Four of Air
The Four of Air energies prompt: Withdraw behind borders. Calm the body and mind. Pause to cherish the present moment
Four of Air: Swords
The Four of Air energies manifest in Lavender.
Lavender
Contemplation precedes action. Build a foundation for deeper understanding. Create space for rest and pull away from the outside world.
Lavender is a popular border plant. The strong scent keeps unwanted animals from entering the garden and the woody stems keep other plants from encroaching.
Put up strong boundaries and retreat behind them.
Commitment to self-care eases conflict in other areas of your life. Lavender clears the air and relieves tension, let your emotions settle and your mind relax. Take a break from gathering thoughts and ideas.
You have already learned so much! Allow what you have studied to sink into your bones
Qualities
| Rest, relaxation, meditation, contemplation, recuperation | Exhaustion, burn-out, deep contemplation, stagnation |
Crafting With the Four of Air
The Four cards feature herbs used as border or hedgerow plants. They are shaped and managed to keep what is wanted inside the space and what is not wanted outside the space. These plants introduce the herbcrafter to thresholds and portals. Guarding the ecosystem, they ensure that what grows inside the border thrives. They are gateways to a deeper connection to the plants.
In the second mini-drama (4 -5 -6) the herbcrafter begins to cultivate community. This takes her out of her own experiences to build a bigger world. After the abundance of the Threes, the herbs of the Fours teach her about edges and boundaries. She becomes aware of external factors that affect her journey and thus learns how to create sacred space. Discernment, intention, and mutuality become important as she seeks to protect the ancient ways. The Fours ask the herbcrafter to create a threshold and walk through it.
Craft
- Make a lavender wand; use it to create boundaries from unwanted energies.
- Keep lavender oil with you; for instant calm, make tent and slowly breathe in and out.
- Carry a lavender sachet in your pocket as the grandmothers did, and inhale the scent all day long.
Mini Meditation
Meditation
Get into a relaxing position and close your eyes, make sure you are a comfortable temperature and not likely to be interrupted.
- Take three deep breaths
- Feel your tension melting away.
Imagine yourself doing one of the crafts mentioned above. Use your imagination. Make it as elaborate or as simple as you like. Have whomever you would like to be there come and share the time with you.
Imagine what it would look and feel like, as if it were really happening. Use your five senses and imagine all the sensory details as though you are really there.
Be creative and indulge in this moment.
Spend as long as you like in this visualization and feel the benefits of crafting with nature. Think about your meditation as often as you like as you go through your day. If possible, create it in reality.
The Herbcrafter
Herbcrafter
An herbcrafter is an afficianada of the botanical realm. She is in love with plants and longs to know them more deeply.
Her approach is driven by a playful, wild spirit.
The herbcrafter embraces the plant world as her teacher and friend through observation and botany, gardening and wildcrafting, medicine and kitchen craft, fiber arts and weaving, art and magic.
She recognizes herself as part of nature. She seeks reciprocity in all things. Through the relationship with the botanical world, she learns how plants and people can be of service to one another.
Contemplation seems to be about the only luxury that costs nothing.
Dodie Smith