We often relate intuition to fire. Insight and inspiration can come like the arrows of Sagittarius from out of nowhere to jolt us out of our rut!
Its zodiac signs are all or part animal – Aries the Ram, Leo the Lion, and Sagittarius the Archer.
WATER
Water is fluid, accepting and tolerant. Water overcomes difficulties by flowing around them and ignoring them, instead of the Fire sign’s head-on confrontation. Water in the body rules all those organs associated with the emotions. It brings tears of joy and tears of sorrow. It is love, compassion, the quality of mercy, which, as Shakespeare wrote, ‘… is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain of heaven upon the place beneath’. It is the sea, dreaming and broody. It is the negative side of dreaming – fears and phobias. It unites others but can overwhelm them. It can be the ‘wet blanket’.
In Celtic mythology, Water was the gate to the Otherworld. The Celts also associated Water with a return to the source. The salmon of knowledge that swims upstream to its birth place to spawn was revered in Celtic mythology. Interestingly, in dreams and symbolism, the fish often appears as a symbol of the Self, so the link with the return to the origin is appropriate.
Water has the power of erosion – it can wear away rock. It can wear away opposition. The power of Water can overcome all things – even our planet, if we insist on melting our ice caps and raising our sea levels. Water can be a deep well of knowledge – the knowledge that comes from meditation and getting in touch with the deepest unconscious part of ourselves, rather than book knowledge. Empathy is another Water quality – the ability to have insight into others and to feel their joy and pain. Zodiac signs are Scorpio the Scorpion, Cancer the Crab and Pisces the Fish.
EARTH
This is the element of the physical body, our flesh and bones. Earth is the basis of material existence. Earth has the qualities of steadfastness, dependability, endurance, protection. It is the tortoise as opposed to the hare. It is realistic and all manner of practical ‘down to earth’ things. However, it also has a more pleasurable side. It is sex and sensuality, too much so sometimes. Earth can also be greedy about food and money.
Earth is an important element in Pagan initiatory rites. The cave paintings of our Stone Age ancestors had magical purposes and probably initiatory purposes as well. They were reached only by difficult and dark journeys through caverns lit by flickering torch light that made the pictures themselves seem alive. Here young people were told the myths of their tribe; stories that linked the tribe to its Gods and explained the mysteries of life and death, the origin of the universe and of the tribe itself. In the more sophisticated Paganism of ancient Greece, initiatory rites continued in the caves of Eleusis. Here in the rites dedicated to the Goddess, the Earth Mother, initiates were taught the mystery of life after death.
Gardening is a very earthy activity, as are sculpting and some of the other crafts. It is good to get in touch with our sensation function by manipulating matter. Earth is associated with stored wisdom. This is literally true because much of our knowledge of the past comes from archaeological artefacts stored under the Earth. There can be a great sense of peace in Earth meditations, but it is important to remember the destructive potential of Earth. However, Earth is patient. She can endure and rectify our mistakes – though it will take time. Earth zodiac signs are Taurus the Bull, Virgo the Virgin and Capricorn the Goat.
In order to understand and practise Wicca, we need to get in touch with the energies of the elements around us. In other words, to get in touch with the universe itself. Below are some simple exercises to help us tune into the Wiccan universe – a world of life and energy.
SIMPLE EXERCISES TO BEGIN
EXPERIENCING THE ELEMENTS
1 Wicca is an Earth-based religion, so it is important for you to tune in to the natural world and the seasonal cycle. Spend two days doing as much as you can to experience the physical presence of all four elements. Get outside as often as you can. Walk upon, touch, dig, smell, feel the earth. Feel the sun against your skin, the wind against your face. Paddle in a stream, walk in the rain, swim in the sea.
2 Note the quality of the Earth on which you walk, the Air you breathe, the Water you drink or which falls on you as rain, the Sun that warms you. Meditate on what these elements might be saying to you. Are there things that you can learn from the way they operate in the world? How do they feel about their relationship with humankind?
3 To feel the Earth and its energy, try placing your hand on the ground and feeling the ‘pulse’ or ‘heartbeat’ of the Earth. Inside the Earth is teeming with life – worms, insects, other small creatures, the growing of roots and upward thrusting of shoots. Although seemingly static, there is a constant movement within it. Also there is the movement of its geomagnetic fields. The Earth element is rich and abundant. Walking and hiking are good ways of making contact with it. Earth is also rocks and standing stones and cliffs: if you have access to any of these, visit them. Put the palms of your hands against them and feel their energy.
4 If you are stuck in an inner-city concrete jungle, go to a city park. If this is impossible, walk the streets and try to connect with the earth beneath the layers of concrete. Sense what the Earth is feeling. If you are not able to go out, use a bowl of earth or perhaps a stone. Hold it and feel its qualities while you meditate on it.
5 Similarly with the other elements: Water is seas and rivers and pools and rain. Again, if you cannot get out, meditate on a bowl of water.
6 Air is, of course, the wind. Feel it against you, both physically and through meditation, in all its forms; from gentle zephyr breezes to the majesty and power of a gale. The mountains or any high place (even a tower block) are a good place to experience the power of Air.
7 With Fire, you may be able to light a camp fire. Be careful here though. If you make a fire, keep it under proper control and put it out afterwards. If it is impractical for you to light a fire outside and you have no hearth at home, remember that Fire is also the Sun. You can also meditate on Fire by burning a candle.
8 Keep a symbol of each element in your home: a bowl of earth and one of water; a candle for Fire; for Air, something light like a bird’s feather or something which makes sounds such as wind chimes. Keep these together in a special place that can then become the basis for an altar.
9 Spend a day meditating on each of these elements. You may wish to ponder on the enormity, power and range of each. All are essential to support us, but their power is such that they can easily brush us aside and destroy us. Water is the tranquil stream, but also the raging sea. Fire can warm us but it can also be the inferno that destroys all in its path. Earth supports us but can quake, slide, slip or crumble away beneath our feet. Air can be the gentle breeze or the unstoppable hurricane.
10 Which elements do you feel you have in abundance in your personality? Which do you need to develop and why?
11 Record all your thoughts and insights on the elements. Remember to ‘earth’ yourself after each meditative exercise by eating and drinking something.
DEVELOPING THE ELEMENT EXERCISE: THE ELEMENTS IN YOUR LIFE
1 A Wiccan altar usually has symbols of all four elements on it, but there may be times in your life when you need to encourage the energy of one particular element into your life.
2 One way of doing this is to make an altar for the element that is lacking in your life. If you lack energy and are timid and unconfident, make a Fire altar. Use a red altar cloth, red flowers, a red-leafed potted plant, berries, red candles. To represent Earth, find a piece of red sandstone or other red rock. Use a bowl of red glass for