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We will keep the faith until the sky falls upon us and crushes us, Until the earth opens up and swallows us, Until the seas arise and overwhelm us. Until it is the end for all of us. Yet it is only the beginning...And fear doesn't belong here. ..Celtic oath of the Elements.
In the Craft, we are taught to attune ourselves with nature, thus enabling us to become one with the elements. As you recall, these elements are Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and the Spirit encompasses them all. There are many types of exercises you can do to help you along this path. The main purpose of these exercises is to teach you how to visualize more intently and to show you how to find that inner power and tap into it. First is preparation for this exercise. Wear comfortable clothes and find a place where you will not be distracted by ringing phones, doorbells etc. You must be able to concentrate on what you are doing. This exercise is best done when you have plenty of time as well. At a time when your mind is free and not worried about getting someplace else on time. Depending on the element, you should surround yourself with it as much as possible the first few times you do this exercise. For instance, if you are doing "Fire", sitting in front of a blazing fire would be a good place to start. Don't have a blazing fire, find a heat source of some kind. Heaters, the sun, anything with warmth. Air is easy since you are surrounded with it, but make it a windy day. Water can be in the bathtub if you like, but better if you are outside at a beach, pond, river etc if possible. Earth is also easy. Just plant yourself outside on the ground. After you have done these a few times near the sources, you will be able to do them anywhere you like, and should practice them away from the source as well. With air, you might think this impossible, but it's not really. At first, you picked a windy day. Later you sit where there is not even a hint of breeze. The key to it all is in being able to visualize. =============================================================== Now let's use "Water". Here are a few of the correspondents to Water. You may light one of the candles if you wish, as a mood enhancer only. Many face the direction that correlates with the element. Do this only if it helps you concentrate. Personally I don't know east from west most of the time, so I don't bother with it. The element Water rules our emotions, love, courage, fear, sorrow, intuition, the ocean, tides, all bodies of water, the womb, the subconscious, the unconscious mind, and fertility. When expressed negatively Water emotions can lead to severe depression, manic-depressive tendencies,bipolar tendencies, spite and revenge. Sometimes even suicide. Water magick involves friendship, love, marriage, fertility, happiness, sleep, dreaming, psychic abilities, healing, and purification. It is a feminine element, the color of the deep, blue sea. It rules the West, and the Autumn months, when the rains or mists gently bathe the Earth in it's power. Try this exercise:Lay or sit near or in your water source. Now take a deep, cleansing breath. Again. Breathe in again, and let that breath be the slow roll of the water washing over your body. Now breathe out and feel it lapping at your skin. If you are not in the water, then reach out and stroke your hand through it slowly. Feel it's coolness. Imagine the soft feel of the warm water as it laps at your toes, your feet, your ankles, your legs, hips, and your back. Touch the water as you float. Now bring your hand to your mouth and taste it. Let the water drip onto your face. Visualization is the key here. Visualize yourself now as being Water. Imagine yourself as a part of the water: cool, gentle, liquid, moving, ever-flowing. Relax. If you will, now imagine yourself as an orange sphere of light. Begin at the top of your head and imagine this orange light slowly drifting down your body very slowly, all the way to your toes. You should be fairly relaxed by now if you have been concentrating. Now imagine this light surrounds you and floats into the water. Your first breath as you sink into the water is difficult, but your body adjusts to the act of water breathing, remembering the pre-infancy instinct. You slowly go deeper and deeper into the water until you are submerged completely. You are now beneath it. Open your eyes and look around. What do you see? The water is now warm and this warmth fills you inside and out. As you are floating gently and naturally, the water gently flows over your skin, through your hair, washing away the dust of the common world and leaving you pure and innocent in it's wake. You are finished now, but may sit or lay there, visualizing as long as you like. Always remember this: None of the above is written in blood. If you find another type of visualization more to your liking, then by all means, go for it! Some people even imagine water as a person, as a lover. The choice is yours. This exercise, however, should be done for each of the four elements one by one, but try and master one before going on to the next. Yeah? Then Click right here. |
