:air_element: WITCH CHALLENGE - Air Magick

[BryWisteria]

Merry meet!

Thank you once again to all those who joined in for last week’s Witch Challenge - Fire Magick

As above, so below, and one element leads into the next. After exploring fire magick last week, we’re moving into a neighboring force. Look to the sky and get ready to fly - we’re soaring!

The theme for this challenge is…

Air Magick

Air is the element of the vast sky and open space. It is the air we breathe and the thoughts we think. As the least tangible of the physical elements, air is also associated with ideas. This is the element of thought, the mind, and space, so feel free to open up and be extra creative with this one! The air element is a great topic to explore magickal theory, ideas, and knowledge

There are some suggestions for how to explore this theme below, and if you’re looking for additional inspiration, feel free to revisit entries shared in the previous air-aligned challenge: Witchy Challenge: Of the Element Air

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This challenge is about air magick - how you choose to take on this theme is up to you.

So are you ready? Because it’s…

CHALLENGE TIME!

Picture made in Canva

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Air in Magick

This challenge is all about using air in the Craft - as always, feel free to explore the theme in a way that aligns with you and your unique practice.

Still not sure where to begin? To help you get started, here are a few suggested spells and other ways in which a witch might approach this challenge.

Please make sure you are logged into your Spells8 Account so you can view all of the resources shared!

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Cast Air Spells

Air Elemental Invocation

Air Element: Yellow Candle Meditation

Cleansing Breath Meditation

Dream Message Feather Spell to Recieve Wisdom

Additional resources and related discussions:

• Spell to Connect with Elemental Air
• Elemental Air Oil
• Elemental Air Spray! 🌬
• 📨 On the Wings of Flame - Candle Spell to Receive a Positive Message

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Work with a Sky Deity

Horus: Egyptian God of the Sky

Hera: Greek Goddess of the Sky

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Work with the Element of Intellect

Wisdom Devotional for Athena

Prayer to Odin: Norse God of Wisdom

Find Guidance with a Mercury Devotional

Birds in Magick: Omens and Signs

Tarot: Suit of Swords & Air Element

Additional resources and related discussions:

• The Alchemical Symbol for Air: Geometry of Thought 🜁

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Study Air Correspondences

The Elements in Astrology

Crystal Element Associations

Magickal Correspondence Charts

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…And More!

The suggestions above are just a few ideas to help kickstart your creativity. If you feel called to explore the challenge theme in another way, you are welcome to do so.

Spell Jar by @SilverBear, shared in Spell Jar Time! Elemental -- AIR!

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How to Join the Challenge

In order for your entry to be counted, all you have to do is write/share about your experience and label it as your challenge entry. There is a lot of chatting here (which is awesome- chatting and discussion are very welcome!) so please clearly write that it is your entry so I know to count it!

Where Do I Share My Entry?

Click here to learn where to share your challenge entry

You are welcome to post it right here- just click “reply” to this post and write your experience in the text box that pops up!

Alternatively, you could create a new post in the forum (this is good for when you have a lot to share and/or would like to discuss aspects of your entry not related to the current theme)

Note: If you do choose to create a new thread, please add the “challenge-entry” tag and/or add a hyperlink back to this post so that it can be easily found- thank you!

Click here for a note for our lovely lurkers

Everyone is welcome to join the challenge. For those who would like the challenge prizes, please know that you will need to share your experience if you want to receive a prize and a public shout-out.

Don’t feel comfortable sharing? No fear! For lurkers and those who are shy, it is absolutely okay to follow along with the challenge on the sidelines. At the end of the day, these challenges are here to help you help yourself by expanding and enhancing your personal magickal practice. I hope they can be helpful for you!

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Deadline

This challenge will close in 13 DAYS

To join in, please share your experience by:

Tuesday, May 20 at 7:00 AM EDT (Eastern US Time)
2025-05-20T11:00:00Z

(Note that the time zone is ET- if you don’t see your time displayed above, you can use this time zone calculator to check for your time zone!)

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Prizes

For their efforts, all participants will receive a special shout-out and a small prize!

Acknowledgments will be given in a Props and Presents Post that will appear in the forums the day the challenge closes.

After the challenge closes, you are still very welcome to post but please be aware that no additional prizes will be given. This discussion will remain open for about a week after the challenge finishes.

