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Elements.

The ancients divided the world into four basic principles or elements, Earth, Water, Fire and Air. That viewpoint has "changed" with advances in science. Elements as used by scientists now (over 117 by last count) do not invalidate this use of elements in a metaphysical sense however. It is a pity the same word is used to describe both concepts (rather like love for Eros and Agape). This system of four elements is often added to by the fifth - spirit. In the Eastern Chinese system the set-up is quite different - earth, wood, metal, fire and water. Nevertheless, regardless of the system, these elements are thought to be at the core of all creation and all things contain the properties of one or more of these elements. Usually one predominates in its internal and external characteristics. They are closely linked with emotions, the human psyche and with nature more than the modern explanations of the world. Many occultists think of the Magickal elements as forces or qualities of energy and each element has its own system of symbols and correspondences (i.e. relationships with other symbols).

It is more important to experience the elements and to try out their attributes and correspondences for yourself than to just blindly accept the printed tables of correspondences, particularly as these correspondences differ depending upon tradition and book used.

Cornelius Agrippa well summarised, in the 16th Century, the knowledge that elements could connect with all creation on an intimate level and could enable one to gain knowledge, advance spiritually and manipulate articles to work ones will.

"Not only can we pull down universal or divine energy through the elements using their powers to create manifest reality from the thought forms we project into the unseen world, we can also travel up them to reach the Spiritual Realm through the world of the divine, an ancient art we call mysticism. Travelling up through increasingly less dense aspects of the Elements we can eventually reach the Godhead (the metaphor for that state of unity with the Creator) which has been sought diligently by Mystics since humanity first recognised a creative force greater than ourselves" - from Making Magick by E McCoy 1996.

Elements are used to call witness in circles, used in spells and contacted to help fill holes in our innerselves. Tools symbolising each element are used in altars and Magick Rites and to help attune with the powers of the elements. Writings about the elements and their mystical and Magickal aspects can be found in the mythological collections of almost every culture. The elements all have sentience and give it to all creations. This is called the Numina of the so-called inanimate object. It acts as the animating spirit of the physical manifestation of the elements just as our souls or life-force animate us. They are usually only visible to those with clairvoyant sight and are more likely to be seen at night in the mountains or country, away from cities, especially if you are tired or sleepy (i.e. altered state of consciousness with more Alpha and Theta brainwave rhythms). Although elementals exist naturally it is also possible to create one which will exist for a limited time called an artificial elemental. To the ancients therefore elementals were the physical explanation for the universe. Some contemporary occultists see them only as symbols for forces and otherwise not real at all. However most people who work with the elements and call on Elementals find that there are definite spirits and entities which can be grouped into various categories as below.

Earth	Water	Fire	Air
Gnome	Undine	Salamander	Sylph
Dwarfs	Nymphs	Genies	Fairies
Elves	Tritons	-	Storm Angels
Brownies	Mermaids	-	-
Hobgoblins	Sirens	-	-
Leprechauns	Harpies	-	-

Each of the elements have activities, objects and ideas with which it shares an affinity. They can be said to be either masculine or feminine in character. Note that the masculine and feminine qualities of which we speak are really metaphysical representing receptive and fertile qualities versus projective and barren ones. The feminine element encourages Magickal change through growth and construction, the masculine elements cause change by constraint and destruction. Note again that these terms are neither inherently good or evil and both can lead to positive or negative ends e.g. fire burns and destroys, but it can be destroying something we don't need in our lives.

There are various systems of correspondence for elements and they have varying qualities which can be used as the need arises, e.g. Earth, Water, Fire and Air seen rising through different densities of solid liquid, ether, heat and gas. Earth can be seen as cold and dry, Water as cold and wet, Fire as hot and dry and Air as hot and wet. Each of the elements can be associated with various herbs, colours, directions, Astrological combinations, various animals and plants. Below are two tables of correspondences for two different elemental systems. The first is one with a five system of Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Spirit;

ELEMENTAL TABLE OF CORRESPONDENCES

* = as per TOSW. See text.

The second adds three further elements of sound, light and thought.

- from Anodea Judith's Wheels of Life

Finally I refer you again to Appendix 1 where we have a total of twelve elements, eight of them being octaves above the previous elemental layer, even though they can be seen separate in their own right. These are earth (solid matter), water (liquid), fire (temperature), air (gas), time (sound), light (electromagnetic radiation), thought (psi energies), change (motion), stasis (stillness), union (joining together) and spirit (space or void).

