Quote Originally Posted by Korpo
An elemental has needs. The physical body needs food, shelter from the elements, health and fitness maintenance, good nutrition, etc. The etheric body, linked with the physical body needs authentic sensation, experiences of nature, touch, physical intimacy, etc. The astral body needs connection with others as emotional bonding, social interaction. The mental elemental needs intellectual stimulation, sharing of beliefs and ideas and an environment where its beliefs are acceptible and can be practiced. The causal elemental needs to lead a life of purpose.
Just making a note of this... I like it.

I read about a similar doctrine from a Tibetan lama once. He described the relationship of your awareness and the mind as one of horse and rider. He tried to convey that one needs to be mindful and kind towards the horse (mind) and then the rider will be in charge and chose the direction. If the horse is ill-treated, it will buck, it will not submit to pure force. This is the elemental nature of the mental body and a hint towards a training program which helps the causal consciousness to refine the mental elemental into a loyal ally - hence the title of the book "Turning the Mind Into an Ally" by Sakyong Mipham.
This makes me think of how sad it is when some religious and spiritual organizations demonize their own energy bodies (some the body, some the mind) and approach them as something to be tamed or suppressed.