The Elements

by Magi

Introduction

What follows is a personal journey through the elements. I have included extracts from some of the pathworkings and visions I experienced and what I felt as I was working with each element - this is not the whole story, only part of it. In my opinion, one of the key lessons I have learned from this work is what is true for me will not be true for anyone else. For this reason, I have not gone to great lengths setting out correspondences as to do so would be futile. Likewise it seems to me that there is little or no point in learning by heart tables of correspondence for the elements. It is experiencing them and knowing how they 'feel' that is important.

In the beginning was the Word

Or the dictionary to be more precise. My dictionary defines 'element' in a number of ways, but the following is particularly useful: one of the fundamental or irreducible components making up a whole. The situation in which a person is happiest or most effective (in one's element).

The definition "in one's element" is particularly interesting. When working with individual elements, I found fire, in particular, easier to work with and water the most difficult. This is reflected in my birth chart where I have an abundance of Fire (Sun, Moon, Saturn, Uranus) and not a lot of Water (with only Venus and Neptune in Water signs). I also only have two planets in Air, but I'll get to this later! So as I was in my element when working with fire. But in saying that I would hope that having completed my work, the elements are better balanced within me so this definition may no longer hold true.

But let's not forget the other definition: one of the components making up a whole. In other words, the elements are an essential part of us. And here it is the whole that is important, not the component.

Earth

I find myself in a place of magick and power. A meadow, of long grasses and wild flowers. It is alive with the sound of crickets and the buzzing of other insects. I hear the rustling of the wind as it gently rustles through the grass. I call on Earth and lay on the ground. I feel the firmness of the earth beneath me, the warmth it has absorbed from the sun. A calmness comes over me. I am at peace with myself and the world. As I lay, I hear the Lord of Earth approach. He comes from below rather than from across the field. As he approaches, I hear him telling not to be afraid. Slowly I sink into the earth. Not with a feeling of being buried, but rather of being embraced. I feel the texture of earth, its firmness, stability, strength. I see the multitude of life that lives within its heart. I see the multitude of plant-life, seeds and bulbs, that have yet to burst forth into life. And so Earth speaks to me of fertility and birth, of strength and wisdom, of nurturing and feeding. Earth is the physical nature of my body. The bones, muscles and other solid tissue.

I return to my world and give thanks to Earth.

Water

I return to a place of magick and power. A cool stream flows alongside the meadow. It flows neither fast nor slow, but purposefully. It tells me of life's journey. From a beginning at its source to an end at its mouth. And so do we travel. Not just through this from birth to death but so through the ages from the source and returning to the source (in the same way the river returns to its source as rain. I call on Water as I step into the river. I sink into its depths, not needing to breath. The waters close about my head and I think of the time spent suspended in fluid in the womb and the trauma of the birth that followed. I am reminded that without struggle their can be no life. The water flows to the sea and I with it. I meet the God of the Sea who shows me his domain. The almighty power of the ocean which has the power to destroy and well as create. As do emotions may destroy through hate and anger and create through love and devotion. Water is my emotions and the blood that runs through my body.

I return to my world and give thanks to the Lady of Water

Fire

I return to a place of magick and power. I call on Fire. I see the river flowing into a cave. I follow and enter. On one side of the cave there is a small opening through which I pass. I enter a chamber which has a small fire burning at the center. I sit facing the fire and gaze into its flames. The flames grow larger and I am invited to enter it. I step forward and walk into the centre of the fire which engulfs my whole body. But there is no heat. Fire talks to me of the passion and anger - the fire within. Fire cleanses and can burn away what is no longer needed. But it must be treated with respect for it can rage out of control and destroy if not properly attended. Fire is the sexual side of my being.

I return to my world and give thanks to Fire.

