The Elements are the building blocks of nature. They are Beings of true energy and consciousness. Each Elemental Being reflects a basic energy pattern. They interweave to create and sustain all matter on Earth. All Elements exist in every aspect of nature and in every person. In Wicca we call upon the Elements to stand guard at the Four Corners of our Circles.

                Why are the four elements so important? They give us a way of thinking about the world. They give us a structured approach to knowing the unknowable. They provide us with a system of interrelations, and magick is all about interrelations. 

“Earth; our body

Air; our breath

Fire; our spirit

Water; our blood”

                Spirit

Correspondences

Celtic Name- Aethyr

Direction- Center

Color- Violet, white, black

Ritual Tool- Circle, cauldron

Time- All times

Season- All seasons

Goddess- All deities

Symbolizes- Immanence and transcendence, everything and nothing

Ritual Representations- Fulfilled by presence of practitioners and deities

                Earth

Energy- feminine/receptive

Correspondences

Celtic Name- Tuath

Direction- North

Color- Green, brown

Ritual Tools- Pentacles

Time of Day- Midnight

Season- Winter

Goddess- Dark Goddess

Symbolizes- Stability, order, grounding, silence, birth, death, beginnings, endings, fertility, healing

Ritual Representation- Salt, soil

Elemental- Gnomes, forest nymphs, elves, brownies

Tarot- Pentacles

Zodiac- Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

Hermatic Axiom- “To Know”

                Air

Energy- Masculine/Projective

Correspondences

Celtic Name- Airt

Direction- East

Color- Yellow, white

Ritual Tools- Wand

Time of Day- Dawn

Season- Spring

Goddess- Maiden

Symbolizes- Mind, intellect, reason, sciences, travel, youth

Ritual Representations- Incense

Elementals- Sylphs, faeries

Tarot- Wands

Zodiac- Libra, Aquarius, Gemini

Hermatic Axiom- “To Will”

                Fire

Energy- Masculine/projective

Correspondences

Celtic Name- Deas

Direction- South

Color- Red, Orange

Ritual Tools- Athame

Time of Day- Mid-day

Season- Summer

Goddess- Mother

Symbolizes- Strength, passion, energy, power, transformation, will, sex

Ritual Representation- Candles

Elemental-

Tarot- Swords

Zodiac- Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

Hermatic Axiom- “To Dare’

                Water

Energy- Feminine/receptive

Correspondence

Celtic Name- Iar

Direction- West

Color- Blue

Ritual Tools- Chalice

Time of Day- Sunset

Season- Autumn

Goddess- Crone

Symbolizes- Emotions, intuition, daring, wisdom, clarity

Ritual Representation- Water

Elementals-

Tarot- Cups

Zodiac- Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Hermetic Axiom- “To Keep Silent”

Elements Five

by Link, © 1997

Earth, the Mother giving birth,

Air so free, inside of me,

Fire higher, ignite your Son,

Water Daughter, the Circle is One.

Spirit makes all Four alive,

Spirit makes the Elements Five

                Quarter Calls

When preparing to cast spells or perform rituals... After the circle is cast, you will go to each of the four cardinal points (north, east, south, and west) and invoke the Guardians of the Watchtowers-- that is, the Elemental beings connected to the four directions and the four elements.  They are called to witness your rite and to guard your circle from unwanted, malevolent energies.

                Invoking the Guardians:

The North- "Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtower of the North!  By the power of Earth, I do summon, stir, and call thee forth to witness this rite and to guard this circle." With your athame/wand, draw an invoking pentagram for the Element of Earth in the air and light an elemental green candle, leaving it at the North gate.

The East- "Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtower of the East!   By the power of Air, I do summon, stir, and call thee forth to witness this rite and to guard this circle." With your athame/wand, draw an invoking pentagram for the Element of Air in the air and light an elemental yellow candle, leaving it at the East gate.

The South- "Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtower of the South!  By the power of Fire, I do summon, stir, and call thee forth to witness this rite and to guard this circle." With your athame/wand, draw an invoking pentagram for the Element of Fire in the air and light an elemental red candle, leaving it at the South gate.

The West- "Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtower of the West!  By the power of Water, I do summon, stir, and call thee forth to witness this rite and to guard this circle." With your athame/wand, draw an invoking pentagram for the Element of Water in the air and light an elemental blue candle, leaving it at the West gate.

When your ritual is complete and your spells are cast, it is time to thank these Elemental beings for witnessing your rite and for protecting you during your spell casting.  Dismiss these beings properly and with the respect with which they are due, never underestimate their power.

Dismissing the Guardians:

The West- "I thank you, Guardians of the gate of Water, for witnessing this rite and protecting this circle.  Fare thee well and safe return.  Blessed Be!" With your athame/wand, draw a banishing pentagram for the Element of Water in the air and snuff the blue candle.

The South- "I thank you, Guardians of the gate of Fire, for witnessing this rite and protecting this circle.  Fare thee well and safe return.  Blessed Be!" With your athame/wand, draw a banishing pentagram for the Element of Fire in the air and snuff the red candle.

The East- "I thank you, Guardians of the gate of Air, for witnessing this rite and protecting this circle.  Fare thee well and safe return.  Blessed Be!" With your athame/wand, draw a banishing pentagram for the Element of Air in the air and snuff the yellow candle.

The North- "I thank you, Guardians of the gate of Earth, for witnessing this rite and protecting this circle.  Fare thee well and safe return.  Blessed Be!" With your athame/wand, draw a banishing pentagram for the Element of Earth in the air and snuff the green candle.

*Notice that when invoking the Guardians, you are doing so in a clockwise (deosil) motion around the circle; and when you dismiss the Guardians, you are moving counterclockwise (widdershins).