Healing with the Elements

If I were to ask you to choose your favorite element, which one would it be? Earth…Water…Air…or Fire?

Does one leap to mind right away? Or perhaps you need a moment to ponder the idea, sizing each of the elements up one by one before you decide. If so, please do so and take all the time you need.

Once you’ve made your selection, I invite you to close your eyes for a few minutes and allow your most pleasant memory of that element to float to the surface. Recall a time when your world slowed down for a bit, and instead of passing the element by as it blended into the backdrop of your life, you actually had a chance to notice that element’s distinctive qualities—its force, power, and beauty.

Maybe you experienced your element while sitting near the center of your campground, the sky above finally releasing its embrace with the sun. Resting in your canvas chair, you might have become lulled into silence by the dancing flames within a stone-ringed fire sprouting mesmerizing shapes you’d forgotten fire was capable of producing.

Or perhaps it was at the edge of a hot spring as you slowly sank into the warm, heavy liquid that welcomed you as it drifted around your limbs and torso. The worries and stressors you’d been shouldering falling away as your body recalled (or realized for the first time) the wonders of such magical, mineral-filled water.

Walking along a favorite path or trail, you may have noticed the first warm breeze at the end of a long winter, brushing against your cheek and reminding you of change, renewal, and the coming of new life. And the knowing that the air’s movement is an integral part of bringing that change into being.

Or maybe it was on bent knees in your garden? Turning the earth’s dark palette with your fingers, feeling the rich potential within it as you ferreted out weeds, buried tiny seeds, and rejoiced at the sight of the season’s first worm!

If you can, really let yourself be in that moment. Can you remember what your element smelled like, what it felt like, either through direct touch or as it moved through the air around you? Did your element have a sound or a song? Was it warm or cold? Heavy or light? How did it feel being with that element—playful, relaxing, energizing, or something altogether different? How long did that quality of awareness last?

Special moments with the elements have the potential to help us heal—to connect us with the stillness, joy, and hope that sometimes get lost under a mountain of to-dos, within a desert of distractions, or in a stream of worries that often seems to flow without ceasing.

But what if there were something more? What if the healing could go even deeper than just a temporary lifting of our spirits by reminding us that there is still magic and beauty pulsing nearby? (Not that this is any small feat nowadays.)

What if I told you that the elements are actually healers that you can speak to? Healers you can directly ask for assistance in processing and transmuting your emotional, physical, and energetic ailments.

If you haven’t already, I would like to invite you to forge a new connection with the elements so you can begin seeing them as the ancient, shapeshifting healers that they truly are.

Cultivating a connection with the elements is not an elaborate process, but like any relationship, it takes some time and focus and often grows stronger with each effort.

But before we make this connection, we must begin as we would with any healing work: we must set our intention.

Intention becomes the all-important foundation and direction for the healing work that follows, so I encourage you not to rush this part. Take a few minutes to really consider what you would like to ask for—what you feel you most need. (If you are still feeling stuck after a few minutes of reflection, there will be some suggestions further below.)

The next step is to ask which element would be best for you to work with according to the intention you’ve set. When asking, try to relax your mind and your body so that you can stay open. If it feels comfortable, you can place both hands on your belly and allow your breath to fill your abdomen, causing your hands to rise and fall with the rhythm created by your inhalations and exhalations.

For some, the answer will come as a sound or an image of the element, and for others, it will arrive as a sense of knowing, a smell, or a feeling.

In whatever way the element responds, trust that you’ve received the right answer. Also, I recommend going with the first element that comes to mind rather than second-guessing yourself. Just remember, the other elements aren’t going anywhere, so you can always return to work with them later.

If, for any reason, you get stuck and just aren’t sure which one to pick, you might consider trying this technique. Ask the question, “Which element would be the best at helping me heal the issue I’m having right now.” (Feel free to use your own words here if that feels better.)

Now imagine that question residing in your heart center (about 4-6 inches above the place where your ribcage meets). If you feel the question still perched in your head, gently coax it where you want it to go by placing the tips of your fingers on the crown of your head and slowly pull them down the contours of your face, down your neck, and all the way to your heart center.

As you do this, imagine that your fingertips are pulling that question along with them, down into your heart center, where you will be able to get a clear answer as to which element to use.

Once at the heart center, press your fingers to this point in your body and hold them there, thus teaching the thought/question where you’d like it to stay.