Air

I return to a place of magick and power. The wind gently blows through the field, rustling the grass and leaves on the trees. I call on Wind to tell about its nature. The breeze strengthens until it becomes a wind of tremendous force. As it does so, I feel myself lifted from the ground. I am moving at one with the wind so that I no longer feel its destructive force. I fly through the Air on the back of the wind, a turbulent, laughter roller coaster ride. Air tells me of it's live giving powers. Without the breath of life, nothing could exist. But life lived at the extreme, in the full-force of the hurricane can destroy as easily as the Tower can be blown down. There is another side to Air. The cooling refreshing breeze I felt earlier, welcome on a hot day. Air is the intellect, that which enables me to reason and sets my apart from other animal life on this earth. It is the breath of life

I return to my world and give thanks to Air

Spirit

I return to a place of magick and power. I wander through the fields. I walk by the side of the stream. I see the river flow into the cave. I feel the wind gently blowing through my hair. But cannot see Spirit. I sit quietly and go within. My higher self makes itself known. Quite suddenly, we hurtle up through the air, leaving this mortal earth behind. We float through space. An infinity of stars each one unique and burning at its own pace, in its own way. And so we are all stars. Each of us shining out in the vacuum of space. What if we were to join-up? Would we collide and destroy each other? Or would we change into something much brighter? So what will happen when each of these stars returns to its Divine source? Maybe that is what the Divine source is seeing. For each of us to find our way home and so burn with a brilliance that is unimaginable. Spirit shows me that it is me and I am it. It is everything and yet it is nothing. It is that which animates me. Like a puppet master, but without strings, without direction, without control. Just a gentle urging to know and do my true will.

The Whole

The easiest way I can sum up the whole is in the following picture:

This shows the human body and the five elements as one. The circle represents the universe. What I am striving to learn is not only what lies within, but also what lies outside the circle. Or to put it another way, what is outside of my universe or knowledge.

Using the Elements in Ritual

The way I see and work with the elements now is markedly different from the way I used to. When casting a circle, I used to call on the Elemental Lords to witness the rite I was working. But they stood at the edge of the circle as gatekeepers rather than taking an active part in what I was doing. I called on them as a form of protection to stop anything entering into the circle that I did not want to enter in. But now I realise, that this is purpose of the circle itself. So what role do the elements play? Well, in contrast, I now see the elements as raw energy. The energy can be represented by the Elemental Lords or Archangels, but the main difference is that the energy flows (if things go right!) into the circle and contributes to the work I am doing. Opening the gates involves making contact with the elemental forces in the outer world and also the elemental forces within. So instead of standing impassively on the outside, the elements are right in there getting their hands dirty!

Before working with the elements it is essential to fully contemplate what role they are to play before undertaking the work. For example, Water represents to emotions. So Water may be a logical choice if trying to overcome some sort emotional problem. But what has logic got to do with anything! Working with Water on its own may have the opposite to what one desires. It may heighten the emotions, bring the emotions to the fore, increase the emotional turbulence in your life. If the desired outcome is to calm the emotions, it may be better to use the stabilising effects of Earth. Or a mix of Water and Earth.

Conclusion

Clearly, the elements are more than earth, water, fire, air and spirit. They are more than the elemental beings that inhabit their realms. The elements are forces or energies vibrating at different states that we may use for any purpose we see fit (but, of course, the right element must be chosen). Think of it this way. The universe is composed of energy in four different forms. Energy in its densest and slowest form, when the molecules link together to form solid shapes, is Earth. Water is less dense than earth. It is fluid and can only form solid shapes when held in a container made from an earth element or is frozen so that it becomes more dense in itself. Energy with sufficient form to be seen but not enough to be held in a fixed state is fire. Air is energy which is formless and where the molecules move so quickly they cannot be seen. But we can feel its effects in the blowing of the wind. Spirit vibrates so fast that it exists on a higher plane and can only be seen or felt as we develop the necessary sensitivity.

One of the key lessons is that what is true for me will not be true for you or anyone else. For this reason, I have not gone to great lengths setting out correspondences as to do so would be futile: what corresponds to Earth for me will differ from what others feel. Likewise there is little or no point in learning by heart tables of correspondence for the elements. It is experiencing them and knowing how they 'feel' that is important. And this cannot be understated as we need to know which element of combination of elements fit whatever sort of ritual is being worked.