Ok, since I asked, I'll start. Being the first target always gets the other pointed hatted folks going for you.

I use "powders" in incese form to make the request. As I said, there is four elements to control, and I use a 'starter' called "Dragons Blood" to start the 'request' and "Goddess" to put a period on the end. All there are done on a light charcol (where it came to mind one night, I am sure I think I know how gun powder was discovered)

So, for a really hot dry day, I start with DB, add a spoonfull of "Fire", a touch of "Wind", and then if I want it stable, add a shot of 'earth'. Then I cap with Goddess. But if I wanted a hot, wet day (muggy for the broad leaf plants), I would do "DB, Fire, Water, Earth and Goddess".

For winter time I would do the DB, Earth, Water, and Air, Goddess. For a warm day or two in the middle just a DB, Fire, Goddess mix will do.

Once I have a good weather pattern, then I simply use "DB, Goddess" to say "thanks and keep it up".

I don't think it is a good idea to use just earth, cause the last time I did that, we got a quake.