Working with nature is a large part of many witches beliefs. It isn't necessary, but you would be hard pressed to find a witch that doesn't commune with, honour, or use nature daily within their craft.
What Are The Elements?
In western traditions we recognise four main elements; earth, air, fire and water. We often acknowledge a fifth element, known as spirit. This is the overall, universal energy, from which all things (including the four elements) come from.
Eastern traditions tend to think of them a little differently. For example, in Chinese traditions the elements are seen as being wood, fire, metal, earth and water. However, the concept is the same; these elements are the building blocks of all things in the universe.
If you're into ancient Greek philosophy there are some really interesting arguments as to which element is the 'mother' of all elements, the first from which all others came from. They don't have any relevance to what we will be practicing here, but in case you are interested, I would recommend researching it! It was the Greek Empedocles who first posited that there were four elements, although the search for the one 'true' element had been debated for several centuries beforehand. Thales suggested in the 7th century BCE that water was the ultimate underlying substance from which everything is derived; Anaximenes subsequently made a similar claim about air. It was Aristotle who first introduced the fifth element, which he called 'aether', and is often referred to as Spirit today.
You may find that you don't work directly consciously with the elements on a day-to-day basis, but understanding them and what they do is a key part of getting to grips with natural Magick.
I have left Spirit out of this, as Spirit is the embodiment of all elements and energies, rather than a specific one in its own right.
The Element of Earth:
The Earth is not just our home; it provides us with so much more than that. As well as the land beneath our feet, it is the soil from which our food grows. It holds the components (wood, metal, etc.) that form the basis of almost everything around us; the bricks of our house, the desk our computer sits on, the plants which source the clothes that we wear - there are many, many examples.
The Earth is stabilizing, and provides a strong foundation for all to grow. This is also true in magick. The element of earth can be used in rituals where we need structure, stability, protection and security. Fertility, nurturing and healing are also attributes associated with this element.
Darkness, rest, and retreating from the world and spending time to yourself are also encouraged when the element of Earth is in play. It is quiet and reflective, encouraging introspection. Death and rebirth are governed by the Earth; when we die, our bodies decompose, and return to the Earth where it is used to create new life.
Finally, the element of Earth is also associated with memory, past life working and ancestor work, helping us to connect with our past.
Each element also has its ‘destructive’ side; with Earth, this is manifested in earthquakes, and landslides for example. If you work exclusively with this element, without balancing the others, then you may start to feel isolated, depressed, almost numb to your own emotions.
Associations:
Masculine/Feminine: Feminine
Direction: North
Tools: The Pentacle, Bowl of Salt
Season: Winter
Colours: Green, brown
How Can I Work With Earth?
Salt is a representation of the element of Earth, and great for protection. Sprinkle some in doorways and windowsills to bar negative energies from being able to enter your home.
Use it to help you ground; holding a stone, or placing your bare feet on the ground can help you feel more grounded.
Grow your own herbs or vegetables, or even just houseplants; tend to them regularly and say thanks to the element of earth for nurturing your crop.
When starting a new project, plant a seed. As this seed grows and blossoms, so should your project or venture.
What Are The Elements?
In western traditions we recognise four main elements; earth, air, fire and water. We often acknowledge a fifth element, known as spirit. This is the overall, universal energy, from which all things (including the four elements) come from.
Eastern traditions tend to think of them a little differently. For example, in Chinese traditions the elements are seen as being wood, fire, metal, earth and water. However, the concept is the same; these elements are the building blocks of all things in the universe.
If you're into ancient Greek philosophy there are some really interesting arguments as to which element is the 'mother' of all elements, the first from which all others came from. They don't have any relevance to what we will be practicing here, but in case you are interested, I would recommend researching it! It was the Greek Empedocles who first posited that there were four elements, although the search for the one 'true' element had been debated for several centuries beforehand. Thales suggested in the 7th century BCE that water was the ultimate underlying substance from which everything is derived; Anaximenes subsequently made a similar claim about air. It was Aristotle who first introduced the fifth element, which he called 'aether', and is often referred to as Spirit today.
You may find that you don't work directly consciously with the elements on a day-to-day basis, but understanding them and what they do is a key part of getting to grips with natural Magick.
I have left Spirit out of this, as Spirit is the embodiment of all elements and energies, rather than a specific one in its own right.
The Element of Earth:
The Earth is not just our home; it provides us with so much more than that. As well as the land beneath our feet, it is the soil from which our food grows. It holds the components (wood, metal, etc.) that form the basis of almost everything around us; the bricks of our house, the desk our computer sits on, the plants which source the clothes that we wear - there are many, many examples.
The Earth is stabilizing, and provides a strong foundation for all to grow. This is also true in magick. The element of earth can be used in rituals where we need structure, stability, protection and security. Fertility, nurturing and healing are also attributes associated with this element.
