“Feel the fires of Balthazar!” – GuildWars2
Before we can work with the energy of the world, we must attune to it. How best to attune varies from person to person, but a good place to start is with each of the Elements. Take some time to connect with each element individually. Visit them, get to know them, see how they are feeling today, and how you feel working with them.
The easiest way to attune is through the senses. Given that you should have items representing the elements at your altar, it’s very easy to start your journey getting attuned simply by holding or viewing your sacred items. It can be as simple as a pinch of dirt from your grandmother’s garden or a bowl of fresh water or as fancy as the most amazing crystal obelisks you’ve seen (If I had a million $$$$$$…..).
As you handle and/or view your items reflect on their importance to you, and then on their connection to the element they represent. Completing this circle of reflection will help you get to know each of the elements as a friend. Once you’ve met them all, you can start working together to find your magical harmony.
Getting out in nature is another (my favorite) way to attune. Go on an invigorating mountain hike, the crisp Air growing thinner gives your mind clarity, the Earth beneath your feet grounding each step, the beautiful pines, vistas and horizons igniting the Fire of imagination. Your pilgrimage is the ultimate selfcare, and enriching yourself in the presence of all of Water’s fruits soothes and nurtures your soul. Allowing the Spirit to soar as you reach into the divine in pure blissful harmony.
If you have already begun your magical journey and know how to manage your attunement, or the above was enough of a primer you can skip to the next separator, everyone else, I’m going to cover some easy boo-boo proof ways to begin connecting with each element no matter where you are!
Elementary Elemental Attunement
Air: Are you breathing right now? Actually I bet you’re manually breathing right now- Haha-made you think about it. Getting attuned to air is as simple as focusing on your breath. Take deep cleansing breaths, clear your mind of anything but those breaths, and let clarity and courage come to the forefront of your mind. If you prefer something more tangible, find a small piece of amethyst or keep an eye out for a feather while on walks (wash it of course) and spend some time handling it. Try to study it, learn it like your own hands, every detail and let everything else fade way. You and Air are now connected.
Earth: A pinch of dirt. That’s all you need to get to know Earth. Grab a pinch of dirt from your yard, a family members yard, any piece of dirt will do. Twirl your fingers through it, hold it in the palm of your hand. Think of the place it came from, think of what is around that place. What has changed? What has stayed the same? For the things that did change, is it better and more supportive? Find the stability in the consistence and the improvements and be grounded in that stability. Say hello to your new friend Earth.
Fire: Who doesn’t like Fire? If you have a firepit, if you can build a campfire, if you light a candle. Spend some time appreciating the beauty and power of Fire, the bigger the better in my opinion. Spend some time gazing into the flames, watch them lick at the Air, see the ashes and embers dropping to the Earth and recognize the Fire fuels the circles of life, the constant cycle of change requires a source of energy. If you don’t like playing with fire for some reason, grab your favorite red thing (literally, color red=fire) or if you prefer the more “classic” approach, a chunk of wood or suitable gemstone/crystal like carnelian, citrine, amber or alexandrite tumbled between your hands while you contemplate the Fire that burns to create all things. Once you feel the passion for that creative power glow, Fire is in your belly.
Water: Much like Earth, Water is so simple to attune with. A small bowl of aqua. From a well or city line, from the rain or melted snow. A few drops of H20 to dip your fingers in and the healing power will flow. Placing a few drops of Water on your face or neck and feel it drip down to the top of your torso. Reflect on the feeling left by the trail on your skin, the simple clean, refreshed feeling provided for a brief time by Water’s healing touch. When you can feel that healing touch after the water has dried, you’ll know Water is with you. There are other touch and visualization options, but really touching and interacting with Water is really the supreme way.