Picture from Spells8: Elemental Spirits: Sylphs

A warm reminder that the challenges are designed to be very open- everyone is encouraged to participate in a way that honors and reflects their unique practice

If you’re not sure whether or not something is acceptable to post, please double-check with the Forum FAQ and/or reach out to your friendly Moderator Team.

And for those new to challenges- welcome! Know that the goal of these activities is to help you further diversify and strengthen your abilities and to bring together the Spells8 forum family to inspire and support one another in creative ways

Picture from Canva

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In the vastness of the sky one can find
ways to ease the heart and open the mind
So release yourself so you can be
one with the air - both blessed and free!

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Blessed Be

[MeganB]

This is hilarious to me because I’m sitting here just absolutely exhausted (for no apparent reason?) and I could use some wind in my sails But! This challenge has given me another idea – since I’m experimenting with energy work and casting spells with no tools, I might try the same thing with air that I’ve been doing with candles and fire… now I just need to figure out what to do.

[tracyS]

Here we go.

[Artemisia]

I’m not sure I would know where to start with this one were it not for the fact that I found something on my run this morning that I brought home. This was before I even saw the theme for this challenge. There’s a little bit of prep that I have to do first, so it might be a few days before I have an entry to submit.

[Jeannie1]

I know I have my brain is in the
![IMG_1513|666x500]
Found on pientrest (upload://yZE0ucgTchNbY49fu2g1IdhfqV8.jpeg)

@tracyS
Don’t make me laugh!

Jeannie

[georgia]

I am an air fairy type of person. This is one of my strong points. In my youth, I found out that all people had to do was make a wish in my presence, and it would come true. Not sure how that worked, but it worked well.

With that in mind, I have two challenge entries… for the moment.

Challenge Entry 1

When I learned about making wishes come true, one of the tricks of the process had people cumfuzzled. It is said that one must be willing to pay for a wish to come true. Most people think they don’t have the money, so the wish won’t come true for them. When you truly feel that money is not all there is to pay with, you suddenly become the richest person in the world!

What I’m going to give you right now is head knowledge. Truly feeling the truth of it is the turning point. If you are aware of what is coming, you can make the most of it when it happens.

Let’s think this through using a parable. You go to a museum and learn something. There is a payment system at work. Yes, you may pay a few dollars to get in the door, but there’s more!

1. You pay for knowledge by sacrificing not knowing.
2. You are spending time out of your life which you will never get back.
3. It takes energy to get to the museum and to walk around the museum.
4. You are trading the sight of your four walls and any usual videos you may have otherwise watched.
5. Museums are social events, as are anything not spent at home alone. This is a payment, believe it or not!
6. You are offering an open mind just by walking in the museum door. This is a valuable commodity.
7. In going to the museum with a friend, you may be making that friend’s day or changing them forever by allowing them to learn as well. What a wonderful sacrifice! Besides, it may even lighten your own mood in the process.

Now plug in making a wish for the museum. All of the above statements of payment are still true, including energy expenditure.

Most of all, when making a wish come true, you are sacrificing mere survival in order to thrive.

Challenge Entry 2
Last night at bedtime, we had the perfect storm for the spell I wanted to do, this week. This is a spell in multiple parts, some more airy than others.

1. Calling the Quarters
   “Lightening flash.
   Winds rustle.
   Thunder rumble.
   Rain mourn.
   Storm, cleanse our world. Wash away all negativity. Make the world new and good.”

2. Drawing my ship.
   I took pencil and paper and drew a ship. I like square riggers, but it could be any kind.

3. Sending it out into the world.
   “I load my ship with well wishes, joy, light, music, laughter, and fun. We’ve spent nice days exploring and learning, and have received the gift of attention. I send attention and care out with my ship and request it return with new sources of all these good things. May the captain find and bring back sources of creativity and Purpose.”

4. Meditation
   Watching the rain water flowing down the drive, imagining it rolling along the city’s arroyos (ditches) to the Rio Grande and out into the Gulf of Mexico so the ship floats out around the world to gather treasures.

5. Closing
   "Rain, wash away negativity. Wash in good things.
   Thunder, shake loose all the things we cling to which do not serve us anymore, that they may be washed by the rain to someone who can use them as something good and cleansed and renewed.
   Wind, blow the sails of my little ship safely on its way and safely home again.
   Lightening, illuminate my path. Show me the way m Soul needs to go. Grant me enlightenment and wisdom. Reveal the tools along the way which may come in handy, later.
   Storm, sing me to sleep. Grant me sweet dreams. May the things I release be found as treasures by someone who can use them.

