Earth Magic is for Dweebs

Part one of a four part series on working with the elements from a personal perspective
by Retrokali

This is written from the perspective of a true air witch. I LIKE to be in my head, I LIKE concepts, and milling over probabilities, faces of the Goddess, discussions on circle casting, and the metaphysical value of meditation. I like it. So, naturally Earth magic has been a little rough for me.

Earth magic is tangible, real. Words seem useless during Earth focused magic, and if you use them at all, they’d better be focused. You had better say what needs to be said, and then shut your trap. Useless words during earth magic seem more useless. It is the same with gestures. An air witch can light a candle and FIND a reason to cast a spell, with an earth witch, it had better be organic. If it isn’t felt 100% then she won’t do it. The true earth witch doesn’t feel things the same way as fire water or air witch does; the origin, the cell of the feeling for an earth witch is felt as clear as mud squishing between your toes. It engages all the senses and leaves no room for thought. Thought for earth witches is a by-product of an original sensation, an original sense.

Of course, besides taking you out of your elemental comfort level, there is, I must reluctantly admit, a lot of value in connecting intimately with the other Elements in which you aren’t as strong in. It is a four point circle, Earth, Air Fire and Water, or if you prefer the pentacle, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. To be balanced we must fill in our weak parts, and strengthen them. We must work with the other elements that we aren’t as strong in as much as possible. To the table we bring our strengths, our perspective. For the Air witch, that means that Earth, Fire and Water will be viewed from the perspective of Air. Even when I work with Earth, I still see it in words, concepts. That is just who I am, and what element that you most embody will greatly color your view of the other elements.

So back to Earth. I have had the pleasure of being in a coven and closely practicing with a true Earth witch. Most of us are an amalgamation maybe part Earth, but a bit watery. Maybe your burn so hot you are Fire Woman (or man), but to ground yourself, you can be a real hippie-back-to-nature type at times. There are Earth-Air types, Fire-Water types (which is a real roller coaster) Air-Water types (think hurricane) but most of us are a mix. It is rare to find someone who is so strong in an element that they almost become it, but this chick was all, organic, dirt, smell of fresh grass, as present on this planet as anyone you can find, Earth. Working with her was a real treat.

As a witch we get to be creators. What we do, whether it be in spell form, thought form, or ritual, is brought to life by our intent, our creative power. When I worked with this woman I was brought into the creative power of the Earth. In working with her I learned that Earth Magic is not what I previously thought, boring and simple, but exciting, and the literal fruit of all my mental meanderings.

Ritual with her was focused on the moment. The power that was lent to the spell was staggering, without my brain circling and circling, I could hear the candle flame; feel the energy shift without trying to analyze it. I wondered how I ever got along without earth power as my grounding force during spell work and ritual. And the best by-product was that AFTER ritual I wasn’t trying to ,”figure it all out” but was present to see the workings of my intent unfold in my life.

If you are not an earth type person, and prefer to dwell in the halls of supernatural happenings and mysterious enigma, then let me try to sell you on it. Earth magic is what happens during and AFTER the spell. And if you aren’t properly attuned to earth (in your own way) you will miss it.

Tips for working with earth magic:

1. Use your senses. Feel, hear, and touch smell taste. Let that be the magic. Try to quiet your mind and let the experience take over.
2. Never is an earth witch stronger than in her sacral chakra, her gut. Listen to what your stomach is telling you, go with your feelings, not you head feelings, but your bodily ones.
3. Feel the sacred in the simple. When you eat, chew, and taste. When you light the candle look at the flame, it in itself is magic. Keep your mental or emotional chatter to a minimum.
4. Don’t try to figure anything out (or for fire, make it happen, or for water, feel the emotion you are trying to feel). Earth is silent as a tree, and when Mother Earth wants to talk, you will hear her if you are still.
5. If all else fails ask the Earth spirits or guardians for help. Tell them you want to know the Earth and her wisdom. Then wait. Quietly. Observe, and She will show herself to you.

As a former, in- my –head- only air witch I write to tell you that earth magic is cool. It can enrich you. Earth magic is not for dweebs, earth magic is for everybody.