Continuing in our “What’s In Your Cabinet” DIY series… we wanted to talk about the various ways we work with and honor air in our personal practices. Air can be represented in many ways: sound, smoke and scents, feathers and wings, things which can be hung and move with the breeze… whatever turns your attention to the air around you.
The air/wind element is communication and the mental realm; thought, emotion, perspective. Just like your throat and lungs are your vessel for air, air carries our ideas and expressions out into the world when we speak, breathe, and sing.
Every culture and tradition honors the air element in different and varied ways! In Ancient Greece air was linked with many of the gods, but especially Psyche and Aether and connects us to the celestial spheres. In Chinese traditions air is linked to life force and spiritual energy. In the Yoruba tradition, the fierce warrior Ayao is the Orisha of air. Going down the research rabbit-hole you can find a lot of inspiration that will align with your ancestral heritage and practices.
Crystals and minerals associated with Air/Wind: Clear Quartz, Lepidolite, and any lightweight stones such as Pumice. These stones are good for focus, intuition, acquiring knowledge, communication, and aiding in breath work.
Air is embodied in Tarot decks through the suit of Swords. Using the Page, Knight, Queen, or King of Sword cards as a focal point are a good way to strengthen your own connection with wisdom and clear communication.
Alessandra: My work this year was to embody more the Air attributes - speaking more truths, connecting to my spiritual energies, but also to not be afraid to preserve and set up boundaries. For me Air connects deeply into my shadow work, so it has been something through those in my personal book of shadows, trying to remind myself of the Ace of Swords; and wear an amulet to remind me of those things I am working on. I also have been trying to make more bird friends in my back yard, as quarantine allowed me to establish an outdoor altar - hoping they will grace me with some secrets they have with working with air.
Laura: Over the years scents became an important aspect of my practice. Burning natural incense and resins and steaming aromatic herbs help to set a warm and inviting atmosphere that are an important aspect of my devotional practice. Living near a creek I am lucky to be near many flying animals including hawks, owls, duck, dragonflies, and butterflies. Bells and cloth banners hang outside to carry small offerings on the wind. Spending time outside listening to their calls and watching their flight patterns is really centering for me.
