The Elements

Earth
Earth is our mother. It's as fertile and nurturing as farmland; as moist as soil and as dry as sand. In its physical manifestations (such as stones), Earth represents the densest of the elements. Press your hand against fresh dirt. Fell it's stability its earthiness. Know that within its fertile surface we've raised our food; on it we live our lives; within it we bury our deceased. We couldn't exist in this form without the earth. But our planet is simply a manifestation of this element. True Earth energy also exists within ourselves and within the universe at large.
Basic Nature:.	Fertile, moist, nurturing; stabilizing; grounding. Gravity is a manifestation of this element
Type of Energy:	Receptive
Color:	Green (from the color of living plants)
Places:	Caves, Canyons, Chasms, Forests, Groves, Valleys, Fields, Farms, Gardens, Arboretums, Parks, Plant Nurseries, Farmer's Markets, Kitchens, Baby Nurseries, Basements, Mines, Holes.
Rituals:	Money, Prosperity, Fertility, Stability, Grounding , Employment
Ritual Forms:	Burying, Planting, Making Images in Soil or Sand.
Herbs:	Earth smelling plantes, such as patchouly and vetiver; mosses and lichens; nuts; dry and stiff plants; heavy, low growing plants; generally roots
Stones:	Heavy or opaque, as in coal; green as in emerald and peridot
Metals:	Iron, Lead
Musical Instruments:	Drum, all percussion instruments.
Creatures:	Dog, horse, earthworm, gopher, ant, cow, burrowing animals
Season:	Winter (the time of Darkness)
Direction:	North (the place of great Darkness)
Time:	Night
Magical Tool:	Pentacle (a wooden, metal, or clay disc inscribed with a five pointed star)
Point in Life:	Advanced age
Astrological Sign:	Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Sense:	Touch
Natural Symbols:	Salt, clay dish of fresh soil, rocks, sheaves of wheat, acorns.
Types of Magic Rules:	Gardening, magnet, image, stone, tree, knot, binding.

Air
Scientists and magicians may have different views concerning this element, but all agree that it's vital to human survival. Without air, we would perish. Air is the power of movement; of freshening and of intelligence. It's the invisible and yet quite real mixture of gases that we breathe in every day. In magical terms, Air is also the power of the mind: the force of Intellect. Go to a place with clean air and breathe deeply. Touch a feather. Inhale the fragrance of a heavily scented flower. Study an intricately patterned leaf. Experience the wonders of the manifestations of this element. Remember, too, that we possess Air energy within ourselves.
Basic Nature:	Flying, moving, fresh, intelligent, suspending. Sound is a manifestation of this element.
Type of Energy:	Projective
Color:	Yellow (the yellow of the sun, the sky at dawn)
Places:	Mountaintops, wind swept plains, cloudy skies, high towers, airports, schools, libraries, offices, travel agencies, psychiatrist's offices.
Rituals:	Travel, instructions, Study, Freedom, Knowledge, Recovering Lost Items.
Ritual Forms:	Tossing Objects into the Air, Suspending Tools in High Places, Fanning Light Objects, Visualization, Positive Thinking.
Herbs:	Fragrant, as many flowers; pungent, as in culinary herbs such as dill; airy, finely veined, or windswept; generally leaves.
Stones:	Light stones, such as pumice; transparent stones, such as mica.
Metals:	Tin, Copper
Musical instrument:	Flute, all wind instruments
Creatures:	Spider, most birds, winged insects
Season:	Spring (the time of freshness)
Direction:	East (the place of sunrise)
Time:	Dawn
Magical Tool:	Wand
Point in Life:	Infancy
Astrological Sign:	Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Senses:	Hearing, smell
Natural Symbols:	A feather, incense smoke, fragrant flowers.
Types of Magic Ruled:	Divination, concentration, visualization, wind magic

