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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2017 14:05:49 GMT -5
Elements & Cardinal Directions
The elements of Earth, Fire, Air, and Water are a fundamental part of Pagan practice and understanding of how the universe and magic work. By tuning into these elements we can learn from them and use their own energy to fuel ourselves and our spells. Each element has its own separate characteristics and energies.
Earth as an element is made up of the ground and plants that live and thrive on it. The essence of earth element is stability, consistency, sustenance, certainty, truth, honor, and justice. Earth elementals are known as Gnomes, Brownies, Thornbreaks, or Dryads. Earth's cardinal direction is North known by the gods of the Earth or the North or the angel Auriel. Common use of earth in practice is by use of crystals or stones and the associated ritual tool is the pentacle.
Fire is seen in the Sun, light, and stars. Fire is the element of transition and change as well as determination, passion, war, vengeance, victory, warmth, movement, and fury. Fire can either be a gentle hearth fire and warm romance, or a blazing volcano heat and primal lust. Fire elementals are known as salamanders, and are composed of their element. Fire's cardinal direction is South known by the gods of Fire or the South or the angel Michael. Common use of fire in practice is by use of candle magic and the associated ritual tool is the blade.
Air has its roots in the non physical world, manifest in the sky and things that are unseen. It is sense, thought, knowledge, study, beauty, inspiration, and creativity through art and poetry. It is close to the most spiritual element, and the elementals are known as Sylphs, Elves, Faries, and Sprites. Air's cardinal direction is East known by the gods of Air or the East or the angel Raphael. Common use of air in practice is by burning incense and the associated ritual tool is the wand or staff.
Water manifests as the seas and dark mystery within them. it is wonder, death, psychic intuition, but also clarity, and washing away the past. Water elementals are known as Undines, Nixies, Kelpies, and Water Babies. Water's cardinal direction is West known by the gods of Water or the West or the angel Gabriel. Common use of water in practice is by washing and cleaning and the associated ritual tool is the cup.
There is also the, sometimes fifth element known as Spirit. Spirit unlike the others is a symbol of pure living energy, humanity, and traits associated with those things. It is noted as being at the 5th point at the top of a pentacle star and is less "used" and more "connected to". Interacting with the spirit realm is interacting with the element spirit and it's plane, as is connecting with the fae or elemental spirits of the other 4. In essence, most of pagan practice uses spirit constantly, whether it be our own or others.
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#a3c5e6
Name Colour
𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵
Warrior Fanatic
All hail me, the flower-flushing queen of Prague
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Post by 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵 on Jun 22, 2017 14:16:34 GMT -5
Afternoon, guys! yukinosoraI hope you have fun at your grandmother's!
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Post by mintedstar/fur🦇 on Jun 22, 2017 14:19:01 GMT -5
Yeah, reading through that still entertains my statement about elements. Because I associate myself with three, not one. ^^'
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2017 14:32:49 GMT -5
My personal 6th Element: Electricity
Firstly, let me explain that this element very much has more of a tie with things slightly more towards the scientific rather than the spiritual. It is in essence, pure, raw energy and though it may use the other 4, even 5 if you count electromagnetic fields that can sometimes even be used to detect spiritual activity, it is in my mind solely different. Though possibly closest related to fire due to it's massive ability for heat through plasma such as is generated by the sun/stars or other celestial bodies and by something more tangible and close to home, lightning. Lightning that is generated by storms with water and air, and conducted very well through earth and metals so we can have things like lights and computers. It's raw power that we've learned to harness scientifically that isn't necessarily anything. However my connection to it as an element spiritually is stronger than any of the others. Personally I feel as though I can feel it everywhere if i try hard enough. (I have been accurately able to pinpoint circuitry through walls with no frame of reference, and, if you will believe me, have been able to turn off and on certain lights or other electronics without touching a switch, including once, a bulb that wasn't even plugged in for just a moment. Sometimes when I'm upset, electronics just plain will not work for me at all until I get over it, or do strange things. And sadly, break faster.) For this reason, I loe thunderstorms or anything associated with it somehow.
Electricity to me is symbolic of an unlimited cosmic power. It's chaotic, unpredictable, powerful. If I had to associate it I'd associate it as being another masculine Sun element for the scientific reasons, however to me seems to feel more ultimate, neutral, and genderless. I doubt there are any elementals for it, but all spirits and beings have their own fields of energy that use it and it has many, many gods associated with it and if I had to give it a cardinal direction I wouldn't be able to because it seems to be a centric force that is everywhere. It would be the equator, in the middle of the electromagnetic force of the earth. Tools to use it would be any metal to conduct electricity. I personally have a small plasma ball on my shrine for it's symbolic purpose and it is a pleasant centerpiece to my belief.
