Air Magick - Insect Guides

Like birds, Flying Insects are Spirit Guides and Totem animals that are related to the element of Air.  Many people have a strong dislike of these animal allies, but if you can put aside your fears and "icky" feelings you may find that we actually have a lot to learn from the amazing lives of insects!  Similar to the suggested exercise of bird observing, take some time to notice and observe the types of insects that you encounter on a regular basis.  Learn about their life cycles and how they live and interact with their environment and other insects and animals.  You might find that the insects around you on a daily basis have a message for you!!

Transformation

Most insects go through some kind of major transformation.  A caterpillar goes through a metamorphosis to become a butterfly.  Flies transform from maggots to flies.  Cicadas and Locusts go through a metamorphosis that can actually take up to 10 years to complete.  When you encounter flying insects, ask yourself what kind of transformation you are going through.  What stage of your transformation are you in?  Are you still a caterpillar, preparing to make a chrysalis?  Are you inside your cocoon, undergoing dramatic changes in solitude?  Are you emerging from your cocoon and learning how to spread your wings and fly?  Keep in mind that sometimes it's hard to recognize that we are undergoing a period of change, and even harder to see the end result when we are going through pain or hard times.  The caterpillar probably doesn't know that it will one day become a butterfly... it just knows when it is time to go into a cocoon.  The transformation of insects can teach us a lot about faith and trust in our own instincts and intuition.  If we fight the change and just continue along our path, ignoring our inner urges to transform, we might miss out on our chance to become a butterfly!

Community

Insects like Bees and Wasps can teach us a lot about community and communication.  Insects that live in colonies have a complex yet beautiful and simple structure in which each insect has a specific job.  They may be scouts, harvesters, protectors, or breeders.  We all have roles we play in our lives, sometimes for just a short period of time and sometimes for extended periods.  Think about the roles you play in your life and whether you are giving those roles the attention, dedication, and energy they need.  Colony insects also have a lot to teach us about communication.  A scout bee will locate a food source, fly back to the hive and communicate with the harvesting bees with a series of body movements and touch.  In a beautiful dance the scout bee will give exact directions to the other bees, who will then fly out to collect the pollen to bring back to the hive.  If you are encountering bees or other colony type insects, think about your own methods of communication, and how you are vocalizing or expressing yourself to the people in your family or work place.  Proper communication can make all the difference in our group interactions!

Insect Totem & Spirit Guide Meanings

If you are interested in learning about the spiritual messages of some insects, check out this page I found!  Remember to pay attention to your surroundings and you will find that the element of Air is speaking to you quite clearly and frequently, with the air, the wind, the weather, birds, and insects!

Air Studies - Connecting with Birds

There is a strong (and obvious) connection between the Air Element and Birds.  Most people, on initial thought, might think that birds are connected with the Air Element because they fly and travel through the skies.  While this is true, there are a few much deeper connections to the Air Element with our winged and feathered friends.  Below are some common Air Element associations and how they are connected with the world of Birds.

Communication
Birds are among the most vocal animals on the planet.  If you take some time to observe birds you will notice that they are almost constantly communicating.  They chirp "hello's" to other birds, sing songs to attract a mate, give warning cries to alert birds of predators, warn other birds away in territorial disputes or fights over a mate, and have various different songs and sounds for different moods, times of day, and seasons.  Birds can teach us a lot about communication and the power of words and music or song.

Spring
Many types of birds are strongly associated with Spring, the season commonly associated with the Air Element.  This is because in the spring the activity of birds becomes more apparent as they return from the southern areas where they have spent the winter months, search for a mate, build their nests, lay eggs, and bring food back to their nests for their young.  The spring symbolizes a time of rebirth, renewal, and fertility and the vibrant energy and activity of birds during this season can remind us to embrace our own time of renewal, rebirth, creativity, spring cleaning, fertility, romantic encounters, and more.

Intuition and Empathy
Birds need to be highly aware of their environment and their immediate surroundings in order to survive.  They have the advantage of being able to fly into higher branches, housetops, or telephone poles in order to get a different perspective or view of what is going on.  Even when they are not high in the branches, (and including flightless birds) they are always looking around, listening to the sounds around them, watching and observing.  They seem to have a strong sense of intuition as well... probably gained from this heightened sense of awareness.  Birds can teach us awareness of our environment and those around us which can lead us to a heightened sense of intuition and Empathy.

Divination
Many legends tell of Gods, Goddesses, Saints, Shamans, Priestesses and great "Seers" receiving messages from birds.  Birds would be messengers of the Gods or Angels, bringing warning or foretelling of some future event, visiting people in their dreams with some kind of message.  Birds were also thought to be able to travel between the earth and spiritual realms, to bring messages from our deceased loved ones. Because of their association in Myth and Legend with Divination and messages from the Divine, and because of what birds teach us about intuition and empathy, birds can help us in our endeavors to learn about and practice Divination.

Observing and Connecting With Birds

No matter where you live; somewhere rural or in a busy city.... there are plenty of birds in your home environment to observe and learn about.  Spending some time observing the birds that live in your neighborhood can help you develop a deeper connection with the nature and land on which you live.  Many who live in the city can feel disconnected from nature, and observing birds can help you regain a sense of connection with nature around you as well as helping you see that even in a city there is an ecosystem - and you are a part of it!
Take some time to observe the birds around your home.  What kinds do you see and hear frequently?  What trees do they favor?  What are they doing in the morning, vs their behavior in the afternoon or evening.  Watch how they interact with other birds in the area.  Listen to their song and voices until you can begin to recognize what bird you are hearing, even when you can't see it.  Also familiarize yourself with what the different bird sounds might mean... if you don't know.... Guess!  Use your intuition to tell you what the birds are saying to each other.  If you want, keep a journal of your bird observations.

Different birds have different spiritual meanings and we can learn a lot about the spiritual energy of our home environment by learning about the birds that live and interact around us on a regular basis. Occasionally, one of these birds might have a special message for you.  If a bird is watching you, chirps at you, flies or lands closer to you or your home or window than normal, swoops past you, etc... you may want to look more deeply into that birds' spiritual meaning and lesson.  As you develop a closer connection to the nature of your home habitat through observing birds, you will more easily notice when a Bird Spirit is speaking to you.  Also, when you notice a bird that is not commonly seen in your immediate area, this bird could be bringing you a special message as well.  Pay close attention to these messages, meditate on them and journal on them.

One of my favorite websites for looking up the Spiritual Meanings of birds is Animal Totems.  There are many different books and websites about the spiritual messages of animals, do some research and see what meaning seems to resonate with you and the birds you interact with.  Also, if you are keeping a journal of the birds you observe, you may begin to come up with your own personal meanings for birds in your life based on your intuition and what is going on in your life.

