Elements
and Elementals (With a note on the Quarters)
*Elements
are the four energies that comprise the building blocks of
Aristotelian physics. In this worldview all things are made up of the
four elements, Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. As Wiccans we take the
view that this is spiritually true. These elements, together with the
animating principle of Spirit or Divinity or Mind, form the Universe
around us, seen and unseen. Elements are not beings or personalities,
but energies of the universe classified. They are neither dead nor
alive, but forces at work that can be tapped into and used in our
magick and worship.*
Each
element corresponds to a direction and certain principles or
characteristics.
Earth
is North, stability and growth. This is the cornerstone and
foundation of all magick. This element is aligned with the feminine.
Air
is East, inspiration, dreams, intellectual knowledge, magickal
spells. This is a masculine element.
Fire
is South, passion, courage, creativity. This is also a masculine
element.
Water
is West, healing, love in all it's forms, birth and rebirth, the womb
of the Goddess. This is a feminine Element.
Spirit
is the Center, the animating principle. As well as those who have
passed to another plane.
Elementals
on the other hand ARE beings that have been experienced in many forms
by magickal practitioners. Many of them are associated with one of
the Elements.
Most
feel that the Elementals have an animalistic mentality, meaning that
they operate on a lower level of consciousness then we do, like
animals. They have an animating spirit that does not belong to the
human plane of existence.
Gnomes-
Earth, North.
They
are givers of material gain and stability. Rulers of the forest, they
are seen often as little people or green light. They are protectors
of outdoor circles and groves.
Sylphs-
Air, East.
They
are givers of wishes, knowledge and dreams. They are envisioned as
fairies or white lights, delicate beings with wings. They are
protectors of magickal applications.
Salamanders-
Fire, South
They
are givers of Passion and creativity, rulers of fields and fire. They
are seen as blue flame, dragons, lizards. They are protectors of
hearth home and business.
Undines-
Water, West.
They
are givers of love and healing and friendship. Rulers of water, they
are envisioned as mer people, sirens, or pink light. They are
protectors of the gates of death and karma.(5)
AIR
The elements come from the very
beginning. They are the most ancient form from the big dream of life.
The elements open up the connection between Earth and Sky open born
of the great element ancestors. Essence Energy. Air is direct
engagement with spirit. In breathing the ancient ancestor.. The
original breath of life. Shamans blow the energy into the person,
with flower essences, smoke and other. Used in Energy form. Ritual
and ceremony engaged by speaking. Speaking can be a ritual, that
technology spreads around the world. Words most engaged with speech,
the word. The word therefore can be consider sacred. So a Vow is a
spoken.. We are always in relationship with the elements. People
make vows that they often disregard. So Story and Storytelling in a
good way is part of air. Wrong stories are being told by media, that
is making society crumble. Reclaim the story for the sacred
relationship with air. Of all the elements we take air for granted
and this is why things crumble. We need to step up speak. Ground and
stand. Vision, far seeing, in-vision, different realms of life.
being able to visualize. Breathing life into inspiration, more
creative. Place with a vista is a good place for a ritual of air.
Open sky. Storms clear the air. Air relates to mind and whole mental
body. Air is always in an excited states, it is a gas... Lots of
banging around of molecules. Excess air goes into great ideas but
nothing goes no where. How do we manifest it. People with anxiety
energy up in their heads, are not in right relationship with air.
That is why they need to ground with Earth. In our thought with
higher ideas, speech and actions. Think how we experience air, like
Goldilocks just right. Teach how to show up exactly as needed.
Clarity of the heart insight to see doubt for what it is and step
over it. Clear heart with truth, air element with truth. See our
vision. Ability to see what is doubt. Understanding doubt and
critical thinking. Doubt is paralyzing and critical thinking is
valuable. Critical thinking opens the mind. Ali to vision. Truly make
hour heart sing, through critical thinking. Qualities of truth
telling. Quality of critical thinking. Clarifying of vision.
Learning to engage a storytelling in our life.
Air power is to dismantle things
in an instant. What story to want to leave behind... restore your
story. Illumination, hope, rebirth of a dream, creativity,
inspiration, hope, innovation. How we dream.