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Post by Sour Candy on Jun 22, 2017 14:38:28 GMT -5
Tbh I can never figure out which element I'm more drawn towards
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Bisexual
yukinosora
"Enter your message here," they said in an authoritative tone.
Pronouns: They/Them/Their
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Post by yukinosora on Jun 22, 2017 14:38:40 GMT -5
Rain brings me happiness~
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Post by mintedstar/fur🦇 on Jun 22, 2017 14:38:51 GMT -5
Ooo, that actually very interesting to read about, Rescue.
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Bisexual
yukinosora
"Enter your message here," they said in an authoritative tone.
Pronouns: They/Them/Their
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Post by yukinosora on Jun 22, 2017 14:39:08 GMT -5
Tbh I can never figure out which element I'm more drawn towards Same here. I relate to most of those elements in one way or another
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Post by mintedstar/fur🦇 on Jun 22, 2017 14:39:38 GMT -5
Rain brings me happiness~ Me as well. I like to watch it out my window.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2017 14:40:12 GMT -5
I guess I just love it's unpredictability but the fact that we have been able to use that unpredictability and make it not quite so unpredictable. That's also kind of the essence and vibe of chaos magic and idk I just can't get enough. I've always felt connected and attracted by it and like it was just something else.
So yeah. That was a ton of typing I'm gonna slow down now.
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Post by mintedstar/fur🦇 on Jun 22, 2017 14:40:51 GMT -5
Tbh I can never figure out which element I'm more drawn towards Same here. I relate to most of those elements in one way or another That's a third 'same' for the list. I have a connection to all but Earth (and I'm not to sure about Spirit as it relates to me personally.)
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Bisexual
yukinosora
"Enter your message here," they said in an authoritative tone.
Pronouns: They/Them/Their
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Post by yukinosora on Jun 22, 2017 14:41:13 GMT -5
So, how might one figure out which element they have more of an affinity for?
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Post by mintedstar/fur🦇 on Jun 22, 2017 14:42:40 GMT -5
xD That's the amount of typing I do when I'm talking with people in the WFF. Just what you feel strongly about, I guess. (Though I'd love to write that amount of stuff for, say, that paper you have to write for school? To much to ask?)
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Post by mintedstar/fur🦇 on Jun 22, 2017 14:44:04 GMT -5
So, how might one figure out which element they have more of an affinity for? No idea. I'm personally looking for something that's between Water, Air, and Fire right now. Just for a personal element or something, because I'm curious...
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Post by mintedstar/fur🦇 on Jun 22, 2017 14:45:14 GMT -5
Metal.
Probably metal.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2017 14:46:38 GMT -5
There was a debate going on on a different website that had a chatroom on it and people were discussing getting "corrupt" by using too much of an element. The way they explained it was that they needed balance just like chakras or you could get spiritually out of whack or something. Not sure how much I'd believe that though but it's an interesting theory/concept to keep in mind when working with them.
Most covens actually require an apprentice or initiate to practice with all four. Which I'd say is a necessity too just so you get a good feel for all the different traits and essences of them, even if you do choose to work mainly with only one or two and become expertised in those in the future. Sea(Water) and Dragon(Fire) magic are becoming increasingly popular these days.
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#a3c5e6
Name Colour
𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵
Warrior Fanatic
All hail me, the flower-flushing queen of Prague
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Post by 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵 on Jun 22, 2017 14:47:56 GMT -5
I love reading about the elements! Reading about them is my favorite part about researching witchcraft. I feel closer to water, myself.
I'm pretty sure it was either Avatar or W.I.T.C.H that got me interested in them in the first place. ^^ I'm actually writing a story that includes the four Classical elements (and aether and nether). Maybe I'll even post a short story based on it.
