Avatar with ... altered elements?

[Alex Mercer]

I'm heavily considering Spirit-bending, or at least some spiritual aspect. I'm actually looking for a good source to look into as an instructor, if anyone has any options. I'm trying to steer clear of anything like "Bleach" that uses spirit power for pure attack and less... well... spiritual stuff... then again, the R&D of Bleach to make the artificial souls might be interesting.

Things I'm looking for:

• I'd like the spiritual aspect to be able to link to the natural elements.
  
• Maybe less battle-prone, more utility and enlightenment like.
  
• Spiritual aspects cannot be considered "Evil" or "Dark."
  
• Avoid Christianity-based themes.
  

Move ideas:

• Elemental Golems (So Faux Soul creation of sorts)
  
• Become Elemental (Being able to transmute one's physical body into an element, or bond more closely to an element druid style.)
  

• Meta-Elements (Altered elements in some way based on their "higher" properties: "Spirit of Fire")
  
• Buffs, perhaps?