6. Waiting for my ship to come in
   Taping my ship pic to a wall so it looks like it is coming into the apartment.

[dan3]

WITCH CHALLENGE - Air Magick

AIR POPPET (not like Air Guitar… which I’m not in tune with)

[Female air elemental from Magicstudio.com AI art]

A Poppet is a small figure (often doll-like) used in folk magic and witchcraft to represent a person, spirit, or force. Poppets get a negative reputation – mostly because of the movies and the Voodoo aspect of them. However, they are quite useful because they give a focus to any spell or working – having something tangible to work and keep a spell is helpful.

There is a wonderful link about them on Spells8 over HERE. Also, a lot of what will be covered was presented in the Pagan Portal’s book “Poppets and Magical Dolls” by Lucya Starza. While Lucya Starza did NOT cover Air Elemental dolls, she did cover important points for any doll and is a good (and easy) read if you want to know more.

The doll I made for this is at the bottom of this post. I made it with a 3D printer and some doll clothes but great dolls can be made with very simple materials. Even sticks found outdoors can be tied into a Poppet. See the Spells8 link for examples.

Essentially, you can use Poppets for most workings. Here is a Poppet I made for protecting my workspace.

She has a name but she doesn’t like me giving it out. She is made from a clothes pin and some scrap cloth (OK… I bought the cloth just for the doll… I’m obsessed sometimes). If I had used cloth that I already had, I would have used less than a dollar’s worth of material.

Naming The Poppet

Naming Poppets is important and the name should refer to what or who the poppet refers. If aimed at yourself, then maybe your name or nickname. If aimed at someone else, then their name or known reference, etc. I will name my Air Poppet “Poof”.

Making a Poppet

To make a Poppet for air elemental energy, we need to craft a doll that channels some of air’s qualities such as: communication; intellect; inspiration; travel freedom; invisibility; swiftness; and the mind. For this one, I’ll aim more towards inspiration and mind and use it while meditating.

Materials

Since the air doesn’t have a tangible image, we need to construct the doll from items that are light and breezy and channel the feeling of air or alignment with the concept of air.

Use light, airy, or flying-associated materials like white, yellow, pale blue or silver fabrics. Use herbs and stuffing like lavender, mint, sage, or light feathers. If you sew the doll, use yellow, white, or gold thread. For extra things to add, try small feathers, bird bones, dandelion fluff, thistledown, clear quartz or amethyst crystals and/or tiny bells. Cotton balls or poly stuffing are handy for stuffing extremities if making a cloth doll. Note that all of these stuffings are not necessary. Use what you feel is appropriate.

Poppet shapes are generally made to represent your subject matter. If you are representing someone with red hair, then red yarn, string, red artificial hair or red cloth is glued on the head. If the subject is intangible, like air, then a general humanoid shape is common. For air, we should use light materials, just like the clothing. Clothes pins, with appropriate ‘hair’ glued on and facial features drawn on with a Sharpie would be fine. Since Air Elemental is our target, then we should use light materials – no heavy and solid woods, stones, metals, or other heavy stuffings. However, a clothes pin would be OK and probably lighter than a cloth doll you have to stuff. Air is usually considered masculine but feminine or androgynous is also OK. For my example here, I chose feminine.

You can make or buy cloth dolls. Here is a YouTube for how to make one.

How to make a Poppet - Witchcraft Dolly - Witchcraft - Sympathetic Magic - Magical Crafting

Etsy link for the above

Buying one is OK but you need to modify it so it is yours. They are available on Etsy, Amazon or on many other websites. I think the YouTube version is the one I would use since it is simple to make and it would be mine. Some of the sellers are a little too proud of their simple dolls ($$).

We have a Poppet and a name, now what?

You will formally give your poppet its name. This will be what you use when saying your spell. It is simple – ground yourself, whisper into your Poppet’s face “I name you Poof” (or whatever name you choose.) Breath lightly into your Poppet’s ‘mouth’ while saying it. Reference the Poppet by name when using it.

Empower your Poppet’

You then need to “wake up” or empower the poppet. Like almost everything in our paths, this can be a bit flexible. It is the intent that counts. One method is: place it outside on a windy day or on a windowsill where the wind can touch it; whisper your intentions into it – compact and even simple intentions are best; invoke the Air Element. For example:

“Poof, this is for you:”

“Spirits of Air, winds that dance,
I call you here to weave and prance,
Fill this poppet, light and free,
With air’s bright energy, so mote it be.”

