Visualization Instructions 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. Always remember this: None of the below 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. http://www.angelfire.com/de2/newconcepts/wicca/religion3a.html Earth Visualization Many times, when we do earth magick, it is because we need grounding or stability. Earth is the foundation of all the elements. Everything that we do is obviously done upon the earth and yet it is the element that we most take for granted. It rules the most mundane aspects of our lives such as sleeping, eating, working, playing, raising families etc. All these things are necessary to our existence. Earth is foundation, balance, perseverence, and focus. It is the most stable of the elements, but when it is taken to extremes, it can also be inertia, resistance to change, unreasoning stubbornness, and a lack of imagination. Earth gives us all a sense of security, and the ability to focus and concentrate. Earth's colors are black, brown, green, and white. For this exercise, we will need to go outside and find a nice quiet place where we won't be disturbed and plant ourselves on the ground. Make yourself comfortable. You should lie down for this one so check out the spot you pick for ants etc. Wear shorts or as little clothing as possible so that your body can "touch" the earth. You can even go skyclad if you wish, but I am not advising it' seeing as how you can get arrested these days for things like that. Shorts and a tank top will do just fine. In Winter, you will want to stay warm, so this exercise may be difficult, but you can try to work around it. Dress warmly but use loose clothing if it's cold. If it is feezing outside, wait until warmer weather. We don't want you to get sick. Quarter: North Quarter Candle: Green Chakra Candle: Red Chakra: Perineum Idea: Grounding Visualization: Red Cube Earth Magick in volves night, midnight, winter, riches, treasures, surrendering self-will, touch, empathing, incorporation, business, prosperity, employment, stability, success, fertility, money, business, and prosperity in all its forms. Earth governs tree, knot, and stone magick. Now let's begin. Stretch your body out on the ground and close your eyes. Make yourself aware of it beneath you by grasping handfuls of grass with your fingers or dirt if that's what you have chosen. Meditate on the feeling of the coolness in your hands and visualize your hands becoming one with the earth. See the roots coming out of the earth and watch them come up and twine their cool fingers through yours and then entwine all around your body. Feel the stability of being held in the arms of the earth. Remember that the earth is your Mother and that there is nothing to fear. This is where you came from. You were born here. Now you are once more back in the loving arms of Mother Nature herself. Take a calming breath. Inhale, exhale. Again. Now you are going to see yourself growing roots in return, starting with your hair. (If you have no hair, you are going to see yourself grow some.) FEEL. Feel it growing longer and longer until it grows right down into the ground. Now feel the skin on your body begin to tingle and watch as your hands and feet also begin to sprout roots that will slowly, slowly seep into the ground. You are embracing Nature and are unafraid. This is the safest place on the earth to be right now. Breathe in and out, becoming aware of Nature's breath all around you and listen to her sounds. Can you hear her whisper your name on the breezes? Are the birds chirping? Can you smell the earthy scents of the grass and dirt? Your body is now going to become heavy. Heavy and even more heavy like the dirt on the ground. Pretend for a moment that you are just a huge mound of grass and dirt and allow your limbs to dig in even deeper. FEEL the earth with your whole body. You are becoming earth and are growing heavier and heavier. Continue doing this until you feel yourself sinking to just below the surface. Do not panic. You are becoming one with the earth and you will feel safe and cool and content. There is nothing to fear. You will feel as if this is where you belong. You are now Earth and earth is you. Relax and take a deep breath. As you inhale and exhale, meditate on what you feel. Let it embrace you and when you feel quite content, you will slowly begin to unentwine yourself and drift back to the surface. The roots are pulling in and you are beginning to feel much lighter. Release the earth and now open your eyes. You are finished. Blessed Be! http://www.angelfire.com/de2/newconcepts/wicca/earth.html Air Visualization Air rules the East because this is the direction of the greatest light, the direction that gives birth to the dawning of each new day; the light