Spirit Guides and Animal Totems

There is a difference between your Spirit Guide Animals and your Animal Totems (and yes, you can have more than one of each).  Your Totem Animal might be an animal you have never physically seen or interacted with, but have always felt a strong connection to.  If there are certain animals and birds that you have dreamed about, thought about, had a desire to see or learn about, or an animal that you like to draw or write about, or collect images of (and generally have a strong connection with or a strong "draw" to this animal) these might be your Animal Totems.  You can do a meditation and ask your Animal Totem to reveal itself to you...relax, deepen and steady your breathing, imagine yourself sitting in nature and wait for your Animal Totem to reveal itself.  It may come to you and speak to you, or lead you down a path and show you something.  Afterwards, thank your Totem Animal for revealing itself to you and giving you a message.
Your Spirit Guide Animal would be an animal that comes to you for a specific reason or a certain time in your life.  This will most often be in the form of an animal you actually see, or an animal you dream about.  Your Spirit Guide Animals can be multiple, and change from time to time.  Last Spring I had several Mockingbirds nesting in trees in my neighborhood.  They would swoop down and land in my front yard right in front of me and chirp at me.  At that time, I needed to learn the message of Mocking Bird Spirit, and they were my Spirit Guide Bird for a time.  This spring, there have been no Mockingbirds in my neighborhood, but there have been Wrens and Ravens.... doing the same thing; landing in my yard and watching me or chirping at me, so currently my Spirit Guide Birds are Wrens and Mockingbirds.  This is an example of how our Spirit Guides can change and come to us at different times.... whereas our Animal Totems will hold a special place in our hearts and minds for a lifetime, even if we only see them in art or dreams.  Being observant of your environment and the animals around you, wherever you go, will help you see and notice your Spirit Guides.

Since we are studying the Air Element and specifically Birds, make a short list of birds that might be your Totem Animals.  Are there birds you have always been fascinated with?  Birds that you collect images of and figurines of?  Or, try a quiet meditation and imagine yourself in a meadow.  Ask specifically for your Bird Animal Totem to reveal itself to you and wait.  In your Journal or Book of Shadows make a list of Birds that you feel might be your Animal Totems, and also a list of birds that have from time to time appeared to you as Spirit Guides.

Wind Observation / Meditation

For this meditation, you will need to be outside.  It doesn't matter if there is just a light breeze, or a strong wind - actually you should do this observation in all kinds of weather and wind strengths to "get to know" the different moods and voices of the wind.  Air is all around us, constantly moving.  It is constantly changing and moving with the temperature, the seasons, and the type of terrain that it travels over and around.  Wind is a great process of the living earth, much like the circulation of our own blood.... it carries storms and clouds across the land, clears storms away from other areas.  It moves the seeds and spores of the plants to fertilize the earth, and it lifts birds to fly and travel.  It can be peaceful and refreshing; yet it can also be destructive.  Just observing how the wind moves, where it comes from, and how it is affecting the world around you is a powerful exercise in itself, and will empower your connection to Air Energy.

Wind Observation / Meditation

by Starhawk, from "The Earth Path"

 "In your home base, or wherever you happen to be, ground and come into your senses.  Now focus on the air and the wind.  Notice what you can smell and taste on the breeze.  Where has it come from, and what does it carry with it?
Notice the feel of the air on your skin.  Is it gentle or powerful, moving or still?  What is the temperature?
Listen to the sound of the wind.  The wind is telling you what it's moving through, and how fast.  The wind has a  voice that sounds different through trees or around corners of houses.  It can tell you how much moisture it carries, and whether or not there is a storm coming.  What does the wind say to you now?
Look around you and notice what is responding to the wind, and how.  Are branches bending and swaying? Are there trees and bushes or earth that show signs of having been shaped by the wind as they grew?
How does the wind respond to obstacles?  Does it move differently through swaying branches than it does encountering a wall?
Get up and move around now, and find the places where the wind is stronger, and the places that are wind-sheltered.  What makes the difference?  Feel what happens when the wind hits a hard surface or a soft surface.
What can the wind teach us about movement and change?  About responding to obstacles, or about softening the great forces that impact us?
Is there something in your life that you'd like to let go of?  Imagine that you hold it in your hand.  Raise up your arm, open your fist, release it, and let the wind carry it away."

Faerie Friday - Trust Your Intuition

This week's message from the Faeries is "Trust Your Intuition".  This card and description are from the oracle card deck "Healing With The Fairies" by Doreen Virtue.

"Trust Your Intuition" Artwrk by Gail Gastfield
http://members.aa.net/~urizen/gail_art.html

Card Meaning;
"It is safe for you to follow your heart's guidance.  You know, deep down, what to do.  This card asks you to trust and follow this inner intelligence.
Has your inner guidance been trying to get your attention lately?  Perhaps a gut feeling is tugging at you like a seeing-eye dog, an inner voice has been screaming at you, or you've had dreams charged with profound emotions and symbolism lately.
By drawing this card, you're being urged to pay careful attention to those various forms of intuition.  Now is not the time to ignore these messages or procrastinate.  Trust this inner wisdom, just as you would if it came from a respected teacher.  Know that you aren't imagining the guidance.  Its powerful and receptive voice is a sign that you are truly getting clear and trustworthy messages that are worth following.

Affirmation; "I trust and follow my feelings and thoughts without question or delay."

~ From the "Healing With The Fairies" Oracle Card guidebook by Doreen Virtue.  No copyright infringement intended, I am sharing here as an oracle reader sharing advice with beloved friends.

I have drawn this card this week, asking for guidance from the faeries, not only for myself but for everyone who has been following my blog and my Air Element Studies.  The faeries are asking you now to listen to that inner voice, trust in your own intuition and feelings about situations or choices.  Learning to trust that inner voice can be hard to do... and the first step is to open yourself to being able to HEAR that inner voice in the first place.  If you would like more advice on being able to hear your inner voice and heighten your intuition and sixth sense, I would highly recommend the book, "Trust Your Vibes"  by Sonia Choquette.  It is full of wonderful advice and exercises to help you recognize, and trust your intuition and "sixth sense".

One practice that Sonia Choquette recommends is to simply "Ask Your Spirit".  If you have an intuitive feeling guiding you to do something, yet you are still afraid to make the change or take action, or are hesitant about whether your intuition is guiding you in the right direction or not - place your hand on your chest over your heart, take a deep breath, and ask your true Spirit - your higher self - what he/she thinks about the situation.  Just breathe deeply and say, "Hello, Spirit... what do YOU want me to do?"  If the answer is yes and your intuition is correct your Spirit will fill you with a sense of joy, a fluttering in your chest that makes you smile.

Keep on meditating with the Air Element meditations I shared with you last week, focusing on uniting your body and spirit with your breath, this will help activate your intuition and help your recognize it when it speaks to you as well.  Have a blessed week, and remember, the Fairies are looking out for you!

Meditation - Affirmations to help you meditate

MEDITATION

Affirmation 1: "I cherish my meditation times."
Affirmation 2: "The Wisdom I seek is within me."

Meditation;
"At least once a day I sit quietly and go within to connect with the wisdom and knowledge that is always there.  This wisdom and knowledge is only a breath away.  All the answers to all the questions I shall ever ask are sitting there waiting for me.   Meditating is a joy for me.  I sit quietly, take a few deep breaths, relax, and go to that place of peace within.  After a little while, I come back to the present moment refreshed and renewed and ready for life.  Every day is a joyous new adventure for me because I choose to listen to my own inner wisdom.  This wisdom is always available to me.  It comes from the essence of that which exists behind the universe of time, space. and change.  When I meditate, I connect with the deep inner unchanging part of myself.  Here I am energy.  I am light.  I am the answer already arrived.  I am Eternal Beingness being here now."

