The Elements

The Elements

The elements are the whole world.

Air, fire, water, and earth are the four elements from which the world is built.
They are the building blocks of the Earth and of our own bodies, through which we experience the world,
and they are the four elements that symbolize every dimension of human experience.
Earth is all that nourishes and grounds, everything physical. Water is the world of emotion and the subconscious.
Air is thought, communication, and the mental dimension.
Fire is will, desire, and the inner passion that drives us forward on our path in life.
When we call upon the elements, we are truly calling upon the energies of the world, but more than anything: we are calling upon ourselves to focus, so that we may become aware of the world as a whole.
We summon the elements with words and incantations, or through actions that connect us to them physically and energetically. During the summoning, we turn toward the direction associated with the element and focus our thoughts and inner attention on the element we are summoning.
There are many ways to summon the elements. An incantation or spoken invocation is the most classic among them.
Here, in the descriptions below, I have written additional ways to connect emotionally and energetically with the elements. You are welcome to use whichever invocation resonates most with you, or to invent a way of your own. But to begin, let us look in detail at the symbolic meaning of the elements.

Air
Air is associated with the east, with communication, thought, and the world of spirit.
Air is associated with birds, butterflies, the color white, wind instruments, and the high places of the world.
Objects to place on the altar for the element of air – feathers, white candles, sheer fabrics, the ritual
knife (the athame), swords or images of swords (which symbolize the element of air in the tarot cards).
Additional ways to call upon the element of air:
dancing to the music of wind instruments, meditation and focusing on the breath, and lighting incense.

Example of a spoken invocation:
“I call upon the element of air.
Element of wisdom and knowledge.
Communication and clear thought.
I call upon you, air, and ask
that you bless us in this ritual with your presence.
Thank you, element of air”.

Fire
Fire is associated with the south, with passion, courage, strength, will, and with the fire of the world's transformation.
Fire is associated with salamanders, the color red, bonfires, and dance.
Objects to place on the altar for the element of fire – red candles, fire-colored fabrics, basalt stones, an adorned wand (wands symbolize the element of fire in the tarot cards).
Additional ways to connect with the element of fire: wild dancing to energy-filled music, lighting candles, meditating by the light of a bonfire or candlelight, singing full of life and energy.

Example of a spoken invocation:
“I call upon the element of fire. Element
of will and desire, light and life.
I call upon you, element of fire,
and ask that you bless us in this circle.
Thank you, element of fire”.

Water
Water is associated with the west, with emotions and the subconscious.
Water is associated with fish, the color blue, trance work, and emotional balancing work.
Objects to place on the altar for the element of water: shells, stones from the sea, blue candles, water
we have gathered from around the world, chalices (which symbolize the element of water in the tarot cards).
Additional ways to summon the element of water: soft and gentle dancing, washing the face and body with purified water or seawater, meditating on the water within our own bodies.

Example of a spoken summoning:
“I call upon the element of water,
element of emotions and depths.
I call upon you, deep waters,
lakes, oceans, and the blood that flows
in my body, to join me in the ritual.
Thank you, element of water”.

Earth
Earth is associated with the north. Earth is associated with material and emotional balance, with nourishment, with everyday
life, with the body, and with the emotional need to take root.
The symbols of earth are – snakes, the color brown or green, stones, drums, and food of all kinds.
Objects to place on the altar for the element of earth: stones, crystals, images of turtles or of
snakes, a wooden disk with a drawn pentagram, roots, and branches.
Additional ways to summon the earth: dancing to the sound of drums, placing hands on the earth, placing hands on the body and sensing the body, and listening to the sounds of nature around us.

Example of a spoken summoning:
“I call upon the element of earth,
element of nourishment and life.
I call upon you, great earth:
energy of valleys and mountains, forests and life,
and I invite you to join us
in the ritual. Thank you, element of earth”.

In the third stage of the ritual we call upon the elements in clockwise order.
Usually we begin with air (east),
followed by fire (south), water (west), and finally earth (north).

From “The Witch and the Moon Dance – A Practical Guide to the World of Magic / Elizabeth Zohar

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