Pagan Information Question # 9. What are the Elements or Elementals?

Question

Who or what are these things and WHY do we need them for our circles? What purpose do they serve? How do they fit in with God/Goddess in our worship?

I know that these are the most basic of questions and it seems like a royal pain having to answer these trivial questions. However, these are things that non-pagans tend to be curious about and whne we just brush them off they feel as though we don't REALLY understand what it is that we are doing. They need to see and understand that we take ourt beliefs seriously, that we're not just following a silly fad and that our Religious practices are just as valid as theirs.

Brightest Blessings,
Raji the Green Witch

Answer 1

Information about only one type of elementals, of which there are basically four “nature-related” ones with lots of sub-types, and many types that reside in the higher planes/levels of consciousness, can fill books, but I will try to summarize some of what I know:

“Successful” Religions, systems of belief, and even spiritual paths (e.g. Kabbalah, yoga, GD magic, etc.) all lay out a map which enables humans to categorize, and name various states, and perception of their minds (or hearts for that matter). One such mapping that has existed for many millennia is the mapping of the human state to natural occurrences in nature. (I.e. Fire, Water, Earth, Air) naturally this mapping only makes sense if it can cover the entire range of the states that can occur, and if it helps make prediction about the future, or the effects of such states on each other, otherwise it is discarded as useless. (Just like scientific theories are tested for these conditions)

Just t state one example, when a person is full of willpower, absolutely bent on doing something in spirit, mind and body, when he has that glow in his eyes, when his speech moves people, etc. we might liken his state to that of FIRE. Why fire, because fire, just like willpower, purifies from all other mixed feelings and desires and burns them away, and fire spreads, and it consumes all, it is raw energy that melts away all resistance in the world (like a strong will does).

Now, the human psyche, works by simulating things that it perceives in the outer world (the brain is a universal Turing machine after all) within itself. That has caused humans to personify a number of complex and hard to understands states of mind (e.g. gods, goddesses, angels, creative spirits, and elementals, which are the personification of the abovementioned “element”-esque states of the mind) in order to better be able to simulate that state/concept and arrive at usable predictions/explanations.

The personification of the “fire element within”, is called a Fire Elemental/”Salamander” in western occultism, and “Jinn” in eastern occultism. These personifications carry the concept of “Willpower” to the extremes. (e.g. that is why it is said that Jinns(Jaann, actually, that is the plural), of all elementals, are the hardest to direct/control).

A magician is someone who has ALL his/her powers/states of mind under HIS/HER control, and not under the control of the world/people around him/her. when such a person calls on a Fire Elemental standing within the circle (which again is a “personification/symbolization(!)” of the complete “Self” , he/she is actually remembering/invoking that specific state of mind which corresponds to a strong willpower. The imagination of a personified Elemental with all qualities relating to fire/willpower only help the remembering process, and enables a magician fast and strong access to that state.

In the end, all element-related states, are required for a successful “magickal” operation (causing direct change on all planes within and without), therefore we call all of those states into our circle/selves before starting the main operation ritual. the reason why this element-mapping systems is not just confused balderdash, is because it makes good use of the way human minds operate, it is understandable and simple, and it works! And that is the reason why almost any spiritual/magical system has adopted it.


In Love and Light.



P.S. Try the excellent website of William Mistele http://www.lava.net/~pagios/ for a lot of nice poetic/visionary work on Elementals. Franz Bardon also has some useful (but rather technical) information in his books.

P.P.S. If this was helpful, I could try to do some explaining about other elementals too.

Answer 2

Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Pagan is a term given to the old religions by the early Christians. There is no religion of paganism. That is a misnomer. The word means "country people." Heathen was another name calling exercise, but again, it is not a religion in and of itself. That word simply means, "not Christian." So before learning all the ceremonies and celebrations, you might wish to find out what your religion is actually called. Do some study, and keep an open mind. I am impressed with your Raji the Green Witch title. My ancestors would be amused I'm sure.

Answer 3

Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and Spirit.

As an atheistic pagan I don't really believe in or worship any deities, although I may invoke them as symbols of the energy I am addressing or celebrating.

The five elements are useful in ritual because, like deities, they each represent a certain type of energy. By invoking the elements I am bringing these energy aspects into my awareness, which aids my focus and therefore my spell. It's a useful focus exercise to take parts and put them together as a whole, and five is a manageble number.

Answer 4

Going back to my pagan days....

Elements are pretty basic: earth, fire, water, air - spirit. Each one has different energies and we have those in quarters - or compass points of a circle with spirit being the center. East is the rising sun, bright and fresh so it is Air. The noon day sun, the southern lands - South and Fire. the setting sun over the ocean - West and Water. Northern lands, colder, more solid - North and Earth.

Each element also has.... entities that correspond to that energy. They aren't developed enough to be spirits but are conscious enough to be called on for protection or to lend their specific energy to a working and circle.

On the altar sometimes Wiccans and pagans have tools that correspond to the elements as well. The pentacle - earth, candle - fire, incense - air, chalice - water.

Answer 5

The elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water are symbolic of various energies throughout the Kosmos. These also symbolize the things that make up Mankind.

However, they are not universally used in religious worship. In Hellenismos we concentrate more on the Gods rather than the spirits of the various elements (such as the nymphs of the rivers and oceans)

Answer 6

This should be titled Wiccan Information Question #9

Wiccans are the only ones I know of that break the world down into elements. As a Celtic Recon we do not presume to break down the earth into its base 'elements'. We do have our three realms tho which is sometimes confusing. We have the Sky realm, the Sea Realm, and the Land Realm. Each symbolizes some thing different to us and are distinct places. They are also known as the Three Earths, Three Lands etc.

I was under the understanding that the 5 elements was of greek origin, but if Hestia doesn't claim them then I guess I have been misinformed on that point.

Answer 7

I respectfully disagree with some of the previous answers.

While the most common Wiccan erecting the Temple rite and a spate of newer books (The Elements of Ritual, for example) link Wicca with the four classical elements and while they are incredibly valuable for teaching the four basic personal skills of metaphysics (grounding, centering, projecting, preparing the way,) linking them with Wicca is unfair.

Gardner's early circle rite used only fire and water, as did the non-Wiccan Witchcraft of the 1930s.

Most Wiccans know diddly about casting the circle outside of Buckland's version (cribbed by Cunningham, Ravenwolf and others) so they are ignorant of the fact that the tetragram elemental circle is one way of many of casting a circle.

Frankly, we don't need them one whit.

Worse, the elementals people often invoke (Slyphs, Undines, etc.) and the "watchers" or "watchtowers" are elements of Christian mythology that most would not invoke if they understood them.

Answer 8

Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit are the five elements, that are commonly invoked or worshiped by many Pagans, however not all invok or worship them.

May Athena grant you all the knowledge which you seek.

Goddess Bless.
Blessed Be.

Answer 9

Asatru don't use elementals or call quarters. We don't have a circle but we do have Ve. It's freely walked in and out of though with no rules or restrictions other then keeping the peace and don't slit someone's belly open with a sword. Its just more laid back for us.

Answer 10

Earth, Air, Water and Fire. In the traditional elements the Fifth is Aether. According to the chinese, there is also wood and metal.