From Shamanic Stress Relief: Six Gateways to a Happier Life by Kypris Aster Drake
When I officially became Pagan at 27, I learned even more about the elements and their associations, but it wasn’t until my shamanic training that I truly understood: the elements were metaphors for different aspects of my being. I’ve come to think of elements as a way to describe the type of energy that is moving through my body at any given time. I can be filled with Earth and feel calm and relaxed, or with Fire and feel energized and passionate, for example. The possible interpretations and metaphors are endless.
Each element is also a type of “medicine” for healing whenever something is out of balance. The right elemental medicine depends on what type of imbalance I’m dealing with. Healing with the elements involves either engaging in certain activities, or communing with that element in its pure form. The more I understand the nature of each element by spending time with it, the easier it is to determine which type of medicine is best for me in the moment. Eventually, I’ve reached a sort of equilibrium with myself, where it’s possible to correct an imbalance almost without thinking about, keeping me happy, healthy, calm, and centered.