Calling the elements
Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 4:59 pm
There are many ways of calling the elements. You can simply ask them to be present or you can make calling them an important part of the ritual.
I have read and researched many different ways and directions that the elements are placed and called. The most popular one I have come across is in the wicca tradition, Earth - North, Air - East, South - Fire and west - water.
However this has never made sense to me so I have made my own below and added what I have learnt and felt are correspondences to each element .
North is air because I face north and I can see the sky, East for me is obviously the sun because the sun raises in the east, South is the Earth because it is below my feet and is also behind me, Water is West because I live in the north west of England and the closest stretch of sea is to the west of me. Water is also the opposite of fire, so placing water in the west makes perfect sense to me. And spirit is of course placed at the top or in the centre.
Element = Wind/Breath
blue (north) hardship, defeat, trouble,... winter - a season for survival and waiting
Wisdom, intellect, the adult self, the mind.
Element = Fire/Life Source
yellow (east) success; triumph ... spring - a re-awakening, the power of new life
Illumination, creation, self, spirit
Element = Water / health
White (west) ... peace; happiness ... summer - a time of plenty
Trust and Innocence, emotions.
Element = Earth
Brown (South) ... death ... autumn - the final harvest, the end of life's cycle
Introspection and intuition, the physical body.
Element = Spirit
white (centre) and all of the elements
... learning, SELF
Balance, beauty, harmony, transformation, change.
I was wondering first what people think of this and would love to see how other people call the elements and where they are placed in the directions if at all.
I have read and researched many different ways and directions that the elements are placed and called. The most popular one I have come across is in the wicca tradition, Earth - North, Air - East, South - Fire and west - water.
However this has never made sense to me so I have made my own below and added what I have learnt and felt are correspondences to each element .
North is air because I face north and I can see the sky, East for me is obviously the sun because the sun raises in the east, South is the Earth because it is below my feet and is also behind me, Water is West because I live in the north west of England and the closest stretch of sea is to the west of me. Water is also the opposite of fire, so placing water in the west makes perfect sense to me. And spirit is of course placed at the top or in the centre.
Element = Wind/Breath
blue (north) hardship, defeat, trouble,... winter - a season for survival and waiting
Wisdom, intellect, the adult self, the mind.
Element = Fire/Life Source
yellow (east) success; triumph ... spring - a re-awakening, the power of new life
Illumination, creation, self, spirit
Element = Water / health
White (west) ... peace; happiness ... summer - a time of plenty
Trust and Innocence, emotions.
Element = Earth
Brown (South) ... death ... autumn - the final harvest, the end of life's cycle
Introspection and intuition, the physical body.
Element = Spirit
white (centre) and all of the elements
... learning, SELF
Balance, beauty, harmony, transformation, change.
I was wondering first what people think of this and would love to see how other people call the elements and where they are placed in the directions if at all.