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| ELEMENTAL FORCES While many of us who've been involved in magick for a while may take these connections for granted, I believe it is important to get back to basics sometimes. Although I've created this page as a basic for beginners, hopefully there will be parts here to rekindle the memories of more experienced practitioners also. Information in tables courtesy of Scott Cunningham's "Earth, Air, Fire and Water" |
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| As is discussed briefly in the Wicca section of my site, the pentagram (left) is the sign depicting the elements and some of their correspondences. All five elements combine within each other (hence the interlocking form of the pentagram - all elements contain small pieces of the others). What is discussed below are the absolutes for each element, without concerning too much as to these interlocking forces. One of the more less-discussed elements is the element of spirit. The closest form it takes in our everyday world (the physical here and now) is |
| the manifestation of electricity. The Akasha (spirit element) is the source of the other four elements,, as well as all things living, and in all beings of the astral realms (worlds/planes/etc). It's the divine spark of life existing within all, hence its position as being top of the pentagram. In the human anatomy, we control this element with our brains (it is the brain that controls all other limbs, the condition in which we keep our body, as well as everything which we perceive around us). It is described as some by our soul, and contains complete, balanced energy - the yin and yang, equal parts of earth, air, fire and water. It magickal correspondences are as follows (those not listed are undefined). |
| EARTH Magick concerned with this element is referred to as Geomancy ("geo" meaning earth and "mancy" referring to magick). Its colour association is green (representing plantlife), and it is represented on the pentagram by the lower left point of the star (in our bodies it is our right leg). It is our mother element; that which is experienced within the womb, and also that which we return to upon death. We experience this element while tending our garden, cooking up vegetables, and it is while performing a grounding rite that we are quickening this element within ourselves. Gnomes and leprechauns are its beings of the other realms, mosses and lichens are the earthy plants which we can think of while casting circle. In the Northern Hemisphere, north is its directional quarter within the Circle, however here in the South it is associated with the southern quarter. |
| AIR Aeromancy is the magick concerned primarily with this element. Its colour association is yellow, and it is represented on the pentagram by the upper right point of the star (our left arm). The most common experiences with this element are felt when the wind blows through our hair or tugs at our clothing, we can think of balloons or clouds. Birds are also a good association to use in order to connect with this element. Winged critters such as the Fae are its beings of the other realms, yellow flowers symbolise this element within nature. Air is also the element of thought and creativity - those who have mastery over this element have mastery over illusion also (left-handed people are considered to be more creative than right-handed people). In the Northern Hemisphere, east is the directional quarter within the Circle, however again in the south we must flip this around and call the air elementals from the west. |
| FIRE As you've probably guessed - magick concerned primarily with this element is called Pyromancy. It is the art of divining with fire, the quickening of heat within the body in order to heal. Fire is an element for cleansing with - burning our troubles away is a common practice in spells. Obviously, in the physical realm of the here and now, it is best known as... fire! Represented on the pentagram by the upper left point of the star (also corresponding with our right arm). Salamanders or dragons are its beings in the other realms, and it is shown in nature by... you guessed it... fire (or red flowers). Joy is the emotion connected with this element, and also associated with it is the drive for ambition, the passion that drives us to get somewhere in life and do something. In the Northern Hemisphere, south is the directional quarter within the Circle, however in the Southern Hemisphere its quarter is the north. |
| WATER My own personal favourite - magick concerned primarily with the water element is referred to as Aquamancy. Water is the element corresponding with blue, in the directional quarter of west if you're in the Northern Hemisphere, east if you're down south like me. Symbolised on the pentagram by the lower right point (our left leg), water is also the element of emotion. Mermaids and Sealkies are its beings of the other realms, and it is manifested in our natural world as (you guessed it) the oceans, the rains, the pools, the rivers and lakes. You can read about Sea Magick here. |