Fire
Fire is the creator and the destroyer. It warms our homes, cooks our food, and fuels our passions. Unlike the other elements, Fire cannot exist in physical form without consuming something else. Thus, fire transforms objects into new forms: heat, light, ash, and smoke. On Sunny day, go outside at noon and press your receptive hand against a warm rock. Smell the smoke from a burning fire. Gaze into a candle's flame. Immerse yourself in Fire energy, and realize that it also exists within ourselves. Fire must be controlled to be of benefit to us. When we light a candle, we call upon its powers but also limit them. This is necessary if its physical forms are to be of use. But een a raging forest fire actually helps the Earth, clearing away underbrush and encouraging dormant seeds to burst into new life. Here are some of the magical associations of Fire.
Basic Nature:	Purifying, destructive, cleansing, energetic, sexual, forceful. Heat is a manifestation of this element.
Type of Energy:	Projective
Color:	Red (from the color of flames)
Places:	Deserts, hot springs, volcanoes, ovens, fireplaces, bedrooms (for sex), weight rooms, locker rooms, saunas, athletic fields.
Rituals:	Protection, Courage, Sex, Energy, Strength, Authority, Banishing Negativity
Ritual Forms:	Burning, Or Smoldering; Heating
Herbs:	Stinging, thorny or hot, as thistles, chile peppers and bouganvillea; desert dwelling, as cacti; stimulating , as coffee beans; generally seeds.
Stones:	Red or fiery, as in jasper; volcanic, as in lava; clear, as in quartz crystal.
Metals:	Gold, Brass
Musical Instruments:	Guitar, all stringed instruments
Creatures:	Snake, cricket, lizard, praying mantis, lady bug, bee, scorpion, shark.
Season:	Summer (the time of heat)
Direction:	South ( the place of heat)
Time:	Noon
Magical Tool:	Knife
Point in Life:	Youth
Astrological Signs:	Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Sense:	Sight
Natural Symbols:	Flame, Lava, A heated Object
Types of Magic Ruled:	Candle, storm, time and star.

Water
Water is the cleansing, healing, psychic, loving element. It washes over us when we see our mates; supports us when we swim; gives us life when we are dehydrated. Dew dusts plants after the sun sets. Rainstorms (one manifestation of this element) drench us. Taste pure water. Move your hand through a stream, lake, pool, or bowl full of water. Feel its cool liquidity; it's soft touch. Listen to water trickling into a pool. As you do these things, remember that we contain Water energy within ourselves as well. The energy of this element is vital to our well being as humans, for it contains within it the essence of love. Love is the underlying reason for all magic. Water is love.
Basic Nature:	Flowing, purifying, healing, soothing, loving
Type of Energy:	Receptive
Color:	Blue (from the hue of deep water)
Places:	Lakes, Springs, Streams, Rivers, Beaches, Oceans, Wells, Swimming pools, Bathtubs, Showers, Bedrooms (for sleep), Health Spas, Steam Rooms, Fountains.
Ritual:	Purification, Love, Psychic Awareness, Dreams, Sleep, Peace, Marriage, Friendships.
Ritual Forms:	Dilution, Placing into Water, Washing away, Bathing.
Herbs:	Aquatic, such as Water Lillies and Seaweed; Fleshy, as in Succulents and Lettuce; Loving, as in Rose and Gardenia; Generally Flowers.
Stones:	Transparent or Translucent, as in Amethyst and Aquamarine; Blue, as in Blue Tourmaline.
Metals:	Mercury (Quicksilver), Silver, Copper
Musical Instruments:	Cymbal, bell, all resonant metals
Creatures:	Cat, Frog, Turtle, Dolphin, Whale, Otter, Seal, Dugong; Most Fish and Shellfish
Season:	Autumn (the time of harvest)
Direction:	West (the place of the setting sun)
Time:	Dusk
Magical Tools:	Cup, the cauldron
Point in Life:	Maturity
Astrological Signs:	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Sense:	Taste
Natural Symbols:	Shells, a cup of water