~ From "Meditations To Heal Your Life" by Louise L. Hay

Lesson 3 Craft Activity - Pinwheels

Create a Spinning Pinwheel to remind you of your intimate connection to Air Energy through breathing!  A pinwheel is simple enough to create, here are a couple different websites with instructions on how to make one;

http://www.leslietryon.com/3dcolorcutout/makepinw/makepinwheel.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Pinwheel

http://www.pbs.org/teachers/includes/content/curiousgeorge/pdfs/cc_pinwheel_bw.pdf

Decorate your Pinwheel in yellow and sky blue colors, and if you want, decorate it with stickers or draw symbols on it that represent Air Energy.

You can meditate with your pinwheel, take a deep breath and then blow strongly through your mouth to make the pinwheel spin.  Watch it spin and contemplate your relationship with Air and what you have read in this week's previous posts on meditation and breathing.  Think about how your breath has the power to move the pinwheel... something outside of you.  Your breath sets things in motion inside of you, circulating from your lungs, to your bloodstream, to your heart, and throughout your whole body.  Your breath (your life-force) also creates chain reactions in life around you.  Think about how your words, thoughts, actions, and even your presence on the planet has an effect on things around you as you blow your breath on your pinwheel and watch it spin.

Pinwheel Wishing Spell

Use the Power and Magick of your own breath and your intimate connection with Air Energy for this simple spell.  Create your wishing pinwheel and decorate with Air Colors or symbols, as suggested above.  

Meditate on your own breathing for a few minutes, feeling your connection with Air Energy.  If you wish, use one of the Air Meditations shared here earlier, Breath Meditation or Journey for Air.

Spend a few minutes of your meditation thinking about your wish.  Visualize it as if it has already come true.  Visualize how you will feel, how you will act, and what your life will be like when you have what you desire.  (If it is a waning moon period, you may want to wish for what you need removed from your life; while if it is a waxing moon period you may want to wish for what you need to come into your life.)  This spell will be particularly powerful if what you wish for aligns with Air Energy - communications, clear thinking, passing an exam, learning, divination, confidence, and removing obstacles or mental blocks.  Try not to worry about how your dream will come to pass, just hold the happy feeling  of your wish coming true as you meditate and let it fill you with each inhalation.

Speak your wish out loud, and then blow on your pinwheel to make it spin.  Then say this prayer, pausing between each verse to again blow on and spin your pinwheel while envisioning your wish coming true.

"I call upon my Sacred Breath,

the very cycle of Life and Death

With each breath my wish I know;

to the Winds my Wish I blow

I send my wish with Trust and Love,

Winds now carry it to Spirit above!

Air I send my wish to Thee,

As I Will, so mote it be!"

Thank the Air for giving you life, and breathe in with gratitude, knowing that you will find that which you seek.  Keep your pinwheel on your Altar or in a place you will see it often.  Make it spin with your breath whenever you want to, remembering to feel hopeful and grateful and visualizing your wish coming true.  You will receive inspiration or opportunities to help it come to pass! 

Meditation Spell Guide

If you feel you need to give your meditation an extra boost, or would like to ask for help meditating in a ritual or spell, here are some basic magickal correspondences dealing with meditation.

Colors; Blue, White, Silver, Indigo, Purple, Violet, Yellow

Astrology; Aquarius, Pisces

Planets; Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

Day of the Week: Saturdays or Wednesdays

Element: Air

Plants & Herbs;
Basil, Bay Laurel, Benzoin, Copal, Frankincense, Gardenia, Jasmine, Lavender, Mugwort, Myrrh, Nutmeg, Patchouli, Sage, Witchgrass, Wormwood

Crystals & Gemstones;
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Blue Topaz, Calcite, Citrine, Herkimer Diamond, Jade, Lapis Lazuli, Mica, Moonstone, Obsidian, Onyx, Peridot, Quartz, Rose Quartz, Sapphire, Selenite, Sodalite,Topaz, Turquoise, Ulexite

Additional Tools;
Bell, Chimes, Tibetan Singing Bowl, Meditation Pillow, a Meditation Table or Altar


If you are having trouble with meditation; whether it be finding the time to meditate, or being able to still your mind long enough to relax, look at this list and see what you can put together to encourage and enhance your meditation practice.  The more ritualistic you make your meditation time, with the continuous practice and repetition of the same ritual each time, you will begin to settle more quickly and easily into a meditative state. You will also have made more of a commitment to practice meditation and there fore will find more time, or time will present itself to you.

For example, using the list and suggestions above, I would make a small meditation table in my bedroom or another private area... even a bathroom!  Place a few of the above mentioned crystals on it, along with an Air Element representation of my choice.  I would place my bell or Tibetan Singing Bowl on this table, and an incense burner or essential oil diffuser.... and choose from the above listed plants and herbs for a scent for my incense or oil.  I may find a candle in one of the colors listed above, anoint it with essential oil from one of the plants listed above and bless it with my intention to meditate more often or for longer periods of time.  I might choose to carve symbols that represent the astrological signs or planets listed above into the sides of my candle.  Once I have my area set up, I begin each meditation the same way.  I make note of what order I do things in and remember to do them in the same order each time I sit down to meditate... this repetition creates ritual.
For example, I might do a few simple stretches and drink some water.  Roll my neck and shoulders gently and stretch my back and legs to prepare for sitting.  Then I light my candle, and say a simple prayer to God/Goddess/Angels/Spirit Guides to protect me and help me during my meditation.  Next I light the incense or oil burner and simply breathe the aroma for a minute, enjoying it.  Then I would sit myself in the position I am going to meditate in, ring my bell one time to signal the beginning of my meditation, and then begin.

This is just one example of how you may use the list above to help you in meditation.  There are so many possibilities with the things listed above, from the blends of incense you might make, a mojo bag to hold while you meditate, crystals to use on a meditation mala necklace, symbols and colors to create a mandala for meditation.... come up with whatever works best for you and use it to enhance your meditation practice!

Meditation: Journey For Air

Journey For Air

Take some time to do this meditation if you are willing to delve deeper into Air Energy.  This guided Meditation is a form of meditation called Pathwalking... in which the described journey that you read or listen to is the same, but you let your imagination and creative life force carry it further.  Everyone will have a different experience with this meditation.  Write this one down in your Air Element Journal or book of shadows to use as a good meditation before doing any magick or ceremony dealing with Air Energy, or if you are seeking clarity in your thoughts, memories, communications, dreams, and divination.  Record your experiences each time you attempt this meditation.

Journey For Air

Sit quietly in a comfortable meditation position.  Close your eyes and slowly begin to deeply inhale, and slowly exhale, bringing your body and mind to a state of relaxation.  In your mind you look around, and find yourself standing on a sandy beach.

Walking along the beach as the brilliant shades of yellow and orange sink into the sea, the wind begins to blow and you seek shelter among the sand dunes.

You feel the sea grasses whipping against your legs as you follow a path between the dunes. 

A faint glow emanates from inside the dunes and you walk toward it until you see a fire in the clearing.  

Standing by the fire is a tall man.  He's staring into the flames and when you see him, there is immediate recognition.

