You're thinking too literally, Stix. When trying to think of eumonetic techniques, you need to think of what properties are associated with the elements.
"Earth" does not literally mean "dirt" or "ground". It can mean those things, but the element of earth is also associated with things like hardness, solids, shape, strength, defense, steadfastness, tradition, stubbornness, slowness, etc. A strongly traditional, fundamentalist person would have an earth affinity.
Similarly, the element of water is associated with liquid, healing, soothing, life, kindness, flexibility, peace, laziness, inaction... Hippies would be water affinitives.
Fire is associated with action, offense, damage, hurting, heat, light, meanness, insensitivity, power, anger, passion, etc. Malicious types are often fire-affinitive, though being of fire does not automatically make you evil. Angry people can fight for good as well.
Air is associated with motion, flight, weather, impulsiveness, unpredictability, carelessness, etc.
So, as an example, a technique which creates a living creature would be water-earth: earth to give it shape, and water to give it life. Lightning is air-fire: air because it is associated with weather, but also because of its unpredictable nature, and fire because it causes damage, creates heat and light, and can, in fact, cause fires.
Starting to make sense?
