The Elements

 I have been a part of a great discussion group for a few months. We have been covering a new topic each gathering and I had the idea today to share what we’ve been talking about with you! This will be a fun new series of my online grimoire of sorts. I will probably continually add to each of these blogs and keep expanding on them. 

This post will be covering The Elements and Elemental Magic.

What is Elemental Magic? Personally I see Elemental Magic as simply using the Elements consciously in your craft. As you look at different magical practices around the world there are variations on what is seen as an element and what may fall into different categories. 

 

I would like to take a section out of the wonderful book ‘Psychic Witch’ by Matt Auryn to give a nice intro to this topic: 

“The four elements are earth, air, fire, and water, and the fifth element is spirit. These elements were defined by ancient Greek philosophy and alchemists by that name, though similar ideas were also used in ancient Indian and Egyptian theology. Later, medieval alchemists expanded upon these four elements by subdividing them into further elements, such as Sulfur, Mercury, Lead, Phosphorus, etc. Alchemy was the forbearer of chemistry and such gave birth to the elemental periodic table. 

‘What is important to understand about these elements is that their names are symbolic and metaphorical. They are not literal earth, air, fire, or water - nor are they the spirit that rules these things. Instead, they are names for different types of energy. The periodic table took the further defined and articulated metaphors of the four elements and looked at the purely chemical composition of these ideas. The metaphorical became literal. This has caused a lot of confusion surrounding the concept of elements in modern times. Because it can be confusing when talking about the elemental force versus it physical symbol”

 

So as stated above working with the Elements is a way to incorporate the primal building blocks of our reality and magical workings. When we are working magic we are technically trying to “manipulate” the energy and reality around us, so working with the elements is a way to shape and move these building blocks. Each Element has different speeds, movement, strengths, and weaknesses, so working with a specific Element may be more applicable than another, or equally combining multiple will help reach the desired outcome more easily. 

My workings are heavily based off astrology so I will be going in the order of the Zodiac to speak on each element, so we will start with the Element of Fire. 

 

Fire

I want to start each Element by closing our eyes and sitting for a moment thinking about it. Going through all the senses how does each element feel and present to you. When you close your eyes and imagine you are sitting near a bonfire. The first things that I think of is the warmth, the brightness, and smell of the smoke. 

If you are sitting with the fire with a decent amount of time, you will see that the fire is continually needing to be fed. Which brings us to one of the main aspects of fire, passion. Fire is the most passionate of the Elements. Passion generally needs to be fed to keep going, but if fed it will continue to burn brightly. 

Correspondences: 

Astrology: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius; Sun, Mars, and Jupiter

Stones: Lava Stone, Obsidian, Citrine, Red Jasper, Sunstone, Pyrite, Tiger Eye

Herbs: angelica, betony, borage, bougainvillea, cacti, chamomile, chili peppers, cinnamon, coffee, damiana, dandelion, blood, eyebright, garlic, gentian, ginger, Hawthorne, hibiscus, hops, juniper, lemon balm, nettles, rose, rosemary, rue, sage, thistles, vitex, wormwood

Animals: bees, crickets, dragons, ladybugs, lions, lizards, scorpions, sharks, snakes

Tarot: The Sun, The Emperor, Strength, The Wheel of Fortune, Temperance, The Tower, Judgment, suites of Wands

Colors: warm tones, red, orange, yellow, white, gold

Key words: Hot and dry; physical/in motion and swift/fast (wild fire), passion, enjoys challenges, excitement, transformation, drive, willpower

Examples of Fire magic: candles, bonfires, scrying

 

 

Earth

Again let’s close our eyes and picture the sitting in a flourishing garden. Can you smell the richness of the soil, see the green of the plants, hear the buzzing of bees? Do you feel calm and grounded? 

Earth is the most stable of the Elements. Think of a mountain range and the strength and denseness of it. Again this shows how Earth can be seen as the slowest of the signs, that mountain range will outlast so many things. 

