Elemental power is important in working your rituals and magick. By learning about each object's elemental properties and rulers, our ancestors found they could connect with all creation on an ntimate level, using this connection to gain knowledge, advance spiritually, and manipulate articles work at their will.
Because they are part of all creation, they exist in both the seen and the unseen worlds, all coalescing in a fifth "element" we know as spirit, which is in and of all elements. All things (animate and inanimate) are created from these elements and all things will someday return to these elements.
Some Witches make the mistake of thinking that the elements are merely essences of something spiritual rather than being sentient, spiritual entities in their own right. Like all sentient beings, the elements can decide to like, love, or hate us, and they can grant or withhold their favors, depending on their opinion of our worthiness to possess their gifts.
One element may call to you a little stronger than the others; this usually means that this element is better for your personal workings. Read the descriptions and correspondences below (click on one of the links above actually) and see if you resonate to one more-so than the others, or even all of them at once! No matter which one you feel more drawn to, you can work with all of them, and should.
Earth is the element we are closest to home with, since it is our home. Earth doesn't necessarily represent the physical Earth, but that part of it which is stable, solid and dependable. This feminine element is the realm of stabiity, growth, and the Mother Goddess, a place to sink our roots as we stretch out our arms and reach toward new experiences.
Earth is the realm of abundance, prosperity and wealth. While it is the most physical of the elements this is not negative, for it is upon Earth that the other three elements rest. Without Earth, life as we know it could not exist.
Earth is considered the best element for grounding energy.
Fertile soil scattered to the winds can act as a blessing of land and gardens.
Earth Correspondences Table
Animals:
Cow or bull, bison, snakes (earth-dwelling), stag, dog, horse, gopher, ant, all burrowing animals, bears, Wolf.
Attracted By:
Salts and Powders
Basic Nature:
Fertile, moist, nurturing, stabilizing, grounding. Gravity is a manifestation of this element.
Colors:
Black, brown, Green (from the color of living plants and fields), white.
Alfalfa, barley, bistort, cotton, horsetail, mugwort, comfrey, Ivy, grains, oats, rice, rye, wheat, patchouly, vetivert, mosses, lichens, nuts, dry and stiff plants; heavy low-growing plants; generally roots. Oak. Pine.
Point in Life:
Advanced Age.
Ritual Forms:
Burying, planting. Making images in the dirt or sand; walking over miles of countryside while visualizing the need.
Ritual Work:
The Body. Growth, natural sustenance, material gain, money, creativity, birth, death, silence, rocks, standing stones, crystals, jewels, metal, bones, structure, night, riches, treasures, surrendering self-will, touch, empathy, grounding, mystery, industry, possessions, conservative, incorporation, business, prosperity, employment, stability, success, fertility, healing, combined forces of nature and it's bounty, material abundance, wisdom, runes, strength, practical wisdom, teaching, symbols.
Runes:
Fehu, wunjo, jera, berkano, mannaz, othala.
Season:
Winter - the time of darkness.
Physical Sense:
Touch.
Signs (Astrological):
Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn.
Stones and Jewels:
Amazonite, cat's eye, geodes, jade, turquoise, rock crystal, salt; heavy or opaque, as in coal; green as in emeralds and peridot, onyx, jasper, azurite, amethyst, royal azurite, tourmaline, tourmalated quartz or rutilated quartz.
Symbols:
Rocks and gemstones, mountains, plains, fields, soil, caves and mines.
Air is the element of the mind, of intellect; it is the realm of thought, which is the first step toward creation where all things we wish to manifest must first be conceived. Magickally speaking, Air is the clear, uncluttered, pure visualization which is a powerful tool for change. It is also the movement, the impetus that sends the visualization out toward manifestation. It rules spells and rituals involving travel, instruction, freedom, obtaining knowledge, discovering lost items, uncovering lies and so on. (See below for more correspondences.) It can also develop the psychic faculties.
Spells involving Air usually include the act of placing an object in the air or dropping something off the side of a mountain or other high place, so that the object actually connects physically with the element. Air is masculine, being dry, expansive and active. it is the element that excels in places of learning, and which is at work while we theorize, think and ponder.
Air rules the East because this is the direction of the greatest light, and the light of wisdom and consciousness. It's color is yellow, the yellow of the Sun and the sky at dawn. Air governs the magick of the four winds, most divination, all flying creatures, and visualization magick.
