I'm going to use information about the elements from Anna Franklins book, Working with Fairies: Magick, Spells, Potions and Recipes To Attract and See Them. And Kate West's The Real Witches' Book of Spells and Rituals .To cover the most common western perception of elements.
However for many decades, oriental practices in the form of martial arts, music, history and philosophies. Have inspired people to seek inner understanding of themselves and their surroundings. Being able to cope in the bustling and stress encouraged society we now live in.
Please keep this in mind when you read through these elements, is the western thought? Or the oriental thought? Which suits you the best..
However for many decades, oriental practices in the form of martial arts, music, history and philosophies. Have inspired people to seek inner understanding of themselves and their surroundings. Being able to cope in the bustling and stress encouraged society we now live in.
Please keep this in mind when you read through these elements, is the western thought? Or the oriental thought? Which suits you the best..
The Western Thought...
Air:
Introduction; Air is within us as our thoughts, and as such should be the first element to be brought into use.
For thought should always precede anything else! Air represents the thinking and planning stage of any proposed action, magical or otherwise.
Externally, Air is everything from the gentle breeze that ruffles the leaves to the destructive force and power of the hurricane or tornado.
Air is all around us and without it we cannot breathe. We take the external air into our being with every breath and, with practice, learn to draw that external energy to fuel our internal thoughts. Air also represents and is represented by the direction East, incense or a feather on the Altar, the season of Spring, the morning, and often the colour yellow.
Symbols; Athame, Sword, Arrow, Feather, Egg
Colours; Yellow, Silver, Gold
Direction; East
Season; Spring
Time; Dawn
Life Tide: Youth
Magickal Influences: The Non tangible affecting the tangible, psychism, mental ability, protection, prophecy, visualization.
Gems: Topaz, Aventurine, Mica, Fluorite, Citrine,
Quality: The Mind, thought
Vowel Sound; E,
Sense: Hearing,
Key Words; Wind, Movement, Inception, Emergence, Flying, Sound, Germination, Inspiration, Planning, Communication, Ideas, Understanding, Awareness, , Memory, Mind, Intelligence, Knowledge.
Herbs; Lavender, Lemongrass, Verbena, Marjoram, Mint, Acacia, Almond, Benzoin, Gum Mastic.
Animals; Butterflies, Eagle, Hawk and Birds.
Introduction; Air is within us as our thoughts, and as such should be the first element to be brought into use.
For thought should always precede anything else! Air represents the thinking and planning stage of any proposed action, magical or otherwise.
Externally, Air is everything from the gentle breeze that ruffles the leaves to the destructive force and power of the hurricane or tornado.
Air is all around us and without it we cannot breathe. We take the external air into our being with every breath and, with practice, learn to draw that external energy to fuel our internal thoughts. Air also represents and is represented by the direction East, incense or a feather on the Altar, the season of Spring, the morning, and often the colour yellow.
Symbols; Athame, Sword, Arrow, Feather, Egg
Colours; Yellow, Silver, Gold
Direction; East
Season; Spring
Time; Dawn
Life Tide: Youth
Magickal Influences: The Non tangible affecting the tangible, psychism, mental ability, protection, prophecy, visualization.
Gems: Topaz, Aventurine, Mica, Fluorite, Citrine,
Quality: The Mind, thought
Vowel Sound; E,
Sense: Hearing,
Key Words; Wind, Movement, Inception, Emergence, Flying, Sound, Germination, Inspiration, Planning, Communication, Ideas, Understanding, Awareness, , Memory, Mind, Intelligence, Knowledge.
Herbs; Lavender, Lemongrass, Verbena, Marjoram, Mint, Acacia, Almond, Benzoin, Gum Mastic.
Animals; Butterflies, Eagle, Hawk and Birds.
Fire:
Introduction; Fire is our Passions and enthusiasms, it is present, when we become enthusiastic and excited by an idea.
It is the difference between having an idea and really wanting to put that idea into action, or the difference between needing something to read and wanting to buy that particular new book!
Fire is everything from the spark that falls from a match to the full energy of the Sun, or the inferno of a volcano.
Without fire there would be no heat, no light, no life.
Fire is represented by the direction South, a candle or a crystal on the Altar, the season of Summer, midday and the afternoon, and usually by the colour red.
Symbols; Wand, Staff, Candles, Torches.
Colours; Red, Orange, Flame, Gold
Direction; South
Season; Summer
Time; Noon.
Life Tide: Maturity
Magickal Influences: Active energy, Illumination, Wisdom, Willpower, Passion, Healing.