Warmth fills your heart as you embrace him and there is immediate peace and love. 

You sit down by the fire - sheltered from the winds.

From the distance comes the faint sounds of the crashing surf.

The man's eyes are filled with compassion and wisdom, and they reflect the knowledge that a good life brings limitless rewards.  His expression is one of deep and committed love.

  

Slowly, he raises his chin and inhales deliberatley, drawing in all of the air around you. The fire, once blazing, is now extinguished and you are sitting in darkness next to the Great and Wise Father.  The sound of wind and waves cresting on the beach has stopped, all is silent.  The full moon rising over the dunes offers the only light.

Slowly, he exhales onto the logs and the fire is again burning brightly, the breeze lighly brushes your face and you can hear the waves moving on the beach again.  

You sit together by the fire and He shares with you the secrets of the Air.

After a time, you stand and embrace this wise teacher, you know that he has shared more than a protective embrace with you.  You walk out of the dunes assured that you will continue to discover the secrets of Air on your journey.

Breath Meditation

This simple breath meditation can help you find peace about a problem in your life or a situation that is causing you stress.  It is from the book 'The Earth Path" by Starhawk.  Please make sure you have read Air:The Gift of our Ancestors before doing this meditation.  You could possibly find someone to read it out loud to you, or even make a recording of yourself reading it out loud.  If you can't do those, copy it down or print it out so you can read it to yourself slowly, taking time to breathe and close your eyes between certain segments.  Ideally you would want to do this meditation out in nature on a nice spring day, somewhere with a slight breeze, or in front of your Air Altar.  You can light your Air Element Candle or hold your Air Element Witches' Ladder if you want.


Breath Meditation
by Starhawk, from "The Earth Path"

"Read the story of "The Gift of the Ancestors" or have someone read it out loud as a guided meditation.  Now close your eyes for a moment and simply breathe.

Breathe in with gratitude to the ancestors and with appreciation for the great creative powers of life.

Breathe out with love, as a conscious gift back to the green world.

This air is the gift of the early ancestors.  What you breathe in, this moment, originated billions of years ago.  This air passed through the lungs of dinosaurs and mammoths and the earliest human beings.  Is there a great teacher or hero from the past that you admire?  You are breathing the same air that passed through her or his lungs, sharing inspiration.

Breathe in with gratitude; breathe out with love.

Is there a problem you're stuck on, an issue that seems hopeless?  A place where you've given up in despair?

Just breathe in, taking in the creative power of the ancestors, of life, asking that power to infuse you and help you transform your issue.

Breathe out, with love and commitment, acknowledging your grief and pain or hopelessness, not trying to change it but just making space within, to breathe in again, filling yourself with creativity and power.

Continue as long as it feels right.  Don't try to solve your problem instantly; just keep breathing into it and trust that you can shift the energies around it and open the space for inspiration to come."

Craft; Make an Air Element Witches' Ladder

My Air Element Witches' Ladder

Supplies;
Yarn; 3 different colors, about a yard of each.  I chose yellow, white, and light blue for Air Element colors
Feathers; 9.  You may want each feather to be a different color, or choose all one color for your Ladder.
Beads; 9 beads, one to attach with each feather.
Some thread or thin beading wire to put thru each bead and wrap around each feather.
9 small strips of paper.
pen.

Directions:
To begin, write 9 different aspects of Air Energy on your strips of paper.  Look at the list of Air Correspondences and what types of magick are done with Air energy for some ideas.  For example; Communication, Learning, Divination, Music, New Beginnings, Spring, Clear thinking, clean air, etc.  Set these papers aside with the feathers.

Take each of your beads and string some of the beading wire or thread through them, so they are ready when you need them.

Take the 3 strands of yarn and tie them together at the top.  I attached a butterfly pendant to the top of mine for hanging it up, and for further representation of the Air Element.

You may want to take some time meditating on the Air Element and your breath before you begin.  If possible, play some soothing music with the sound of wind, wind chimes, and bells while you create your Witches' Ladder.

Begin braiding the 3 strands of yarn.  Braid about 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches, then stop.  Attach the bead.  Take one of the feathers, and one of the strips of paper.  Look at what is written on the paper, then wrap it tightly around the base of the feather.  Use the thread from the bead and wrap it tightly around the feather and paper, and wrap the yarn around it as well, stating out loud the energy and purpose of this feather .... "For clear communication", or "for Air energy of Divination", etc.  Braid another inch in the yarn and then repeat the process of attaching a bead, wrapping the word around the feather, attaching the feather, and stating it's purpose out loud.  Repeat until you have all 9 feathers and beads attached, then tie off the ladder in a final knot, saying, "The Energy of Air is stored here for my use, whenever I shall need it.  Thank you, Air for blessing my Ladder.  My intentions are pure and my spell is done, So Mote It Be."

There are a few ways you can use your Air Element Witches' Ladder.
You can hang it up on an Eastern wall or window of your home to invite Air Energy into your home.
You can hang it above your Altar as a permanent Air representation.
You can use it during Air Energy magick or Rituals by simply holding it, draping it around your shoulders, or wrapping it around your wrist... even wrapping it around your wand or Athame or wrapping it around the base of a candle you want to charge with Air Energy.

For Meditation;
You can use it as a meditation tool, simply holding it at the first bead/feather and breathing in and out three steady inhales and exhales, then move to the next bead/feather and repeat three steady inhales and exhales.  This meditation will be a good way to count and track your breathing, and you will automatically be more connected to Air Energy when you are finished.  It would be a perfect meditation to do before doing any type of Air Magic, or before doing anything that will involve communication (before a speech or job interview), before divination practices (to open the pathways of communication with your spirit guides and Higher Self), etc.

Air; The Gift of The Ancestors

This story is from the book The Earth Path by Starhawk.  I think  it's an important and enlightening story for us all to read as we study the Air element.  It gives a very life-affirming understanding of Air and it's role in life on this planet... and the other elements as well.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, and I hope it will help open your heart and spirit to what the Element of Air really represents to us.  It is Life; past, present, and future.  We are breathing the Gift of our Ancestors!
_________________________________________________
The Gift of The Ancestors
by Starhawk, The Earth Path

