Water Element PC: 2nd 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 Water element, is the 2nd 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." Water corresponds to the suit of hearts (cups in the Tarot), to pots & bowls & glasses & bottles & all other containers for fluids, but above all, to emotions. When we feel ourselves merging with others, or longing for wholeness, those are said to be Water experiences. Water is about the heart--not the body (Earth), the mind (Air) or the soul (Fire).

Those are just some ideas: feel free to use one or more, or none of them, in making your card. But I encourage you to do some reading on the Web, find out more of what Water represents.

In this swap, you will create 1 postcard each for 2 separate partners, to be sent naked. You don't need to worry about your partners' profiles .

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 Water 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 a Water sign? Or someone one you know?) Even if you don't give a hoot about astrology, the characteristics attributed to the 3 Water 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 Water element. This is not a swap about spirituality, but about pictures--whatever works for you to evoke the element of Water.

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

Sign-up Deadline is Saturday, July 31, 2010. Postcards must be postmarked by Tuesday, August 31, 2010.

Don't forget to have fun!