Earth Element PC: 1st of the 5 Elements

The 4 classical elements of Earth, Water, Air, and Fire--plus a 5th element, the quintessence or Space/Spirit--are potent sources of rich and varied imagery. They appear in Eastern philosophies as well as Western. This swap, devoted to the Earth element, will be the 1st of 5 swaps, one for each element, running through the months of July-November 2010.

One of the fascinating aspects of the elements is their so-called "correspondences." Did you know, for example, that (depending on what system you consult) Earth is said to be associated with the suit of diamonds (pentacles or discs in the Tarot), money & material concerns, vocation, the body, procreation, feces, cooking, gardening, dryness, and coldness--as well as abstract concepts of creation, support, order, stability, organization, thoroughness, formalization, rigidity, structure, density, and even the sense of being trapped in Time?

In this swap, you will create 1 postcard each for 2 separate partners, to be sent naked. These postcards need not be profile-based.

Your 2 postcards can be similar, if you get pressed for time. You've got a month to work on them, though, and lots of Earth imagery to choose from, so aim to make them different.

Where to Learn More (if you want to)

In poking around the Web, I found the best resources popped up early in Google searches on the 4 elements and the 5 elements. The Wikipedia article ("classical element") is well worth your time.

If you don't know which elements correspond to which astrology signs, you might want to check out Wiki's "astrology and the classical elements" as well. (Is your Sun sign an Earth sign? Or someone one you know?) Even if you don't give a hoot about astrology, the characteristics attributed to the 3 Earth signs might generate additional ideas for your postcard.

Several useful sites on this topic are overtly religious. Don't be put off: just filter that out, and go for what they say about the Earth element.

If you can, avoid Google's images of the elements: exercise your imagination to come up with your own visions of the Earth element. But if you get stuck, by all means, look at them.

Sign up Deadline is Wednesday, June 30, 2010.
Postcards must be postmarked by Saturday, July 31, 2010.

Don't forget to have fun!