of wisdom and consciousness. It's color is the yellow of the Sun, and its season is Spring. Other Colors associated with air are white, bright yellow, crimson, and a bluish-white. Air represents new ideas, knowledge, and the freedom to choose in which direction to move. It is the element of the intellect and the unbridled passion of daydreams. Airs symbols are the sky, wind, breezes, clouds, breath, vibrations, plants, herbs, flowers, trees and birds. Self-hypnosis is recommended for this visualization, or a period of meditation preceding it. For this visualization, choose a starry night if you are able, as close to dawn as possible but with the night still in evidence. Otherwise just visualize it.. Now find a place outside where you can be comfortable yet remain undisturbed throughout this exercise. This one is better done on a breezy evening and preferably not an icy cold one. If you can't find a night like this at present, then stay inside but open a window and get out a fan that oscillates, so you can at least pretend. Be sure to turn out all the lights and make it as dark as possible. For this exercise you will need to choose an imaginary companion. This can be male or female depending on what sex you are and what sex you prefer romantically, since you will have to imagine kissing this being. lol! I have known people to even give this magickal helper a name, preferably one that you can associate with Air, like Arial or Aaron etc, if you need this added bonus. Below you will find some of Air's correspondences. Quarter: East Quarter Candle: Yellow Chakra Candle: Green Chakra: Heart Idea: Thought, Imagination Visualization: Green Semi-Circle Air Magick involves the dawn, sunrise, Spring, knowledge, inspiration, hearing, harmony, herbal knowledge, plant growth, intellect, thought, ideas, travel, freedom, revealing the truth, movement, psychic abilities, instruction, learning, discovering lost items, and uncovering lies. It also corresponds to: Divination, Foretunetelling, Sourcing, Vision Quests, ZenMeditation, Tai Chi Chaun, Martial Arts, Brainstorming, Philosophical Debates, The Expressive Arts, Flower Arranging, Oriental Mindfulness, Awareness, Vibration and Guides, Helping Thoughts , Free Mind, Creativity, Illumination, Divination, Brain Stimulation, Philosophy, Mindfulness, Awareness, Perception, Thinking Ideas, Communication, Meditation, Focus. Close your eyes. Now we will begin with some deep breathing exercises. In and out, in and out. As you do this, be conscious of the air you are breathing. Are there smells in the air or is it cold and brisk, warm and musty? Notice what the air smells like, and then take it into your body as you breathe. Feel it flowing all around you. Turn your face up to the breeze and notice how it feels on your skin. Does it give you goosebumps because it is chilly or perhaps because it is warm? Imagine now for a moment that the Air is a physical being and that this being slowly puts their arms around you and embraces you, at the same time caressing you with airy srokes along your face and arms and wherever else you wish. Feel the tiny breeze-like touches stroking your skin softly. Now breathe in and imagine kissing this ethereal being. Open your lips and continue breathing. Can you taste the air on your lips? Allow it to seep further into your body, to travel all around you inside and out. You can carry this visualization as far as you like, but don't forget that this is AIR, and continue to FEEL it. Now feel yourself being lifted up into the air by this magickal lover and visualize yourself flying through the clouds. Hold out your arms. Feel them changing. Now spread your wings and feel that air as you are released to fly on your on and as you continue to go up and up into the sky. Feel yourself floating, riding the breezes, swaying with the winds. Imagine the air running through your hair, over your skin, along your body, breath it in. Feel the textures of the clouds as you float right through them. Let your imagination carry you up onto one of the highest clouds in the sky. Now keeping your eyes close, look around you using your mind's eye and see the cloud you are sitting on, see the clouds surrounding you ,and the stars glittering all around you . Feel the breeze and breathe it in even deeper. You are now one with the Air. You are the Air. Open your eyes for just a moment and actually look up into the evening sky. Breathe deeply in and out, in and out. Sit this way for as long as you like. Now close your eyes once more and drift down off the cloud. As you touch the ground, feel the air flowing from your head and easing its way upward back into the sky. Release it all. You are now finished. Blessed Be! http://www.angelfire.com/de2/newconcepts/wicca/air.html