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Post by Sour Candy on Jun 22, 2017 14:51:46 GMT -5
I should probably meditate soon I haven't done so in a while and it might help clear my head
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Post by mintedstar/fur🦇 on Jun 22, 2017 14:51:53 GMT -5
I actually have a book about elements and elementals in my room somewhere. That's what got me interested. :3
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2017 14:53:36 GMT -5
So, how might one figure out which element they have more of an affinity for? Practice with all of them and see what you like more, or just look at the traits and think about which characteristics you share more with said element. Maybe even look at your astrological zodiac's element. Druids are pretty known for Earth magic though. Using a lot of trees and plants and that sort of thing. Well, that is one of the Chinese elements. Theirs are Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, and Earth. Don't know the differences between those though. But my Chinese zodiac is Earth Tiger, my Astrological is Gemini-Cancer which is Air and Water, and also the cusp of magic so debatably Spirit, yet my spirit animal is a phoenix, which is obviously Fire. So I'm kind of all at once? It's a good mix. Idk. I don't consider myself to have a connection with one over another, but I do enjoy electricity the most.
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#a3c5e6
Name Colour
𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵
Warrior Fanatic
All hail me, the flower-flushing queen of Prague
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Post by 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵 on Jun 22, 2017 14:54:39 GMT -5
I actually have a book about elements and elementals in my room somewhere. That's what got me interested. :3 Ah, cool! Do you remember the name of the book? I'd love to learn more.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2017 14:55:26 GMT -5
I actually have a book about elements and elementals in my room somewhere. That's what got me interested. :3 I have 3 different like, "Beginner" books and all of them go over the elements. It's definitely one of the best starting spaces for magical related belief and practice.
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Post by mintedstar/fur🦇 on Jun 22, 2017 14:58:48 GMT -5
Yeah, I know. I've looked at the characteristics for it before and they all fit me pretty well. I actually know a ton about the Chinese elements and have read a lot about them.
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Post by mintedstar/fur🦇 on Jun 22, 2017 15:00:23 GMT -5
I actually have a book about elements and elementals in my room somewhere. That's what got me interested. :3 Ah, cool! Do you remember the name of the book? I'd love to learn more. *looks at monster bookshelf* Uhhhh, I can try and find it. *sweats* If I don't come back in five minutes, they all fell down on my and I'm probably dead. XD No, I don't remember the name. Actually, I have no idea where it is right now. But I'll try and remember to post the title when I find it.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2017 15:02:23 GMT -5
mintedstar/fur🦇 Maybe since we're already on the topic you can teach us about the chinese stuff. o3o I don't know a lot about it at all cause it never interested me that much.
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Post by mintedstar/fur🦇 on Jun 22, 2017 15:04:20 GMT -5
Sure! Be right back, I'll get typing.
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Bisexual
yukinosora
"Enter your message here," they said in an authoritative tone.
Pronouns: They/Them/Their
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Post by yukinosora on Jun 22, 2017 15:10:42 GMT -5
So, how might one figure out which element they have more of an affinity for? Practice with all of them and see what you like more, or just look at the traits and think about which characteristics you share more with said element. Maybe even look at your astrological zodiac's element. Druids are pretty known for Earth magic though. Using a lot of trees and plants and that sort of thing. Well, that is one of the Chinese elements. Theirs are Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, and Earth. Don't know the differences between those though. But my Chinese zodiac is Earth Tiger, my Astrological is Gemini-Cancer which is Air and Water, and also the cusp of magic so debatably Spirit, yet my spirit animal is a phoenix, which is obviously Fire. So I'm kind of all at once? It's a good mix. Idk. I don't consider myself to have a connection with one over another, but I do enjoy electricity the most. My astrological sign is Scorpio, which is water. You mentioned druids being more associated with earth so....earth. My Chinese zodiac animal is a dragon. I don't know what my spirit animal is but eh....
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Bisexual
yukinosora
"Enter your message here," they said in an authoritative tone.
Pronouns: They/Them/Their
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Post by yukinosora on Jun 22, 2017 15:11:16 GMT -5
I've been curious about this for a while - is Mint Chinese? :')
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Bisexual
yukinosora
"Enter your message here," they said in an authoritative tone.
Pronouns: They/Them/Their
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Post by yukinosora on Jun 22, 2017 15:12:40 GMT -5
Based on when I was born....metal dragon...
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#a3c5e6
Name Colour
𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵
Warrior Fanatic
All hail me, the flower-flushing queen of Prague
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Post by 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵 on Jun 22, 2017 15:13:25 GMT -5
I love astrology just as much as I love researching about the elements. It's ironic that, at least in tropical astrology, my Sun Sign is a fire sign (Aries), when I feel much closer to water. I know the zodiac doesn't necessarily define you, but I still found it funny. ^^ However, only my Jupiter sign and Ascendant sign are linked with a water Zodiac sign, Pisces.
As for my Chinese zodiac sign, it's the Earth Tiger.
I have no idea what my spirit animal is, but I do feel close to the wolf.
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