You can also state a more specific intent such as “With Air’s blessing, may my words flow clear,” or “With Air’s blessing, may inspiration find me,” or “With Air’s blessing, may I travel swiftly and safely.”

I usually make it simple and I don’t try to rhyme. I had to ask chatgpt for the rhyme above. Rhyming is not important - Intentions, as always, are the most important. You may also cleanse the Poppet with sage smoke before starting the empowerment and even burn a white or yellow candle while invoking your intentions.

You can now use the Air Elemental Poppet for your intended purpose which could be communication - hold it during difficult conversations or speeches; travel - keep it in your vehicle or suitcase; mental clarity - meditate with it on your altar (which is my purpose).

Important: Always treat a poppet with respect, especially when it carries elemental energy — when you’re finished working with it, thank the Air spirits and release the energy (you can dismantle it and return biodegradable parts to nature).

Here is “Poof”. She has a hollow belly and that is where all the herbs, oils, and crystals go.

[Amethyst]

Witch Challenge for Amethyst:

Hey everyone! As y’all know I’ve dedicated myself to the Goddess Brigid. She’s well known as a Fire Goddess, or course. She’s also known as a Water and Earth Goddess.

So I got to thinking, why not Air as well? I mean, you need air to sing, and that’s what Bards do. And you need air to make a fire. Without oxygen it just doesn’t spark.

I wrote a prayer, or chant if you will, honoring Brigid as a Goddess or air. I like a beeswax candle, because bees are one of her sacred animals, and I have a few little bees around that I used to decorate and I put three around the candle. Hope you like my chant!

Lady Brigid, Goddess of Air

Lady Brigid, mighty Goddess,
you are known as a Goddess of Fire.
For your are the fiery arrow that protects your people,
the flame of inspiration,
and the hearth fire that warms our homes.

You are also a Goddess of Water, dear Lady.
For your wells are sacred,
and your water purifies,
you quench the thirst of people’s minds with your stories,
and give your people hope.

And you are a Goddess of the Earth,
for when you come forth in the Spring, flowers grow.
The snow drops come up from their winter slumber,
and your fields start to show new growth.

But dear Lady, they forget that you are also a Goddess of the Air!
For you are the Spirit of poets inspiration and the air that give the bards voice to sing!
You are the bellows that flames the blacksmith’s forge higher,
and your sacred bees buzz as they bring your magical nectar to the Earth from your apple orchards in the Otherworld.

So I give you honor this day, Lady Brigid, Goddess of Air,
and thank you for the gift of fresh breezes on hot summer days,
and the musician’s nimble fingers as they play their tin whistles.
For you are a Child of ALL the Elements, Great Brigid,
and I honor this!

Blessed be!

[georgia]

Beautiful! As an Air Fairy, I approve!

[jayne]

Challenge Entry

The thing that immediately came to mind, when reading about this challenge, was the experience I had the other day when I was meditating under the pine tree. (I hope it counts for the challenge)

I was laying down, looking up at the branches of the pine tree, preparing to meditate and I asked the spirit of the pine tree to join me in my meditation.

Out of nowhere, I felt a soothing breeze flow over me from my toes to my head, which was closest to the tree, and a second or so later, the tree branches above me rustled.

I took it as a very definite sign that the tree was welcoming me into its presence and joining me in my meditation.

Psithurism (pronounced zither-ism) is one of my favorite sounds – the sound of wind rustling the leaves in the trees.

[Medea]

Hi Jeannie…This should be right up my alley because lately, my head has been in the clouds lol. Anyway, Pinterest is full of great info!

[Cosmic_Curiosity]

CHALLENGE ENTRY

In Ancient Egypt, there were may deities associated wirh the sky. These included Ra, the Sun God; Horus, the God of the skies and Nuit, the Goddess whose body was believed to personify the sky itself. What about the air filled void between the sky above and the earth below? This was the domain of Shu.

Shu is the Egyptian God of air and wind. He is shown as a man with a headdress with ostrich feathers, symbolising the air.

Image Source

Shu is one of the nine Ennead: These are the deities that played a role in the Egyptian creation myth. Ra (or Atum) sits at the top of the Ennead. His offspring were Shu and his sister/consort Tefnut, Godeess of moisture. Together they conceived Nut (the sky Goddess) and her brother/consort Geb (the Earth Goddess). In turn, they conceived Osiris, Isis, Nephyths and Seth.

