Crystal Cat's
The Elements

HOME
About Crystal Cat
Astral Projection
Auction
Chants
Charge of the Goddess
Charge of the god
Chat
Covens
The Elements
Familiars
Glossary of terms
GuestBook
message boards
Search
Spells
Store
Voting Booth
WitchCraft Facts

The Five Elements of Witchcraft

The Five Elements of Witchcraft are
  • Earth
  • Air
  • Fire
  • Water
  • Spirit

The Elements - Earth

The elements are the four building blocks of everything that has physical existence.  Each one is associated with a certain direction, and various other things.  None of the elements exists in a pure form as we know it - Fire needs fuel (Earth) and oxygen (Air) to burn, there is Air within the
water, otherwise the seaweed and fish would die, the Earth is filled with Air and Water....

These elements being so closely connected, shows us the interconnectedness of all things, for as above (the BIG picture/Universe) so below (in miniature, on a size we can relate to!)

Having said all that, there is a Fifth element that binds the physical to the astral/spiritual - Spirit.  This element is consciousness, Soul, Ka, essence, call it what you will, it too permeates all things in differing degrees and ways.  For instance the healing energies in a crystal or stone are Spirit, the stone is Earth, but they are intermingled and inseparable (at least for the purposes of our discussions!)

Getting to know these elements and their energies is an important step in knowing your environment, and in magickal workings. While you could look up the associations in a book or on the 'net, I recommend making your own.  They will be considerably easier to remember!

Keep in mind that these elements are in you as well - (that ol' Know Thyself thing again!)

Earth

The Greeks considered Earth to be a symbol of the physical state of being we call "Solid". Since pagans tend to take a more literal view, it is a handful of soil from the garden (potting soil if you live in an apartment!), it is the entire planet. Earth doesn't necessarily represent the physical Earth, but that part of it which is stable, solid, dependable.

Earth is the foundation of the Elements, the base. It is in this realm that most of us live a good part of our lives. When we walk, sit, stand, crawl, eat, sleep, work our jobs, tend our plants, balance our checkbooks or taste salt we are working within the Element of Earth.

Earth is the realm of abundance, prosperity, and wealth. It is the most physical of the Elements - it is upon Earth that the other three rest.

Without Earth, life as we know it could not exist.

Earth is calm and understanding, it holds great wisdom and knowledge and whenever you need to find an answer earth will be of help.

The Elements - Air

Air is the element of thought, mind, the intangibles which we know exist but cannot prove. Air is the breath that we take in. Air is with us every day of our lives, from birth till death.

Air rules psychic abilites, especially telepathy and divination/prophecy.

Air is the gentle breeze on our cheeks in the spring, the cooling whisper on hot summer days. Air is hurricanes and tornados, and the driving icy blast of winter.

Earth is an Air purifier, clean Air supports life. We begin to see the interconnectedness of things.

Air takes the stability of Earth and sends it soaring.

If your element is air (try them all, then if this one responds more or fits you then it probably is your working element) then you will work best in the areas of astrology, empaths, seerers (future), coven working, and astral planes.


The Elements - Fire

Fire is the element of power, strength, determination, courage, change, will, and passion. It is the father of all energy, creativity and sensuality. It is the Sun, the stars, the heat in the earth, it is the flame and it is the fire in your heart.

This is the realm of sexuality and passion. It is not only the "sacred fire" of sex, it is also the spark of divinity which shines within us and all living things. It is at once the most physical and spiritual of the elements.

Fire is quicksliver, lightning. It is the cookfire that feeds, the furnace that warms. It is the forest fires and house fires that destroy. Fire is the two edged sword that offers life or death, but never the middle ground.

Fire magick can be frightening. The results manifest quickly and spectacularly. It is not an element for the faint-hearted. However, it is the most primal and for this reason is much used.


The Elements - Water

Water is easy to see as an essential to life - we must drink water to survive, water eliminates toxins from our bodies, when we sorrow we give up our most precious water - tears.

The saltiness of our tears, blood and other bodily fluids is said to be a reminder that all life began in the Sea; for many of the Ancients, the Great Mother was the Sea.

In Babylon the source of all life was Tiamat the Sea Serpent. The Greeks and Romans put a God in charge of the Sea, but I've always seen Neptune and Posiedon as consorts for Stella Maris (Star of the Sea).

The Moon rules the element of Water, it moves the tides and for women who follow the Moon closely, it rules their menses as well. The word Lunatic comes from 'Luna' for moon and was believed to be caused by the Moons influence on the blood.

Water is the Semen of the God when it falls as nurturing rain, it is the waters of the womb of the Goddess.

Many of the ancients associated Water with the direction of West - the Atlantic Ocean was west of them and many supposed it was Ocean all the way out.... "Sailing West" was a euphemism for dying (for one would surely die sailing west as the Ocean went on forever, or dropped off the edge of the world!), and the Sun "died" each day in the West. In this way, Water, the Element of Life, became associated with Death. This is not entirely inappropriate for Death is only a way to be Reborn from the Watery womb.

Water has come to be associated with memory, ancestors (family tree), and past lives, it is also the element of emotions (most of our memories are triggered by how we feel/felt about them!)

Finally, it is interesting to note that Venus (the planet), called both Morning Star and Evening Star, depending on the season, was also called Stella Maris, and Venus (the Goddess of Love) was said to have been born of the foam of the Sea.


The Elements - Spirit

Spirit is the animating force, everywhere present, and everywhere abundant.

Spirit is energy, and it is eternal in essence. We live in a physical world, and often are unconscious of the spirit world, which is often coexistent with our own, but we are not able to perceive it because it runs on a different frequency than we do. It is invisible, intangible, and affable. We travel to that realm in our dreams, at times, and some do it by mote of will, as in astral travel.

This is the element that binds all the others into one form, to make them one. It is the Mother and the Father of everything, and all magick. The element of spirit is very strong in your blood, it is the impetuous behind Blood Magick*.

Spirit is used in all magick, change, foreseeing the future, creation, and dream magick.

On a personal note, Spirit for me is not so much an Element as the Deity It/Themselves. For instance in Circle, I call the Quarters (Spirit's place is the Center of the Circle) and I stand in the Center to Invite/Invoke Deity.

*Note: Blood Magick was originally the domain of women - Women used their menstrual blood and no-one was harmed or unwilling. There was no "blood sacrifice." Many ancient fertility goddess are associated with blood flow. As society shifted towards a Patriarchal mien, men wanted Blood magick, and the Goddesses of "the River of Blood".

Fertility Goddesses became War Goddess, for men make war to make rivers of blood, men bleed not of nature, so must puncture themselves (or preferably others) to get blood. From this arose the so-called "black magic" and "blood sacrifice". True Blood Magick, in accordance with the Rede, is Women's Magick.