Elements

The Direction West

/ Moonwater / 2 Comments
The Direction West

The Direction West

West

Wiccans observe that water is the element related to the West. West and water represent our emotions including love, lust, happiness and more. Some things that represent water are fish, seaweed, and a bowl of water. Use one of these items to stand for water in the west quarter of your cast circle.

Related to our 24 hour day, West lands at dusk. At this time, things wind down. For many, the workday is done and it’s time to rest up for tomorrow. We go home to our families and review the day’s events. This is a time of reflection and relaxation.

West’s season is Fall, the time of the harvest. Soon we can relax and reflect on our blessings of the year.

Wiccans also look upon the West as the time of old age. We enjoy the time we have left. We reflect on our actions in the past. This is a time of introspection and turning inward. We now prepare to step over the threshold into the West, through the gates of death and into the Summerlands.

 

Blessed Be,

Moonwater SilverClaw

The Direction South

/ Moonwater / Leave a comment
The Compass Direction South

The Direction South

South

Fire represents South, which is the spark of life and the energy that gets things done. Fire is associated with the will. (The will is defined as: “The mental faculty by which one deliberately chooses or decides upon a course of action.”)

To represent fire, place in the South corner one of these things: a lit candle, dragon figurine, or a hot chilly pepper.

South associates with noontime, the peak of the day’s hustle and bustle. Many people and animals are most active and awake at this time.

Summer represents South. It’s the growing season and hottest time of the year, when things flourish.

South represents the adult phase of the life cycle. We can take care of ourselves and take on more responsibilities. Our lives are at the peak of health and strength.

Blessed Be

Moonwater SilverClaw

The Direction East

/ Moonwater / 2 Comments
Direction East

Direction East

East

 

East’s element is Air, which is associated with thought. As we entertain thoughts, they become ideas, which manifest into things, first on the astral plane and then on the physical plane. Thoughts are the beginning of great actions to come.

You can use feathers, incense smoke, and wind chimes to represent Air. Place such items in the east corner of your cast circle.

When we consider the 24 hours in a day, East resides at the position of dawn. This corresponds with new ideas. In the morning we wake from our nightly slumber, refreshed and ready, with new ideas and hopes.

Wiccans associate East with Spring. The animals awaken from hibernating. Life begins again after the long winter months. Animals forage and eagerly waiting for the summer months to begin.

In the cycle of life East represents birth. Just like ideas are born, so are our bodies. We see this in the land around us: Plants are sprouting and animals are being born. New life surrounds us.

 

Blessed Be,

Moonwater SilverClaw

The Direction North

/ Moonwater / Leave a comment
Compass North

Compass North

The Directions

The four directions each have their own equivalent in these categories: element, time of day, season, and time in life. When you cast your circle, you call out the directions. You move in a clockwise direction (or deocil, pronounced JE-shil). When you cast your circle you do not merely call out North (for example), you are calling upon all of the facets that North represents.   Let’s look at North:

North

North’s element is Earth. Wiccans associate Earth with stillness, strength, and stability. Earth forms the foundation of our lives both physically and metaphorically. We literally stand on it. Soil, rocks, and crystals represent Earth. You can place one or several items in your circle in the north quarter standing in for Earth. When we talk about the twenty-four hour day, North rests at midnight when everything is still. At this time most beings sleep tucked away in slumber for the night. We peacefully sleep, waiting for the next day’s beauty. In the cycle of the year, North’s stillness continues as Winter. Beneath blankets of snow, many creatures hibernate. The earth sleeps until next Spring. In the life cycle, North manifests as the time of death for us and animals. We spoke of Winter, and many animals die during the frost-bound months. This corresponds to the time the spirit is in the Summerlands, where the soul can rest until its rebirth into a new life.

 

Blessed Be,

Moonwater SilverClaw

The Element Water

/ Moonwater / Leave a comment
The Element Water

The Element Water

Water

Water corresponds the direction West. Like Earth, water is a feminine element. The Earth’s oceans represent the womb of all life on the planet we call mother. Wiccans look upon sea water as a representative of the goddess’ womb.

A mother’s womb holds a sacred water that is saline similar to the salinity found in sea water. So Wiccans apply sea salt to water to create their holy water.

The Undine is the elemental of water. The Undine can manifest in many forms, from mermaids to sirens of the sea.

Wiccans use various things to represent water including sea shells, sea weed, water, sponges, and fish.

Blessed be,

Moonwater SilverClaw

The Element Fire

/ Moonwater / Leave a comment

Element of Fire

Element of Fire (thanks to Arthur for the photograph)

Fire

Aligned with the direction South, Fire is associated with energy and heat. European originators of Wicca held the understanding that South and fire were related.  As the Europeans saw it, the farther south you go toward the equator the temperature heats up. So the South and fire were linked.

We also see Fire as a masculine element. Fire kindles our bright spirit into action. Fire drives us; it is the moving force for our will. Fire inspires. Simply, fire is energy! A transformer, Fire gives us the power to change our thoughts which change our actions and our lives! We jump in and tackle our problems.

The Fire’s elementals are Salamanders. Our ancestors saw the red coloring of salamanders’ bellies and associated them with fire. Seen as dragon like, the elemental Salamanders are shape-shifters like the flames themselves. Sometimes, Salamanders can have wings and human faces like Sylphs.

Some things that represent fire for Wiccans include: embers, the sun, hot chili peppers, and a candle’s flame. You can use any of these items in the South quarter of your circle to represent Fire.

Blessed Be,

Moonwater SilverClaw

The Element Air

/ Moonwater / Leave a comment
Air

Clouds Represent Air

Air

Associated with the direction East, air is a masculine element. Air represents the flowing thoughts of our minds. We take in new thoughts like we take in a new breath into our lungs. Air goes hand in hand with fire, which is also a masculine element. Without the air (specifically oxygen) to support it, fire dies.

What is the elemental of air? It’s the sylph, often depicted as a human figure sporting wings. Numerous people report seeing Sylphs in cloud formations.

Representations of Air include feathers, birds of all kinds, clouds, dust devils, wind chimes, and incense smoke. Any of these items can be placed in the East quarter of your circle. Be creative.

Blessed Be,

Moonwater SilverClaw

The Element Earth

/ Moonwater / Leave a comment
Rocks

Rocks are a Representation of Earth

Earth

As a feminine element, Earth is the provider of sustenance for her children, just as a mother nurses her infant. Earth represents fertility and abundance.

Represented as the North, Earth stands for stillness and our foundation. We stand on rock, but more than that, metaphorically Earth is a foundation of our spirit.

Earth also represents the fertile soil from which life springs. In the cycle of life, Earth is also the silent tomb where we return to rest until we are reborn.

As we learn more about Wicca, we discover that there are elementals associated with each element. For example, strong and squat gnomes are Earth’s elementals. Their skin reveals the colors of the earth, in many shades of brown and black.

Finally, on our altar, we can use rocks, crystals, dirt, and fossils to represent Earth.

Blessed Be

Moonwater SilverClaw