Elements - Blog Posts

Light as Air: One of my original creations from a few years back. The inspiration came from a mixture of the elements light and air.

sometimes when I'm bored, I go through the list of recent bad faith Wikipedia edits that have since been reverted. a lot of them are politically contentious/offensive topics that attract crazies and trolls in general, but sometimes there are completely innocent inoffensive articles that people attack for no reason. some guy yesterday vandalized the article on the chemical element francium

The Elements and their correspondences

E A R T H

Earth represents strength, grounding, prosperity, the material, wealth, success, foundations, death and rebirth. Focus on this element if the goal of your spell is about fertility, prosperity, business or stability. Earth spells may take longer to work, but they’re also more firm and are good if you’re looking for long-term solutions.

GENDER: Feminine SEASON: Winter DIRECTION: North HOUR: Night

COLOURS: Green, Brown, Black ANIMALS: Bears, Deers, Wolves, Badgers HERBS/PLANTS: Ivy, Ash, Vetiver, Wheats, Oats INSTRUMENTS: Drums (Percussion instruments)

STAR SIGNS: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn STONES/GEMS: Jade, Onyx, Emerald, Salt RITUAL TOOLS: Stones, Dirt, Bones, Pentacle, Salt, Crystals  RITUAL FORMS: Burying, Planting, Imprinting to soil or sand TAROT SUIT: Pentacles

A I R

Air represents intellect and the mind, wisdom, knowledge; logic as well as abstract thought, intuition and higher consciousness. If you’re seeking freedom, travels, or to enhance your memory and focus - focus on Air spells! Air is whimsical and amiable, personally I haven’t found it useful for more serious spells, but it does wonders for my studies. 

GENDER: Masculine SEASON: Spring DIRECTION: East HOUR: Dawn

COLOURS: Yellow, White, Sky Blue, Pastels ANIMALS: Birds, Spiders, Butterflies HERBS/PLANTS: Lavender, Birch, Vervain, Dill, Aspen INSTRUMENTS: Flute (Wind instruments)

STAR SIGNS: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius STONES/GEMS: Amethyst, Opal, Alexandrite, Beryl RITUAL TOOLS: Incense, Wand RITUAL FORMS: Fanning, Tossing into air, Suspending in a high place  TAROT SUIT: Swords

F I R E

Fire represents energy, passion, purification, love, inspiration, desire, will, courage, power, leadership, sexuality. In spellcraft, focusing on Fire is good for purification, healing and love spells; it’s the best element for quick, strong spells. Although, Fire is fierce in essence, and Fire spells are susceptible - they should be well thought out.

GENDER: Masculine SEASON: Summer DIRECTION: South HOUR: Noon

COLOURS: Red, Orange, Gold ANIMALS: Snakes, Lions, Horses HERBS/PLANTS: Cacti, Cinnamon, Pepper, Basil INSTRUMENTS: Guitar (Stringed instruments)

STAR SIGNS: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius STONES/GEMS: Amber, Citrine, Ruby, Tiger’s Eye RITUAL TOOLS: Athame, Candles RITUAL FORMS: Burning, Smouldering, Heating TAROT SUIT: Wands

W A T E R

Water represents purification as well; though it’s focused more on the soul and the subconscious rather than the physical, material world. Water stands for emotion, intuition, wisdom, eternal movement, reflection, lunar energy. Focusing on the Water element is good for psychic abilities, getting in tune with your inner self, mysteries, friendships, love, dreams and sleep.

GENDER: Feminine SEASON: Autumn DIRECTION: West HOUR: Dusk

COLOURS: Blue, Indigo, Silver ANIMALS: Otters, Fish, Sea Mammals, Frogs HERBS/PLANTS: Lotus, Water Lilies, Aloe, Gardenia INSTRUMENTS: Cymbal, Bell (Resonant instruments)

STAR SIGNS: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces STONES/GEMS: Moonstone, Aquamarine, Pearl RITUAL TOOLS: Cauldrons, Chalices, Seashells RITUAL FORMS: Diluting, Placing into water, washing away, bathing TAROT SUIT: Cups

Wanted to practice on my lines and more design details, what do you think?

And we have XKCD about this 😅

I understand why alchemists invented, and modern fiction writers use, systems with a few understandable Elements like Earth / Fire / Air / Water / Light / Dark.