Darkness, rest, and retreating from the world and spending time to yourself are also encouraged when the element of Earth is in play. It is quiet and reflective, encouraging introspection. Death and rebirth are governed by the Earth; when we die, our bodies decompose, and return to the Earth where it is used to create new life.
Finally, the element of Earth is also associated with memory, past life working and ancestor work, helping us to connect with our past.
Each element also has its ‘destructive’ side; with Earth, this is manifested in earthquakes, and landslides for example. If you work exclusively with this element, without balancing the others, then you may start to feel isolated, depressed, almost numb to your own emotions.
Associations:
Masculine/Feminine: Feminine
Direction: North
Tools: The Pentacle, Bowl of Salt
Season: Winter
Colours: Green, brown
How Can I Work With Earth?
Salt is a representation of the element of Earth, and great for protection. Sprinkle some in doorways and windowsills to bar negative energies from being able to enter your home.
Use it to help you ground; holding a stone, or placing your bare feet on the ground can help you feel more grounded.
Grow your own herbs or vegetables, or even just houseplants; tend to them regularly and say thanks to the element of earth for nurturing your crop.
When starting a new project, plant a seed. As this seed grows and blossoms, so should your project or venture.
The Element of Air:
The element of Air is associated with intelligence, creativity, learning, knowledge, and all mental pursuits. It is inspiring, motivating and freeing, and can encourage us to indulge in our imagination and pursue creative endeavours.
It is also associated with communication, flight, and freedom. The air can carry things towards us (positive energies), or away from us (negative energies), and encourages movement and transformation. We can also use this element to send messages.
Each element also has its ‘destructive’ side; with air, this is manifested in hurricanes, and tornadoes for example. If you work exclusively with this element, without balancing the others, then you may start to notice you’ve become disorganised, unable to stick to or follow through on any one thing, and unreliable. You may find it is hard to focus with your head stuck in the clouds.
Associations:
Masculine/Feminine: Masculine
Direction: East
Tools: Incense, Wand
Season: Spring
Colour: Yellow
How Can I Work With Air?
Light some incense to bring the element of air into your home. You can also coordinate the scent of the incense with any other qualities you want to bring in, such as rose for love.
Cleanse your house with incense; the smoke of the incense cleanses negative energies, which are then carried our and away by the element of air.
Place wind chimes outside of your front door or window, and let their sound remind you of the joy that the element of air can bring.
Keep a feather, either as a decoration, or in a drawer. When you want to send messages of love, healing, or even just some happy thoughts to someone, hold this feather an imagine the element of air carrying your message to its intended recipient.
The element of Air is associated with intelligence, creativity, learning, knowledge, and all mental pursuits. It is inspiring, motivating and freeing, and can encourage us to indulge in our imagination and pursue creative endeavours.
It is also associated with communication, flight, and freedom. The air can carry things towards us (positive energies), or away from us (negative energies), and encourages movement and transformation. We can also use this element to send messages.
Each element also has its ‘destructive’ side; with air, this is manifested in hurricanes, and tornadoes for example. If you work exclusively with this element, without balancing the others, then you may start to notice you’ve become disorganised, unable to stick to or follow through on any one thing, and unreliable. You may find it is hard to focus with your head stuck in the clouds.
Associations:
Masculine/Feminine: Masculine
Direction: East
Tools: Incense, Wand
Season: Spring
Colour: Yellow
How Can I Work With Air?
Light some incense to bring the element of air into your home. You can also coordinate the scent of the incense with any other qualities you want to bring in, such as rose for love.
Cleanse your house with incense; the smoke of the incense cleanses negative energies, which are then carried our and away by the element of air.
Place wind chimes outside of your front door or window, and let their sound remind you of the joy that the element of air can bring.
Keep a feather, either as a decoration, or in a drawer. When you want to send messages of love, healing, or even just some happy thoughts to someone, hold this feather an imagine the element of air carrying your message to its intended recipient.
The Element of Fire:
Fire is the element of strength, passion and vitality. It burns fiercely, and it doesn’t take much to get it going. The element of fire is good for those who need confidence, physical strength, energy and vitality. It helps us to break out of our comfort zone, to steal the spotlight and not be afraid to show the world who we really are. It can help us to break out of toxic or codependent relationships, and overcome our fears.
The discovery of fire is said to be man’s most important; without it we would not have the light to be able to see during the darkness. Our ancestors would use it to scare off predators. We also would not be able to cook and enjoy such a wide variety of foods safely.
Leadership and success are also governed by the element of fire.
Each element also has its ‘destructive’ side; with fire, this is manifested in, well, fire. Fire is possibly the most destructive of the elements - or at least, the one with the potential to cause large amounts of destruction from just a tiny amount. If you work exclusively with this element, without balancing the others, then you may start to feel angry, impatient, quick to temper, or self-centred and bossy.
Associations:
Masculine/Feminine: Masculine
Direction: South
Tools: Candles
Season: Summer
Colours: Red, Orange
How Can I Work With Fire?
