The elements are the foundations of witchcraft, alchemy, and all practices underpinned by nature: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Aether. They are the raw power that shapes both the world around us and our inner worlds. It is only when you harness the power of the elements that your rituals become potent. It is only when you balance the elements inside yourself that you can tap into your personal power.
- Earth is stability and grounding
- Air is thought, movement, and inspiration
- Fire is will, passion, and transformation
- Water is flow, healing, and emotion
- Aether is the activator that runs through everything and connects all (the spark of life)
Air
Air is the breath of life and carries your intentions from where you are into the world. For this, it represents intention setting and new beginnings. It also represents the unseen and your ability to connect with the things beyond the visible.
| Direction | East |
| Season | Spring |
| Astrology | Gemini, Libra, Aquarius |
| Planetary Influence | Mercury |
| Moon Phase | New Moon or Waxing Moon |
| Colours | Yellow, White, Pale Blue |
| Tools | Wand, Feathers, Bells, Incense, Smoke |
| Crystals | Aventurine, Chalcedony, Fluorite, Lepidolite, Turquoise, Clear Quartz, Topaz |
| Herbs | Clover, Dandelion, Dill, Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Meadowsweet, Mint, Sage, Slippery Elm |
| Governs | Wisdom, Imagination, Clarity, Inspiration, and Communication |
| Tarot Suit | Wands in traditional Tarot and Swords in more modern Tarot (e.g. Rider-Waite) |
| Tarot Majors | The Fool, The Lovers, Justice, The Star |
| Place in the Body | Mind, Respiratory System, Eyes, Ears, Nose |
| Qualities | Hot and Wet, Projecting or Masculine |
When creating a magical circle or starting a ritual, call on the air in the east: the breath of life, the whisper of wisdom, and the wind that carries intentions.
Flame
Fire sits at the heart of rituals, and has since our ancestors sat around their hearths calling on the gods. Fire has the power to transform and turn intention into action.
| Direction | South |
| Season | Summer |
| Astrology | Aries, Leo, Sagittarius |
| Planetary Influence | Sun and Mars |
| Moon Phase | Waxing Moon and Full Moon |
| Colours | Red, Orange, Gold |
| Tools | Sword, Athame, Candles, and Flames |
| Crystals | Fire Agate, Bloodstone, Carnelian, Citrine, Garnet, Jasper, Lava Stones, Mookaite, Fire Opal, Ruby, Sunstone |
| Herbs | Clover, Dandelion, Basil, Bay Leaf, Cinnamon, Frankincense, Ginger, Hibiscus, Juniper, Nettle, Pepper, Rosemary, Witch Hazel, Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Meadowsweet, Mint, Sage, Slippery Elm |
| Governs | Passion, Courage, Willpower, Vitality, Destruction, and Rebirth |
| Tarot Suit | Traditionally Swords but Wands in more modern Tarot (e.g. Frider-Waite) |
| Tarot Majors | Strength, The Sun, The Tower, Judgment |
| Place in the Body | Digestive and Muscular Systems |
| Qualities | Hot and Dry, Projecting or Masculine |
In rituals, Fire represents both the transformative force and the high sun. Fire lends strength to protection spells, lights the way in situations of courage, and burns through obstacles. Allowing fire to grow in excess internally can result in recklessness, rage, and destruction, while a lack of it can leave you passive, uninspired, and without energy.
Light a candle when you meditate and focus on the flame. Burn petitions to release what is no longer needed and burn spells to release them into the air and ignite transformation.
Water
Water has a way to cut through every path, using emotion, intuition and healing rather than brute force. It holds memory and truth. Moonlit bowls are ideal for spell work and divination. It is also a connecting element as water flows through all forms of life, connecting the physical and the spiritual worlds and carrying messages across invisible currents.
| Direction | West |
| Season | Autumn |
| Astrology | Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces |
| Planetary Influence | Moon and Neptune |
| Moon Phase | Waxing Moon and Full Moon |
| Colours | Full Moon and Waning Moon |
| Tools | Chalice, Cauldron, Shells, Bowls, and Mirrors |
| Crystals | Amethysts, Aquamarine, Carnelian, Chrysocolla, Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Moonstone, Opal, Pearl, Rose Quartz, Sodalite |
| Herbs | Aloe, Apple, Chamomile, Gardenia, Jasmine, Lemon, Lilac, Lotus, Magnolia, Rose, Thyme, Willow, Yarrow |
| Governs | Love, Relationships, Dreams, Divination, and Healing |
| Tarot Suit | Cups |
| Tarot Majors | The Hanged Man, Death, The Moon, Temperance |
| Place in the Body | Heart, Circulatory System, Womb/Reproductive System |
| Qualities | Cold and Wet, Receptive or Feminine |
While we often think of water as a quiet pool, it is not always gentle. It can rage, rise and roar, and it can boil, steam, and consume. Water is capable of creation and destruction or cleansing and chaos. It is a reminder of the power of our emotions and the need to direct them, rather than let them direct us.
Earth
The Earth is the body of the world and the foundation of all magic. It holds every memory, footprint, and seed. The stones and the bones provide stability, structure, patience and manifestation. The Earth is the anchor that allows every spell to take form and makes thoughts and desires concrete.
| Direction | North |
| Season | Winter |
| Astrology | Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn |
| Planetary Influence | Saturn and Venus |
| Moon Phase | New or Dark Moon |
| Colours | Green, Brown, and Black |
| Tools | Stone and Pentacle |
| Crystals | Agate, Emerald, Geodes, Hematite, Jet, Malachite, Obsidian, Onyx, Peridot, Quartz, Salt, Tourmaline |
| Herbs | Amaranth, Barley, Buckthorn, Grains, Mugwort, Oak, Oats, Patchouli, Pines, Sage, Vetiver, Vervain, Wheat |
| Governs | Prosperity, Protection, Stability, and Fertility |
| Tarot Suit | Pentacles |
| Tarot Majors | The Empress, The Hierophant, The Devil, and The World |
| Place in the Body | Skeletal and Muscular Systems, Skin, Lower Back, Legs, and Feet |
| Qualities | Cold and Dry, Receptive or Feminine |
The Earth reminds us that while we strive to fly high, we need to remain anchored for our efforts to have any lasting effect.
Aether
Aether, sometimes called Spirit, is the fifth element and the element that most people find it most challenging to connect with. It is the material that fills the empty space in the universe and connects all things. It is what we pull on that allows us to make our dreams manifest. Some describe it as the divine element, the spark that makes life alive.
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