Rosewicket Wicca Coven

This will be typed up in part because when I tried to post the whole thing, the internet ate it.

Part I - The Magical Elements

Today, the 'elements' are commonly thought of as described in the periodic table of elements. We know today that it is the combination of these elements that make up everything around us. The table is made up of metals, non-metals (gases), and semi-metals. However, in Pagan practice, the elements are reffered to as Air, Earth, Water, Fire, and Spirit.

So how can the traditional elements be the basis for everything if we know today that the universe began with a cloud of heluim and hydrogen?

The traditional elements are still relevent. Not so much in the fact that they are the only things matter is composed of (they aren't), but in the sense that everything in the universe is in any of the following states: Liquid, Gas, Combustion/Plasma, Solids, and non-physical condition. In this case, the elements correspond with the state of matter more than it's composition. Liquid = water, Gas = air, Combustion = fire, solid=earth, and lastly andything Non-Physical corresponds to Spirit.

The advantages and disadvantages of this way of thought are apparent. It is easier to gage the state of matter than what is is and has always been made of. For example, t's easier to tell if someone is angry than it is to understand their entire personality in a split second. So, even if we are composed of something, the state that teh composition appears in is also imporant. This is what we reffer to when we say 'What's your element?'. Personal characteristics are apparent in the elements; which is why an emotional person may connect to water, an intellectual may feel connected to air, a practical person may be connected more to earth, or a passionate person may feel mroe connected to fire. Even though we are all composed of complex poly-atomic ionic bonds and covalent molecules, the state of our character is symbolic of the magical elements.

To simplify, the elements are states of being. It's easier to get the feel of Earth through meditation than it is to meditate on the periodic elements, even though the 'scientific' elements are what create our being.

Because each element is a symbol for the state of things, there can be any number of correspondences. The state of light may be represented by an elements colour, the celestial balance may be represented in zodiac signs that share an element, animals may be the messengers of an element, and so on.

coming next: Air

Part II - Air

Air is the element associated with East, Thoughts, Intellect, Birds and bugs of flight, Sunrise, Yellow, Autumn, and the zodiac signs Aquarius, Libra, and Gemini.

Of course, there are many more correspondences, as said above the reason being that the elements are symbolic of everything in our world.

Air is, as you would guess, a light element. It is not rash like fire, though it is masculine, but it is not static like earth, and it is quicker to change than water.

When we invoke Air in our circles, we are calling on our intellect, knowledge, and wisdom. The positive qualities of air are that it is brilliant and resourceful, while negatives might be arrogance or emotional blockage - and then there are 'in between' things like being rebellious or being so intellectually mature we miss out on emotional experiences.

Air is a masculine element, but not in the same way that fire is. The way I think of it is that Air is the androgynous side of masculine energy. It is not rash or over active such as fire may be, it pays more attention to the personal qualities.

I want to learn more about the elements,seems that knowledge of the

elements and/or energies thereof are subject to an invisible balance

.I mean it seems to me that the elements were here before me and yet they are with me .

When I get around to posting more information on these I would be happy to answer your specific questions. The elements are a basic but important element to life, as they are it's building blocks. You may also have luck checking the Feng Shui section of teh forums, I posted quite a bit of information there about the energy of the elements - though that uses the Eastern model of elements instead of the western.