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The Elements
The Ancients used to believe that the world was made up of four elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water.
A Greek philosopher named Empedocles is credited with the cosmogenic theory of these four elements being the root of all existing matter. That viewpoint has changed with advances of science, but the four elements are still accepted in modern paganism, for they are more closely linked with emotions, the human psyche, and with nature than are modern explanations of the world. In modern-day Wicca and Paganism, there is a good deal of focus on the four elements. A few traditions of Wicca also include a fifth element, which is Spirit or Self. Each of the elements is associated with traits and meanings, as well as with directions on the compass. The directions can change however, depending on your hemisphere, pagan tradition or personal preference. You can find more information on the Elements in any Wicca 101 text. So, here is a simplified list of how I use the Elements in my spiritual practice.
Earth
The planet Earth, Herself, is comprised of all four (or five) Elements. So for the purpose of ritual, we scale it down to symbolize the ground beneath us, mountains, plants, rocks and minerals.
We call upon the powers of Earth to aid us with stability, growth, courage, prosperity, fertility, healing and to help with life changes and rite of passages. |
Colors: Brown, Green, Black
Symbolizes: Stability, Strength, Courage, Motherhood, Growth, Prosperity, Fertility, Healing, Life Cycle (birth, life, death, and finally rebirth). Goddesses: Gaia, Cel, Demeter, Ceres, Hathor, Hekate |