Care for it with a smile. As it grows, may your material situation grow with it.
Make It a Habit
Doing these exercises regularly, you'll see more smiles and joy appearing in your life. Don't give up. Find time at least twice a week to meditate on yourself and invite the power of the elements into your life. Go for it!