| TYPE OF ENERGY: Receptive/Projective COLOUR: Purple or Black PLACES: Outer Space, the Void TYPES OF RITUAL: Primarily religious METAL: Meteoritic |
| DIRECTION: All directions (north, east, south and west, but also down and up, in and out, complete lack of direction and dimension) TIME: Eternal Starlight |
NATURE: Fertile, moist, nurturing; stabilizing and grounding. Gravity is a physical manifestation. TYPE OF ENERGY: Receptive PLACES: Caves, forests, valleys, fields, farms, gardens, kitchens, markets, baby nurseries, basements RITUALS: Money, prosperity, fertility, grounding, stability, employment RITUAL FORMS: Burying, planting, making images in soil HERBS: Mosses and lichens, nuts, low-growing plants in general NATURAL SYMBOLS: Salt, fresh soil, rocks |
CREATURES: Dog, horse, cow, burrowing animals in general (earthworm, gopher, mole, etc) METALS: Iron, lead STONES: Heavy or opaque (eg. coal), green (eg. emerald and peridot) MUSICAL INSTRUMENT: Drum (all percussion) SEASON: Winter TIME: Night MAGICAL TOOL: Pentacle (disc with pentagram inscribed on surface) SENSE: Touch ASTROLOGICAL SIGNS: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn |
BASIC NATURE: Flying, moving, fresh, intelligent, suspending. Sound is a manifestation. TYPE OF ENERGY: Projective PLACES: Mountaintops, cloudy skies, high towers, airports, schools, libraries RITUALS: Travel, instruction, study, freedom, knowledge, recovering lost items RITUAL FORMS: Tossing objects into the air, suspending tools in high places, fanning light objects, visualisation and positive thinking HERBS: Fragrant, many flowers, airy, finely-veined or windswept |
STONES: Light stones (eg. pumice), transparent stones (eg. mica) METALS: Tin or copper MUSICAL INSTRUMENT: Flute (wind instruments) CREATURES: Spider, birds, winged insects SEASON: Spring TIME: Dawn MAGICKAL TOOL: Wand SENSES: Hearing and smell NATURAL SYMBOLS: Feather, incense smoke, fragrant flowers ASTROLOGICAL SIGNS: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius |
BASIC NATURE: Purifying, destructive, cleansing, energetical, forceful, sexual. Heat is a manifestation. TYPE OF ENERGY: Projective PLACES: Deserts, hot springs, volcanoes, ovens, bedrooms, weight rooms, athletic fields RITUALS: Protection, courgage, sex, energy, strength, authority, banishing negativity RITUAL FORMS: Burning or smouldering, heating HERBS: Stinging, thorny or hot, desert dwelling STONES: Red or fiery (eg. Jasper), volcanic (eg. lava), clear (eg. quartz) |
METALS: Gold and Brass MUSICAL INSTRUMENT: Guitar (stringed instruments) CREATURES: Snake, cricket, lizard, praying mantis, ladybug, bee, scorpion, shark SEASON: Summer TIME: Noon MAGICKAL TOOL: Knife SENSE: Sight NATURAL SYMBOLS: Flame, lava, heated object ASTROLOGICAL SIGNS: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius |
BASIC NATURE: Flowing, purifying, healing, soothing, loving TYPE OF ENERGY: Receptive PLACES: Lakes, springs, streams, beaches, oceans, swimming pools, bathtubs, showers, fountains, health spas, steam rooms RITUALS: Purification, love, psychic awareness, dreams, sleep, peace, marriage, friendships RITUAL FORMS: Dilution, placing into water, washing away, bathing STONES: Transparent or translucent (eg. amethyst), blue (eg. blue tourmaline) |
METALS: Mercury, Silver and Copper MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS: Cymbal, bell (all resonant metals) CREATURES: Cat, frog, turtle, dolphin, whale, otter, seal, dugong, fish and shellfish HERBS: Aquatic, loving, generally flowers SEASON: Autumn TIME: Dusk MAGICKAL TOOLS: Cup and the Cauldron SENSE: Taste NATURAL SYMBOLS: Shells, cup of water ASTROLOGICAL SIGNS: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces |
| As mentioned previously, a connection with the elements must be acquired before effective practice of magick may begin. I recommend to all beginners to meditate on each of the five elements (in whichever order you so please) - in fact, I still go back and meditate on them (not that I'm a fantastically aged and wisened practitioner, but I don't class myself as a beginner as far as magick is concerned). Knowledge of the elements is invaluable when it comes to writing your own spells and preparing your own rituals, too. If you're interested in chaos/discordian magick, then you may also require the destructive aspects of the elements. Earth corresponds with earthquakes (surprise!), Air with tornadoes and cyclones, Fire with volcanic eruptions, and Water with flooding and also tidal waves. I wouldn't recommend in trying to harness these powers however - directing them will probably suit your magickal requirements fine. |