Clean Air! Earth Day Ideas (for Kids)

Clean Air - What Can I do to help?
I found this wonderful article at Clean Air Kids 

What can you do:

There are many things we can do to help reduce air pollution and global warming.

Use buses and trains instead of cars, as they can carry a lot more people in one journey. This cuts down the amount of pollution produced.

Walking or cycling whenever you can will be even better, as it does not create any pollution. It will also be good for your body, as regular exercise will keep you fit and healthy.

If your parents must use the car, ask them to avoid using it for very short journeys if possible, as this creates unnecessary pollution. Try to encourage them to share their journeys with other people, for example when they go to work or go shopping. Also encourage them to drive more slowly as this produces less pollution and less carbon dioxide.

Energy is produced to generate electricity and to keep us warm. Most energy is produced by the burning of fossil fuels, like coal, oil and gas, which release carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Fuel burnt in our cars also releases carbon dioxide. As an individual, you do not have a lot of control on how your energy is produced. However, you can control the way in which you use that energy. Using less energy means less of it needs to be produced. So less carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.

We can also help prevent pollution from our own homes which may contribute to acid rain and poor air quality, and increases emissions of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Turning off lights when they are not needed and not wasting electricity will reduce the demand for energy. Less electricity will need to be produced and so less coal, oil and gas will have to be burnt in power stations, which means less air pollution and less carbon dioxide!

Pollution formed indoors can be reduced by ensuring that all gas appliances are working correctly. Good ventilation will improve indoor air quality by dispersing biological pollutants like dust mite, and other pollutants such as cigarette smoke.

Most of the rubbish we throw away can be recycled, such as glass bottles and jars, steel and aluminium cans, plastic bottles and waste paper.

Recycling used materials uses less energy than making new ones.

Composting fruit and vegetable waste reduces the amount of rubbish buried at rubbish dumps.

What are the Governments doing?

Governments throughout the world have already taken action for these different environmental problems (i.e. Acid Rain, Air Quality, Ozone Hole, Global Warming). In their plans they hope to reduce the amount of emissions of greenhouse gases produced by man.

About half of the greenhouse effect is caused by our use of energy, especially from fossil fuels. Other sources of energy could be used which do not emit carbon dioxide, e.g. wind power, solar (sun power) and wave power. In the home and at school, we must learn to use energy efficiently and not waste it.

Go to the recycling waste and how to make recycled paper exercises.......

There are also lots more games and puzzles to play on this site to help you learn about being kind to out planet's air....

 From Clean Air Kids; http://www.clean-air-kids.org.uk/doingyourbit.html

Air Element Study; Lesson One Craft Project - Air Element Candle

Air Element Lesson One Craft Project

Decorate an Air Element Candle!

After reading Lesson One on the Air Element Correspondences you probably have some good ideas of what kinds of things to decorate your candle with!  This project is simple and fun!  Find a small to medium candle in a glass jar, or a glass candle holder that you can put candles in.
Find or make things to decorate your candles.... like stickers, yellow ribbon, charms, or make designs on yellow parer to cut out and paste onto your candle.  Some example of symbols to use are the Air Element Symbol, a Spiral,  or the symbols for the astrological Air signs; Libra, Gemini, and Aquarius.  You can add words like "Sing", "Music", "Learn", "Mind", "Inspire", "Spring", "East", etc.... whatever you want to add from your list of correspondences will be perfect!

Here are some examples (and different angles) on the ones my daughter and I made to give you some ideas;

Have fun with it!  Afterwards you can say a prayer and smudge your candle with sage to bless it.  Ask the East, The Air, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, The Angels, The Sylphs, and Spring Faeries to bless your candle for use in Air Magick and meditation.

Place your Air Candle on your Air Element Altar.  You will be using it for more spells and meditations.  Also, when the candle inside is used up, you can use it over as a candle holder again by adding another candle, or you can use it as a jar for holding air-element things like feathers and incense sticks! 

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

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Morning Routines For Kids

Tarot For Kids; Ace of Swords

The Whimsical Tarot by Dorothy Morrison is a kid-friendly deck of tarot cards based on Nursery-Rhymes and Fairy Tales.  It is a great Tarot deck for young children, or for the young at heart!  Since our Elemental Studies are geared towards lessons and exercises we can do with our children, I thought that I would share some info from this card deck as we go along.  (On a side note, in this deck the suit of swords is said to represent Fire.  Different decks, depending on their authors and creators may sometimes alternate the association of Swords with Air or Fire, and Wands with Fire or Air.  Even though this deck's book describes this suit to be associated with the Fire Element, I find their meanings ring true for Air Element as well.  For the purpose of solidarity in our studies, we will study the suit of Swords in this deck, despite the differences in the author's view of elemental correspondence.)

