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Ceremonial Magic #4
Copyright © 1988 by Phil Hansford. This article is licenced for
free non-commercial distribution only.
MAGICK 4 -- ELEMENTS AND FORCES
The Ancients divided the world into four basic principles or
"elements" -- earth, water, fire, and air. That viewpoint has
mostly changed with advances of science, but the four elements
are still accepted in magick, for they are more closely linked
with emotions, the human psyche, and with nature than are modern
explanations of the world. These "magical elements" are also of
some importance in astrology. Many occultists think of the
magical elements as forces, or as "qualities" of energy;
especially within the astral world. Each element has a symbol
and color. (Common symbols are -- fire: a triangle pointing up;
air: a triangle pointing up and with a horizontal line through
the middle of it; water: a triangle pointing down; earth: a
triangle pointing down and with a horizontal line through the
middle of it.) Colors of the elements are -- earth: brown and
green; water: blue; fire: red; air: yellow. The Eastern
tattvic system uses different symbols and colors. (The tattvic
symbols are briefly described later on in this course.) The
elements are often used in magick ritual.
Magick sees relationships between things. These relationships are
called "correspondences". Although magical correspondences are
not literally equal to one another, you can think of them that
way (such as gold equals sun). Tables of these relationships,
called "Correspondence Tables", are available (an important one
is Crowley's "777"). Thus one thing or symbol can be used to
suggest another. This is important in magick, for the magician
may surround himself with as many appropriate correspondences as
he can to vividly affect the senses; thus making his magical
contact with the inner planes more lucid.
The magical elements have correspondences with the tarot cards as
the four suits. The four quarters (directions of the universe as
used in magick ritual) and the Archangels also correspond with
these same elements --
Element Suit Quarter Archangel
======= ==== ======= =========
earth pentacles north Uriel
water cups west Gabriel
fire wands south Michael
air swords east Raphael
Astrological signs also correspond with the elements. Taurus,
Virgo, and Capricorn are earth signs. Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces
are water signs. Aries, Leo and Sagittarius are fire signs.
Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are air signs.
ELEMENTALS
The magical elements are said to be peopled by spirits and
mythological entities called elementals or nature spirits. These
are grouped into four main categories --
Gnome (earth) Undine (water) Salamander (fire) Sylph (air)
============= ============== ================= ===========
dwarfs nymphs jin (genies) fairies
elves tritons storm angels
brownies mermaids
hobgoblins mermen
leprechauns sirens
harpies
Elementals are usually only visible to those with clairvoyant
sight and are more likely to be seen at night in the mountains or
country away from cities -- especially if you are tired or
sleepy. Although elementals exist naturally, it is also possible
to create one which will exist for a limited time -- no elemental
has immortality. A created elemental is called an "artificial
elemental".
To the Ancients, elementals were the physical explanation of the
universe. However, some contemporary occultists see them only as
symbols for forces and otherwise not "real" at all. Another word
sometimes used for elemental is "familiar" (usually in medieval
witchcraft); the term is ambiguous, as it might merely be an
ordinary household pet such as a dog or cat.
YIN YANG
Chinese philosophy and acupuncture talk of yin yang. This is the
idea of polarity, or opposite pairs, as shown --
YIN YANG
=== ====
water fire
contraction expansion
cold hot
feminine masculine
moon sun
negative positive
passive active
ebb flow
wane wax
The list could go on. In Chinese literature it is quite long.
Some occultists suggest everything can be similarly arranged into
related opposite pairs.
SIMPLE MAGICK
Here is a simple magical technique you may wish to try. It is a
variation of affirmation, which was discussed in an earlier
lesson...To help you to achieve your goal (magical or otherwise),
ind a word or short phase which sums up what it is that you want
to accomplish. Write the word (or phrase) down 10 times each day
until you achieve success.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1) List the four elements.
2) What is an elemental?
3) What are correspondences?
BOOK LIST
William Britten, Art Magic (long out of print, but in some
libraries).
Pete Carrol, Liber Null.
Wing-Tsit Chan, A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy.
Manly Hall, Unseen Forces.
========
Phil Hansford, 4/88
Mysteria
(818) 353-8891 (modem)
P.O. Box 83
Tujunga, CA 91042
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