Life on earth was still relatively new.  At first, simple, one celled beings filled the seas, living by changing the energy patterns around them, breaking down large molecules - complex clumps of dancing energy and form - into smaller clumps, using the energy released to move and dance.  They filled the seas in promiscuous abundance, constantly exchanging bits of DNA, sidling up to one another and crooning the bacterial equivalent of "Hey, hey, hey baby - the thought of trading genes with you makes me cr-crazy!"  They formed one life-whole, one global gene pool, one planetary well of information and experimentation.
But after a time, life reached a crisis point.  Life began to run out of food.  There weren't enough of these complex molecules for all of life to continue, and life began to starve and die.
Yet life has always been inventive and creative.  Those simple, one-celled beings were already experimenting with different forms.  Some were long and skinny and wriggled and swam.  Some were round and fat.  Some adapted to hot and some to cold.  And always they were trading genes, shifting forms, changing and transforming.  At that time, there wasn't yet a brain on the planet, yet life came up with something so brilliant, so amazing, that it transformed the whole nature of existence and the atmosphere itself.
Life invented a mandala.  A beautiful molecule, like a patterned flower, with a magic quality.  For when a photon of sunlight struck the heart of this pattern, it began to vibrate and shiver and set off a chain of reactions that harvested the sun's energy to turn carbon dioxide and water into food.  Chlorophyll and the process of photosynthesis were life's next great invention, and the green things, the sunlight harvesters were born.
Green things filled the seas and the crevices of the shores, flung a smear of filmy life over rock and sand.  Life flourished as never before.
But there was one problem.  The miraculous process that used sunlight to make food gave off a waste product, a toxic gas that burned and destroyed everything it touched.  And as life grew, over hundreds of millions, and then billions of years, the very air became polluted by this gas, so that life could no longer avoid it's touch of death.
But life continued to experiment and invent.  Some of tiny creatures dug down in the mud to avoid the toxic gas.  Some clumped together for protection.
And some discovered another miracle, that by reversing one of the moves in the dance of photosynthesis, a new process could be born - one that could take the toxic gas, which we call oxygen, and use it to burn food and make energy.
And so the breathers were born, those who dine on the sunlight-harvesters, burning their bodies as fuel for life.  In burning food, the breathers give off carbon-dioxide, which the green things (with help from the sun) transform to food again.  And the green things give off oxygen, which the breathers again use in burning food.  Gaia began to breathe, passing her breath back and forth from red to green, continuing to build up oxygen, to transform herself.
And after millions of years, the breathers took the mandala of the chlorophyll. switched the atom at it's heart to iron, and formed the hemoglobin that swims in the cells of our red blood.
And so the cycle is complete, and the earth breathes in and out, red to green to red.
And this air we breathe is a gift of the early ancestors.  With each breath in, we take in the results of their great creativity.  With each breath out, we give back.
And the balance is so perfectly kept that oxygen remains at just the right level to sustain life.  For if there were only a few more percentage points of oxygen in the air, any spark would light a fire that would ignite the whole atmosphere.  And if there were only a few percentage points less, no fire would ever burn and we could not live."
_____________________________________________________

Take some time to read this story to yourself slowly.  You may even ask someone to read it out loud to you so you can close your eyes and use it as a guided meditation.  Breathe in and out slowly and evenly.  Contemplate the miracle of the exchange of oxygen and carbon-dioxide.  Think about how your ancestors many years ago, breathed in oxygen, and created carbon-dioxide which then fed the plants and trees.  Those plants and trees became a part of your breathing ancestor by taking in the carbon-dioxide they created.  Those plants then created oxygen, which your ancestors' children breathed in.  And the cycle continued, and even now, every breath you take, contains a particle that has at some point passed through every one of your ancestors, every breathing life form, and every green, light-eating thing alike.  You are breathing the history of this planet.

Air Element Study, Lesson 3 - Breath & Meditation

Air Element Studies, Lesson 3 - Breath & Meditation

The easiest and most efficient way to connect with Air Energy is something you do all the time anyways.  Breathing.

Inhale.

Exhale.

You just engaged yourself quite directly with the Element of Air.  Of course, to really connect with Air Energy you need to bring awareness to your breathing.  Pay attention to it.  Do it with intention, take notice of how you feel with each breath.  This is where meditation comes in.
Meditation is a form of Air Element Magick.  It's an important skill to learn, not just for Air Energy magick, but for all forms of magick, for positivity, the law of attraction, stress relief, and improved health.  Meditation improves your focus and concentration, which makes it easier for you to truly focus your intent into any magick or ritual you do.  It also improves your brain-power as your focus and concentration improve, so do your abilities to learn and remember things (as you remember... learning and studying are basic Air Element aspects).  Meditation and focused breathing improves blood flow to your brain, eyes, and all other internal organs, improving your all over-health and sense of well being.  It can help you relieve stress, sleep better, worry less, and just feel better!

Over the next week I will post some basic meditation tips and techniques, a few guided meditations, and yes we will even create a craft project to help us with our breath meditations!  For starters, here is some food for thought;

The Meaning of the Breath
by Stephan Bodain, from "Meditation For Dummies"
"  Traditional cultures identified the breath with the life force that animates all beings.  For example, the Latin word spiritus (the root of both "spirited" and "spiritual"), the Greek word anima (from which we derive the word "animated"), the Hebrew word ruach, and the Sanskrit word brahman may all sound quite different, but they all have one thing in common - they all mean both "breath" and "Spirit or Soul".  When you follow your breath with awareness, you're not only harmonizing your body and mind, which gives you a sense of inner harmony and wholeness, you're also exploring the living frontier where body, mind, and spirit meet - and attuning yourself to a spiritual dimension of being."

Getting Started.... Basic Awareness of Breath Meditation
There are many basic meditation techniques that involve controlling the breath (controlling the length of inhale and exhale), counting the breath (counting how many breaths you take or how long each breath is), or creating a certain rhythm to your breath.  We will explore some of these later on.  But for now, just to simply learn awareness and contact basic Air Energy.... begin by simply being aware of your breath.  Sit comfortably, and relax.  It's best not to lay down because you may fall asleep, and while you do want to relax, you also want to remain aware.  Find a comfortable position and simply observe your breath.  Observe how your lungs expand.  Observe how in some breaths you breathe down into your belly, and in other breaths you simply breathe into the top of your lungs.  Observe that your exhale is naturally longer in length than your inhale.  Just spend 5 to 10 minutes observing your breathing, not trying to control or change it but simply just trying to remain in awareness of your breath.  If your mind wanders and you find you are thinking of something other than your breath, that's okay.  Just gently re-direct your focus and awareness to your breathing.  Be gentle with yourself, as if you are reminding a child who has been distracted to get back to their task.  Just simply spend some time in awareness of your breath.  Repeat this throughout the next couple of days.  Even when you are busy, take a moment to notice your breathing and how it is changed based on how you feel, what you are doing, who you are around.  Make an effort over the next few days to simply bring awareness to the act of breathing, which is something we normally do without notice or thought.

For Young Children (or for the young at heart!)
Sit cross-legged.  Place your hands on your chest and simply notice how your chest moves up and down with each inhale and exhale.  Do this for a couple minutes.  Next, lay down flat on your back.  Place a small stuffed animal on your belly.  Notice how it moves up and down with each exhale and inhale.  Try to remain focused on moving your toy up and down by simply breathing in and out as long as you can, up to 5 minutes.

Faerie Friday - Letting Go

I thought that with our Air Element studies, it would be a good time to connect with the Faeries and see what lessons they have for us each week!  So every Friday (as my hectic life permits) I will draw a card - either from the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Deck by Doreen Virtue, or from The Fey Tarot by Mara Aghem.  For each week's reading I will ask what advice the Fairies have for us; both for myself and for those of us who are following this blog and the Air Element Studies.  This card will give us something we can work on, an area of focus, or some advice to follow for the following week.... from Friday thru next Friday!  Enjoy, and let's see what the Faeries have to teach us!

This week I drew a card from the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue.

