THE ELEMENTS
Known as Forces of Nature, everything is made up of the five sacred elements, including humans, the environment, animals, and the universe. Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit, around us always, energies to be worked with, in magick and in everyday life. Without the elements, we could not exist.
So in Wicca & Witchcraft, where do the Elements fit in? Well as Wicca or Witchcraft is a nature religion and the Elements are natural forces outside and inside us, it makes perfect sense that we would call on them when we were in the need of one or all of their energies. For instance, Earth is our grounding Element. How many of you have felt a bit down and have had the need to go out into the grass, bare footed, or to hug a tree or get into the garden and really play with the earth? This is a form of grounding, helping your body and being to reconnect to the energies that the Earth has to offer.
The act of jumping into the ocean, shower or bath to cleanse, not only for the obvious physical reasons because one is slightly unfavorable in their scent, but because water is a cleanser on all levels. When the physical body is tired and you feel you need a lift, a bath can help change that level of consciousness. Just like standing in the rain, works wonders for relationship upsets. All that upset, getting rinsed off you and going into the earth where it can no longer affect you, and the wonderful thing about it, is that the Earth element will dissipate any residue energies naturally. Standing on a beach on a sunny day or in a forest by a waterfall contains all the elements.
Everything has a natural rhythm, the ocean waves, the seasons and the moon. Your body is no different and the human body that we inhabit consists of the Elements also. Air as in our breath, Fire is our temperature, this has to be at a certain level to maintain well-being. Water, our blood and bodily fluids and Earth is our structure, while Spirit is our Divine being of which everything connects. So it is only natural that these energies that are within us are also everywhere around us.
Now do remember that for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere, our symbols for North and South will differ from that of the Northern Hemisphere. This is due to the fact that our North is ruled by Fire and our South is ruled by the Earth Element.
FIRE
Direction - North. (Southern Hemisphere)
Colour - Red.
Moon - Full Moon.
Season - Summer.
Animals - All big cats, cats, lions, panther, tigers and dragons.
Astrological Sign - Leo, Aries and Sagittarius.
Deity - All Fire and Sun Deity. Apollo, Bast, Bel, Brigid, Hel, Hades.
Elemental - Salamanders.
Energies - Courage, creativity, desire, inspiration, passion, sex, strength and will power.
Gender - Masculine.
Magickal Tool - Athame.
Symbols - Blade, candles, fire, flames, lamps, the Sun and volcanoes.
Tarot Suite - Staff, Wands or Diamonds.
AIR
Direction - East
Colour - Yellow
Moon - Waxing
Season - Spring
Animals - All bird, feathered and flight creatures.
Astrological Sign - Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.
Deity - All Air and Communication Deity. Hermes, Athena, Mercury, Thor.
Elemental - Sylphs.
Energies - Communication, intellect, rational thought and scent.
Gender - Masculine.
Magickal Tool - Wand.
Symbols - Clouds, feathers, incense, weather vanes, wind chimes and wings.
Tarot Suite - Swords or Spades.
EARTH
Direction - South. (Southern Hemisphere)
Colour - Green.
Moon - Dark.
Season - Winter.
Animals - All animals of the earth, bear, dog, serpent and wolf.
Astrological Sign - Capricorn, Virgo and Taurus.
Deity - All Earth and Agricultural Deity. Ceres, Cernunnos, Demeter, Dionysus, Gaia, Mother Earth.
Elemental - Gnomes.
Energies - Foundations, grounding, physicality, protection, prosperity and work.
Gender - Feminine.
Magickal Tool - Pentacle.
Symbols - Caves, coins, crystals, herbs, metal, mountains, pentacles, rocks, stone, trees and wood.
Tarot Suite - Discs or Pentacles, Clubs.
WATER
Direction - West.
Colour - Blue.
Moon - Waning.
Season - Autumn.
Animals - All marine life, crabs, fish, sea creatures and water based mammals.
Astrological Sign - Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio.
Deity - All Water and Love Deity. Aphrodite, Freya, Venus, Neptune, Njord, Poseidon.
Elemental - Undines.
Energies - Dreams, emotions, flow, intuition, love and relationships.
Gender - Feminine.
Magickal Tool - Chalice.
Symbols - All waterways, beach, cauldron, chalice, cups, gardens, hearts, ice, mirrors, sea, shells, snow, silver and wells.
Tarot Suite - Chalice, Cups or Hearts.
SPIRIT
Spirit is all of the Elements combined.
Direction - All.
Colour- All colours.
Moon - All Moon phases.
Season - All seasons.
Animals - All Animals.
Astrological Sign - All Zodiac signs.
Deity - All Deity.
Elemental - All.
Energies - The doorway to all realms, initiation, spiritual growth, transformation and visions.
Gender - All.
Magickal Tool - Cords and Pentacle, but generally all tools.
Symbols - All elements combined, animals, pentacle, pentagram, threads and webs.
Tarot Suite - All.