Of course, Witchcraft is not just about spells and magic, although these factors are the most obvious difference between this and other belief systems. Throughout this book I have also endeavoured to touch upon the other elements of the Craft which all go towards the making of a Witch.
One of the things I have noticed as I write books on the Craft is that each layer of questions I answer reveals yet another layer of questions. Not that this is unexpected, for it’s an inherent part of the Craft that the more you know, the more you find that there is to know. But it does indicate that whilst, by the time you get to the end of this book, it will have answered some of your questions it will also, if it does its job, give you another set of things to think about and more questions to ask.
So, if you would seek some answers, and some new, better and far more interesting questions, read on.
Blessed Be Kate
Table of Contents
ELEMENTS:
The CoRneRstones of MaGic
Knowledge and understanding of the Elements underlies the whole of the Craft and is essential to the creation of effective magic. Almost every aspect of the Craft relates back to the Elements in one way or another. Whilst it is possible to work some spells without a thorough understanding of them, such spells are generally less effective and often do not work accurately, or even at all.
The Elements we refer to in the Craft are not those of the periodic table but the basic attributes or forces of nature and the land. They are Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit. In their various forms these are the aspects of nature from which all life comes and which affect all aspects of our whole existence.
Air is the wind, from the gentlest summer breeze to hurricanes and tornados which can devastate the earth. All living things need air, in one form or another, to breathe. Fire is the heat and light of the Sun, as well as the flames which can be sparked to bring light into our homes, or to run wild and burn all in their path as in the forest fire. All life needs light and heat, to a greater or lesser degree, to survive. Water is everything from a gentle shower to the heavy rain, as well as streams, rivers, oceans and seas, whether still or in the grip of a great storm. At its most savage it is the tsunami or tidal wave which sweeps all before it. Again all life forms require water for survival. Earth is the rocks, stones, pebbles and crystals as well as the soil from which things grow; it is also the earthquake which can erase all life. It is the medium in which the plants grow, which form the basis of the food chain. Spirit is the mysterious and divine spark of life, the difference between something which lives, grows and reproduces, or which lies still and inert.
This chapter will focus primarily on the four Elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth. To ancient mankind these Elements were the things which influenced and controlled every aspect of daily life, which determined whether there was enough to eat and whether the people prospered or not. These Elements could bring plenty or famine, give or take life. Indeed they still can and do, you only have to watch the news to see the effects of hurricanes, forest fires, drought, famine, earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis and other results of too much or too little of any of the Elements. The fifth Element, Spirit, is the difference between things living and things not, and is also the Divine, the Goddess and the God. The chapter on Spirit focuses on the Goddesses and Gods and on ways of developing your understanding of them. In the meantime, when called upon to do so, visualize them in whichever way feels most comfortable to you.
In the Craft, and some other belief systems, the Elements are not only physical forces in nature, they are also a part of us. Air is our thoughts, that part of us which thinks; it is also our breathing and the sense of smell. Fire is our passions and enthusiasms, those strong feelings which can take over and make us act or react. It is the beat of the heart and the sense of sight. Water is our emotions, joy and laughter, sorrow and tears. It is the blood that runs through our veins and the sense of taste. Earth is our physical form, the body, and the sense of touch. Spirit is that intangible part of us which can be called the sense of self or soul.
The Elements are also present in, and linked to, other aspects of life; time of day, season of year, age of a person, and direction of the compass. Air, which should always come first, both represents and is represented by morning, spring, youth, and the East. Fire is the afternoon, summer, adulthood and the South. Water is evening, autumn, middle age and the West. Earth is night, winter, age and the North. Spirit encompasses them all. The Elements are also a part of everything we do in ordinary life. Air is the idea and thinking process. This is the reason why Air is first, for thought should always precede and lead to any action. Fire is the enthusiasm which makes us want to put thought into action. Water is our emotional involvement. Earth is the actual physical making it happen. Spirit is the spark which brings it all to life, the part of our inner self which we give to make it special and ‘our own’.
The Elements are also the foundation of the Witches’ Circle. Each is called, invoked or summoned to attend, and each is assigned the quarter which relates to its compass point; i.e. Air in the East, Fire in the South, Water in the West and Earth in the North. Spirit