Elements & Correspondences

The four elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, are the four classical elements celebrated in Wicca. A fifth element, Ether/Spirit/Akasha, is also used in many Wiccan traditions. 

These elements are symbolic of physical, spiritual and emotional attributes and are part of nature and ourselves.  Ancient Greeks believed these four elements were at the root of all existing matter.  Some see the five points on the Pentacle as representing the five elements.

The elements are commonly invoked at the beginning of rituals or used in their physical forms to symbolically purify the ritual circle.  Each element has associated symbols, rituals and meanings, which are outlined below.  Note the correspondences below are in reference to the Northern Hemisphere.

Earth represents permanence, stability, strength, security, wisdom, practicality, materialism, wealth, abundance, prosperity, patience, truth, and responsibility.

Earth symbols include the earth, soil, rocks, mountains, trees.  Types of magic using earth energies include gardening, grounding, working with stone/crystals, knots, binding, money spells, and runes.  Rituals include burying objects in the earth, herbalism, planting trees/plants, and making images out of wood or stone.

Gender	Feminine
Direction	North
Energy	Receptive
Symbols	Rocks, fields, soil, salt, caves, clay
On Pentagram	Lower left
Goddesses	Gaia/Gaea, Ceres, Demeter, Mah, Nephtys, Persephone, Rhea
Gods	Adonis, Athos, Arawn, Cernunnos, Dionysus, Pan
Spirits	Gnomes, Dwarfs, Trolls
Time	Midnight, Night
Cycle of life	Old Age
Season	Winter
Colours	Black, green, yellow, brown
Zodiac signs	Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Sense	Touch
Stones and jewels	Amethyst, angelite, azurite, celestite, agate (green, moss), cat’s eye, coal, emerald, geodes, halite/salt, jasper, jet, obsidian, olivine, onyx, peridot, quartz, tourmaline
Magick tools	Pentacle, pentagram, salt, stones/gems, cords
Metals	Iron, lead
Herbal	Ivy, grains, oats, rice, patchouli, lichens
Trees	Cypress, Honeysuckle, Jasmin, Lilac
Animals	Cow, bull, dog, horse, ant, bears, wolf, deer/stag, buffalo
Instruments	Drums and percussion
Type of magick	Gardening, magnet images, working with stones/crystals, knots, binding, money spells, grounding, runes
Ritual Action	Burying objects in the earth, herbalism, planting trees/plants, and making images out of wood or stone

Air represents the mind and intelligence, knowledge, communication, inspiration, imagination, intuition, illumination, ideas, freedom, clarity, telepathy, psychic powers, dreams and wishes, travel, finding lost things, ability to know & understand, brainstorming, and new beginnings.

Air symbols include the sky, wind, clouds, vibrations, smoke, feathers, plants, trees, flowers.  Types of magic using Air energies include divination, concentration, visualization, wind magick, feather magick, prophecy, and karma work.  Air related rituals include playing a flute or wind instrument, tossing objects in the wind, burning incense & aromatherapy, hanging objects in trees/high places.

Gender	Masculine
Direction	East
Cycle of Life	Birth, Infancy
Moon Phase	New, Waxing
Season	Spring
Symbols	Sky, wind, clouds, breath, vibrations, smoke, feathers, plants, herbs, trees, flowers
Sabbat	Imbolc, Ostara
Wind	Eurus
Goddesses	Danu, Athena, Aradia, Arianrhod, Cardea, Nuit, Urania
Gods	Mercury, Thoth
Spirits/Elementals	Sylphs, Zephyrs, Fairies of trees, flowers and winds
Magick tools	Censer, athame, sword, wand
Rule of Magnus	To Know
Zodiac Signs	Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Planets	Mercury, Uranus
Chakra	Heart
Animals	Doves, hawk, eagle, foxes, turtle, raven, spider
Trees/Plants	Wildflowers, lavender, clover, lemon balm, ash trees, birch, aspen, beech, acacia, almond, hazel, linden, maple, pine
Herbal	Frankincence, myrrh, pansy, primrose, vervain, violet, yarrow, dill, clove
Gems & Stones	Fluorite, moonstone, turquoise, amethyst, rhodochrosite, silver, topaz, pumice, alexandrite
Metals	Tin, copper
Instruments	Flute, wind instruments
Type of magick	Divination, concentration, visualization, wind magick, prophecy, karma work
Ritual Action	Playing a flute/wind instrument, tossing objects in the wind, burning incense & aromatherapy, hanging objects in trees/high places, discovering lost items, developing psychic abilities

Fire represents change, energy, inspiration, love, sexuality, passion, life force, spirit, will, leadership, faith and trust, elusiveness, innocence, physical and personal vulnerability, relationships with others and self, renewal, self-healing, stress, courage, strength, protection.

Fire symbols include the sun, stars, volcanoes, lava, eruptions, heat, flame, candles, bonfires, saunas, lightning, heated objects (stones in particular), fire forged objects, red feathers, blood, and sap.  Types of magick using fire include healing and destroying, purification, love spells, and energy work.  Fire related rituals include burning objects, lighting candles and fires, cauldron work, and baking.