There is one further note about directions for the use of the elements. In traditional Northern hemisphere Wiccan circles, North, the place of darkness and cold is seen as the place of eternal mystery and therefore earth; to the east is air even though that is where the continental mass of Eurasia is; to the west where the Atlantic Ocean lies is water; and to the south where the equator and increasing heat is fire. Many Pagan circles in the southern hemisphere transpose only the north and south directions, despite the fact that on the East coast of Australia for example the continental mass is to the west and the water is to the east. In addition there does not appear to be an opposing of polarities. Air is not really the opposite of water, nor is fire the opposite of earth. Rather the opposite of fire has usually been seen as water or ice. This has been particularly made valid by the usual ascribing of fire to the sun and water to the moon - the two major heavenly bodies, often indicating God and Goddess; and air also representing God and Goddess as the Earth Mother Goddess and Father Sky God. In our tradition it therefore makes better sense, particularly on the East coast of Australia, to put fire in the north (the site of the equator and increasing heat), water to the east (where lies the Pacific Ocean , to the west of course is the continental mass and therefore earth, leaving air in the south from where the cold southerly buster come. [As a bynote - at Koong Koolaua, our Pagan Sanctuary, the actual moon/water itself lies to the east (as does the Pacific Ocean) and to the direct compass north exactly 9 metres away from a natural stump in the centre of the main circle is a natural fire pit].

This also allows an alternation of masculine, yang, projective, electric energy with feminine, yin, receptive, magnetic energy around the circle, and also mimics the Zodiac progression of Fire, Earth, Air and Water, going anti-clockwise in the Southern hemisphere. As we form Circles rather than crosses, which calls for polarities opposite each other, as distinct from beside each other, this system seems more logical. For a Northern Hemisphere discussion on this, see Mike Nicholls paper on this.

Exercises.

1. Perform a meditation on each of the elements. It is best to gather the appropriate materials as per the table of correspondence that you wish to use to help link these into your unconscious as belonging to that particular element. Try to actually feel, taste as well as see and hear in your mind's eye the quality of the element that you wish to meditate upon. Experience all its qualities, e.g. the soothing, cooling function of water, its crashing, violent power of the waves crashing against rocks, the deep dangerous depths of the underwater, the regenerative effects of life giving and drought breaking rain and the cyclonic fury of a storm at its full height, the beauty of a waterfall cascading into a bush pool, the peace of a creek running over river stones in the middle of the bush, the garden pond with reeds and dragonflies and frogs croaking at night, the magnificence of dolphins arching up through the water at play, the different colours of the ocean - deep blue, steely grey, turquoise green.

   Finish your meditation by making a libation to the element you are so honouring and perhaps erect a temporary or permanent shrine in its honour, e.g. a picture of a kingfisher in a frame near your washbasin at home and pouring a libation of water as a ritual act down the basin perhaps before performing your morning ablutions.

2. Memorise completely and revise continually the table of correspondences that you wish to use for your Magickal work.

   Please note that the Temple of the Spiralled Web will be using the full twelve element system as per Appendix 1 and if you wish to engage fruitfully in Magickal work as a member of the Temple of the Spiralled Web we would implore you to commit to memory this, admittedly complicated, table.

   Final note: please commence each meditation on the elements using the practices developed from previous sessions i.e. breathing, clearing the mind and letting ideas come and go without holding on to them before beginning a form of guided visualisation. Appropriate music can often help and note that I have given some guidelines for music in Appendix 1 for each of the twelve elements.

APPENDIX 1

Appendix II

Home Protection Talisman.

Qualities wanted - protection, security and friendship. These correspond with Earth and Air , Taurus and Libra , Earth and Venus , black or white (or green and sky blue), Vetiver and Jasmin, trust and love , sand, salt and rock and feather and flower petals, West and East, wombat and eagle, base Chakra , and heart Chakra . So our Talisman will have two parts, one shaped like a square for earth and the other a circle for air. On the front the square will be coloured green and have in its centre the symbol for air in white. The circle will be coloured sky blue but in the centre will be, in black, the symbol for Earth. On the back will be in the green square a small central white circle and in the blue circle a small central black square. Surrounding these symbols will be the Astrological Quality Chakra and Planetary Symbols of the other element. In the crossbar will be written the quality of both earth and air (trust and love).

As a ritual we will trace a circle around the house with sand and flower petals and join a small rock and feathers by string to the centre of the Talisman, hang it up inside our front door after evoking the power of the wombat to the west and the eagle to the east to guard our house, lighting a small aromatherapy burner of Vetiver at the west and Jasmin at the east for an hour or so in their honour. We could even use coloured candles, green or black for earth and sky blue or white for air. Each morning, or week, or whatever, we could strengthen protection by touching our base Chakra, visualising black swirls of solid energy and a heart Chakra, visualising misty wraiths of sky-blue energy meeting as we then touch the Talisman and gesture finally to our whole house.

In this way we have developed a permanent Talisman, a ritual and a quick symbolic gesture that will evoke, for us, unconscious powers that will help to protect our home and bring it security and friendship. This ritual, Talisman and gesture has been suggested totally by the table of correspondences which we have given a lot of time, thought, discussion and practice with over the last couple of years.

Email us at kimandq@caliph.net.au

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