Air is a difficult element to work with because it can change direction or die altogether. You can use a
-- southerly wind to empower magick pertaining to energy and vitality;
-- western wind for creativity and emotions;
-- northern wind for physical nature and growth;
-- eastern wind for psychic matters.
For this type of magick, an item is usually released into the chosen breeze to carry the force of the spell. Feathers, flower petals, colored sand, rice, or anything else light enough (and appropriate to your workings) to blow away can be chosen. For example:
A crow's feather can be released to impart a message to a friend;
or rose petals dispatched on a quest for love.
Please note: that feathers are best found, not taken. If someone is selling the feathers, try to be certain of their source. And always be sure to use items that are safe to the environment. If you use a balloon, for example, it can pop and an animal, thinking it's something to eat, can choke on it. Please always consider the Earth and Her creatures in everything in you do of this nature.
Air Correspondences Table
Animals:
Birds, especially the eagle and the hawk, all flying creatures, insects, spiders, the Raven
Attracted By:
Oils and Incenses
Basic Nature:
Floating, movement, fresh, intelligent, suspending. Sound is a manifestation of the Air element.
Colors:
White, the yellow of the Sun, the sky at dawn, Crimson, Light Blue, all pastel colors.
Tossing objects into the air. Suspending tools in high places, fanning light objects, visualization, positive thinking.
Ritual Work:
The Mind. All mental, intuitive and psychic work, knowledge, abstract learning, wind and breath, inspiration, hearing, harmony, herbal knowledge, plant growth, intellect thought and growth, travel, freedom, revealing the truth, finding lost things, psychic abilities, instruction, telepathy, memory, to contact the angels, the ability to know and understand, to unlock the secrets of the dead, zen meditation, brainstorms, beginnings, illuminations.
Runes:
Ansuz, raidho, eihwaz, tiwaz.
Season:
Spring - the time of freshness.
Physical Sense:
Smell and hearing.
Signs (Astrological):
Gemini, Libra, Aquarius.
Stones and Jewels:
Topaz, light stones, such as pumice; transparent stones such as mica. Yellow flourite, crystals, amethyst, alexandrite, aventurine, yellow or blue stones. Rainbow stones.
Fire is the element of change, will and passion. In a sense it contains within it all forms of magick, since magick is the process of change.
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.
This is the realm of sexuality and passion, transformation and abruptness. 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 Correspondences Table
Animals:
Fire breathing Dragons, reptiles dwelling above ground, lions, horses, when their hooves strike sparks, snakes, crickets, praying mantis, ladybug, bee, scorpion, shark, phoenix, coyote, fox.
Attracted By:
Candles, Lamps, Incense, Fire
Basic Nature:
Purifying, destruction, cleansing, energetic, sexual, forceful. Heat is a manifestation of this element.
Colors:
Red, the color of flames, Gold, Crimson, Orange, White.
Candle magick, Banishing/exorcism, sex magick, Storm, time, and Star magick.
Magickal Tools:
Staff, Dagger, Censer, Lamp or Candles, Burned herbs or requests on paper, knife, earrings, smoking pipe.
Metals:
Gold, Brass, Steel.
Musical Instruments:
Guitar, all stringed instruments.
Places:
Deserts, hot springs, volcanoes, ovens, fire places, bedrooms (for sex), weight rooms, locker rooms, saunas, athletic fields.
Plants and Trees:
Allspice, basil, dill, fennel, ginseng, ginger, tobacco, Garlic, Hibiscus, Mustard, Nettle, Onion, red peppers, cinnamon, red poppies; Stinging, thorny or hot plants such as thistle, chile peppers and bouganvillea, desert-dwelling cacti, coffee beans, generally seeds. Almond tree, in flower.
Point in Life:
Youth.
Ritual Forms:
Burning, fuming or smoldering of an image, herb or other object, candles or small blazes.
Ritual Work:
Energy, spirit, heat, flame, blood, sap, life, will, healing and destroyings, purification, bonfires, hearth fires, candle flames, sun, eruptions, explosions, freedom, change, sight, perception, vision, illumination, learning, love, lust, legal matters, curse-breaking, passions, sexuality, authority, destruction, will, the will to dare, creativity, loyalty, force, transformation, protection, courage, strength, hihger self, success, refinement, the arts, evolutions, faith, physical exercise, body awareness, work nurturance, vitality, self-knowledge, power.
Runes:
Thurisaz, kenaz, naudhiz, sowilo, ingwaz.
Season:
Summer - the time of heat.