There are not as many opportunities to work directly with the element of fire in day-today life, as there are the other elements. However, the influence of the element is always there, and its importance should not be forgotten.
Mentally give thanks to the element of air whenever you cook food or boil your tea.
When you have something you don’t particularly want to do, or a challenge you have to face, call on the element of fire to bring you the strength to do it. It may be trying out a difficult recipe that you’ve been avoiding for months, getting rid of that spider under the kitchen cabinet, or maybe even just braving the supermarket to do your shopping during rush hour.
Sit outside, and just feel the warmth it provides (via the sun), and again thank it for this blessing.
Fire is the element of strength, passion and vitality. It burns fiercely, and it doesn’t take much to get it going. The element of fire is good for those who need confidence, physical strength, energy and vitality. It helps us to break out of our comfort zone, to steal the spotlight and not be afraid to show the world who we really are. It can help us to break out of toxic or codependent relationships, and overcome our fears.
The discovery of fire is said to be man’s most important; without it we would not have the light to be able to see during the darkness. Our ancestors would use it to scare off predators. We also would not be able to cook and enjoy such a wide variety of foods safely.
Leadership and success are also governed by the element of fire.
Each element also has its ‘destructive’ side; with fire, this is manifested in, well, fire. Fire is possibly the most destructive of the elements - or at least, the one with the potential to cause large amounts of destruction from just a tiny amount. If you work exclusively with this element, without balancing the others, then you may start to feel angry, impatient, quick to temper, or self-centred and bossy.
Associations:
Masculine/Feminine: Masculine
Direction: South
Tools: Candles
Season: Summer
Colours: Red, Orange
How Can I Work With Fire?
There are not as many opportunities to work directly with the element of fire in day-today life, as there are the other elements. However, the influence of the element is always there, and its importance should not be forgotten.
Mentally give thanks to the element of air whenever you cook food or boil your tea.
When you have something you don’t particularly want to do, or a challenge you have to face, call on the element of fire to bring you the strength to do it. It may be trying out a difficult recipe that you’ve been avoiding for months, getting rid of that spider under the kitchen cabinet, or maybe even just braving the supermarket to do your shopping during rush hour.
Sit outside, and just feel the warmth it provides (via the sun), and again thank it for this blessing.
The Element of Water:
The element of water governs our emotions, intuition and psychic abilities. Think of the sea, and the way that the tides ebb and flow; this is often used as a metaphor for our emotions, and as such can help us get a better control over them, and learn to accept them. In the same way, it helps us become more intune with our intuition and psychic gifts, and how to harness these. Dreamwork, astral travel, uncovering mysteries, and divination are all magickal arts associated with the element of water.
Water is also used for cleansing and purifying, as it can ‘wash away’ negativity.
The element of Water is closely associated with the moon and lunar magicks, as it is the moon that controls the tides.
Each element also has its ‘destructive’ side; with water, this is manifested in tsunamis and floods. If you work exclusively with this element, without balancing the others, then you may find yourself becoming ruled by your emotions, unable to control them or cope with any obstacles or challenges that come your way.
Associations:
Masculine/Feminine: Feminine
Direction: West
Tools: Bowl of Water
Season: Autumn
Colours: Blue
How Can I Work With Water?
Drink a glass of water and give thanks as you feel it passing through your body and flushing any unwanted by-products out of your system.
Water the ground, or on your plants, and reflect on how we need water to survive.
Make magickal washes to clean your house with, and ask the element of water to bless and purify your space
When you are feeling stressed, upset, etc., take a bath or a shower and focus on letting the element of water help you relax and balance your emotions.
The element of water governs our emotions, intuition and psychic abilities. Think of the sea, and the way that the tides ebb and flow; this is often used as a metaphor for our emotions, and as such can help us get a better control over them, and learn to accept them. In the same way, it helps us become more intune with our intuition and psychic gifts, and how to harness these. Dreamwork, astral travel, uncovering mysteries, and divination are all magickal arts associated with the element of water.
Water is also used for cleansing and purifying, as it can ‘wash away’ negativity.
The element of Water is closely associated with the moon and lunar magicks, as it is the moon that controls the tides.
Each element also has its ‘destructive’ side; with water, this is manifested in tsunamis and floods. If you work exclusively with this element, without balancing the others, then you may find yourself becoming ruled by your emotions, unable to control them or cope with any obstacles or challenges that come your way.
Associations:
Masculine/Feminine: Feminine
Direction: West
Tools: Bowl of Water
Season: Autumn
Colours: Blue
How Can I Work With Water?
Drink a glass of water and give thanks as you feel it passing through your body and flushing any unwanted by-products out of your system.
Water the ground, or on your plants, and reflect on how we need water to survive.
Make magickal washes to clean your house with, and ask the element of water to bless and purify your space
When you are feeling stressed, upset, etc., take a bath or a shower and focus on letting the element of water help you relax and balance your emotions.