Artwork by Corey Wolfe.  www.coreywolfe.com 

LETTING GO

Card Meaning & Message from the Fairies;
"You aren't receiving positive results because you're struggling too much to solve the problem.  By letting go, you're opening yourself up to a miraculous solution.
Problems are caused by human thinking and action.  That's why problems aren't solved by additional human thinking and action.  When we think hard or struggle to resolve a crisis, things can actually get worse!
By drawing this card, you are being asked to stop the human struggle.  Stop thinking about the problem, since a focus on negativity can manifest more negativity.  Say aloud or silently, "I am willing to surrender this situation to my Creator [Higher Power / God / Goddess / Angels] right now."  By affirming this statement, heaven is able to intervene on your behalf.  You will instantly feel relief, and will be gratified to see how easily and naturally the situation resolves itself."

Affirmation; "I am willing to surrender this situation to my Creator right now.  When I let go, everything turns out perfectly."

~ By Doreen Virtue, from the booklet to the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Deck.  I do not claim ownership of this deck or what is written above, and no copyright infringement is intended.  I am sharing here among friends.
-------------------------------------------
I find it wonderful that this is the card we got for this week.  Our upcoming lessons in our Air Element study are going to be about working with Air in the form of Breath and Meditation.  Meditation is all about letting go.... about letting go of fear and worry and thoughts for awhile, finding that peaceful place within, and letting our Higher Self or Higher Consciousness come through.  In letting go of the chatter of the mind and ego, we can hear what our Higher Self, our Angels, our Spirit Guides, and even the God/Goddess are telling us.  When you develop a good habit of meditating, you can find that the solutions to your problems come to you much more easily when you are in this relaxed state!

Also, this card might present itself to some as a lesson about meditation itself.  When teaching yourself to meditate, there can be many frustrations and doubts and fears that come to the surface.  "Why can't I clear my mind?"  "Why can't I stay focused?"  "Why is this so hard?".... it's not easy to train your mind to just be quiet for awhile and let your Higher Self do the talking.  When you are finding yourself frustrated with meditation, remember this card and the message from the Fairies.... LET GO!  You're not going to be perfect at it right away... no one is!  Let go of your self-criticism, your perfectionism, and your ridiculously high standards for yourself.  Meditation is an act of self-love, and should not be a time of fears and doubts.  Just LET GO, and keep trying!  You WILL get better at it if you keep it up and keep practicing!  And then, once you have become more comfortable with meditating, you will be able to really understand the original message of this card, and when you have a problem or worry, it will be much easier to slip into the peaceful, trusting state of mind in order to truly let go and let the Divine help you find solutions to your problems! 

Faerie Friday - Environmental Awareness

I thought that with our Air Element studies, it would be a good time to connect with the Faeries and see what lessons they have for us each week!  So every Friday (as my hectic life permits) I will draw a card - either from the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Deck by Doreen Virtue, or from The Fey Tarot by Mara Aghem.  For each week's reading I will ask what advice the Fairies have for us; both for myself and for those of us who are following this blog and the Air Element Studies.  This card will give us something we can work on, an area of focus, or some advice to follow for the following week.... from Friday thru next Friday!  Enjoy, and let's see what the Faeries have to teach us!

This week I drew a card from the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue.  (Actually, to be more honest, I didn't draw this week's card randomly.  I chose this card because Monday is Earth Day and this week's lessons and assignments will be on Air Pollution!).  

Environmental Awareness
from the "Healing With The Fairies Oracle Deck" by Doreen Virtue, Hay House Inc.
Artwork by Corey Wolfe

Card Meaning: "The fairy kingdom is very concerned with the health of Mother Earth.  By drawing this card, the fairies are recruiting you to become involved in environmental matters.  

You have the power to make a huge impact on our planet.  Earth is a living, breathing being, and the fairies are calling on you to help her.  Your contributions could include recycling, picking up trash while on your nature walk, switching to environmentally friendly cleaning products, getting involved in an environmental protection group, becoming a vegetarian, or educating your children about the fragility of nature.

When you spend time outdoors, mentally ask the fairies for guidance on how to make your special contributions to Mother Earth's well being.  The fairies will give you answers in the form of thoughts or feelings, by arranging a synchronistic opportunity, or by helping you use your unique talents to help educate others about environmental concerns.

Affirmation: "It feels good to nurture my planet with loving care."

~ channeled message from the fairies by Doreen Virtue, in the "Healing With The Fairies Oracle Card Deck" guidebook.

__________________________________________________

Additional Meditation for Healing the Planet Earth

Planet Earth
Affirmation 1; "I love the planet"

Affirmation 2; "I appreciate the beautiful world I live in."

Meditation;

"The earth is a wise and loving mother.  She provides everything we could ever want.  All our needs are taken care of.  There is water, food, air, and companionship.  We have an infinite variety of animals, vegetation, birds, fish, and incredible beauty.  I have committed to lovingly taking care of and improve the quality of life in this world.  I express random acts of kindness whenever I can.  I recycle and compost and organically garden and improve the quality of the soil.  It is my planet, and I help to make it a better place to live.  I spend quiet time every day actively imagining a peaceful planet.  I imagine the possibilities of a clean, healthy environment.  I envision the governments of the world working together to clean the planet.  I see all the people on the planet opening their hearts and minds and working together to create a world where it is safe for us to live in love and harmony with Mother Nature.  It is possible, and it starts with me!"

~ by Louise L. Hay, from "Meditations To Heal Your Life", Hay House Inc.

------------------------------------------------

Need some ideas for getting started and ways you can help the environment?
check these posts;
Clean Air: Things You Can Do While Traveling

Clean Air: Things your can do at Home

Clean Air: Earth Day Ideas For Kids

Morning Rituals and Routines

Magick of the Mornings
Most people think of Magick as something that happens at night, preferably under a starry night sky or a glowing full moon.  While the night does hold certain power, all times of day have a different type of energy and a different type of Magick to them!  The Air Element is associated with Mornings and Dawn, perhaps because this is the time of day when the air feels the freshest, and the morning light of the sun is the most life-giving and least damaging (for plants and animals alike).  Whenever you first wake up, you are still strongly connected to the Astral Realm from your time of dreams and sleep.  Upon first waking up it is a great time to pray, meditate, say your daily affirmations, and set your intention for the type of day you want to have - because part of you is still connected to Spirit, the Astral Realm, and the Divine.  It is easy for you to communicate with your Spirit Guides, Angels, Deities, and Faeries in the mornings when you first wake up.  Mornings are the perfect time to practice yoga, do some meditation, say prayers, and just set your intentions for the day, asking The Air Element to bring you focus and help you manifest the kind of day you want to have.  Every morning is a fresh start and an opportunity for a new beginning!

Morning Devotions & Meditation
It might be a good idea to come up with your own Morning Devotion, prayer, or meditation.  Write or find a simple prayer you can say every morning, and spend a few moments breathing deeply and feeling gratitude.  Focus on what you want for the day and visualize your day going just the way you want it to.  Smile.  Even if your day doesn't go exactly as you wanted, keep up this positive thinking and prayer every morning... it takes time to get used to meditating and manifesting your desires.  Mornings would also be a good time to say daily affirmations.  You can choose an affirmation the night before, or use an affirmation from our Tarot Card or Air Element studies here... that way you could have a different focus for your meditations and affirmations every week!  Maybe write down the affirmation you want to use for the week and tape it somewhere next to your bed or in your bathroom where you will see it first thing in the morning!

