Elements, Elementals, Other Realms & Plains of Existence & The Circle Guardians
The Ancients believed that all matter was made up of four Elements, Earth, Air,
Fire, and Water (and that these could be seen in those forces of Nature that shape
the world around us. The Fire that comes from the Inner Core of Our Planet, destroying
with a volcanic eruption, or that from the Sun, which gently warms our Earth and provides
the energy necessary for life in its most basic forms. The Forces of Earth, the natural
rocks around us and the representations of destructive earthquakes and the
steadfastness of the rocks that form the ground beneath our feet. The Air that can blow
a gale or kiss us softly on the cheek with a warm breeze, and the Water that can
destroy with a flood or tidal wave or can fall softly from the sky nurturing the life
below). It was also thought that there existed a Fifth Element, that of Spirit, Ether, or
Akasha, and that the difference between animate and inanimate objects was the
presence of this fifth element, that provides the spark for life. Nowadays we may
well scoff at this, with our knowledge of the Periodic Table, Atoms and Sub-atomic
particles and Science, but just look at the four Elements again, and you'll see that
they represent four of the States of Matter that exist in Science, that of Solid, Liquid,
Gaseous and Plasma (that of combustion, which we know as the decay of a substance
involving the oxidization of it to form another compound, the by products of which are
heat and light). So, they weren't that far out after all!
The Guardians are the 'Spirits' that guard the forces of the Elements themselves,
there are many different levels of entity that we believe (or at least use in our
visualizations) involved with the Powers of the Elements, the tables below give a
few ideas of these and more information as well. These entities and Elements are
seen as part of the Natural world, but do not reside on the Mundane Plane that
we inhabit. Instead, they exist in other Realms and Planes, ones that exist simultaneously
along with our own, but on a different level. (Rather like the modern theories of
multiple dimensions, well these are dimensions that we believe exist {at least for us
whilst we are using visualizations and Magick}) in the Realms and Planes of our
beliefs, whether they actually exist in reality doesn't really matter, as long as we believe
in them and are able to tap into them for Ritual and Magickal work (that in the last
analysis can make us better people - by knowing ourselves better and being able to 'work'
on those aspects of ourselves that we are aware of lacking in).
In Ancient times, the various Elements were believed to be associated with various
things, a direction of the Compass each, the Seasons, attributes of the Elements
themselves and attributes of the Human Persona.
Earth being associated with the Cold that we find deep in Caves underground, and
hence with Winter, and due to the Sun not rising in the Northern Hemisphere into the
Northern half of the sky, also North. It was also associated with the strength of Rocks,
the nurturing of the Soil, and because of the power to endure (when compared with
the other Elements, i.e. water evaporates or will run away if allowed, air is insubstantial,
and Fire burns out without further fuel), wisdom, which comes from having endured and
learnt. Earth is attributed with things of the physical body, growth, fertility and the ilk.
It's colour is considered either Green or Brown.
Air was associated with the East, the place that the Sun and Moon rise from, the
cool breezes that associate with Sun rise, and with Autumn, when the days grow colder.
Air is linked with those things of the Head, intellect, inspiration,
imagination, dreams and wishes. It's colour is usually Yellow.
Fire was associated with the Sun, which inhabits the Southern portion of our
sky (in the Northern Hemisphere, reversed for those in the Southern Hemisphere, as
are sometimes the Elemental directions themselves), and hence with the warmth
that the Sun bestows upon us (a representation of the Power that the God gives to us
all daily), with Summer. It also became linked with those attributes that were seen
as 'hot', lust, passion, sexuality, and sensuality, will power and enthusiasm! (Hence
the term, 'All Fired Up!') It's colour is Red.
Water was associated with the West, (where both the Sun and Moon finish
their daily journey across the sky by plunging into the Waters of the Atlantic to our West
coast) and also to Spring, the coming of all things green, new life that springs from
water. Its attributed with emotions and the subconscious, intuition, love, mysteries and self.
It's colour is usually considered Blue.
The Fifth Element was that of Spirit, or Akasha, that which causes us to be
animated rather than just lumps of skin, bone and sinew. In the Circle, this is usually
represented by the centre of the Circle itself! It can be represented by the Work
Candle on the Altar, and is usually linked with the colour White!
These five Elements can also correspond to the five senses, the five extremities
of the human body or to the five points of the Pentacle, (as can the three Goddess and
two God Aspects within your personal Pantheon!) as shown in the illustration above. Below
here we've included a Correspondance table for the Elements, and next to that a little more detail.
Stumble!
