The nature of symbolic languages is that they must, of need, touch on all corners of creation and bind life into a framework. The word symbolism actually comes from two Greek terms that rather unpretentiously means “throw together.”
From this we get the loftier Webster definition that says a symbol suggests or represents something else. In this case we are sneaking a peek through history’s red curtain (shhh don’t tell) at the bare bones of the Five Sacred Elements.
These energies – Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit – “throw together” all of creation. That’s one heck of an evolutionary salad, and it has affected human transformation since the dawn of time.
The 5 Elements
The Greeks, ever waxing philosophical, were among one of the great civilizations to put the concept of Elemental energies into a functional context.
Thankfully you won’t need to pull out your toga to grasp the fundamentals (unless you want to – in which case, we expect an invitation).
Effectively they wrote that Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Aether (Spirit or Quintessence) make up everything in the world. Alchemists of the time then made four triangular symbols to represent all but Spirit, whose form remains elusive even with all our technological gee-gaws.
Using the Greek model, Earth is the most material and mundane. Let’s face it – a rock is a rock and pretty straightforward (unless you’re talking about spiritually charged crystals, but that’s a topic for another article).
Nonetheless without this cornerstone the remaining elements could not function. Consider that Earth’s atmosphere is what gives us air, food, living waters, etc. Take that away and the remaining picture is pretty grim.
Water is the next element, followed by Air and Fire, building toward the refined pinnacle of Spirit that acts as a nucleus for this magical party.
In many metaphysical traditions learning mastery over one or more elements is part of classical training, but to master anything you must first respect it and second understand all its diverse facets.
If the Medicine Man says you’re not ready to play with fire – LISTEN or the Fire spirit will teach you the hard way.
Witches Of The Craft® 