I understand why even most nerds don't bother to study the Elements in real life. There's too many of them, and they don't neatly correspond to meaningful aspects of macro-level existence.

But just once I'd like to read a worked magical system where the author has looked up the properties of the real Elements, has put in all the work to build up a system of plausible-sounding correspondences, and the protagonist is a rare dual-element Tellurium-Iodine wizard.

To the Stars who listen and the Dreams that are answered...

I was listening to Luminary by Joel Sunny when writing this. And saw the quote from ACOMAF.

-- I have always felt connected to the elements, each one in its own different way. But as the days go by, its switches from time to time. I think you feel most connected to the element that you needed at that time. Maybe not the one that you felt like you were. As there are always checks and balances, whether you believe that or not is up to you. But it's what I always have believed.

While I never felt fire as much, it came with the burning passion. The desire to protect those I love, to be fully of fury and love. Contrasting but complementing the watery movement, the fire would stay strong to its path and burn anyone that got in its way, but it also gave off the homey vibes. The warmth on a cold autumn night. The laughter of fire and comfort, a light inside of the darkness, a spark of hope that something was still alive.

Ice has always been tricky. I could feel it in my veins when fear and panic come through. When I am so cold I just want to sleep. But it has its own creative side. Where each snowflake is so beautiful but different from the rest. Where the fun of playing in something so soft and while it might feel like a hundred miles away, imagine a little shop full of elves making toys. Of Jack Frost nipping at your nose, the Guardian of Fun. Of Santa and all of his wonders. Of the amazing designs that frost or snow can create.

Even then, I feel that jolt of lightning come through me at times. When I would touch an object and feel the electricity spark onto me. Where I would imagine it hopping from line to line, filling me with the energy to take part in the activities around me. Seeing that spark of mischievous talent lying in wait. For the right person or moment to set it off. For it to get people excited. To get them moving.

But even then I was never drawn to those elements as much as I thought. They would tickle the back of my mind, letting me know they were there, but not as much as the others did.

At first I thought it was earth, strong and steadfast. Willing to be stand the test of time without ever moving an inch. The leader of the group and the one everyone uses as a pillar of support.

Then I thought it was Water. Constantly moving, shifting and flowing. Blue as the sky and the waves it creates. Powerful but calm, the common sayings of "the calm before the storm" or "There is strength beneath the sea." It was healing and allowed me to follow my own path, and conform to whatever I needed to be at the time. Be a force to be reckoned with.

Next was Air or Wind, whichever people see fit to call it, but I see them as one in the same. I see wind as a presence that gives life to everything. That it's a moving force that cannot be seen, but everyone knows that it is there. That it can be as strong as a hurricane, or spinning as fast a tornado, be as light a breeze and warm or cold when it needs to be. That there is nothing it is attached to, but everything is attached to it. That it is free to do how it pleases, but never once asks for more.

And then comes the Stars, the space between our world and the next. It has drawn me to it in the past while. Lending both mystery and wonder. Darkness and light. Curiosity and adventure. It has this appeal to it that I can't quite explain. As if it has everything that the elements are, but nothing that they are at the same time. For stars can burn as hot as fire, flare and flow like water, turn ice cold when they die. They are steadfast rocks, constant in our sky, lighting up the world with their glow. And even though they are deep in space, their light acts as if it is being blown in the wind, and imaginary force. The stars are peace, they are hope, they are in the darkness and have decided to reflect the light. People wish upon those stars. They send their love and hopes and dreams, in the prayer that they are not ruined. They look up to the stars with stories from old, of brave men and women that represent the constellations above. Who we can learn from their triumphs and their failures.

All of the elements have a place in my heart. In my body. And while it might be hard for people to understand, each element is connected in its own way. Just like each and everyone of us is connected. We just can't see it yet.

Look at me! I’m the strongest in the sea. My lungs take in the water like it’s air and send it out with great flair. Look at me! I’m humble like the earth, my arms stretch out to hug the masses as my heart burns what’s left of ashes. Look at me! I’m fluid like the air, moving about without a care, letting those who wrong me pass me by until I’m left alone to die. Look at me. I’m alone like fire. Don’t get too close, I’m a broken wire, threatening to burn and combust into nothing. Look at me. My humble trying and desperate crying did nothing to appease those demons. My heart was burned and left to nothing as I sit here in solemn quiet. Look at me.

Look at what I’ve done