Connecting to Nature ~ Playing with the Elements

How connected to the natural world around you are you? We can walk in nature and be out in our gardens, but how do you perceive nature? What is your relationship to each of the elements?

I invite you to look through new eyes. I invite you to connect to the spirit of nature through the elements and make friends with them. Make new allies that can support you to become more in tune with the world you live in. Bring harmony in to your immediate environment and celebrate these new and intimate connections.

You may already have a relationship with the elements. As you show up to meet them in the following ways, reflect on your existing relationship. Take the time to deepen with each one. If this is the first time you have consciously made a connection to elements in such a considered way, introduce yourself. Get to know each element in its different forms, intend to get to know them.

When it comes to playing with the elements, become like a child and get down to basics. Truly allow yourself to play. Act as if you are making a new friend, be gentle and vulnerable. Show yourself and take as much time as you need. See where your edges are and how you respond and react to the exercises that I suggest you explore as a way to meet them.

When we watch young children, they are often totally present, in the moment and absolutely authentic in their needs and wishes. Children often look through the eyes of awe and wonder as they meet new things and new experiences. I invite you to come to these suggestions with the same beginners mind attitude…..be open to being surprised by what you may encounter.

Earth

One of the simplest ways to connect to the Earth is to go outside and lie on the ground. Feel yourself being held by the earth. Feel your worries, concerns and stresses all melting away. You may wish to visualise them all leaving your body as they drain away, seeping in to the earth. See them neutralising as they leave you. Transmuting the energy and in turn they can then feed the soil. It is important to intend to neutralise and transmute because we don’t want to be dumping our toxic load on to the Earth. Do this as often as you can, if you can do it daily, even for a few minutes, you will see a difference. I promise you.

As you do this, you may then start to feel your heart beat connecting to the heart beat of the earth. Imagine it falling in to harmony and rhythm with the heart of the planet.
As you deepen your connection, begin to roll around and lie on your front as well as your back, feel the difference. Move on the Earth, let every part of your body touch the body of the Earth. Allow whatever arises within you to be there. This can be a very profound and moving encounter for some people. Especially if you haven’t connected with the earth in this way for many years.

If the weather prevents you going outdoors for this, you can do this all in your home space, imagine yourself outside, use your senses and really feel yourself outside, hear the birds, feel the grass, smell the fragrance of the flowers and the air.
Give gratitude to the Earth whenever you can. You live on an amazing planet, full of abundance and magnificent beauty. How blessed you are!

Water

To connect to the element of Water I invite you to take a glass bowl or drinking glass and fill it with water from your kitchen tap. If you have a filter, let it run through the filter system. If you are fortunate enough to be close to a natural spring, celebrate and use that.
Once you have your bowl or glass, sit with it in front of you. You can do this indoors or outdoors. If you are outdoors you may wish to put a cloth covering over the bowl or glass to prevent debris or insects from entering in.
To begin with just notice the water, how it looks, how clear it is. Then start to reflect on water, how precious it is. How we need it to survive. How our bodies are made of 60-70% water.
Then begin to speak to it, giving gratitude and appreciation for everything that it gives to you. Bless the water and feel your heart open with the gratitude you feel for it. Reflect on it in all its different forms: The springs, the streams, rivers and canals. The lakes, lochs and puddles. The seas, oceans and estuaries. The rain, the hail and the snow. The mist, the fog and the clouds. The steam rising from the geothermal springs. All the forms you can think of, this incredible force of nature, which over time can change the face of the planet with its continual movement. *see below
Once you are complete, take some of the water and drink it, you can also feed it to your plants, wash your crystals with it. You can offer it to your pets. Another idea is to put it in a spray bottle and spritz yourself with it throughout the day, each time feeling the gratitude once more. The water is blessing you as you have blessed it.
Give gratitude to Water as it cleanses you. In the shower, the bath, when you brush your teeth, as you wash your hands, as you cleanse your face.
*Water holds memory and the work of Masaru Emoto and his experiments with water show the effects that different energies and feelings have on it. The photo on the right is one of Love, Respect and Gratitude. If you haven’t heard of his work before, I recommend you have a look.

Love, Gratitude and Respect

Air

FIRE

ether