The Aurae: Nymphs of the Wind

The Aurae (singular: aura) are nymphs of the wind. They are cooling breezes and warm drafts, swift gusts and destructive gales. Invisible, they make themselves known through sound and force — passing through objects, grazing over surfaces, and pushing against obstacles.

Sometimes subtle, sometimes forceful, the Aurae use their unseen power to inspire vocalization and compel movement in those around them. As such, they are powerful allies for singers, musicians, and public speakers: those who use breath, voice, and vibration to entertain, teach, or cause change in the world.

If the Aurae are seeking your attention, it may be time for you to use your Voice. As embodiments of the Element of Air, they have much to share with you about the nature of breath, sound, and thought. Keep reading below to discover how you can deepen your communion with the Aurae and invite them into your daily practices and ceremonies.

Keywords: Breath. Vibration. Vocalization. Change.

How to Connect with the Aurae

Bear witness to the wind. Watch as the air takes shape in swirling eddies on a water’s surface or in small cyclones of autumn leaves. Observe objects pushed around by invisible hands: dried petals fluttering along the path, a plastic bag drifting across a parking lot, hair whipping in a breeze.

Listen to the sound of air moving through space. Of a draft passing through the crack of a closed door. Of leaves rustling in a wind. Notice how the sound changes in tone and intensity throughout the day or throughout each season.

Pay special attention to the way trees interact with air to produce sound and movement: their heavy branches swaying in summer, the crinkling of dry leaves in autumn, the whistle of bare, winter limbs.

Stand with arms outstretched on a windy day and feel the force as it moves your limbs and strokes your skin. Open your mouth and make a sound; notice how the wind might swallow your vocalizations or carry them away to be heard by another.

On days when the air is still and no wind blows, become aware of the stagnation. Feel the difference in your body and your breath when there is no flow of air. Notice the difference in temperature, in humidity, and in density when the air does not move.

Invite the Aurae into your spaces. Open the windows and doors of your home. Remove the items from your closets and drawers to air them out. De-clutter your room or house, and give your things and yourself space to breathe.

Ride in vehicles with the windows down or on bikes where the air whips in your face.

Notice the quality of your breath and how it changes throughout the day, in different places and in varying circumstances. Do you breathe slow and deep? Shallow and fast? Seek out and practice breathing exercises that expand your breath awareness and your lung capacity.

Contemplate the power of invisible forces: breath, wind, sound, thought. They are unseen, but very powerful, exerting their influence on objects, minds, and hearts.

If you are an introvert, the Aurae are particularly powerful for you as an ally. They can teach you that invisibility does not mean impotence.

Strengthen your voice. Take singing lessons, join a speech club, or start a podcast. How might you use your voice as a force for change, inspiration, or education?

Use vibration and sound. Play with wind instruments — flutes, recorders, reed pipes, horns. Make wordless sounds with your breath. Hum.

Decorate your altar with items for the Aurae: gossamer fabrics that flutter, hollow reeds and empty bottles, wind chimes and flutes, feathers and brooms. Burn incense and watch the smoke as it gives shape and form to the invisible. Spritz your spaces with aromatic water and notice how scent changes the quality of the air.

Connect with the Element of Air, particularly during the late winter and early spring.

Explore the Aurae’s connection with the Melissae, those winged messenger nymphs. Seek a connection with the Dryads, who purify the air and are so often moved to dance and vocalize with the Aurae. What might those other nymphs have to teach you about the power of invisible forces collaborating with tangible objects and entities?

Watch airborne creatures as they fly, soar, flutter, and flap. Birds and insects have a special relationship with the Aurae; watch as they interact and dance together, sharing space and exchanging power. What lessons might they have to teach you about building a connection with the Aurae?

Educate yourself about air pollution in your region. Learn more about the way trees and the ocean interact with air to purify and moisten our planet. Research the benefits and pitfalls of wind-sourced energy and turbines. How might you lend your time, money, or skills to environmental initiatives that seek to keep the air clean of toxins?