The word Spirit can mean so many things. We have a Spirit, there is Spirit, we can connect to and with Spirit. But what the heck is Spirit? For the context of this conversation, I am referring to Spirit as an element of magic.

The element of Spirit is sometimes called the fifth element (with the other classic magical elements being Earth, Air, Fire, and Water). In a modern witchcraft perspective, the four classic elements are often honored or acknowledged in ritual, but not all traditions honor Spirit. However, in a way, Spirit is the most important of the magical elements. Spirit is what holds the world together. It is the glue of the Universe. Nothing can exist without Spirit.

Connecting with Spirit as an element of life really isn't that difficult, because Spirit is literally all around us all of the time, but here are some fun ways to help you tap into the power of Spirit and feel more connected.

The Night Sky
Spending time gazing upon the night sky can really help you feel the vibes of Spirit. The beginning of the universe happened with a Big Bang, and it was from this explosion that all matter came into existence. Because all matter formed from this moment, we can say that all things in the Universe are connected. We humans are made of star dust, and there is no better way to feel our connection to star dust than by looking at the stars in the night sky. First, head to a place with less light pollution and bask in the stars' light. The further you can get away from light pollution, the more awesome the experience of starlight will be.

Spirits of Place
All places have their own unique Spirit. Sometimes this Spirit can be intense (think of a haunted house). The Spirit of a place could also be awe-inspiring, like Stonehenge. No doubt everyone has experienced a location where the Spirit is palpable. If you want to connect with the Spirit of a place, simply open up and be in stillness in that place. Start with where you live. Take a moment to feel into the energy of that place. Notice what comes up when you make time to connect.

Dark Matter
Over the last few hundred years, magic, alchemy, and science have become interrelated. And really, they still are. But during the 1500s, when alchemy was being more openly practiced, the element of Spirit was called Quintessence. That term fell out of favor, but it is making a comeback with current practicing physicists who are calling dark matter "Quintessence." Physicists believe that the majority of the universe is made up of dark matter. They don't know what dark matter actually is, what it does, or how it exists. But it suggests that the majority of the universe is made up of spirit. One way to start connecting with dark matter, or Quintessence, is to read some introductory string theory books to see how science is approaching the subject of the multiverse.

God Hirself
In the Anderson Feri Tradition of Witchcraft, the concept of the "god-self" is often referred to as God Hirself. There are many spiritual traditions around the world that share a believe that every human is an emanation of God—God being the great Spirit, the universe, or the energy that keeps all beings connected. One way to think of this is that each human is a drop of water, but all of us humans together make up the ocean. To connect with your own god-self, meditate on the idea of being a drop of water in the ocean.

Sacred Sites
One could argue that all of the world is sacred, and yes, although this is true, some places have been honored as special or sacred for thousands of years. Some of these sites have been abandoned for hundreds or thousands of years, and while we may not even know what the site was originally used for, we can still feel the power of the place. With a little bit of research you can locate a site near you that holds the energy of sacredness. Go and visit that place and connect with Spirit.

Intuition
The voice of Spirit will often talk to us through our intuition. Our intuitive voice isn't always loud. Culturally, we aren't taught how to listen to our intuition and sometimes we can even experience ridicule when we talk about our intuition. However, Spirit speaks directly to our intuitive self and when we are able to hear those messages, we can grow on a Spiritual level. The more we use our intuition, the easier it is to hear it. If you don't already have a relationship with your intuition, see if you can start to hear that voice and follow its suggestions.

Divination
All forms of divination are ways to listen to your intuitive voice. Divination can help you hear the whispers of Spirit more easily. There are dozens of forms of divination, and you don't have to be good at all of them. Find a form of divination that you enjoy and use that as a way to connect with your inner knowing. Divination gives form to your intuition, which gives voice to the element of Spirit.

Meditation
A meditation practice helps us to slow down, calm down, and connect to something bigger than ourselves. Meditation is a practice of Spirit. Through a meditative practice, we can tap into the Spiritual realms. Meditation can help us to learn about ourselves. With a regular meditation practice it becomes easier to connect with deep mysteries. Meditation can be really easy. Set a timer for five minutes and allow yourself to simply sit in silence and follow your breath.

The Other Elements
The four classic elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water are all connected to Spirit. I was taught in my witchcraft training that the element of Spirit is made up of all four classic elements. Spirit is the paradox, the all and the nothing. You can learn more about Spirit by learning more about the four classic elements. Spending time with Earth, Air, Fire, and Water can give you information on Spirit.

Spirit is all around us and is part of us. It doesn't take a lot to connect with this fifth element, because it is a part of everything. By simply acknowledging that there is Spirit in the world, we can easily feel the flow of it in our lives. Spirit is as Spirit does.