Moving back to our garden scene, when we have soil that is full of life we can grow almost anything. Earth ties us to fertility work, and with fertility comes growth and sustainably. 

In order to have thriving soil, it must be given nutrients like compost. Compost is literally what its name is, you take that which was living and return it to the ground so it can feed new life. The circle of life and death. 

 

Correspondences: 

Astrology: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn; Venus, Mercury, Saturn

Stones: agate, aventurine, brass, hematite, herkimer diamond, galena, iron, lodestone, malachite, moss agate, onyx, petrified wood, quartz, rhodonite, smoky quartz, sodalite

Herbs: arguably all plants, coltsfoot, feverfew, henbane, larrea, mallow, mint, mugwort, mullein (root), mushrooms, plantain, rose, thyme, vervain, violet, yarrow

Animals: ants, burrowing animals, brownie (fae), cows, gnomes, goats, land spirits, livestock in general, moles, sheep, trolls, worms

Tarot: The Empress, The Hierophant, The Hermit, The Devil, The World, Pentacles 

Colors: Greens, browns, neutrals

Key Words: Cool and dry; dense and stable, stability, money, calm, time management, health, likes reward, grounding, balance, fertility, justice, growth, circle of life

Example of Earth magic: grounding, gardening, dirt workings (graveyard dirt), burying

 

Air

Imagine you are sitting outside and feeling a breeze pass over you. It may bring different smells and sounds. Smell and sound in essence travel on the air to meet us. You can visually see this with the smoke of an incense stick. 

The Element of Air is associated with intellect and the mind, I think this proves true as you think of the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all being apart of the head and so close to the brain, and these things are largely how we learn and teach. 

 

Correspondences: 

Astrology: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius; Mercury, Venus, Saturn

Stones: amazonite, amethyst, angelite, apophyllite, copper, danburite, epidote, goldstone, jade, kunzite, sapphire, sugilite, blue topaz, turquoise 

Herbs: coltsfoot, feverfew, henbane, horehound, hyssop, lavender, mallow, mints, mugwort, mullein (ariels), oregano, plantain, parsley, red clover, rosemary, senna, skullcap, thyme, valerian, vervain, violet, yarrow

Animals: angels, bats, birds, insects, spiders

Tarot: The Fool, The Magician, The Lovers, Justice, The Star, Swords

Colors: yellow, light blue, white

Key Words: Hot and wet; communication, thought, intelligence, diplomacy, the mind, smell and sound

Example of Air magic: smell, incense, breath work, smoke cleansing, sound cleansing, wind magic, feathers, wind chimes

 

Water

Imagine you are floating in a clear calm lake. The water can hold you at the top, and you can feel it completely encompass you. Below you is depth and you can delve into it if you choose. 

Water is connected to our feelings and emotions. This can be akin to ‘feeling’ the water fully around you. 

Similarly, water is used to represent intuition and spirituality. Thinking of the ocean, it has endless depths that we have still not accessed, just like spirituality. You can continue to dive into this for lifetimes. 

Correspondences: 

Astrology: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces; Moon, Mars, Jupiter

Stones: amethyst, beryl, coral, moonstone, pearl, salt, selenite, tourmaline quartz

Herbs: belladonna, dandelion, lemon balm, lobelia, mint, nettle, periwinkle, spearmint, sage, reeds, wild lettuce, willow, wormwood

Animals: bears, dolphins, fish, horses, mer-people, scorpions, seals, sea birds, sea snakes, snakes

Tarot: The High Priestess, The Chariot, The Hanged Man, Death, The Moon, Cups

Colors: blues, greens

Key Words: Cold and wet; emotion, feelings, intuition, connection, mysticism

Example of Water magic: scrying, shower/bath, floor washes, rain magic, moon/sun waters, flower essence

 

 

With this information I hope you can better incorporate the elements into your personal practice!