It can take several minutes for the answer to surface. This technique accesses nonlinear resources within us and often moves at a non-Western pace, so try to be patient. Also, when first using this technique, you may have to repeat it a few times (starting at the crown of your head and moving your fingertips downward) before getting the question to agree to stay in your heart center rather than floating back into your head—where questions are used to residing.

Note—this technique first came to me in the early stages of writing my book and proved exceptionally helpful in settling down my overly anxious monkey mind so that I could begin to hear what my heart wanted to say versus what my head thought I should write. So, if this technique works for you, feel free to use it in other areas of your life!

If you are still having trouble, might I suggest starting with the earth element? Its grounding energy can genuinely assist us when we struggle to get out of our heads.

Once you know what element you would like to work with, set aside some time to connect with it. Our circumstances will not always allow us to visit the most idyllic spots, such as the ocean’s edge or the forest floor, to make this connection. If this is the case for you, do not despair. The elements have power in all of their iterations.

If you only have the time or means to engage the element of water in your bathtub or the element of fire in the flame of a candle rather than a campfire, remember that intention and effort matter far more than setting. And if all your situation will allow is you imagining your element, then know that that will also benefit you.

Once you have created the time and space to connect with your element, start by introducing yourself. Let the element know who you are and why you are seeking its help (your intention).

When I ask for healing for myself, I often ask for help with not only what I know is going wrong but also with any unseen factors of which I am still unaware. If this resonates with you, you can try this as well.

If you are feeling stuck and don’t know what to ask your element, feel free to try some of the suggestions below. If none of these feels right, don’t force the healing work. Trust that your own perfect request will surface when it’s/you’re ready.

Fire—ask fire to burn off what is no longer supporting your soul’s purpose. Ask it to clear the forest of past debris that keeps you from finding your path forward.

Air—ask air to help you feel the vastness of your potential. Ask it to blow apart the box you’re trapped within so the misconceptions that prevent you from knowing who you truly are can be carried away on its wind.

Earth—ask the earth to help you ground so that you can cultivate stability and balance. Ask it to help you access the creative force within you—your own core energy— so that you can remember why you are here and what you have to offer this world.

Water—ask water to teach you about flow and adaptability in the face of change. Ask it to help you remember your own inner shapeshifter which can transform and thrive despite any hardships taking place around you. Ask water to carry away the obstacles that get in the way of this needed fluidity.

Once you know which element you plan on working with, repeat your intention to this element—respectfully asking it for what you need. If you feel comfortable, you can say your intention out loud. If not, silently is also fine.

Whether you are with your element out in nature or inside your home or yard, or by imagining your element in your mind, try to stay as present as possible. Feel into the connection growing between you. Be aware of any sensations in your body. Let your body know that it is safe to allow this element to help you release any pain, suffering, or confusion you are holding.

If your mind wanders, gently bring your focus back to the present. You can also repeat your intention as often as needed as a way of bringing your attention back to the process.

If you are a visual person, perhaps you will get an image of the element as it works with your issue(s). How does it interact with your body and the affected area(s)? If you are more of an auditory person, perhaps you will be able to hear your element. If so, what sound does it make as it works to help you? And what sound (if any) does your body make as it begins to respond? However your element shows up for you, know that it is speaking to you in the language you can best understand.

Also, if you cannot feel, hear, see, smell, or sense anything at first, trust that the healing is happening anyway.

Note—I used to offer shamanic healing work at a healing arts center in Seattle. There, I had the chance to work with many other healers. Even though I knew that healers generally tend to be sensitive souls, I was always surprised by how much of the healing they could feel—and how specific the sensations/visuals they reported were.

I also noticed that some clients who had very few sensations during our early sessions often started to feel more as our work together continued. All to say, feeling something while healing is happening can have more to do with someone’s level of sensitivity rather than the healing itself.

The first time I asked an element for healing, I can report that the sensations were fairly subtle. However, I was shocked when, less than 48 hours later, my body experienced a huge release similar to what I would expect on the tail end of a detoxifying cleanse.

The place where I first asked an element for healing

This is only one example of what can happen when you ask an element for healing. Everyone’s experience will be different and tailored to what they need and can handle in that moment. Also, the most subtle healing is often the most powerful. As the great shaman Sandra Ingerman says, “Fireworks fade.” It’s what comes after that matters.

After you have completed your healing session with your element, always remember to thank your element just as you would any other healer.

I truly hope this simple technique can become a readily accessible and profound healing resource in your life.

Wishing you health, happiness, and serenity until we meet again.