Long before Mendeleev and the periodic table of elements, that we all know and love, people believed that everything was built from four elemental energies; earth, air, fire, and water. Pagans still believe in those but not in a way you would think. As we are, and always have been, closely related to progress and growth, we put our knowledge and intellect in the hands of science but keep our spirit and emotions somewhere else.
Elements have nothing to do with the building of the physical world, they are building something entirely different. They are building inner worlds of beings, they are frequencies and correspondences that help us understand and connect the dots between various things.
"Air, water, earth and fire originate in the universal FORCE OF LOVE. You are all four elements, therefore you are love." R.Jones
Elements can be seen as four forces that move and shape our reality. When you want to evolve as a person and grow, you will pick from different elements to build what you want. Every element has many things that are in its domain. In this post, I will try to bring some of those things that different elements are in charge of. For more information, you can read various books that have been published. I recommend "Earth, Air, Fire & Water" by Scott Cunningham.
"EARTH our body, WATER our blood.
AIR our breath, and FIRE our spirit."
In the ancient times, all cultures had elemental forces. In Greece, they were proposed by Empedocles but Aristotle added the fifth; aether. In India, something very similar to aether is Akasha or the spirit. From Babylonia to Japan, people had different lists of elements. China had 5 elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, just as Tibet that had earth, fire, water, air, and space. Let us move on to paganism and how pagans see their Elements.
Earth is the ultimate female element and it corresponds to the direction of North. It is associated with the Goddess and it is very common among pagans to refer to this planet as "Mother Earth".
Earth is solid and stable. It represents strength and its colors are green and brown. Her attributes are fertility, stability and nurturing. When we look at the horoscope, we have three signs that are connected to Earth; Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. When we speak of the manifestation of this element, we talk about gravity.
There are a lot of natural symbols for Earth, salt is the most common one but we also use rocks, acorns, and wheat. Caves, canyons, and forests are places where you will fell the best connection to it, but a garden will do just fine. If you are playing drums, you are playing its musical instrument. Earth is quiet and her energy is passive.
Winter is the time of the year that belongs to Earth and touch is her sense. In Tarot, Pentacles are associated to her and regarding the stones, we have peridot and emerald. If you are interested in the time of the day, night is the best choice.
Earth connects us with our roots and our ancestors just as it represents a manifestation of our wishes and desires. It holds great wisdom and heritage and will always be there for us as a supporting mother.
Water is used for cleansing and purification and it is the second female element. It coresponds to the direction of West and its biggest attribute is the connection to our emotions.
Besides actual water that we see all around us in nature, metals are watery things too. This element is flowing, just like our emotions, all of our emotions. It is purifying and soothing and it brings a sense of love and healing. In horoscope, water signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
Color of this element is blue and its energy, just like that of Earth, is receptive. When you are hearing or playing with bells, you are hearing water musical tools. Correspondance in Tarot cards is the deck of cups.
It is, as with any other element, easy to see water in nature. Symbols are cups, seashells and drops as the major places or natural things are rain, sea, lakes, streams and rivers. When you look at the sky, clouds are water too. Your tears, sweat, and blood are attributed to this element.
Like Earth represents our roots, Water represents our leaves, parts of us that we let go and then grow all over again. Its season is the autumn, time of day is dusk and the corresponding stones are amethyst, aquamarine, and blue tourmaline. Our sense of taste is connected to water too.
This is the element of our emotions but also our dreams and psychic awareness. It flows through us and brings peace after it cleans everything it touches. The first place we live in is water, inside our mother's womb. That is the first place we feel safe and pure.
Air is the main male element and it corresponds to the direction of East. This element represents our thoughts, knowledge, and imagination. This is the element of communication and wisdom.
Air is cheerful and playful, it is imaginative but is also a breath of life. It is fresh and new, and the signs that are of this element are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. The main manifestation of this element is sound.
Air is moving us and it is never standing still. Its colors are white and light yellow. The energy of Air is projective, and its musical instruments are all wind instruments but the biggest representative is the flute.
Enjoy the beautiful song "Daughter of the Elements" by Lisa Thiel.
AIR moves us.
made by @simgirl
Air is the hardest one to see in nature, but we can feel it. Wind is air, and our every inhale and exhale are connected with air. Symbols of air include feathers, wings, and smoke. To feel the air, go to the mountain tops or visit high places. When looking at the plant, air part of it would be the flower.
Air is very light and active. It is connected to concentration and visualization, traveling and a sense of freedom. Season of the air is spring, and a time of day is dawn. Tarot deck that goes with it is the deck of wands, and its crystals are all clear and transparent crystals and beryl.
Fire is the second male element. Its direction is South and it is connected to our passion and will. This element is the one of transformation and it can give life as well as death. Flames keep us warm, but only from a safe distance.
When looking to nature, we can see flames, volcanos, and the Sun as representations but the animal spirit that all wild creatures have is also connected to fire. This element is quick and very fierce so it represents strength and a strong determination. It is sexual, energetic, and forceful.
Colors of this element are red and orange, and its main manifestation is heat. Fire has a projective energy, just like the Wind, and the horoscope signs that are in its domain are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.
Any instrument with strings is connected to fire but the guitar is the main one. If you want to feel this element, visit deserts, volcanos, hot springs or just sit around the fire. Even lighting a candle will connect you with the energies of this element. Its season is the summer and the time of day noon.
As metals are forged in fire, so is the deck of swords in Tarot connected to this element. Crystals that are here are red and fiery stones, especially jasper. Our sense that is connected with fire is the sense of sight and the main things that this element brings are authority, courage, and passion for everything we do.
"Learn how to see.
Everything is connected to everything else."
Leonardo da Vinci
Everything is connected to everything else."
Elements are forever interchanging and for anything to exist, all four of them must be present. Everything is connected and just as you can not live without the Universe, the Universe can not live without you. In paganism, we love to explore nature and ourselves, we love to seek balance in all things. There is never order without chaos and there is never one element without the others. Everything is connected.
Stay happy and blessed, my friends. Kepp your smile on and rejoice in everything that life has to offer. You are perfect and you are loved. Find your balance and connect all the Elements within you.
AIR moves us.
FIRE transforms us.
WATER shapes us.
EARTH heals us.
This article was exclusively written for Beyond the Veil. A newsletter that is prepared weekly, by a collection of people, containing articles surrounding the spiritual and the supernatural. To subscribe to the newsletter please follow @beyondtheveil, to stay updated about our community.
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made by @simgirl