Stagnation and suffocation.
Speaking the truth. The blade truth cuts both ways. Clean cut heals
quicker.
Make a Air shrine or alter,
Singing Songs, Speaking blessings, Speak prays.(1).
The sylphs tend the air
element, directing the flow of air currents and atmospheric
conditions. They
purify the atmosphere and aerate every cell of life with the sacred
breath of Spirit. They are bearers of the life-sustaining prana that
nourishes all living things. On subtle levels, the sylphs transmit
the currents of the Spirit from heaven to earth.
The sylphs often
have thin, ethereal bodies that transform gracefully into myriad
shapes as they soar through the air. Sylphs are able to travel at
great distances very quickly, and giant sylphs can actually span the
skies and interpenetrate the earth, the water and the fire elements.
Like giant
transformers, sylphs conduct the currents of the mind of God unto the
mind of man. They also work to purify the air of
pollutants—everything from car exhaust to toxic fumes emitted from
factories and other industrial processes—before these can pollute
the water and the earth.
The air element
corresponds to the mental level of existence, and thus the sylphs
also have the job of purifying the mental plane. The mental plane can
become polluted by negative thoughts that feed hatred, anger, racial
prejudice, religious bigotry, resentment, pride, ambition, greed,
jealousy and other poisons of the spirit.
The angelic realms are believed
to represent the highest planes of existence, many mythologies,
including Judeo Christian, use the image of angles, beings of power
who act as guides protectors and messengers. Archangels represent a
particular category of angel.. In the arch angelic ream, there are
four general angles called upon to represent the powers of the
elements. When people refer to the watchtowers, traditionally they
are most often referring to these angelic beings, or aspects of these
angelic beings. Witches have borrowed form Judeo Christian magic in
the names of and associations of these beings, even though they may
differ from some mainstream craft concepts and material.
Traditionally each angel is associated with an element and a
direction, sand should be used with their traditional associations,
unless through personal experiences and communication, your are
guided to do otherwise.(2)
Raphael
Healer East of Air.
Colors: Yellow or gold
and blue
Season: Spring
Time of day:
Dawn
Element: Air
Astrological signs: Gemini,
Libra, and Aquarius
To Dare or to Know
Air
Plane Mental
Key word life breath
direction East, sometimes Self
colors, yellow or blue
Sense Smell hearing
Principal, masculine
Nature, hot and mosit
Season, spring
Zodiac, Gemini, Librai and
Aquarius
Age, Silver
Kabalistic world, Yetzirah,
formative
Sacred Gemonetry Octahedron 8
sides.
Tarot Suite Swords
Tools incense and blades
Element Slyph fairy
Totems crow, rave, eagle , hawk,
the birds
Angle Raphel
Greek Eurius
Norse Sudhri
Egyptain Tuamutef Jackle head
East
Description, thought logic
language, communication, abstract, intellect.
Deities, Zeus, Hera, Uranus,
Jupiter, Juno, Macha, Nuada, arianhod, thor ,nut, isis, horus,
inannna.(3)
-
(5) Personal notes
The Five Elements: Air
in Ayurveda
The element air, called “vayu” in Sanskrit, is
the second of the five great elements (pancha mahabhutus). It
comes second because it evolves from ether. As the potential inherent
within space becomes active, the result is air. The element of air
represents the capacity for motion or kinetic energy. Air represents
all forces and the movement that transpires as a result of those
forces.
The origin of air is sparsha. Sparsha is the
tanmatra--primordial, unmanifested form--of touch. Sparsha is the
potential of the touch experience, expressed in its most subtle form.
Touch and air are inseparable. Because of their intimate
relationship, the skin (through which we receive touch) is considered
the associated sense organ of the element air. The hands (through
which we reach out and touch the world) are its associated organ of
action. Hence, disorders of tactile perception and those of
grasping are the result of disturbances in the functions of the air
element.
To know air is to know its qualities. Air is mobile,
cool, light, dry, rough, subtle, flowing, sharp, clear, and hard.