Physical Sense:
Sight.
Signs (Astrological):
Aries, Leo, Sagittarius.
Stones and Jewels:
Amber, Fire opal, Red or fiery stones, as in jasper, bloodstone. Volcanic, as in lava, Apache tear, obsidian, onyx; clear, as in quartz crystals, diamond. Ruby, Carnelian, Rhodochrosite, Agates, tiger's eyes, citrine.
Symbols:
Lightening, volcanoes, rainbow, sun, stars, lava, a heat object.
Water is the element of purification, the subconscious mind, love and the emotions.
Just as water is fluid, constantly changing, flowing, from one level to another, so too are our emotions in a constant state of flux.
Water is the element of absorption and germination. The subconscious is symbolized by this element because it is rolling, always moving, like the sea which rests neither day or night.
Water Correspondences Table
Animals:
Dragons, serpents, dolphins and porpoises, fish seals and sea mammals, water-dwelling snakes, all water creatures and sea birds, cat, frog, turtle, otter, seal, most fish and shellfish, swan, crab and bear.
Lakes, springs and wells, ponds, streams, rivers, beaches, bathtubs, swimming pools, showers, bedroom (for sleep), health spas, fountains, steam rooms, the ocean and the tides, waterfalls.
Plants and Trees:
Belladonna, blackberry, jasmine, vanilla, valerian, lilac, mesquite, burdock, orris, Ferns, lotus, mosses, bushes, seaweeds, water lilies, all water plants, lettuce, rose, gardenia, generally flowers. The Willow Tree (my personal favorite).
Point in Life:
Youth.
Ritual Forms:
Dilution, placing into water, washing away, bathing.
Ritual Work:
Emotions, feelings, lvoe, courage, daring, sorrow, intuition, the unconscious mind, the womb, generation, fertility, plants, healing, smell, absorbing, communication with the spiritual, purification, pleasure, friendship, marriage, happiness, sleep, dreams, the psychic, the inner self, sympathy love, reflection, dreams and dreamtime, currents and tides of life, the power to dare and cleanse all things, Inner Knowing, vision quests, self-healing, inner vision, security, journeys.
Runes:
Uruz, gebo, hagalaz, isa, pethro, ehwaz, laguz, dagaz.
Season:
Autumn - the time of harvest, when rain showers the earth.
Physical Sense:
Taste.
Signs (Astrological):
Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces.
Stones and Jewels:
Aquamarine, transparent or translucent stones like beryl, chalcedony, moonstone, saphhire, amethyst, blue tourmaline, pearl, coral, blue topaz, blue flourite, lapis lazuli, sodalite.
Symbols:
Oceans, lakes, rivers, wells, springs, pools, rains, mist, fog, a shell, a cup of water.
Spirit is the unifying force uniting and animating the other elements, giving them life and enabling them to communicate and work together Because spirit exists in all worlds, it is the road by which magick travels from the other-world to our world.
Spirit is not as much an element as it is a force. Unlike the other elements, spirit cannot readily be captured by an herb, stone, or tool. Occultists have long chronicled certain correspondences to spirit, but this has been more to help us fully understand the elusive, yet omnipresent, nature of spirit rather than to encourage us to try and harness its power for magickal purposes. Certainly spirit can be honored within the boundaries of magickal practice; after all, it is the glue that binds the other elements in place.
Using any of the following attributes, spirit can be given a place of honor in your magick, and its cohesive abilities assist you in garnering the forces of the other elements for obtaining your goal.
Spirit Correspondences Table
Animals:
Sphinx.
Attracted By:
n/a
Basic Nature:
"Unknowable"
Colors:
White and/or black, clear, purple.
Direction:
Directionally it is seen above and below, inside and out, in the center and all about us; it is in and of all the other elements, and it both transcends and interpenetrates them.
Goddesses:
All Goddesses.
Gods:
All Gods.
Incense:
Mastic.
Magick (Types of) Ruled:
n/a
Magickal Tools:
Cords, cloaks, medicine bags, etc., anything that symbolizes the binding or unification of the other elements.
Metals:
Meteoritic
Musical Instruments:
n/a
Places:
n/a
Plants and Trees
Mistletoe, The Flowering Almond tree, The Celtic Sacred Tree - Apple.
Point in Life:
Pre-conception, soulness.
Ritual Forms:
n/a
Ritual Work:
Religious in nature, enlightenment, finding your life path, spiritual knowledge, seeing and understanding karmic paths in life.