Image Source

Shu’s main role was to keep his children, Geb and Nut, apart. When born, the children were locked in a loving embrace and were inseparable. There was no space between sky and earth and so nothing could grow or exist. Shu, as the God of air, used his strength and power to separate them both and lift Nut (the sky) high above the Earth (Geb). This created space for air, light and life to exist between them.

Image Source

Without Shu, there would be no separation between the skies and the earth, and therefore, nothing could exist. Therefore, he was often seen as a force of order and stability. For this reason, certain pharaohs associated themselves with Shu.

Shu was worshipped because the air he provided was essential for life. He also maintained Ma’at ( balance and order) through his action of separating sky and Earrh, and allowing life to flourish. Without this, the world would have collapsed into the chaotic waters of Nun, the nothingness that existed before Earth did. This made him an important figure in the Egyptian pantheon.

Shu was far more than just an open space between sky and earth. To the Egyptians, he was vital in the creation and development of the world, and an importsnt figure in keeping the balance between order and chaos. He also provided the essential breath of life for the Egyptians, without which they simply could not exist.

[Amethyst]

@georgia

Beautiful! As an Air Fairy, I approve!

Thanks, love! I’m glad you liked it!

[Artemisia]

@jayne

Psithurism (pronounced zither-ism) is one of my favorite sounds

I never knew the sound had a name! Thank you for sharing something new with me. My favorite is the wind blowing through aspen leaves. Just thinking about it, brings up a vivid core memory

[georgia]

The Norse were well known for their deities stories explaining physics, but it looks like the Egyptians had a good handle on describing the atmosphere… and probably more.

So Geb was Father Earth rather than a Gaia /Mother Earth figure. Hmm. Interesting dichotomy. I’m eager to hear more when we get to the Earth Challenge.

Was Shu’s feather headdress the weight used by Ma’at to weigh a Soul at death? I always thought the lightness of Soul compared to a feather was interesting, hoping to hold my Soul free of the concerns around me, but if that feather is air itself, that’s even lighter and trickier to accomplish. If I remember correctly, the Soul was split into 3… Which part was weighed?

[BryWisteria]

One week to go!

I feel light as a feather - these entries are uplifting and inspiring! Thank you to everyone who has shared about air magick so far

For those still pondering what to share, no fear - plenty of time remains on the challenge clock. There is one more week until this challenge closes.

Looking forward to seeing your entries!

Blessed be

[Phoenix_Fire]

challenge entry
So this is a bit if mix between air and water but this was using my oil diffuser to cleanse my space. Instead of using incense or sage sticks which xause of asthma can ve tricky i decided to use my new chamomile and sage oil in my oil diffuser and with my fan on as well it pushed the steam that camd out of the oil diffuser around my room. It might be a slight stretch as its water and air but as my health meant i missed the last challenge i thought id do what i could but today is also my day i associate to rhiannon ( air) and njord ( water) so i gusss msybe theres a few ties in there i hadnt realised when i decided to use this for my challenge entry

[cherietta]

CHALLENGE ENTRY While pondering what I could contribute to this challenge I came across this article. Flying the Hedge: Elemental Magic: A Complete Guide to Air Folklore & Correspondences
I’ve been exploring knot magic so this part caught my attention. I learned that that you can capture the winds (north, south, east, and west) with knots. I’m not sure how this works with other elements but it’s worth exploring.
I also read about holding your breath as you pass a graveyard. This is something I’ve been doing practically my whole life. My mother (who would never call herself a witch ) taught me that from an early age (along with many other witchy things). You hold your breath so you don’t take in any spirits or souls lingering about.

This correspondence chart was also included.

I hope you enjoy the article as much as I did!

[georgia]

For further research, may I suggest Gwynn ap Nudd.

[MeganB]

I wrote a spell for this challenge, but it’s pretty personal, so I’d rather not share it.

I’ve been doing some research on breathwork for emotional healing and vagus nerve stimulation. I’ll be experimenting with some DMT-inspired breathwork using this YouTube video as a starting point. I’m not sure if I can hold my breath for 2 minutes, but it’s a good place to start.

Emotional Release Breathing | DMT Inspired Breathing Exercises | TAKE A DEEP BREATH | tadb