Elementals
The “Elements” within magickal symbolism are the basic components of all that exists. These four Elements – Earth, Air, Fire and Water – are at the same time visible and invisible, physical and spiritual.
From these Elements all things have been fashioned, according to magical thought. Our current scientific knowledge, which states that there are many more such “building blocks”, isn’t unharmonious with this statement, but is merely a more refined version.
It is unwise to view the four Elements in purely physical terms. Earth, for example, refers not only to the planet on which we exist, but also to the phenomenon of Earthiness, of foundation and stability. Similarly, Fire is much more than flame.
While there are many attributes to these Elements which are out of place in this chapter, a few words on each of them and why they are important in magickal workings is necessary.
Since this is the magick of nature, using natural powers, tools and symbols, it is important to understand these powers. One of the ways this can be achieved is through the study of the Elements.
The Elemental system was devised and refined in the Renaissance, but its roots stretch farther back into history. It can be viewed as nothing more than a convenient system of organization for the various types of magick. Then again, it may be viewed as a very real system of powers which can be called upon to aid spells and rituals. How you view them is up to you.
The following discussions deal with the symbolism of and types of magick related to the Elements. All of the magick contained within this book falls under the rulership of one (or more) of the Elements. This is true, too, of all that exists.
An understanding of them will aid your magickal work immensely.
Though the Elements are described as “masculine” or “feminine”, this should no be viewed in a sexist way. This, like all magickal systems, is symbolic – it describes the basic attributes of the Elements in terms easily understandable. It doesn’t mean that it is more masculine to perform Fire magick, or more appropriate for women to use Water magick. It’s simply a system of symbols.
Air
Direction: East
Archangel: Raphael
Qualities: hot and moist, light and active
Colors: Crimson, yellow
Magical phrase: noscere, to know
Zodiacal signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Tattvic symbol: blue circle (Vayu)
Tattvic tide: June 21 – September 23
Season: Spring
Hour of day: dawn
Celtic name: airt
Magical tool: Dagger
Types of magic: To find object that have been lost or
stolen, magic of the four winds,
visualizations, divination.
Major Arcana card: Fool (0)
Minor Arcana suit: swords
Symbolic creatures: eagle, human
Alchemical symbol: Right side up triangle
Elemental spirits: Sylphs
Elemental kind: Paralda
Egyptian elemental king: Ameshet (a young man)
Symbols: sky, wind, clouds, incense
Plants: aspen tree, mistletoe
Reflections in humanity: the superconscious, knowledge, instruction, freedom, travel
psychic abilities
Parts of the body: chest, lungs, throat
Humour: Blood
Positive characteristics: kind, joyful, communicative, intelligent, intuitive, diligent
Negative characteristics: gossipy, boastful, spendthrift, untruthful, selfish, fickle,
inattentive
Overbalance: chatterbox, or one who tends to intellectualize too much
Underbalance: muddy thinking; one who has difficulty transmitting thoughts and ideas
Air is the Element of the intellect, it is the realm of thought, which is the first step toward creation.
Magickally speaking, Air is the clear, uncluttered, pure visualization which is a powerful tool for change. It is also movement, the impetus that sends the visualization out toward manifestation.
It rules spells and rituals involving travel, instruction, freedom, obtaining knowledge, discovering lost items, uncovering lies, and so on.
It can also be used to develop the psychic faculties.
Spells involving Air usually include the act of placing an object in the Air or dropping something off the side of a mountain or other high place so that the object actually connects physically with the Element.
Air is a masculine Element, being dry, expansive, and active. It is the Element that excels in places of learning, and which is at work while we theorize, think, and ponder.
Air rules the East because this is the direction of the greatest light, and the light of wisdom and consciousness. Its color is yellow, the yellow of the Sun and of the sky at dawn, and its season is spring.
Air governs the magick of the four winds, most divinations, concentration and visualization magick.
Fire
Direction: south
Archangel: Michael
Qualities: hot and dry, light and active
Colors: white, red, orange, scarlet
Magical phrase: velle, to dare
Zodiacal signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Tattvic symbol: red triangle (Tejas)
Tattvic tide: March 21 – June 21
Season: summer
Hour of day: Noon
Celtic name: deas
Magical tools: fire wand, lamp
Type of magic: tantra, healing, candle magic
Major Arcana Card: judgment (XX)
Minor Arcana suit: wands
Symbolic creature: lion
Alchemical symbol: right side up triangle with a line through the middle.
Elemental spirits: salamanders
Elemental king: Djinn
Egyptian elemental king: Toumathph (a jackal)
Symbols: fire, sun, stars, volcanoes
Plant: nettle
Part of body: head
Humour: choler, yellow bile
Reflections in humanity: the life force, sexual energy, will, Passion
Positive characteristics: energetic, enthusiastic, daring, stubborn, faithful
Negative characteristics: stubborn, greedy, jealous, vengeful, angry, resentful,
aggressive, possessive, egotistical
Overbalance: one who is dominating, egotistic, violent
Underbalance: one who feels inferior or apathetic; lack of energy
Fire is the Element of change, will and passion. In a sense it contains within it all forms of magick, since magick is a process of change.
Fire magick can be frightening. The results manifest quickly and spectacularly. It is not an Element for the faint-hearted. However, it is most primal and for this reason is much used.
This is the realm of sexuality and passion. It is not only the “Sacred Fire” of sex, it is also the spark of divinity which shines within us and in all living things. It is at once the most physical and spiritual of the Elements.
