The Elements
Wicca is a nature based religion. We follow the tides of the moon and the path of the sun in our celebrations. We honor the Earth and the world around us. One of the most important ways we incorporate the natural world into our daily lives and Wiccan practice is by honoring the elements, sometimes referred to as the Quarters or the Directions.
Most Western occult traditions include the four plus one elements, and Wicca is no exception. These are Earth, Air, Water, Fire and Spirit.
Each of these elements has a different energy and fits into our practices in its own special way. Each has correspondences which can help give the practitioner a way to focus on the energy of the element he/she is working with.
The Air Element
Air is the power of the mind, the force of intellect, inspiration, imagination. It is ideas, knowledge, dreams and wishes. Air is the element of new life and new possibilities and is essential to spellwork and rituals of travel, instruction, finding lost items, some types of divination and freedom. Air aids us in visualization. It is a masculine element and governs the magick of the four winds. It is the vital spirit passing through all things. Its direction is East, the place of sunrise. Sound is a manifestation of this element. It's color is yellow, its season is Spring, time Dawn. Goddess's include Aradia, Cardea, Nuit, Urania. Gods include Enlil, Kheohera, Mercurym, Shu, Thoth. The magickal tool is the Wand.
The Earth Element
It is the centre, the foundation and the mother of all things. It is the element of stability, foundations and of the body. Earth is the realm of wisdom, knowledge, strangth, growth and prosperity. It is the very heart of life and essential in spellwork with rituals of prosperity, business, fertility and stability. It's direction is North, it's color green and it's season is Winter. The magickal tool is the Pentacle. Goddess's include Ceres, Demeter, Gaea, Mah, Nepththys, Persphone, Prithivi, Rhiannon. Gods include Adonis, Athos, Cernunnos, Dioyysus, Marduk, Pan, Tammuz.
The Water Element
Nothing can live without water. It is a cleansing, healing, psychic and loving element. It is the feeling of friendship and love that pours over us when we are with out family, friends, and loved ones. As well as being vital for life within the energy of this element is contained the essence of love. Love is the underlying reason for all Magick. Water is LOVE. It is a feminine element and the element of emotion and subconsciousness, purification, intuition, mysteries of the self, compassion and family. Water is important in spellwork dealing with friendship, marriage, happiness, fertilty, healing, pleasure, psychic abilities and spells involving mirrors. It's direction is West, color is blue and season is Autumn. It's magickal tool is the Cup, the Cauldron. Goddesses include Aphrodite, Isis, Mariamne, Mari, Yemaya, Tiamat. Gods include Dylan, Ea, Manannan, Osiris, Neptune, Poseidon.
The Fire Element
The element of Fire is both creative and destructive. It is a masculine element, it's aspects being change, passion, creativity, motivation, will power, drive and sensuality. It is sexuality, both physical and spiritual. In spellwork it is used for healing, purification, sex, breaking bad habits or destroying illness and disease. It is the element of authority and leadership. it's direction is South, it's color red and the season Summer. The magickal tool is the Knife or the Athame. Goddesses include Brigit, Pele, Vesta. Gods include Agni, Hepaetus, Horus, Promtheus, Vulcan.
The Akasha Element
It is the binding force of all the elements. it is the fifth element and the binding part that runs through all matter and is the collective consciousness of life forms. It is the immutable, changeless source of all energy. the realm of potentiality, promise, paths not yet taken. Akasha is also present within our bodies, the soul the spark of life. It is the primal source of energy that creates and fuels the other four elements. It's a color is purple or black, it's direction is all.
