The Seven Elements
a Magickal Model of the Universe
First off, I'd like to explain my use of the term "model". I use
this term, because to truly understand the universe in all it's
aspects and forms, is next to impossible. So instead, it's far
easier to come up with a model that represents the ideas, as
philosophy should never be taken too literally or we get lost in the
words, and aren't able to see the grander picture.
I believe in seven elements; Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Primal matter (undifferntiated matter), Finished matter (differentiated matter),
and White (call it spirit/aether, whatever you prefer, I just call it
white). These elements are pure elements and exist as pure, like
elements in chemistry. You can combine them to get different things,
but the elements themselves are always still whole even within a
greater whole. They are not what most people consider elements, ie
fire is not a candle flame, as a flame contains air (to combust),
earth (the wick), water (humidity in the air or wick), etc, as well
as the element of fire. Beyond these representations, there are true
PURE elements, and they are quite unlike how most define them, and
have an energy sense to them that is quite distinct and their own.
Many people believe that the elements are representations of
opposites, duality, whatnot. But in my own experience, I have found
that the pure elements, are so unlike eachother, that they cannot be
opposites, just different...completely and utterly different. The
energy of one is not like the energy of any of the others and cannot
be quantified as a part of a duality in any way. In a sense, one
element is "opposite" from all the other six.
A quick special note on the White- this element in and of itself is
rather unusual. The other six elements pretty much exist on their
own, but the seventh is the result of combining all of the other
elements. It is all of them, but none of them at the same time.
(Paradoxes annoy me, but when I know it to be, I can't help but
agree). The White is what happens when you combine all of the
elements together and cause the others to lose their elemental
identity to create a new and different element.