Before you begin, you may want to go over The Ace of Swords with your child from my previous post.  Depending on your child's age and level of understanding, interpret as you see fit.

The Ace of Swords

The Whimsical Tarot, by Dorothy Morrison, Illustrated by Mary Hanson-Roberts.  

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*

From the guidebook;

Depiction: A Mighty Sword

Description: "The Ace of Swords is perhaps, the most aggressive card in the tarot.  That's because it speaks of strength, courage, and victory.  It drives home the importance of the ability to stand up for what we believe in, and the other things that we, as humankind, hope are in our power to accomplish.  For this reason, The Ace of Swords is always shown as a sharp. double edged blade - the standard weapon of choice in many ancient wars.  As symbolized by the dragon's head hilt, this particular blade is one of ferocity and experience.  It knows what it is to go to war, fight courageously, and return.  It knows the glory of winning, and power and freedom of victory.  But it also knows the pain of defeat and has experienced the darkness of poor planning. All of this makes for a very balanced blade."

Advice: "When the Ace of Swords appears in your life, you have achieved some sort of victory.  Get out the laurel wreath and prepare an acceptance speech for your rewards.  This is a turning point in your life, a day you will always remember.  It commemorates a time to take up a cause, fight courageously for it's principles, and win against all odds.  Remember what it takes to be a good winner.  Give some thought to your opponent or the crisis you face.  Remember too, that the Ace of Swords is not only razor sharp and bears a double edge, but it is much heavier than it's counterpart, the fencing blade.  Understand that a great deal of strength and responsibility is necessary to wield it with grace and honor.  With that in mind, make sure you are up to the task before you grab it's hilt.  If you are, it will always serve you well.  If not, you may just slip and cut your own throat."

~ Dorothy Morrison

Take a look at the words in bold print.  These are some of the key meanings of this card.  Keep in mind that this sword does not actually represent physical fighting or aggression and violence.  This is more of the fight of willpower, the fight of the mind, the intellect, and the power of words.

Have you ever heard these phrases?
"Sharp-witted"

"Sharp-tongue"

"Words are like a double edged blade."
"Cut to the truth of the matter."

Think about these phrases for a few minutes.  Write down what you think they mean before you continue reading.

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"Sharp-witted" is a way to refer to someone who is witty and smart, usually very quick to speak.  Someone who is referred to as "Sharp" in this way is usually very intelligent and good with words.

"Sharp-Tongue" - Words can hurt.  When someone is called sharp-tongued it means that their words are often hurtful, spiteful, or cruel.  They use the power of their words to cut people down.  When you read the above advice about the Ace of Swords, it said a great deal of strength and responsibility is necessary to wield your sword with grace and honor.  Your sword is your words, your voice.  Are you using it with honor and responsibility?  Are your words kind, or are you sharp-tongued?

"Words are like a double-edged blade". - just like above... words can hurt.  Your words can cut other people's feelings.  But a double-edged blade means that there are two sides of this sword that are sharp.  If one side is cutting someone else, the other side can cut you.  When you use negative words, it hurts others, but it also hurts YOU.  Like attracts like.  What you say about others can come back on you and hurt you.  Also, what you say about yourself can be just as hurtful.  Try not to speak poorly of yourself, criticize yourself, or put yourself down.  They may feel like "Just words", but they cut you very deeply.  And with the double-edged blade, when you speak badly of yourself, it also hurts the people who love you... because they just want you to be happy and know that you are loved.

"Cut to the truth of the matter."  Why do you think the imagery of "cutting" is used in reference to finding the truth or gaining knowledge?  You don't actually have to CUT anything when you are learning, studying, and seeking the truth.  But the phrases "Cut to the heart of the matter," "Cut to the truth of the matter," and "Cut to the chase" all deal with finding truth and getting to the point.  This just goes to show how human kind associates the Mind and Words with Swords!  It's like we see problems like Fog, restricting vines in a jungle, or ropes that bind us.... but we know that if we use the power of our Mind and our Words, we cat slice through the vines, cut through those ropes, and fight our way through the fog to find the truth!

Your words and thoughts are powerful.  You have just been given a very powerful sword.  If you use it wisely and responsibly, you may someday be Knighted or become a King or Queen!  Your journey through the suit of Swords and the Air Element has begun!