Elemental Connections Part 2 of 4: FIRE

ECO NEWS, December 2008, by Deanna Fry

Elemental Connections
Part 2 of 4:


With flickering light, luxurious warmth, aromatic smoke - there’s nothing like a crackling wood fire! I sure hope you’ve had the chance to see, feel, smell and hear one for yourself. Whether you’re alone or with a bunch of people, there’s something about a fire that warms both heart and soul. I like to call that feeling an ‘elemental connection’.

LIFE NEEDS FIRE
Along with Water, Earth and Air, Fire is one of the four natural elements required for life on Earth. You may be thinking, “What does she mean? Plants and animals do just fine without making fires.” Think again! All living things need light and/or heat energy from the biggest fire of all - the sun. Plants are the really magical ones because they take water and nutrients from the soil, carbon dioxide from the air, light energy from the sun and they combine it all to grow into living organisms. Life is actually produced from the four natural elements; that’s why they are called ‘producers’ in ecology.

EATING THE SUN
Animals are the ‘consumers’ because they eat plants (or each other) to get the energy they need to survive. Think about that the next time you are eating a slice of orange; it’s like you’re actually eating a ‘piece’ of the sun. In fact, even the energy we get from burning fossil fuels ultimately comes from the sun. That’s because coal, oil and natural gas were formed from decomposed plants and animals that lived and died millions of years ago.

A SUN BLANKET
We also need heat from the sun in order to survive, or the earth would be too cold. Gasses in the atmosphere hold some of the sun’s heat like a blanket - but more on that when we talk about the Air element. It’s warmest at the equator and gets colder as you travel north or south toward the poles. It also gets colder as you go up a mountain - that’s why the highest mountains always have snow on their tops.

LIFE AND LIGHT
Winter Solstice, around December 21st, is the day when we have the most darkness and the least amount of daylight. Festivals of light are held at this time of year by many cultures around the world. The colourful lights and candles that help us celebrate Christmas, Hannukah and Diwali symbolize hope in the  darkness, and remind us that the light and new life of spring will return. So, sometime this winter, find a comfy spot in your home where you can sit or lie in the sunshine coming in through a window. Close your eyes, relax and feel the warmth; feel the ‘elemental connection’. If you have a dog or cat, you’ve probably noticed them doing the very same thing!

~ Deanna

Add Comment

(Please use a nickname or your first name only. To help other girls relate, let us know your age and what province/state or country you live in. Other identifying information like email address, address, web sites or phone numbers will NOT be accepted. Thanks for your comments (: COMMENTS WILL BE POSTED WITHIN 24HRS.)

*Name:
*Name:
*Email (your email will not be displayed):
*Comment:

*By clicking "submit", you acknowledge that you are 13 or older, or have received parental permission to send your information, according to our privacy policy.

Reproduction of any article or content herein, in whole or in part, without written permission is strictly prohibited.
© Girls Can Do Anything Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved.