Our world
is viewed of in terms of four physical elements - earth, water, air and
fire (which roughly correspond to the four scientific forms of matter:
solid, liquid, gas and plasma) - plus spirit. Together, these elements
form a united whole, as is symbolized in the pentagram.
All are necessary and should be in balance.
Circles are generally cast through the use of all elements. Incense (fire and
air) and salt water (earth and water) is the simplest method, with yourself
representing spirit. Candles (fire), incense (air), water (water), and
(especially if you're outdoors) the ground beneath your feet (earth) also
work. The compass points of a circle each represent an element as well,
with the circle itself being spirit, uniting and binding all together.
Each
of these elements correspond to certain aspects, and when attempting to
do work concerning a certain aspect, we address the appropriate element.
Ceremonial magic and alchemy have given us a great deal of other correspondences
with the elements, everything from tools and colors to numbers and letters.
Here I shall restrict myself to common Wiccan usage, what I find useful
to religious ritual, and what helps illustrate the interconnections of
various cycles. For instance, you will see similarities between the elemental
aspects listed here and the aspects of the Triple Goddess listed elsewhere.
Air
Celtic name:
Airt
Direction: East
Time: Sunrise
Season: Spring
Moon: Waxing
Goddess: Maiden
Tools:
Incense, Wand
Major
Aspect: Intelligence
Air is the element
of intellect, study, and book-learning, and therefore of the sciences.
It is also the element of youth, creativity, and spontaneity, and of communication
and travel.
Fire
Celtic name:
Deas
Direction: South
Time: Noon
Season: Summer
Moon: Full
Goddess: Motherhood
Tools:
Candle, Athame
Major
Aspect: Strength
Fire is the element
of strength, especially physical strength but also strength of will, and
energy. Fire is also the element of passion, courage, protection, purification,
transformation, chaos, and sex. Fire is life and health as well as destruction.
Water
Celtic name:
Iar
Direction: West
Time: Sunset
Season: Autumn
Moon: Waning
Goddess: Crone
Tools:
Chalice, Cauldron
Major
Aspect: Wisdom
Water is the element
of wisdom, clarity, and common sense, especially that which comes from
experience. It is also the element of emotion, intuition and divination.
It is the major element of healing, and also contains aspects of transformation
and purification, and can also represent death and rebirth.
Earth
Celtic name:
Tuath
Direction: North
Time: Midnight
Season: Winter
Moon: New
Goddess: Dark
Tools:
Salt, Pentacle
Major
Aspect: Stability
Earth is the element
of stability, order and grounding. It is also the element of fertility,
both literal and figurative, and therefore of pregnancy, growth, birth,
material gain, business, prosperity sustenance, and creativity. As the
element from which came and to which we will return, earth is the element
of death and rebirth, beginnings and endings, and silence.
Because earth symbolizes endings and beginnings, I cast my circles starting
in the north. Spirit Also referred
to as Ether or Aethyr.
Direction: Center and circumference Tools: Circle,
self Major Aspect:
Everything and nothing
Spirit is
the element of transcendence, transformation, change, the void, everywhere
and nowhere, all time and no time. It is the primal force that flows through
all of us and all things. It is not often addressed directly in ritual,
because it is the element of ourselves, our will, and the gods, all of
which are already actively invoked.
The correspondences, combined with the Wheel of the Year.
The correspondences, combined with the Wheel of the Year.
