Tips for Strengthening Elemental Bonds

[Taiaka]

Tips for Strengthening Elemental Bonds

Phase 1: For Beginners

No matter the nature of your awakening, many mystics believe that all beings have deep connections with one or more elemental roots. Some otherkin are strictly grounded to more corporeal elements even though they wish to strengthen their bonds, either by choice or by nature, to the basic elemental tenants and these are some simple tips to begin your spiritual journey.

First, make sure you are comfortable with the element of your choosing; be honest with yourself and explore you deepest fears. For example you may be terrified of drowning, or feel an unfounded sense of dread during thunderstorms. These fears will help you zero in on the element that best suits your nature. Once you are definite of you borne affinity, many beginning elementalists carry foci empowered with their elemental symbol or patron totem: It can be anything. Keeping this with you at all times will make it easier to consciously remember that you are trying to bond with the forces of nature.

While carrying this focus, slowly begin to familiarize yourself with the basic usage and purpose of your element. For example if you are kin to water, embrace the characteristics of water in relation to your own life. Are you more destructive and wild, or are you placid and empathic? Figuring out the state of your element is very important; a person may be bound to water, but they may be bound to turbulent waters or they may be bound to gentle, life giving rainstorms. Either way, their element remains the same, but their characteristics change. To figure out what state your element is many mystics suggest deep introspective meditation while surrounded by your element. For example, if you are akin to air, simply flying a kite will bring you closer to a state of your element, as does standing in a gale (safely). Whatever feels most comfortable is usually correct.

Remember, it’s not about controlling your element, it’s about becoming part of it: There’s a wide difference between being a disciple of Ogun and being an arsonist. After awhile, you may feel that your emotions are being affected by the different states of your element; this is a good thing but, you must learn to not be dictated by your affinity. It is not uncommon for fledgling fire elementalists to run fevers on a consistent basis (no more than, at most, half a degree), or for fledgling earth elementalists to start exhibiting pungent body odor or sudden weight gain during the processes of bonding.

The ties to your element require maintenance at first, and it takes many years to completely embrace your chosen element. Remember to be patient; it is not weak to rely on external foci when you are undertaking this journey and being around other people akin to the same element also builds a support structure. Doubt is destructive to your process; make sure you energy is untainted by sickness, stress or struggle (the 3 ‘S’s) before you begin the bonding process. Not only will it make your energies more susceptible to you will, it will make sure your heart and mind are not muddled by desire and worry.

Once you have embraced the state of your element and feel comfortable letting your energy be transmogrified by its persistent companionship, you emotional tides stable and all forms of your element explored, it is time to permanently bind yourself. Each element has their own rite; it is usually (though there are elementalists all over the world so traditions vary) includes fasting, time spent away from civilization, and marking one’s body with their element. A person may be given a special totem by a more experienced elementalist out of respect for their commitment or a celebration may be held in your honor. After this point, many different facets of your element open up to you: Day and night, hot and cold, destruction or growth, malevolent or benevolent. Each element includes these other tenants and each has their own benefits and drawbacks. All are worthy of exploration.


Here is a basic list of good elemental components that you can use in your foci or totems. Remember, a focus can be anything: a necklace, anklet, ring, hair clip, key-chain, etc. And its components can be anything that you deem a fitting representation of your element.

Always remembering that when creating a totem, prepare a manta to be chanted or repeated that bears in mind the specific purpose of the object if only to focus your mind.


Fire:
Igneous rock (especially obsidian)
Glass
Charcoal or ash
Wax
Steel
Snake skin
Pitch (tar)
Amber
Holly berries
*With fire, many people choose to burn something of great sentimental value to them. You do not have to destroy the entire object, but the ash you create is very important. For example, if you have a blanket that you have had since you were a baby; you may burn the absolute corner of it and use the ash in your foci.


Air:
Feathers
Hair (clipped knots of braids)
Coffee beans
Salt (roughly milled or sea)
Dried leaves
Sand
Paper
Ginger
Goat hoof shavings (don’t hurt the goat)
Cat whiskers (don’t hurt the cat)
*An easy totem for young air elementalists to make is a wind chime. But while easy to create, sometimes wind chimes attract the wrong types of energy so be careful with the intent, anything can blow in on the wind. Also remember air is one of the hardest elements to gather components for and many times just breathing is enough to influence an object to bind to air.

Water:
Coral
Shells
Pearls or Mother of Pearl
Fish bones or scales
Chalk
Sea-glass or smoothed river rocks
Cranberries
Bamboo (green)
Squid ink
Cod liver oil
*Soaking a water totem in rain water (or sea water, but sea water corrodes) is common. Also, before committing yourself to a water totem, it is also a common practice to bath for extended periods of time in natural bodies of water, i.e a lake, pond, ocean for purification purposes.

Earth:
Sedimentary rocks (not found near water)
Quartz and other crystals (especially ones pulled directly from geodes)
Soil
Manure
Hardwoods
Aloe
Honeycomb and honey
Animal teeth and bones (don’t hurt the animal)
Clay (fired)
Dried flowers (especially ones that flourish in drier soils)
Petrified wood
Cactus spines
Sulfur
*Earth elementalists like to feel ‘grounded’ and one of the most common totems are anklets. Clay and wood are easy to find and they make aesthetically pleasing jewelry. Often earth elementalists like to cover themselves in the mud of their home before donning their totem.

Also note that many believe that there is a 5th element and opinions vary as to the exact foundation of this claim. ‘Spirit’ is popular as the 5th element, but I’ve also heard that ‘Blood’ or ‘Bone’ are also given rites as elements. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter and after you initially bind yourself to one of the 4 common elements, it is up to you to mix and respond to the other elemental states.

[airforcegrrl]

Tai, may i copy this into my Book? i will credit you as the writer.

[Taiaka]

Sure thing, mate; my brain vomit is your brain vomit.

[airforcegrrl]

Thank you, my dear. (bows)