Morning Routines & Housework
I have gone over some basic FlyLady stuff here before, such as the baby steps.  FlyLady suggests having a morning routine of things you do every morning in your home to keep your household running smoothly.  You can infuse your morning routine with Air Energy Magick by asking the Element of Air, the Fairies, or your Angels to help you with your routine.  You can also look at it in a way that reminds you that today is a new day, time for a fresh start - and what you do around your house in the morning is a blessing to your home and family for a wonderful day!

FlyLady's Basic Morning Routine from www.flylady.net

* -Get Dressed to Shoes including Hair/Face, Brush Teeth
* - Make Bed
* -Swish & Swipe
* -Empty Dishwasher
* -Reboot Laundry (a Load a Day Keeps CHAOS Away) 

* -Check Your Calendar

* -Check Your Control Journal

* What's For Dinner?

* Drink Your Water

* Declutter for 15 Minutes

* 15 Minutes of Loving Movement (exercise)

I have my morning Routine Broken down into rooms (zones) and 15 minutes at a time.  Here's my current Morning Routine (Which I have not been doing lately, but I plan on changing that very soon! 

MORNING HOUSEWORK CHECKLIST

Getting Started

• Deep Breathing / Positive Thoughts / Daily Affirmation
• Make sure kids are doing their morning routines.  Start coffee or make tea.
• Get Dressed To Shoes / Veil
• Morning Prayer or Invocation.  Meditation.
• Take My Vitamins.  Drink Water.  
• Start a Load of Laundry

Bathroom & Self Care (15 to 25 minutes)

• Gather dirty laundry
• self-care (Hair, face, teeth, make-up)
• Put away self-care products
• Swish & Swipe

Bedroom (10 minutes or less)

• Make Bed
• Gather Laundry
• Hot Spots - Tops of Dressers & Bookshelf

Kitchen (15 minutes)

• Put away clean dishes
• Wash Breakfast Dishes
• Wipe Table & Counter top
• What's For Dinner?

Living Room & Front Entrance - (15 minutes)

• Living Room Hot Spots (side tables)
• 5 Minute Room Rescue Living Room (Floor & couches)
• Front Room Hot Spots (coffee table, bar, Launch Pad)
• Sweep Front Room

Office - 10 minutes

• Hot Spots - Homework Desk, Computer Desk
• 5 minute room rescue

Finishing up (10 to 30 minutes)

• 5 minutes of folding laundry
• Dinner Prep if possible (crockpot, etc)
• Calendar / Budget work.  Check today's schedule, pay bills if needed.
• Prayers of Gratitude, Affirmations

--------------------------------------------------------

Morning Routines For Kids

Tarot Tuesday, Ace of Swords

As part of our Elemental Studies Series, we will be studying the Suit of Swords, which corresponds to the Air Element of the Tarot.  (We will also be studying a few Major Arcana cards which are related to Air)  You can write about these cards in your Element Studies Journal, or you may choose to get a separate journal or notebook for Tarot studies.  If you don't have a deck of tarot cards, that's okay.... you can still follow along with these lessons and gain a better understanding of different aspects of Air Energy through studying the cards! For our first card of the Swords Suit, here is the Ace of Swords!

Ace of Swords

Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot, 

U.S. Games Systems

*I claim no ownership or copyright of this image, it is shared here as information between friends!  No copyright infringement intended*

Ace of Sword Basics:
Numerology; 55/10/1

Astrology: All Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)
Planet; Mercury
Kabbalah: Kether (Crown)

Some Key Words; Mind Expanding, Mental Focus, Seeds of Truth, Application of Will, New ways of thinking, Fresh Plans and strategies, Ambition, Movement, Power, Leadership, Fresh Ideas, Timing, Change, Intellect, Initiative, Clarity, Justice, Truth, brain-storming, ideas, meditation, premise, announcement.

The Ace of Swords represents the essence of the Air Element in it's most basic form.  It is the birthplace of thought and mental power.  A Sharp mind and clear thinking can cut it's way through any conflict.  This card represents the realm of the intellect, initiative, fresh ideas, new thoughts, clarity, announcements and new beginnings in the realm of the mind.  

All of the Aces can be seen as "seeds" of the element they represent.  Ace of Pentacles is the seed of Earth, Ace of Cups is the seed of Water, and so on. The Ace of Swords is the seed of Air - the seed of thought.  It is the beginning of a new purpose, the germ of an idea.  Yet this seed requires nurturing; it needs some grounding in order for it to take root.  Without focused grounding and intentional care, this new thought or idea could easily flit away on the wind.  This card also represents how strong our words can be.  Words can be cutting and harmful, or uplifting and strengthening.  This card reminds us to use our words with care; both in how we speak to others and how we speak to ourselves.

The Ace of Swords Says;
"You possess enough verbal incision to cut through any obstacles at the moment, a new blade cuts sharp, and those who cross your path right now should take care that you do not cut straight through them with your acerbic wit.  You are prone to not suffering fools gladly so when you decide the time has come to embark on a new initiative, people had better keep out of your way." ~ Around the Tarot in 78 Days by Marcus Katz and Tali Goodwin

CONNECT WITH THE ACE OF SWORDS:

here are some ways you can connect with this card.

Affirmation 1: "I am the seed of infinite ideas."

Affirmation 2: "I recognize opportunities to discover the truth."

Connection Activities;

* Resolve a situation that is on your mind, ensuring you have clarity in all dealings.

* Be very clear about your future objectives.  Speak your goals out loud or write them down.

* Speak up for yourself at a crucial moment.

* Be true to yourself.

* Think things through.  If you have an idea or project, do something to get it started instead of just thinking about it.  Remember, this card is the seed of thought, but if you don't plant and nurture the seed, nothing will come of it.

*Place the Ace of Swords on your Air Element Altar to be a reminder throughout this week, and to empower your altar with the energy of new ideas and clarity of thought.

* Try to cook the recipe from The Ace of Swords from the Epicurean Tarot (posted on yesterday's Mommy Time Monday post)  Trying something new will help you open your mind, and the recipe is designed to inspire you and strengthen your mental capabilities.

* Meditate on the Ace of Swords.  Place it in front of you, relax, and just see what thoughts begin to flow.  Don't try to block or direct your thoughts, just relax and see where they take you.  

* Meditation suggestion;
"If like attracts like, we should take care to make our thinking as kindly as possible.  When you wake in the morning, try to think a kind thought to start the day well."

*Journal on the Ace of Swords.  In your Element Studies journal or your Tarot Journal, take time to ask yourself these following questions.  Answer them as honestly as possible, and try to let your words and thoughts flow easily.  Writing is an excellent Air Energy exercise, so let yourself write as much as you can on each of these questions (or the ones that call to you the most);

• What is on your mind?
• What do you need to analyze?
• What new problem are you confronting?
• What is the point?
• Are you being just and fair?
• What decision do you need to face?
• Can you determine the truth of the matter?
• What legal, writing, or research / learning opportunities have been presented to you?
• Are you fully embracing these learning opportunities?

