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Post by pixiedust on Apr 2, 2006 20:52:36 GMT 1
Ok here's one for all you Wiccans out there  I've read quite a few Wicca 101 type books and I've noticed that there is much confusion about the directions of the elements. Most agree that earth is north and water is west. Then there is a bit of contention about fire being in the south and air being in the east.  I've mentioned before my dismay at these books not going into the theory behind these beliefs, and giving random tables of correspondence with absolutely NO back up other than "that's what they did in the old religion". The same applies here. I've had a good old think and heres how I'd position the elements. Air: North. Why? Because the sky is the biggest natural representation of the element of air and its position is up wards. Earth: South. Why? Biggest representation of the element of earth is the ground and that's down wards ;D Fire: East. Why? The sun, big fiery thing that it is, rises in the east. Water: West Why? That's the only direction I have left.................  Ok, kind of odd but at least there are explanations that are at least half way plausible. How do the rest of you deal with this? what are your thoughts? Why do you believe element X resides in direction X? Do you have a better way of doing it than me (you must have  ) Do you think I'm being totally stupid? Please let me know, this has been bothering me for ages.  |
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Post by thylasos on Apr 3, 2006 10:43:06 GMT 1
Nah, that's pretty much the logic I've always used. ;D
For West I just said... "Water.... well, the Atlantic Ocean's quite West..."
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Post by moonlit on Apr 5, 2006 1:31:35 GMT 1
I have always heard that fire is south... Have I been learning wrong? I have been using cunninghams teaching.
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Post by watershield on Apr 5, 2006 5:38:29 GMT 1
I think there is a lot of confusion on this topic.
It really depends if you follow a tradition.
At times I do "Ritual magic" to enhance the focus. This is something I learned back in the 70's
For me, as the sun and the moon rise in the East, I face East.
From there, the elements are alighned as am I;
Air above me, Earth below me, Fire in my left hand, water in my right hand, spirit in my heart, Powers that be, I summon thee.
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Post by Goth on Apr 5, 2006 9:19:10 GMT 1
I have my own theory as to why fire is in the south. Maybe because that's where Hell and the underworld is supposed to be? *Shrugs*
I like your way of thinking Pixiedust...makes sense to me. Regards to the water ~ west thing, our ocean is positioned in the west in relation to where I live.
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Post by pixiedust on Apr 9, 2006 1:52:29 GMT 1
^ Oh yeah, why the hell didn't I notice that before - Maybe 'cos you suck at geography pixie?
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Post by Ebony on Apr 10, 2006 7:35:37 GMT 1
You have a very logical method to this Pixie. I really never gave it much thought other than what I've read.
Moonlit, you aren't doing anything wrong, you are following what you have "learned." I use a lot of Cunninghams methods, but I'm always open to new ways of doing things.
Oh, so true. Even in the American Native culture, various tribes associate the directions with different elements, as does elemental colors also vary between tribes.
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Post by moonlit on Apr 10, 2006 23:01:42 GMT 1
Ok, thank you. It hasn't ever felt wrong to me and with my religion I feel that if it feels right then it probably is right for me.
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Post by prettyfull on Apr 11, 2006 10:40:21 GMT 1
Here are the way the elements are as I have learned from a Gardnarian Priest...
East ----AIR
South__FIRE
West---WATER
North---EARTH
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Post by pixiedust on Apr 12, 2006 12:21:50 GMT 1
^ that's great, but did he tell you why each element was in the given direction? What was the theory behind that?
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Post by Jen on Jul 18, 2006 10:04:57 GMT 1
Here are the way the elements are as I have learned from a Gardnarian Priest... East ----AIR South__FIRE West---WATER North---EARTH I've allways followed this formula too. Why? Because that is how I learnt it. I was studying ( and still am ) ritual magic so it seems that the directions change accordingly with different traditions. When casting a circle and calling on the four quarters it is important to remember that you represent the fifth element - spirit, so making the circle complete. The way I was taught is that all 5 elements vibrate and different levels starting slow ( north )and picking up speed as we travel round through air, fire and water and then ultimately spirit, which is where we turn those energies and vibrations into our own. Lets liken it to the path of the sun. Earth is north as this is where the sun sleeps while the moon presides over the skies. East is air as this is where the sun rises and with it bringing the dawn and the start of a new day. With the dawn the birds awaken. South is fire - the mid day sun, the full heat of the day is upon us. West is water as this is where the sun sets - seemingly into the ocean itself. It is cool and blue. There are many things that represent each quarter but so long as it feels right for you that is the most important thing. |
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Post by watershield on Jul 18, 2006 10:48:09 GMT 1
I really do think it's more about your comfort level
Air above me, Earth below me, Fire in my left hand, water in my right hand, spirit in my heart, Powers that be, I summon thee.
That places Air at East, Earth at West, Water at South and fire at North. It also places spirit at centre, (something I don't see mentioned in any of the other posts).
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Post by fairymom on Jul 21, 2006 2:13:34 GMT 1
actually water, hedgewitch mentioned it in the post before yours.
It would make sense you are the spirit as it lives within us.
reminds me of the 5th element!!
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Post by prettyfull on Jul 21, 2006 20:18:19 GMT 1
Hedge that makes a great deal of sense...I am copying this so I can study it/reread it later.
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Post by Jen on Jul 22, 2006 11:25:54 GMT 1
Hedge that makes a great deal of sense...I am copying this so I can study it/reread it later. I made sense!!??  YAY!! |
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) Do you think I'm being totally stupid?
