Some people are more naturally attuned to the Earth’s energies than others. I will say outright, I’m one of those people who are not terribly attuned to them! But many are, and when I read for a client who is, it is a very interesting energy that they carry. They feel “different,” and there is a definite presence of one or more of the elemental energies in their energetic matrices.

Astrologers can look at your birth’s date and time and tell you how much of each kind of the four basic energies is present in your chart. Each of the twelve Western astrological signs (e.g. Taurus, Leo, etc.) is associated with an element. Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio are considered “water” signs; Capricorn is an “earth” sign, and so on. These elemental energies, astrologers believe, have an influence on each soul’s development and life lessons they need to learn. Of course, astrology raises the “chicken and egg” question, which is whether a soul’s astrological makeup determines the life experiences it is to have, or whether a soul chooses the astrological makeup before birth, so it can have the necessary life experiences needed to learn the lessons it already chose to have during this lifetime! The great American psychic Edgar Cayce, in trance state, came down on the side of the latter argument.

But while astrological readings can be extremely informative and helpful, there are many other ways you can use the four elements to improve your daily life and mental well being. You can do this by simply imagining, thinking about, or drawing in the energy of any or all of the elements when you feel in need of them. For example, if you are feeling directionless and scattered, you have got too much Air. In that case, you might try to “ground” yourself by concentrating on the Earth element. Think about a solid mountain, or the deep, rich soil, or a fertile field.

When you are feeling so angry you might just explode, you are heavy with Fire, and you need some Water to cool off! In that case, think about the sea, or a calm lake, or a river, or a still pool. Drink a glass of water and imagine it cooling you down, soothing you and relieving the irritation. Search with your eyes for the colors of blues, greens, and greys.

If you seem to be picking up everyone else’s pain or emotions and can’t even figure out what you’re feeling yourself, you’re probably too much in tune with Water. You might want to try lifting your spirits by focusing on Air (think carbonated beverages, balloons, strong winds or gentle breezes). Or you might want to ground yourself with Earth, or dry things up a bit with Fire (think matches, fireplaces, candles, or even volcanoes!).

As you work with elemental energies, you will learn to recognize them and use them to your benefit. You can draw them in to shift your emotions, clear energetic blockages, and guide your thoughts, words and actions. You can draw them in when you are problem-solving, or working creatively or otherwise artistically. If you have time to experience them physically (i.e. go for a walk, light a candle, take a bath, do deep breathing), then all the better. But remember, your mind has very good memory banks, so if you’ve experienced something once, you can experience it again in your mind’s eye.

Good luck and have fun!