The more ways you can truly connect with the energy of this card, and the Seed of Air energy behind it, the better you will understand yourself, this tarot card, and the Air Element.  I hope you enjoy these suggestions and are able to find ways to apply them to your life this week, or any time!  

Sources; Around The Tarot in 78 Days by Marcus Katz and Tali Goodwin

Tarot For Yourself by Mary K. Greer.

Also read;
  Tarot For Kids - The Ace of Swords from The Whimsical Tarot
Mommy Time Monday - The Ace of Swords from The Housewives' Tarot 

Faerie Friday - Detoxification

I thought that with our Air Element studies, it would be a good time to connect with the Faeries and see what lessons they have for us each week!  So every Friday (as my hectic life permits) I will draw a card - either from the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Deck by Doreen Virtue, or from The Fey Tarot by Mara Aghem.  For each week's reading I will ask what advice the Fairies have for us; both for myself and for those of us who are following this blog and the Air Element Studies.  This card will give us something we can work on, an area of focus, or some advice to follow for the following week.... from Friday thru next Friday!  Enjoy, and let's see what the Faeries have to teach us!

This week I drew a card from the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue.

DETOXIFICATION

Artwork by Nancy Chien-Eriksen

Card Meaning;

"You are being guided to clean your body, environment, mind, and heart of toxins.  God and the fairies will help you with this endeavor. 

It's time to let go of toxins, within and around you.  This card validates your inner guidance that has been telling you to let go of harmful habits.  Go outside in nature, and call upon the fairies to surround you.  Ask God (and Goddess) and the fairies to help you release toxins from your mind, body, and heart.  Ask them to help you release cravings for harmful habits.

You'll soon find yourself naturally desiring organic fresh food and produce.  You'll be guided to read ingredient labels of all foods, beverages, and toiletry items, and you'll only want to use natural products.  You'll be guided away from environmental toxins.  And most important, your thoughts and emotions will veer away from judgment and fear, and will become love based instead.

Affirmation: I take excellent care of my body, and I crave only healthful foods and beverages."

From the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Deck Guidebook by Doreen Virtue, Hay House Inc.  

_________________________________________________________

I feel that this card is reminding us that our Mind, Body, and Spirit are all connected. In order to embark upon any kind of spiritual journey or learning-quest, our bodies must be healthy and well taken care of.  Pay attention to what you are putting in your body.  Drink more water, make healthier choices, embark upon a detoxification process such as a juice fast if you feel it necessary at this time.  Exercise, do yoga, meditate, and make sure you are taking care of your basic hygiene needs.  You may also want to examine what kinds of cleaning products you use in your home and look for less toxic products for cleaning your home environment.  The fairies will guide you to show you what you need to change in your life, if you are open to listening to them!  For a couple tips on using a homeopathic bath to help you detoxify, check HERE.

___________________________________________________________

Here are a few additional meditations and affirmations to help you with the Detoxification process!

Addiction;

Affirmation 1; "I claim my power and move beyond all limitations."

Affirmation 2; "I forgive myself, and I set myself free."

Addiction Meditation;

Heavy dependence on anything outside myself is addiction.  I can be addicted to drugs and alcohol, to sex and tobacco; and I can also be addicted to blaming people or judging people, to illness, to debt, to being a victim, to being rejected.  Yet, I can move beyond these things.  Being addicted is giving up my power to substance or a habit.  I can always take my power back.  This is the moment I can take my power back!  I choose to develop the positive habit of knowing that life is here for me.  I am willing to forgive myself and move on.  I have an eternal spirit that has always been with me, and it is here with me now.  I relax and let go, and I remember to breathe as I release old habits and practice positive new ones.

Food;

Affirmation 1; "Food is a good friend.  I thank it for giving it's life to nourish me."

Affirmation 2; "I love eating good, healthy food."

Food Meditation;

Eating good, nutritious food is deeply pleasurable whether I am at home, in a restaurant, camping, hiking, or taking my lunch break at work.  I love myself; therefore I choose to be aware of what I put into my mouth and how it makes me feel.  When I eat, I am putting fuel into my body to give me energy.  Every body is different.  I easily find the kind of fuel that my body needs to have optimum health and energy.  Fast foods can be fun occasionally, but it is not normal or healthy to exist on colas, cakes, and processed convenience foods that have little nutrition in them.  Learning about the basics of good nutrition is fun and energizing.  I enjoy cooking and eating delicious, healthful, natural foods.

Nutrition;

Affirmation 1; "I lovingly take charge of my body now."

Affirmation 2: "I nourish myself with love."

Nutrition Meditation;

I care enough for myself to nourish myself with all the best that Life has to offer.  I learn about nutrition because I am a precious being, and I want to take the best care of me that I can.  My body is special and different from all other bodies; therefore, I learn the things that my body assimilates the best.  I learn everything I can about food and beverages.  I pay attention to what I eat and drink, and I I notice some food or beverage does not agree with me.  If I have something to eat and an hour later I feel tired or fall asleep, I realize that particular food is not good for my body at this time.  I search out the foods that give me good energy.  I bless all my food with love and gratitude. I am nurtured and nourished.  I feel healthy, happy, and great!

Body;

Affirmation 1; "My body is a good friend that I take loving care of."

Affirmation 2; "I love my body"

Body Meditation;

My body is perfect for me at this time.  My body weight is also perfect.  I am exactly where I choose to be.  I am beautiful, and every day I become more attractive.  This concept used to be very hard for me to accept, yet things are changing now that I am treating myself as if I am someone who is deeply loved.  I'm learning to reward myself with healthy little treats and pleasures now and again.  Little acts of love nurture me, doing things that I really like, such as quiet time, a walk in nature, a hot soothing bath. or anything that really gives me pleasure.  Caring for my body is the best way to show myself self-love and acceptance.  I believe it is okay to like myself and be my own best friend.  I know my body is filled with star light and that I sparkle and glow everywhere I go.

Housekeeping;

Affirmation 1; "I continually clean the rooms of my mind."

Affirmation 2; "Simple Household chores are a snap for me."

Housekeeping Meditation;

I make housework fun.  I begin anywhere and move through the rooms with artistic flair.  I toss out the garbage.  I dust and polish those things I treasure.  We all have a set of beliefs.  And just like a comfortable, familiar reading chair, we keep sitting in these beliefs over and over again.  Our beliefs create our experiences.  Some of these beliefs create wonderful experiences.  And some of them can become like an uncomfortable old chair that we don't want to throw out.  I know that I really can toss out old beliefs, and I can choose new ones that significantly improve the quality of my life.  It's like housecleaning.  I need to clean my physical house periodically, otherwise it gets to a point where I really can't live in it.  I don't have to be fanatical.  I do need to clean.  Physically and mentally, I fill the rooms of my house with love.

All the above meditations are from the book, "Meditations To Heal Your Life" by Louise L. Hay, Hay House Inc.

___________________________________________

I would suggest that along with the initial advice from the Fairy Oracle Card and asking the fairies for help with detoxification, you choose one of the above meditations (whichever one calls out to you as the one you need help with the most or would be most beneficial to you), and read it to yourself two or three times a day for the next week.  You can read it once in the morning upon waking up, once during the day, and again when you go to bed.  Good luck, and don't forget; God, Goddess, and the Fairies are helping you with this undertaking!