Gems: Red Agate, Amber, Bloodstone, Carnelian, Citrine, Quartz, Diamond, Garnet, Red Jasper, Lava, Ruby, Sard, Sardonyx, Sunstone, Topaz, Red Tourmaline.
Quality: Directing
Vowel Sound; I
Sense: Smell
Key Words; Burning, Light, Flame, Energy, Growth, Balancing, Directing, Controlling, Illuminating, Transforming, Passion, Fertility, Virility, Courage, Lust, Force, Enthusiasm, Desire, Energy, Courage, Initiative, Creativity, Dynamism, Radiance, Illumination.
Herbs; Allspice, Frankincense, Ginger, Juniper, Marigold, Orange, Rosemary, Dragon's Blood, Clove, Bay, Ash.
Animals; Lions, Lizards, Salamanders.
Introduction; Fire is our Passions and enthusiasms, it is present, when we become enthusiastic and excited by an idea.
It is the difference between having an idea and really wanting to put that idea into action, or the difference between needing something to read and wanting to buy that particular new book!
Fire is everything from the spark that falls from a match to the full energy of the Sun, or the inferno of a volcano.
Without fire there would be no heat, no light, no life.
Fire is represented by the direction South, a candle or a crystal on the Altar, the season of Summer, midday and the afternoon, and usually by the colour red.
Symbols; Wand, Staff, Candles, Torches.
Colours; Red, Orange, Flame, Gold
Direction; South
Season; Summer
Time; Noon.
Life Tide: Maturity
Magickal Influences: Active energy, Illumination, Wisdom, Willpower, Passion, Healing.
Gems: Red Agate, Amber, Bloodstone, Carnelian, Citrine, Quartz, Diamond, Garnet, Red Jasper, Lava, Ruby, Sard, Sardonyx, Sunstone, Topaz, Red Tourmaline.
Quality: Directing
Vowel Sound; I
Sense: Smell
Key Words; Burning, Light, Flame, Energy, Growth, Balancing, Directing, Controlling, Illuminating, Transforming, Passion, Fertility, Virility, Courage, Lust, Force, Enthusiasm, Desire, Energy, Courage, Initiative, Creativity, Dynamism, Radiance, Illumination.
Herbs; Allspice, Frankincense, Ginger, Juniper, Marigold, Orange, Rosemary, Dragon's Blood, Clove, Bay, Ash.
Animals; Lions, Lizards, Salamanders.
Water:
Introduction;
Water is our emotions. It is when we become emotionally involved in an idea or project, when it actually becomes important to us. Externally it encompasses the gentlest raindrop, the streams, rivers and oceans, the torrential downpour of a summer storm to the awe - inspiring tidal wave or tsunami.
Water is essential to all life, we drink it, bathe in it and use it daily with little thought.
Water is represented by the direction West, a bowl of water or a shell on the Altar, the season of Autumn, the evening, and often by the colour blue.
Symbols; Cup, Cauldron, Bowl of water, Seashells.
Colours; Blue, Sea green, Grey Silver.
Direction; West
Season; Autumn
Time; Twilight
Life Tide: Old Age
Magickal Influences: Intuition, Insight, Fertility, Divination, Love, Emotions.
Gems: Aquamarine, Azurite, Beryl, Celestite, Chrysocolla, Coral, Quartz Crystal, Moonstone, Mother - of- Pearl, Pearl, Sapphire, Selenite.
Quality: Emotion, Feeling.
Vowel Sound; O
Sense: Taste.
Key Words; Culmination, Harvest, Flowing, Nourishing, Love, Intuition, Compassion, Empathy, Sympathy, Devotion, Quest, Aspiration, Harmony, Beauty, Serenity, Fluidity, Joy.
Herbs; Lemon Balm, Eucalyptus, Gardenia, Iris, Calamus, Camomile, Jasmine, Lemon, Lotus, Myrrh, Orris, Rose, Sandalwood, Thyme.
Animals; Fish, Dolphins, Water Creatures.
Introduction;
Water is our emotions. It is when we become emotionally involved in an idea or project, when it actually becomes important to us. Externally it encompasses the gentlest raindrop, the streams, rivers and oceans, the torrential downpour of a summer storm to the awe - inspiring tidal wave or tsunami.
Water is essential to all life, we drink it, bathe in it and use it daily with little thought.
Water is represented by the direction West, a bowl of water or a shell on the Altar, the season of Autumn, the evening, and often by the colour blue.
Symbols; Cup, Cauldron, Bowl of water, Seashells.