Its magickal rituals usually involve energy, authority, sex, healing, destruction (of negative habits, disease), purification, evolution, and so on.
A ritual of Fire usually involves the fuming, burning or smoldering of an image, herb, or other flammable object, or the use of candles or small blazes.
Its magick is usually practiced near the hearth, or beside fires lit in wilderness clearings, or beside the flame of a single candle.
Fire is masculine. It rules the South, the place of greatest heat, the color red, and the season of summer.
All candle magick comes under Fire’s powers.
Water
Direction: west
Archangel: Gabriel
Qualities: cold and moist, heavy and passive
Colors: brownish gray, blue
Magical phrase: audere, to dare
Zodiacal signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Tattvic symbol: silver crescent (Apas)
Tattvic tide: September 23 – December 23
Season: Fall
Hour of day: twilight
Celtic name: iar
Magical tool: cup
Type of magic: fertility, mirror magic, purification, healing, divination, dream magic
Major Arcana card: Hanged Man (XII)
Minor Arcana suit: cups
Symbolic creatures: scorpion, snake
Alchemical symbol: upside down triangle
Elemental spirits: undines
Elemental King: Niksa
Egyptian elemental king: Kabexnaf (a hawk)
Symbols: waterfalls, all bodies of water, waves, fog, rain
Plants: all water plants
Parts of body: stomach, (liquids elimination)
Humour: phlegm
Reflection in humanity: emotions, fertility, the unconscious mind
Positive characteristics: Forgiving, easygoing, gracious, sensitive, modest, flowing,
compassionate
Negative characteristics: overly emotional, weepy, lazy, insecure, sly, frigid,
indifferent, dependent
Overbalance: hypersensitivity
Underbalance: a cold, emotionless nature
Water is the Element of purification, the subconscious mind, love and the emotions.
Just as Water is fluid, constantly changing, flowing from one level to another, so too are our emotions in a constant state of flux.
Water is the Element of absorption and germination. The subconscious is symbolized by this Element because it is rolling, always moving, like the sea which rests neither night or day.
Water magick involves pleasure, friendship, marriage, fertility, happiness, healing, sleep, dreaming, psychic acts, purification, and so on.
A ritual of Water usually ends with an object being tossed or placed in or on a body of Water.
This is a feminine Element, and its color is the blue of deep, deep Water. It rules the West and autumn months of the year, when rain showers wash the Earth.
The magick of Water is wrought with mirrors, the sea, fog and rain.
These, then are the four Elements. A thorough study of them can occupy a lifetime, but these are the basics.
Though it isn’t necessary to call upon these Elements or to work with them directly, it is beneficial to be aware of them and to remember them while working magick.
Earth
Direction: north
Archangel: Auriel (Uriel)
Qualities: cold and dry, heavy and passive
Colors: brown, black, green
Magical phrase: tacere, to keep silent
Zodiacal signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Tattivic symbol: yellow square (prithivi)
Tattivic tide: December 23 – March 21
Season: winter
Hour of day: midnight
Celtic name: tuath
Magical tools: pentacle, crystals
Types of magic: fertility magic, tree magic, herbal lore,
prosperity, runecasting, knot magic
Major Arcana card: Universe (XXI)
Minor Arcana suit: pentacles
Symbolic creatures: bull, sphinx
Alchamical symbol: upside down triangle with a line through the middle
Elemental spirits: gnomes
Elemental king: Ghob
Egyptian elemental king: Apephi (an ape)
Symbols: mountains, caves, gems, fields, rocks
Plants: red poppy, thrift plant
Parts of body: bones, sex organs
Humour: black bile, melancholy
Reflection in humanity: the physical body
Positive characteristics: reliable, punctual, stable, persevering
Negative characterizes: greedy, sensualist, materialistic, stodgy, unprogressive
Overbalance: materialistic; one whose circle of ideas is small
Underbalace: Unreliable, careless, tasteless
This is the Element we are closest to home with, since it is our home. Earth doesn’t necessarily represent the physical Earth; but that part of it which is stable, solid, and dependable.
Earth is the foundation of the Elements, the base. It is in this realm that most of us live a good part of our lives. When we walk, sit, stand, crawl, eat, sleep, work our jobs, tend our plants, balance our checkbooks or taste salt we are working within the Element of Earth.
Earth is the realm of abundance, prosperity, and wealth. While it is the most physical of the Elements this is not negative, for it is upon Earth that the other three rest. Without Earth, life as we know it could not exist.
In magickal workings Earth “rules” all spells and rituals involving business, money, employment, prosperity in all its forms, stability, fertility and so on.
A ritual of this Element could be as simple as burying an object representative of your need in a plot of virgin ground, walking over miles of countryside visualizing your need, or drawing images in dirt.
Earth is a feminine Element. It is nurturing, moist, fruitful, and it is these qualities which make it feminine. Such attributes have impelled countless civilizations to envision the Earth as a great Mother Goddess, the all-fertile Creatress of nature.
Earth rules the Northern point of the compass, because that is the place of greatest darkness and of winter. Its color is the green of the fields and plants.
It governs stone, image, tree and knot magick.
Spirit
Direction: the Center
Archangel: Metatron
Color: brilliant white light
Qualitites: timelessness, spacelessness
Tattvic symbol: black oval (Akasha)
Major Arcana card: Fool (0) and Judgment (XX)
Tarot suit: Major Arcana
Symbols: spiral, the cosmos
Part of the body: the spinal column
Reflections in humanity: one’s immortal soul or superconsciousness