Although air is subtle, its effects are observable and so we
have a sense of what it is. We associate the element air with the air
we breathe. Thus, the ancient rishis recognized air as the immediate
source of life. A lack of air will kill us faster than a lack of any
other element. Thus, the concept of vayu (air) is synonymous with
that of prana (life energy). In nature, the ancient rishis described
air in five forms according to its direction of movement: inward
(prana); outward (vyana); upward (udana), downward (apana), and that
which balances and stabilizes these movements, a force that pulls to
toward the center (samana). These five types of movements are called
both the five vayus and the five pranas.
In the body, air is expressed in the form of motion
and life. It is the force allowing blood to circulate, breath to
move, nerve impulses to glide, thoughts to flow, and joints to propel
our movement through the world. Air is the force behind all motion.
Disturbances in the functions of air result in aberrant motion. Air
may move too fast, too slow, or become obstructed and blocked. Each
occurrence produces different effects depending upon the location of
the air that is disturbed.
Excess motion in the nervous system results in
hyper-excitability, deficient motion produces sluggishness and
dullness, while blocked flow results in a complete loss of motion.
For example, in the digestive system excess flow results in diarrhea,
deficient flow results in sluggish motion, and blocked flow results
in either severe constipation or complete obstruction. In the joints,
excess motion results in hyper-mobility, deficient motion results in
decreased range of motion, and blocked flow results in a frozen
joint. In the circulatory system, excess motion can result in rapid
heart rate, decreased flow in a sluggish heart rate or poor
circulation, and blocked flow results in catastrophic consequences,
such as robbing the affected area of its blood supply. This results
in tissue ischemia (lack of oxygen) leading to necrosis (death of the
tissue).
The vata dosha contains both air and ether. Any
vitiation of air will ultimately result in a vitiation of vata. Vata
remains healthy when motion is controlled, but able to flow without
obstruction. Control prevents excess flow while freedom prevents
stagnation. Balance is the key to healthy vata.
Control of air is attained through the development of
steady routines. Steady, healthy routines subsequently keep the vata
dosha from becoming vitiated. A diet that is heavier will also
support the development of the stability that controls motion by
balancing the light quality of the air element. Emotionally,
surrender leads to the highest manifestations of motion (air), and
this requires faith. Thus, air flows freely in through a body and
mind that has cultivated an attitude of surrender and faith in both
self and the divine. By taking in the other elements, the natural
tendencies (qualities) of air are pacified.
All of creation is made up of the five elements in
different proportions. In our diet, the bitter taste contains the
most air. The bitter taste is composed of both air and ether; it is
air that provides the uniqueness of the taste. Consuming bitter foods
is an excellent way to increase the influence of the air element.
This is wonderful if a person is sluggish or lazy. However, an excess
of air in the diet, especially in the diet of an individual with a
vata constitution, can result in too much motion. While this
increases activity it also leads to a loss of stability and dryness.
A proper balance in accordance with a person’s constitution and
current state of health is always preferred.
Autumn is the season of air. The season of air begins
as the leaves begin to fall. The weather becomes cooler and there is
a sense of transition or movement in the weather. Air represents the
gradual weakening of nature as it moves away from its full bloom and
moves forward to face the dormancy of winter. Nature intends for
everything and everyone to become lighter at this time. There is a
danger of becoming too mobile and light at this time if the proper
precautions are not taken. To live in harmony with this time of year
means to spend time reflecting on the activities of the past spring
and summer. While motion is natural at this time, excess motion may
be perceived in the body and mind as an increase in anxiety,
restlessness, or sleeplessness. While it natural to become lighter at
this time, excess lightness may be experienced as depletion. Once
again, a proper balance in accordance with a person’s constitution
and current state of health is always preferred.
In the cycle of life and death, air represents the
transitional period between being our most productive and the last
years of our life. Women go through the transition of menopause at
this time while men find themselves desiring retirement. The idea of
motion is reflected in the transition. To live in harmony with this
time it is necessary to spend some time reflecting upon the decades
of our lives. While motion is natural at this time, excess motion
makes the transition more difficult and may be perceived as anxiety,
restlessness, sleeplessness, palpitations, and in the transient hot
flashes many woman experience.(4)