Spirit: This one admittedly is a little tricky as it is the most personal of all, but I will do my best to inspire your path. Our connection to Spirit is found in our connection to the energy flowing through the world, to connect with Spirit you can connect with yourself, take a picture of yourself, look in a mirror, visualize yourself, think of your place in the world, the space you want to take in the world, then follow the energy from where you are to where you want to be, when you feel the energy resonating with your vision, you’ll know you’re close. If connecting with yourself is not your cup of tea (I see and feel you) crystal balls are amazing (not that I would know). Gaze into the ball and picture instead the mystic oneness of the universe. Imagine all the possibilities of all the lives, of all the threads, of all the things that may be, and in that chaos of infinity you will find the one consistent is you, you exist in the divine (dis)order which means you can shape it’s power. It’s hard to describe what attuning with Spirit feels like, but trust me when I say, you’ll know when it happens, as it is really magical.
The individual elements must be respected and acknowledged, but to truly master your magical attunement, you must learn to embrace all of them equally, fully and simultaneously. That does not mean you need to be able to turn a faucet and be attuned however.
I like to take a “Brian Wilson” approach. You get one grove and rhythm established, then you layer another, then another, until all five elements are in harmony and the magic is rocking (Outro to BNL’s Brian Wilson lives rent free in my head, that bass line is sick).
The following is my personal attunement ritual when practicing at home, though things may change slightly from day to day (as it should with magic!) the general process is the same and I’ve found it to be very repeatable for others.
As with anything magical make sure you are ready and open to casting before starting, a forced attunement can cause pain and drive you away from magic for a time. Once your mind and body are ready, get yourself comfortable at your altar, and begin.
Z’s Fiery Attunement Process
Fire: I begin with fire as fire is the fuel that provides the force of our magic, starting here gets the “fires burning” and helps everything else come into place. I typically turn a small chunk of carnelian in my fingers while lighting a candle or incense. While doing this I will focus on the flame or smoke until it has fully captivated my concentration. Once in this trance like state, I will close my eyes and reflect on what I am seeking the power to do and how I wish to manifest it. Once I feel the fires of creativity and passion burning deep within me, I hold on to that power and move to Earth.
Earth: As the grounding element, it’s important to connect early and not lose your footing. Eyes closed with a piece of obsidian or a small bowl of dirt to play with, I try to imagine fusing how I am where I am. If I am kneeling, my knees and feet have sunk into the ground. Sitting? I have sunk into my chair like the Phantom (sorry for ruining that stage magic if you didn’t know), and my chair’s feet have sunk into the ground. It’s like my body has been trapped in the thinnest layer of concrete, I know I can break it, I know it’s not strong, but I feel the security all the same. Once this security and stillness is felt, I move to air.
Air: Possibly my favorite element, knowledge and clarity are so vital for casting it’s important to make this connection! I am ALWAYS wearing a piece of wire wrapped amethyst, so I typically will not add an additional stone here, but I do keep a feather and bell at my altar and will lightly touch my face with the feather or ring the bell a few times until my mind ignites with air’s energy. The mind starts to race with excitement and the magic starts to crackle at the fingertips. Once this happens, its time for water.
Water: I save water for 4th so it can be my bridge to the divine element Spirit. Water helps to set the white magic intent as it is the element of healing and nurturing. I will place my thumbs in a bowl of water or moon water and then bring them to gently massage my temples while reflecting on how the power I am seeking is going to help. Once I am confident in my intent and I feel that healing energy ready I reach out to complete the cycle with Spirit.
Spirit: If all has gone well so far, this attunement is the easiest to make. If your intent is pure, if your mind and body are attuned to the four prior elements, all you need do for this is reach out. I use a crystal ball to gaze into the divine, and ensure I’m fully attuned. If all did not go well I’ll spend a little time speaking with the divine and exploring why it did not, to get the force, stability, clarity and intent set before proceeding.
Once you are used to this process, it can go as quickly as a couple of minutes, but make sure you are taking your time and not rushing, especially when starting out! Anything worth doing, is worth waiting to do right!
Newbie Note: Fire may not be the best place to start if you’re just getting started, it can speed things up which can be great, but when you’re just learning, it’s better to take your time with each stage. I’d consider moving fire to 3rd or 4th depending on your preference.
Z's Grimoire 
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