Earth, Water, Fire & Air

Cait Johnson is the author of five spirituality-based books, including Cooking Like a Goddess and, with Maura Shaw, Celebrating the Great Mother. She trained at the Institute for Transpersonal Psychology and has been a counselor for more than twenty years. She holds an MFA in theater arts and teaches workshops on connecting to Spirit, seasonal elemental approaches to self-healing, poetry-writing and conscious eating.

"This is a beautifully written book that weaves together the wisdom of many traditions with unique and creative practices to deepen our connections with the elements. Cait Johnson is a marvelous guide through the elements that make up our world, our bodies and our souls."—Tom Cowan, author of Fire in the Head: Shamanism and the Celtic Spirit and The Shaman's Quest: Journeys in an Ancient Spiritual Practice"Drawing from the diverse and yet profoundly similar teachings of the world's faith traditions, this is a must-have book for both the beginning spiritual journeyer and the seasoned traveler. Through guided meditations, simple activities and thoughtful questions, one is gently led to understand the basic elements of all human existence."—Carole Ann Camp, coauthor of Labyrinths from the Outside In: Walking to Spiritual Insight—A Beginner’s Guide"Opens up the deep, rich possibility to transform your relationship to these basic elements with fascinating facts and stories and simple, yet profound visualizations, meditations and exercises. It is a book to savor."—Kay Lindahl, author of The Sacred Art of Listening: Forty Reflections for Cultivating a Spiritual Practice

• Preface xiAcknowledgments xvEarth 1Introducing Earth 3Earth Prayer 71. The Nurturing Ground 9Being with the Earth 15Growing Earth-Love 16Seed-Thoughts on Earth as Great Nourisher 172. The Underworld 21Underground Journey to the Roots 26Seed-Thoughts on Earth as Underworld 283. The Sacred Stone 31Rock-Prayer 40Cave of Safety 41Seed-Thoughts on Earth as Sacred Stone 424. The Holy Garden Grove 45Spirit-Garden 50Tree of Your Inner Spirit 51Seed-Thoughts on Earth as Holy Garden Grove 53Water 57Introducing Water 59Water Prayer 6105. The Great Maternal Sea 63Bath of Form and Formlessness 67Grieving with Water 68Reflections on Water as the Mystery of Life/Death/Life 6906. The Universal Solvent 71The Well of Releasing 79Washing Away Fear 79Reflections on Water as Purifier 8007. The Compassionate Healer 83Drinking Sacred Waters 90Journey to the Undersea Chamber of the Heart 92Reflections on Water as Compassionate Healer 9408. The Deep Creative 97Creative Water Play 104The Nature of Rain 105Reflections on Water as Creative Sourceand That Which Is 107Fire 109Introducing Fire 111Fire Prayer 11309. The Destroyer/Liberator 115Liberating Fire 122Illuminating the Face of Fire as Destroyer/Liberator 12310. The Flame of Life and Spirit 127Flame Song and Visualization 135Guided Journey to the Spirit of Fire 136Sacred Fire Shrine 138Illuminating the Face of Fire as the Flame ofLife and Spirit 139Air 143Introducing Air 145Air Prayer 14911. The Inspirer 151Incense Meditation 157Breaths of Fresh Air as the Inspirer 15912. The Breath-Bridge 163Journey to the Breath 169Breaths of Fresh Air as the Breath-Bridge 17113. The Power of Sound 175Sound Prayer 185Breaths of Fresh Air as the Power of Sound 186Notes 191Further Reading 197