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The Elements / Correspondences
Our world is viewed of in terms of four physical elements - earth,
water, air and fire (which roughly correspond to the four scientific
forms of matter: solid, liquid, gas and plasma) - plus spirit.
Together, these elements form a united whole, as is symbolized in
the pentagram. All are necessary and should be in balance.
Circles are generally cast through the use of all elements. Incense
(fire and air) and salt water (earth and water) is the simplest
method, with yourself representing spirit. Candles (fire), incense
(air), water (water), and (especially if you're outdoors) the ground
beneath your feet (earth) also work. The compass points of a circle
each represent an element as well, with the circle itself being
spirit, uniting and binding all together.
Each of these elements correspond to certain aspects, and when
attempting to do work concerning a certain aspect, we address the
appropriate element. Ceremonial magic and alchemy have given us a
great deal of other correspondences with the elements, everything
from tools and colors to numbers and letters. Here I shall restrict
myself to common Wiccan usage, what I find useful to religious
ritual, and what helps illustrate the interconnections of various
cycles. For instance, you will see similarities between the
elemental aspects listed here and the aspects of the Triple Goddess
listed elsewhere.
Air Celtic name: Airt
Direction: East Time: Sunrise
Season: Spring Moon: Waxing
Goddess: Maiden
Tools: Incense, Wand
Major Aspect: Intelligence
Air is the element of intellect, study, and book-learning, and
therefore of the sciences. It is also the element of youth,
creativity, and spontaneity, and of communication and travel.
Fire Celtic name: Deas
Direction: South Time: Noon
Season: Summer Moon: Full
Goddess: Motherhood
Tools: Candle, Athame
Major Aspect: Strength
Fire is the element of strength, especially physical strength but
also strength of will, and energy. Fire is also the element of
passion, courage, protection, purification, transformation, chaos,
and sex. Fire is life and health as well as destruction.
Water Celtic name: Iar
Direction: West Time: Sunset
Season: Autumn Moon: Waning
Goddess: Crone
Tools: Chalice, Cauldron
Major Aspect: Wisdom
Water is the element of wisdom, clarity, and common sense,
especially that which comes from experience. It is also the element
of emotion, intuition and divination. It is the major element of
healing, and also contains aspects of transformation and
purification, and can also represent death and rebirth.
Earth Celtic name: Tuath
Direction: North Time: Midnight
Season: Winter Moon: New
Goddess: Dark
Tools: Salt, Pentacle
Major Aspect: Stability
Earth is the element of stability, order and grounding. It is also
the element of fertility, both literal and figurative, and therefore
of pregnancy, growth, birth, material gain, business, prosperity
sustenance, and creativity. As the element from which came and to
which we will return, earth is the element of death and rebirth,
beginnings and endings, and silence.
Because earth symbolizes endings and beginnings, I cast my circles
starting in the north.
Spirit
Also referred to as Ether or Aethyr.
Direction: Center and circumference
Tools: Circle, self
Major Aspect: Everything and nothing
Spirit is the element of transcendence, transformation, change, the
void, everywhere and nowhere, all time and no time. It is the primal
force that flows through all of us and all things. It is not often
addressed directly in ritual, because it is the element of
ourselves, our will, and the gods, all of which are already actively
invoked. Author Unknown |
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Elemental correspondences are as follows: Earth (Material matters, e.g. Money, property, business, success, status, body matters). Alfalfa, bayberry, barley, blackthorn, bistort, briony, buckwheat, cypress, fir, fumitory, honeysuckle, hollyhock, patchouli, primrose, rhubarb, sage, soapwort, vervain, vetiver, tansy, pine, sorrel, strawberry, elm, clover. Air ( invoked power[as opposed to natural power], intellect, study, qualifications, learning) Agrimony, almond, anise, acacia, alecost, aspen, bean, benzoin, bergamot, caraway, cedar, chervil, chicory, comfrey, clary sage, dill, dandelion, fenugreek, hazel, horehound, lavender, lemon verbena, mulberry, nutmeg, sweet cicely, sandalwood, sage, wormwood, marjoram, mistletoe, dock, pine, mint, elecampane, clover, hop, houseleek, fern, parsley. Fire (Natural power, war, rage, destruction, force, action) Alder, Alexanders, aspen, angelica, asafoetida, avens ash, basil, bay, betony, cedar, celandine, centaury, cinnamon, cinquefoil, clove, coriander, dill, fennel, frankincense, garlic, gorse, holly, horse chestnut, horseradish, hyssop, juniper, lovage, mustard, madder, nettle, olive, oak, peony, rue, saffron, sassafras, smallage, sneezewort, St. John’s wort, sunflower, vine, woodruff, mandrake, rue, tarragon, rosemary, dragon’s blood, galangal, clover, nasturtium, cookoo pint, lily of the valley, walnut, flax. Water (Emotions, intuition, illusion etc.) Aloe, aconite, apple, alder, ash, balm, bindweed, balm Gilead, burdock, chamomile, catnip, chervil, cleavers, columbine, camphor, cardamom, coltsfoot, damiana, daisy, dog rose, foxglove, feverfew, geranium, hellebore, hemlock, hemp, henbane, herb robert, indigo, jasmine, lily, lady’s mantle, marsh mallow, mallow, meadowsweet, myrrh, myrtle, mugwort, mullein, orris (iris), ox-eye daisy, opium poppy, Purslane, rowan, ivy, periwinkle, willow, clover, cornflower, woad, yew, forget-me-not. The following have hallucinogenic properties, and so should be used with care:
Aconite, Belladonna, Damiana, Nutmeg, Mandrake, Hemlock, Opium Poppy. The following are dangerous if taken internally (or applied to the skin):
Aconite, Belladonna, Mandrake, Hemlock, Coltsfoot, Comfrey, Sassafras, Lobelia, Pennyroyal, Hellebore and Celandine. Any herb can be potentially dangerous if you have a medical problem or are on prescription or non-prescription. If in doubt consult a qualified medical practitioner before use. Author Unknown |
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