Paganlore.com

Magickal Elements

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To a magician, all magic is based on four Elements:
Air, Fire, Water and Earth Ancient occult philosophers
and the Druids stated that all life is made of these
four Elements; without them life could not exist. Tan
or Teine (Fire in the old Celtic language) was con-
sidered the most sacred as it is the closest to pure
energy.

These four Elements correspond to the four
directions of our physical world, the four quarters of
the universe, the four winds, and most importantly to
the four quarters of the magical circle. Water and
Earth are considered female energies; Fire and Air
are male.

The Old Gaelic term for the four points of the
compass was the Four Airts or Airs. The general
definitions of these Elements were originally based
on the prevailing winds in Britain. In Scotland, the
Gaelic words for the cardinal points were aiet, east;
deas, south; iar, west; and tuath, north.

The four Elements are forces and energies that
make up the universe and everything in it. They
influence our personalities and magic. They also possess
form as well as force. Each Element is known for hav-
ing certain qualities, natures, moods and magical pur-
poses; each has positive and negative traits. Magical
ritual calls to each Elemental kingdom and its ruler to
protect its quarter of the circle. Because of this, it is
very important to completely understand what each
Element is and does.

In Wiccan and ceremonial magic, each Element
is associated with a color: east, yellow; south, red;
west, blue; north, green. Although the ancient Celts
correctly knew the forces and energies of the Elements,
the colors for them were different: east, red; south,
white; west, gray; north, black. To the Celts, red sym-
bolized the rising Sun; \white, noonday; gray, twi-
light; black, midnight.

The Element of Air governs the eastern quarter
of the circle. Its ruler is Paralda who oversees the
Sylphs, Zephyrs, and Nature spirits or fairies. Its color
is pure yellow; it is considered warm and moist. The
positive associations of Air are: sunrise, Spring, incense,
the wand, clouds, breezes, breath, optimism, joy,
intelligence, mental quickness, any kind of helpful
air. Negative associations are: frivolity, gossip, fickle-
ness, inattention, bragging, forgetfulness, wind storms,
tornadoes, hurricanes, destructive air in any form.

The Element of Fire governs the southern quar-
ter of the circle. Its ruler is Djin (dee-yin) who over-
sees the Salamanders, Firedrakes, and the little ones
of the sunbeams. Its color is pure red; it is considered
warm and dry. The positive associations of Fire are:
noon, Summer,the dagger and sword, candles, any
kind of helpful fire, the Sun, the stars, the blood,
enthusiasm activity, courage, daring, willpower, leads-
ship. Negative associations are: hate, jealousy, fear,
anger, war, ego, conflicts, lightning, volcanoes, harm-
ful fire of any kind.

The Element of Water governs the western quar-
ter of the circle. Its ruler is Niksa who oversees the
Nymphs, Undines, Mer-people, and the little ones of
the springs, lakes, ponds, and rivers. Its color is pure
blue; it is cold and moist. The positive associations of
Water are: sunset, Pall, the chalice and cauldron, any
form of helpful water, compassion, peacefulness,
forgiveness, love, intuition. Negative associations are:
floods, rain storms, whirlpools, any kind of harmful
water, laziness, indifference, instability, lack of emo-
tional control, insecurity.

The Element of Earth rules the northern quarter
of the circle. Its ruler is Ghob, sometimes called Ghom,
Who oversees the gnomes and dwarfs and the little
ones of the moonbeams. Its color is clear dark green; it
is cold and dry. Positive associations are: midnight,
Winter, the pentacle, ritual salt, gemstones, moun-
tains, caves, soil, respect, endurance, responsibility,
stability, thoroughness, purpose in life. Negative
associations are: rigidity, unwillingness to change or
see another side to a problem, stubbornness, lack of
conscience, vacillation, earthquakes, slides.

The fifth Element, Spirit (or nyu to the Druids),
dominates the center of the circle, thus balancing all
the other Elements. Through invocation of the gods,
or Spirit, we are able to blend Elements bringing forth
the desired manifestation.

The spirits or beings of the Elements have been
known to many cultures, particularly the Greeks and
Romans from whom we get our names for them. In
Greek gnoma (gnomes) meant knowledge or the know-
ing ones. Unda (undine) in Latin meant wave, creatures
of the waves. The Greek word silphe (sylph) was a
butterfly or being with gauzy wings. Salambe (sala-
mander) in Greek described a fireplace; however, the
actual being was more like a very small dragon.

The Elemental kingdoms and their rulers are rep-
resented in their appropriate quarter of the magical
circle by a symbol and/or candle of the correct color.
The magician always draws the magical circle sun-
wise, beginning and ending in the east. When wel-
coming the Elements, he or she begins with Air in the
east. When he or she ends the ritual and dismisses the
kingdoms, he or she again begins with the eastern
position. Before opening the circle, the magician
returns to the center and dismisses the Element of
Spirit.

Become familiar with the traits of the Elemental
kingdoms and their rulers for they will play a very
important part in all your magical activities.

 

Taken from "Celtic Magic" by D.J. Conway