Hmm, I see what you mean, but I'm not sure I'd allow this without some sort of further justification. Spirit is pretty well defined in YS as the go-to for veils, force, and mind magic. I have trouble seeing it used this way.

 It's always strange to me that a lot of people (not saying you are one of them) seem to interpret any element as doing anything. You can't drown someone in earth, can't burn them with water, can't make a solid wall out of fire, etc., etc.

1) buried alive = drowning in earth
2) Steam = burned with water
3) well, may not be solid per se, but you try walking through it