At each sacred site, one element predominates. If you feel drawn to a particular site, it may be because the dominant element there influences your birth chart in a positive way. If you wish to strengthen or balance certain energies in your life, you could choose to spend time in a place that resonates with an element that's weak in your birth chart. The following list shows the main elements present in various locales.

• Earth: Caves, pastures, forests, grasslands, valleys

• Air: Cliffs, crags, hills, mountains, peaks, windy shores

• Fire: Deserts, hot springs, the tropics, volcanoes

• Water: The ocean, geysers, lakes, rainforests, streams and rivers, waterfalls

Of course, most places blend more than one element. The ones that incorporate all four are often the most powerful and appealing, which is why people flock to the seashore. As you venture out into the natural world, pay attention to your feelings and impressions in different places — your sensations will help you discern which elemental energies reside there.

Earth

Any region that makes you feel centered and grounded is a predominantly earthy site. You might experience a sense of security, protection, or stability. If you extend your psychic senses into such a region, you may notice that it throbs like a drumbeat. Caves, in particular, can demonstrate this magickal response.

Each locale affords opportunities for certain types of magickal work. Predominantly earth sites are good places to do spells for prosperity, growth, steady progress, career advancement, fertility, stability, and protection.

Air

The air element is a little elusive, but any region that inspires a playful, creative, liberated feeling within you is likely dominated by the air element. Windy spots and high peaks where you feel you can touch the sky are airy sites. If you extend your psychic ears, here you might hear what sounds like bells or chimes. Notice the music of the winds; each wind has a unique voice and emotion.

Magickally, you can tap the energy in an area where air energy is strong to increase your mental and communicative abilities. These are good places to do spells for friendship and social situations, creativity, motivation, happiness, intellectual pursuits, legal matters, and inventiveness.

Water

The water element has a gentle, soothing quality. At a water site, you might feel peaceful, nurtured, clean, renewed, or refreshed. In the vicinity of water, you could hear waves breaking or the rippling of a brook, but even if no physical water is present you may notice astral sounds that are similar to those you hear when you put a seashell to your ear.

At a water locale, your psychic abilities tend to improve; these are good places to connect with nonphysical entities or to do divination. Spells for healing, love and relationships, creativity, fertility, emotional balance, spiritual connection, purification, and peace are supported by the water element.

Fire

Fire is dynamic and, according to shamans, the hardest element to master.

It purifies, energizes, activates, destroys, and creates. In a place that's dominated by the fire element, you may feel hot (physically or internally), inspired, invigorated, restless, clear, stimulated, or expansive. Typically, fire sites have a distinctive “crackle” about them, like static or the sparking of a flame.

Such regions offer lots of power that can be tapped magickally, but it must be carefully controlled. Fire sites support magick for vitality, courage, strength, success, fame, clarity, overcoming obstacles, and inspiration.

Spirit

A fifth element — spirit — serves as the connection between all the other elements. It is the source of magick. Places where spirit abides feel timeless. When you're there, you sense a oneness with all things, karmic awareness, and an awareness of your divine nature. Listen for “deafening silence.” Spirit only speaks when you quiet your heart and mind, and truly listen.

A locale where spirit is strong will enhance all forms of magick, particularly when you need to reconnect with your soul-self and manifest a miracle. In these places, you can work the highest forms of white magick — that is, align yourself with Divine Will and gain spiritual wisdom for the good of all.