What’s Your Superpower? (Part 4: Secrets of Wind Magic)
Welcome back, Apprentice Mages! I spent the week practicing my songspell under the expert tutelage of the mighty Elfin sorceress, WindStrider. Now I can finally sing the neighbor’s barking dog to sleep (and get some shut-eye of my own!)
Yes! It’s time to learn Wind magic from the High Queen of the mystical order of sorceresses, known as the Daughters of Aeld. WindStrider is the most powerful Wind Mage in my Guardians of Aeld fantasy series for young adults.
WindStrider is also a soul-seer, which means she figures out what a newborn Elfling’s greatest talents are, so the child is placed in the correct “collegium.” (Collegiums are fancy schools that train Crystal Elves for their future professions as astrologer, artisan, merchant, diplomat, mage, warrior, etc. )
WindStrider serves as the High Priestess of the Crystal Elves’ most sacred temple. However, since she’s a Wind Mage, she doesn’t stay in one place for long! I finally caught up with her on Mount Myst Aerie, where she was visiting her long-time friend and old apprentice, Spiral Dancer (the reigning Aether Queen of the Daughters of Aeld.)
WindStrider: High Reina of all sorceresses known as the “Aeldoras” (or Daughters of Aeld.)
Alas, WindStrider was “breezing” here and there so fast that she didn’t have time to put a pen to paper. But never fear! I took great care to record everything that WindStrider dictated to me, so I could preserve her wisdom for you budding Wind Powers!
According to the High Queen, here’s what you must know about Wind Magic to succeed as her apprentice:
Basic Nature of Wind Magic:
Wind is the power of movement, freshening, intelligence, and communication. Although Wind can’t be seen, its properties have been described as malleable, mutable, and compressible. When air moves, it can create Sound and Scent. That’s why hearing and smell are associated with Wind.
Air energy governs all mental abilities, including imagination, analysis, creativity, and logic. A Wind Power might be highly psychic or intuitive.
If someone accuses you of being impractical or absent-minded, your “Windy” nature is showing. Wind Powers can get themselves in trouble for becoming absorbed in their own thoughts—and locking their keys inside the car.
Wind Powers have extraordinary intelligence; they make great teachers, lawyers, and psychiatrists. Their gift of gab / communication makes them wonderful public speakers, news anchors, celebrities, and sales people. The vast creativity of the Wind Power can be spotted in artists, musicians, actors, and website designers—to name a few. But not everyone understands the grandiose visions or lofty ideas of Wind Powers. That’s why you might be accused of being a “dreamer” or “ahead of your time.”
Wind can be playful or deadly, like a hurricane.
Wind is masculine in nature. The season most associated with Wind is Spring, and sorcerers are most likely to face east to work a Wind spell (which is probably why dawn is the time most often associated with Wind magic.)
Wind complements Fire energy. Think of a fan, helping embers ignite.
However, Wind is countered by Earth magic. Imagine a breeze trying to move a mountain, and you can picture the problem!
The Colors Most Often Associated with Wind Magic:
Wind mages wear yellow (the color of the sun and the sky at dawn). Sky blue is another color reminiscent of Wind. But so is transparence, since Wind cannot be seen, unless it’s pushing something around (like fallen leaves.)
Places Where Wind Energy Concentrates:
In nature, you’ll want to work your Wind spells on mountaintops and wind-swept plains, and under cloudy skies. If you live in the city, work your Wind magic from high towers, airports, schools (i.e., places of learning), libraries, offices, travel agencies, psychiatrists’ offices, and concert halls (places associated with sound.)
Herbs that Wind Mages Use in their Spells:
Wind spells often require fragrant herbs, especially flowers; pungent herbs, such as the types found in the kitchen (dill is a good example); herbs that are airy and finely-veined; or leaves (in general.)
Stones and Metals for the Wind Mage:
Look for stones that weigh very little, such as pumice; and transparent stones, such as quartz or mica.
If you prefer to work Wind magic using metals, opt for tin or copper.
Winged creatures are allies of Wind Mages.
Musical Instruments that Wind Mages Favor:
Woodwinds, of course! These instruments include flute, recorder, piccolo, fife, and clarinet. You might also be drawn to chimes, bells, singling bowls, harps, and violins.
Creatures Most likely to Help the Wind Mage:
Choose as your familiar a spider, bird, bat, or winged insect (especially an insect that makes sounds, like the bumblebee, cricket, or katydid.) You could add “tree frog” to this list, because tree frogs sing—and because they hang out in or near tree canopies, where Wind likes to “play.”
If you prefer an otherworldy familiar, you might call forth Pegasus, Native American Thunderbirds, or even a griffin!
Symbols that Will Awaken the “Wind Magic” In You:
Feathers, incense smoke, fragrant flowers, harps, and bells.
Adrienne deWolfe, Author
What’s Your Secret Superpower?
Everyone has a little magic in them! What’s your secret superpower? Take our fun quizzes to find out! This 10-part series is based on Fantasy characters from Adrienne deWolfe’s upcoming, Guardians of Aeld Series, for Young Adults.
