Sunday Creative Challenge - The Four Elements

I call my blog Flaming Renaissance because it's the blog for my business, Everyday Renaissance (I carried the Renaissance over to connect them, and because it talks about building a new life for ourselves), but the Flaming refers to me. I'm the fire in Flaming Renaissance; it's the story of my own renaissance. I found my element doing this exercise in a book called The Path (by Laurie Beth Jones): Consider the four elements: Fire, Water, Air, Earth. Which one are you? There is no multiple choice test or special assessment to answer this question (well, there probably is something, but I don't know about it); simply consider the nature of the elements and note which one seems most like you, which one reflects how you feel you are in this world. (I found I knew which one was me right away - it just felt right.) Now, ask 3-5 people you feel know you well which one they think you are. Note: you might not want to ask people who have an invested interest in who you are - spouse, parent - it's sometimes hard for them to see past the you they want you to be. I had a profound revelation doing this exercise; even though I clearly related to Fire, I discovered (when I asked my husband which one he thought I was) that I'd actually been acting like another one. That's when I realized that I really wanted to be myself, no matter the cost. Who knows what profound revelations you'll have. Got your element? Ok. Now let's make it real and define it. Take a pen and paper and write down every word and phrase that you can think of as being associated with your element. Use descriptive words, word pictures, etc - anything to do with your element. Fire burns, it's warm, it cleans out, makes space for renewing, it destroys, it's orange, it.... Free write anything and everything you can think of. Now, for the creative part: let those words inspire you. Make a piece of art out of them. a painting, a quilt, a poem, a sculpture... Find a three dimensional way to express you and your element. Now set it up somewhere where you can see it all the time. It's a reminder of just one aspect of who you are. Something to aspire to.

Megan Potter is a mom, a homeschooler, a wife, a life coach, and an all around creativity freak. Her own artistic expression of choice is painting and writing, but her real passion is teaching and coaching others. She is just beginning a new business, Everyday Renaissance, dedicated to inspiring women around the world to live creative lives. You are welcome to stop by her blog, Flaming Renaissance, she'd love to hear from you!

Comments

[Paula]

I´m an Air gal. :) Forever and a day.
Now I need to find someone to ask the same question.
A blue page is in order, I think. :D

[nyjlm]

My mind is not even attracted to any of the elements but water. I'm a pisces and I just love water- I love floating in a pool or the ocean or a lake, love hearing water. I asked my mom for a watch for my birthday, I knew the model was called whale. When it came and I put it on I noticed that every once in a while a whale sort of swims across one part of the display- love it!

[Megan]

Good idea about using the comments!

I think if you are stuck you can start listing quialities of that element. As you look at the lists it will become much more clear. Sometimes I think we want to be another element (you want to be solid and safe like earth), or we are acting like another element when it's not really who we are, so making lists if very helpful.

[Melba]

Megan, I really like this creative challenge.

I think in the comments here we can ask each other what sign we think the other is.

Anyone want to tell me what they see me as...Fire, Water, Air, Earth?

I have it narrowed down between two....Water and Earth. I think water. Yes, Water.

I am going to write something about water in my journal this morning and create a collage this evening. I feel like doing it now, but I have some other stuff to do first.

XO,
Melba