The Elements

Written by: Ojos de Gato

The pentagram represents the elements: Earth, Fire, Air, Water and Spirit. Spirit is also known as Akasha, Force or Energy, and all the other elements are said to arise from it. Some people work with the elements by calling upon them and seeing them as interconnected, universal energies that bring all life into being.

Each element has a tool associated with it according to tradition, sources or intuition. A common set of correspondences is Earth with the pentagram, Air with the wand, Fire with the athame and Water with the chalice. The elements also correspond to zodiac signs and can offer a simple idea of how those signs might get along.

Earth (feminine)

Earth’s colour is green and its time is night, especially midnight. Its direction is north. It governs growth, wealth, nature, wellbeing, wisdom and abundance, and its season is winter. Taurus, Capricorn and Virgo are Earth signs. Its Spirit may appear as a bull. Earth stands for rocks, stones and the ground beneath our feet, as well as wisdom and our actions. Its places are forests, mountains and caves.

Water (feminine)

Water’s season is autumn and its colour blue. Its time is evening, particularly twilight. Its places are rain, rivers and seas. Water governs emotion, mystery and fertility, and its direction is west. Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio are Water signs. Its Spirit may appear in human form. Water is the opposite of Fire, while Earth needs Water to bring forth new life.

Fire (masculine)

Fire’s direction is south and its colour is usually red. Its time is day, especially noon. Fire embodies will, maturity, passion and enthusiasm. It needs Air in order to burn. Fire’s season is summer and its signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. Its Spirit may appear as a lion. Its places are dry and volcanic regions.

Air (masculine)

Air’s direction is east, and its colour is often yellow. Its time is morning, especially dawn, and its season spring. Air is often the first element called upon. It is the opposite of Earth, yet cannot act without the material reality Earth provides. Air governs learning, imagination and beliefs. Aquarius, Gemini and Libra are Air signs. Its Spirit may appear as an eagle, and its places are anywhere the wind can blow freely.

Force / Energy / Akasha

The colour of Force is white. It has no gender or personality and is neutral. Force sustains the other elements. This impersonal Energy is the power with which Wiccans seek to practise magic. From a Wiccan point of view, Energy divides into two opposites: the God and the Goddess.

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