Colours; Blue, Sea green, Grey Silver.
Direction; West
Season; Autumn
Time; Twilight
Life Tide: Old Age
Magickal Influences: Intuition, Insight, Fertility, Divination, Love, Emotions.
Gems: Aquamarine, Azurite, Beryl, Celestite, Chrysocolla, Coral, Quartz Crystal, Moonstone, Mother - of- Pearl, Pearl, Sapphire, Selenite.
Quality: Emotion, Feeling.
Vowel Sound; O
Sense: Taste.
Key Words; Culmination, Harvest, Flowing, Nourishing, Love, Intuition, Compassion, Empathy, Sympathy, Devotion, Quest, Aspiration, Harmony, Beauty, Serenity, Fluidity, Joy.
Herbs; Lemon Balm, Eucalyptus, Gardenia, Iris, Calamus, Camomile, Jasmine, Lemon, Lotus, Myrrh, Orris, Rose, Sandalwood, Thyme.
Animals; Fish, Dolphins, Water Creatures.
Earth:
Introduction; Earth is our physical self, our body. It is the stage in a process when we move from the mental aspects to the physical and "make it real" in the world.
Externally it is the land, the soil, the rocks, stones and mountains. It is the foundation which all life springs and to which it ultimately returns for rebirth.
Earth is represented by the direction North (often called the place of power), salt or a stone on the Altar, the season of Winter, the night, and often by the colour green.
Symbols; Stone, Mirror, Shield, Tree, Pentacle.
Colours; Green, Ochre, Brown, Rust, Black.
Direction; North.
Season; Winter.
Time; Midnight.
Life Tide: Death and Rebirth
Magickal Influences: Manifestation, Practicality, Health, Wealth, Crystals, Image Magick.
Gems: Green Moss Agate, Emerald, Green Jasper, Jet, Malachite, Olivine, Peridot, Green Tourmaline, Turquoise.
Quality: Silence.
Vowel Sound; A
Sense: Touch
Key Words; Darkness, Reflection, Returning, Coldness, Winter, Rest, Peace, Practicality, The Material World, Health, Stability, Roots, Grounding, Foundation, Permanence, Structure, Crystallisation, Ancestors.
Herbs; Cypress, Patchouli, Vervain, Honeysuckle, Mugwort, Fern, Vertivert, Primrose, Horehound.
Animals; Goats, Hibernating Creatures, Dragons
Introduction; Earth is our physical self, our body. It is the stage in a process when we move from the mental aspects to the physical and "make it real" in the world.
Externally it is the land, the soil, the rocks, stones and mountains. It is the foundation which all life springs and to which it ultimately returns for rebirth.
Earth is represented by the direction North (often called the place of power), salt or a stone on the Altar, the season of Winter, the night, and often by the colour green.
Symbols; Stone, Mirror, Shield, Tree, Pentacle.
Colours; Green, Ochre, Brown, Rust, Black.
Direction; North.
Season; Winter.
Time; Midnight.
Life Tide: Death and Rebirth
Magickal Influences: Manifestation, Practicality, Health, Wealth, Crystals, Image Magick.
Gems: Green Moss Agate, Emerald, Green Jasper, Jet, Malachite, Olivine, Peridot, Green Tourmaline, Turquoise.
Quality: Silence.
Vowel Sound; A
Sense: Touch
Key Words; Darkness, Reflection, Returning, Coldness, Winter, Rest, Peace, Practicality, The Material World, Health, Stability, Roots, Grounding, Foundation, Permanence, Structure, Crystallisation, Ancestors.
Herbs; Cypress, Patchouli, Vervain, Honeysuckle, Mugwort, Fern, Vertivert, Primrose, Horehound.
Animals; Goats, Hibernating Creatures, Dragons
Quintessence/Spirit:
Spirit is from my own experience the combination of the elements as a whole. Kind of like our own bodies. Air gives us Oxygen, Our flesh as the Earth, Water and the Fire that runs through our very heart.
Spirit is from my own experience the combination of the elements as a whole. Kind of like our own bodies. Air gives us Oxygen, Our flesh as the Earth, Water and the Fire that runs through our very heart.
Now this was the most common Elements from the western spiritual thoughts and ideas. This may differ from belief to belief and between each individual
Eastern Thought...
Five Elements, The Five states of Change.
Wood: rising, developement (of an action), impulse, expansion, decampment
Fire: embodiement, definition, dynamic phase, design
Earth: alteration, transformation, transmutation,change, convertation