Elemental Scavenger Hunt: Earth

Turkey Feather: Where I live, wild turkeys roam the parks. Called the “Earth Eagle” by Native Americans, the turkey does live close to Mother Earth, rarely flying. Moreover, the feathers of these feisty birds glisten like the jewels of the Earth. Turkeys bring us close to the earth.

White Oak Acorn: This acorn was one that a squirrel partially buried for future food. Each acorn is a miniature of the earth in fertility. Within every acorn are the beginnings of oak trees, mighty trees that are rooted in the earth.

Hickory Nut: Nearby any hickory tree are many large round balls of nuts. When these nuts fall, they make a loud thud reminding everyone of gravity. Moreover, hickory nuts are solid resembling the earth that they fall to.

Gravel: Often underfoot, these ordinary stones subtly remind us of the earth. They quietly service our needs by lining paths, and providing materials for parking lots and drive ways. Often neglected, these small stones are much like the earth, which is usually taken for granted by us.

Dirt: The essence of the earth is dirt. Dirt nourishes life through providing crops, trees, and grass for all of us all. In addition, the soil provides homes for many creatures such as moles and worms, who care for the earth. Without dirt, there would be no earth to speak of.

ELEMENTAL SCAVENGER HUNT: Fire

White Pine Cone: There are few natural items better for starting a fire than a pine cone. Full of tar and pitch, it makes excellent kindling. In addition, some pine trees, such as Jack Pine, require fire to open their seed cones for dispersal. For these reasons, I think of pines as cousins of the fire.

Sycamore Leaf: Only when hot weather arrives do the sycamore trees leaf out. A tree of summer, they are attuned to its heat and warmth. Come fall, these trees lose their leaves early, usually turning a bright yellow. Sycamores represent the fires of summer.

Red Oak Leaf: In the Celtic tradition, the oak is associated with Taranis, the Celtic God of Thunder. Often struck by lightening, oak trees are sacred to Him. Because of this ancient association, oak represents the illumination of fire.

Cicada Shell: In hot August, you can hear the cicadas buzzing in the trees. The hotter it becomes, the louder they buzz. After mating and molting, they often leave their shells in the tree sap for me to discover. For me, cicada shells contain the heated passions of August.

Piece of Basalt: This volcanic rock came from deep within the earth. Since I live in an area of few volcanoes, I purchased it at the nature center that I go to. For me it represents the fires of earth, the molten center of life.