Direction	South
Gender	Masculine
Energy	Projective
Colours	Red, green, gold, crimson, orange, white
Time of Day	Noon
Cycle of Life	Youth
Moon Phase	Waxing to Full
Season	Summer
Sabbat	Beltane, Litha/Midsummer
Wind	Notus
Goddesses	Brigit, Hestia, Pele, Vesta
Gods	Mars, Agni, Horus, Prometheus, Vulcan, Ra, Lugh
Spirits/Elementals	Salamanders, Firedrakes
Magick tools	Athame, sword, wand, candle, censer, lamps, daggers, spear, staff (Some traditions align the Wand with Air)
Rule of Magnus	To Will
Zodiac Signs	Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Planets	Mars, Sun
Chakra	Solar Plexus, Heart
Tarot Cards	Wands (Inspiration, Spiritual), Knights
On Pentagram	Lower right
Animals	Phoenix, squirrels, tigers, lions, porcupine, badger, coyote, fox, cats, bear, rabbit, snakes, hawk, dragon, horse, snake, cricket, mantis, ladybug, bee, scorpion
Trees/Plants	Alder, Ash, Cashew, Cedar, Chestnut, Fig, Juniper, Mahogany, Oak, Holly, Rowan, Walnut, Maple
Herbal	Nettles, sunflower, garlic, hibiscus, red/chili peppers, cinnamon, coffee, beans, seeds, nuts, mustard, onion
Incense	Sweetgrass, myrrh, cedar, frankincense, dragon’s blood, juniper, sage, clover, thyme, cinnamon, cedar
Gems & Stones	Jasper, ruby, fire agate, blood stone, garnet, fire opal, pink carnelian, red carnelian, red amber, amber calcite, blue amber, yellow and gold fluorite, citrine, lava
Metals	Gold, brass, iron/steel
Instruments	Guitar, string instruments
Sense	Sight
Positive Traits	Energetic, daring, passionate, enthusiastic, intelligent
Negative Traits	Resentful, angry, jealous, stubborn, greedy, arrogant

Water represents emotions, feelings, courage, absorption, subconscious/ unconscious mind, intuition, purification, cleansing, eternal movement, wisdom, the soul, vision quests, self-healing, sorrow, reflection, psychic ability, emotional aspects of love and femininity, the womb, menstruation, fertility, marriage, happiness, friendship, dreams, sleep, and healing.

Water symbols include oceans, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, springs, wells, pools, fog, or rain.  Types of magick using water include mirror divinations, magnet work, love magick, lucid dreaming, cleansing, or protection spells.  Water related rituals include ritual bathing, dilution, washing, sprinkling, brewing, or tossing objects into water.

Direction	West
Gender	Feminine
Energy	Receptive
Colours	Blue, turquoise/aqua, green, grey, indigo, black
Time of Day	Twilight, dusk, evening
Cycle of Life	Maturity
Moon Phase	Full, Waning
Season	Autumn
Sabbat	Lughnasadh/Lammas, Mabon
Wind	Zephyr
Goddesses	Aphrodite, Isis, Marianne, Selene, Arianhrod, Hecate, Persephone, Inanna
Gods	Dylan, Ea, Manannan, Osiris, Neptune, Poseidon
Spirits/Elementals	Undines, Nymphs, Mermaids, Fairies of ponds, lakes or streams
Magick tools	Cup, goblet, chalice, cauldron, mirror, water
Rule of Magnus	To Dare
Zodiac Signs	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Planets	Neptune, Venus, Moon
Chakra	Heart
Tarot Cards	Cups (Emotion, Feeling), Queens
On Pentagram	Upper right
Animals	Whales, albatross, fish, water snakes, dolphin, cat, frog, turtle, swan, crab, dragon
Trees/Plants	Willow, magnolia, lavender, water plants, gardenia, apple, apricot, birch, elder, elm, rose
Herbal	Water plants, ferns, lotus, mosses, bushes, water   lilies, gardenia
Incense	lotus, sandalwood, myrrh, mugwort, camphor, vanilla, violet, chamomile, jasmine, raspberry, catnip, cherry, hibiscus
Gems & Stones	Aquamarine, amethyst, blue tourmaline, pearl, coral, blue topaz, fluorite
Metals	Mercury, silver, copper
Instruments	Anything resonant, harmonica, cymbals, harp, lyre
Sense	Taste
Positive Traits	Forgiving, easy going, sensitive, gracious,   compassionate, wise
Negative Traits	Overly emotional, weepy, lazy

The element of Spirit, or Ether or Akasha (Sanskrit), represents the universal inner space, the material that fills the region of the universe above the terrestrial sphere. (Wiki)

Spirit represents the prime element present in all things, providing space, connection and balance for all elements to exist.  It is essential to our sense of connectedness with spirit and well-being.  Spirit represents represents the sense of joy and union, transcendence, transformation, change, everywhere and nowhere, within and without, immanence.  It represents the human spirit and energy of the Goddess and God.

Types of magick include enlightenment, findng your life path, spiritual knowledge, seeing and understanding karmic paths of life.

Direction	Centre, circumference, complete lack of direction and dimension
Gender	Universal
Energy	Universal
Colours	White, Black, Purple
Season	The turning wheel of the year
Goddesses	The Lady, Isis
Gods	The Horned God, Akasha
Magick tools	Pentacle, robe, cord, rope
Rule of Magnus	To become perfected
Symbols	Infinity, the cosmos, godhead, the creator, infinity sign, wheel, pentacle
Chakra	Crown, Third Eye
Animals	Dove
Trees/Plants	Mistletoe, the flowing almond tree
Gems & Stones	Quartz, diamonds
Sense	Sixth sense, intuition
Positive Traits	Wisdom
Negative Traits	Self-destruction

The Wiccan Elements

All imagery from Ravenari on Deviantart

© West Coast Pagan