The Elements (Air)

The Elements…

  

Are believed to be the building blocks of the universe. In many pagan practices there are 5 elements earth, air, fire, water and spirit/divine. Though it is not unheard of for there to be more then just the 5. It is believed that everything in the world around us contains one or more of these elemental energies.

Air

Air is an masculine element and governs the magick of the four winds. The air is vital to the survival of all life for without air, we would all perish. Air is the power of movement, of freshening and of intelligence being air is seen as the power of the mind. Aiding in the works of visualization, new possibilities, travel, instruction, lost items, freedom and divination. Remember as always we possess the energy of Air within ourselves.

Air Correspondences:

    * Direction: East.

    *Attributes: Abstract Learing, Creativity of Mind, Intuition, Intellect, Breath, Mental Powers, Towers, Rules of Mind, Thought, Visions, Ideologies, Ideas, Wind, Imagination, Physic Powers, Wisdom, Peaks, Theory, Windswept Hills, Plains, High Mountains, Knowledge

    * Type of energy: Projective.

    * Basic nature: Flying, moving, fresh, intelligent, suspending. Sound is a manifestation of this element.

    * Color: Yellow

    * Places: Mountaintops, wind-swept plains, cloudy skies, high towers, airports, schools, libraries, offices, travel agencies, psychiatrist's offices.

    * Rituals: The Mind, All mental, intuitive and psychic work, knowledge, abstract learning, wind and breath, inspiration, hearing, harmony, herbal knowledge, plant growth, intellect thought and growth, travel, freedom, revealing the truth, finding lost things, psychic abilities, instruction, telepathy, study, memory, to contact the angels, the ability to know and understand, to unlock the secrets of the dead, zen meditation, brainstorms, beginnings, illuminations

    * Ritual forms: Tossing objects into the air, suspending tools in high places, fanning light objects, visualization, positive thinking.

    * Plants: Primrose, Vervain, Yarrow, Frankincense, Myrhh, Violet

    * Herbs: Fragrant, as many flowers; pungent, as in culinary herbs such as dill; airy, finely-veined, or wind-swept; generally leaves.

    * Stones: Light stones, such as pumice. Amber, Lapis Lazuli, Flourite, Smokey Quartz, Rose Quartz, transparent stones such as mica.

    *Jewel: Topaz, Sapphire

    * Oils:

    * Musical instrument: Flute, all wind instruments.

    * Creatures: Spider, winged insects, eagle, hawk, sphinx

    * Season: Spring.

    * Time: Dawn.

    * Magickal tools: Wand, athame, censor, sword, bells

    * Sense: Hearing, smell.

    * Natural symbols: A feather, incense smoke, fragrant flowers.

    * Types of magical rules: Divination, concentration, visualization, wind magick.

    *Zodiac: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

    *Planet: Mercury, Jupiter

    *Element spirit: faeries, the lilitu (wind spirits), slyphs, sprites

    *Goddess: Aditi (the Unfettered), Aerope, aphrodite, Aradia, Arianrhod, Cardea (Queen of Winds), Cybele, Hathor, Hera, Iris, Lilith, Maman Brigette, Mary, Nuit, Oya, Semiramis, Urania (Queen of Winds)

   *Gods: Aether, anu, Ariel, Baal (Rider of the Clouds), Boreas, Enlil (Lord Wind), Favonius, Gabriel, Haddad, Horus, Hurakan, Indra, Jupiter, Khepera-Marduk, Mercury, Michael, Mithras, Njoerd (Lord of the Fair Winds), Orion, Quetzalcoatl, Shu, Thoth, Typhon (Lord of Destructive Winds), Uranus, Yahweh, Zephyrus, Zeus

Psychic Incense  
One of the ways to symbolize the element of air in casting is with incense I thought you would all like this recipe.

Ingredients:
1 part frankincense
1 part Sandalwood
1 part Cinnamon
1 part Nutmeg
A few drops Orange oil
A few drops clove oil

Combine and burn to help sharpen your psychic powers.

The Elements (Earth)

The Elements…

 Are believed to be the building blocks of the universe. In many pagan practices there are 5 elements earth, air, fire, water and spirit/divine. Though it is not unheard of for there to be more then just the 5. It is believed that everything in the world around us contains one or more of these elemental energies.

Earth

The earth is seen as our mother, which might be why it is considered a feminine element. Governing over fertility, prosperity, business, and stability. This is the element we are closest with, since it is our home living out our lives, where we raise our food, and bury our deceased providing a foundation for our circle of life.  Earth doesn't necessarily have to represent the physical Earth/planet, but those parts that are stable, solid, and dependable. We couldn't exist without the Earth. But true Earth energy also exists within ourselves and within our universe at large.

Earth Correspondences:

    * Direction: North

    *Attributes: Birth, Death, Caves, Caverns, Chasms, Fields, Food, Business, Physical World, Stability, Practicality, Sense of Touch, Rules of the Body, Material Gain, Growth, Employment, Prosperity, Silence, Laws, Understanding , Fertility, Standing Stones, Mountains, Sustenance, Metal, Bones, Structures, Grounding, Centering, Healing, Fortitude, Old Age, Wisdom, Nurturing, Hunting, Groves

    * Type of energy: Receptive.

    * Basic nature: Fertile, moist, nurturing, stabilizing, grounding.

    * Color: Green - from the color of living plants. Brown – from the color of the dirt and soil.

    * Places: Caves, canyons, forests, groves, valleys, fields, farms, gardens, parks, plant nurseries, farmer's markets, kitchens, baby nurseries, basements, mines, holes.

    * Rituals: The body, growth, naturism sustenance, material gain, money, creativity, birth, death, silence, rocks, standing stones, crystals, jewels, metal, bones, structure, night, riches, treasures, surrender in self-will, touch, empathy, grounding, mystery, industry, possessions, conservative, incorporation, business, prosperity, employment, stability, success, fertility, birth, healing, combined forces of nature and it's bounty, material abundance, wisdom, runes, strength, practical wisdom, teaching, symbols

    * Ritual forms: Burying, planting, making images in soil or sand.

    * Plants: Comfrey, Grass, Ivy, Grains, Corn

    * Herbs: Earth-smelling plants, such as patchouli, mosses, 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.

    *Jewel:  agate, bloodstone, smokey quartz, tiger's eye, emerald

    * Oils: Honeysuckle, Patchouly, Vetivert

    * Musical instrument: All percussion instruments such as the drum.

    * Creatures: Dogs, horse, earthworm, gopher, ant, cattle, burrowing animals, dragon (earth), sphinx, bison, bulls, snake, stag

    * Season: Winter

    * Time: Midnight

    * Magickal tools: Pentacle, stones, salt bowl, staff

    * Sense: Touch.

    * Natural symbols: Salt, clay dish of fresh soil, rocks, sheaves of wheat, acorns.

    * Types of magical rules: Gardening, magnet, image, stone, tree, knot, binding.

    *Zodiac:  Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

    *Planet: Earth, Saturn, Venus

    *Element spirit: Gnomes

    *Goddess: Anath, Artemis, Bona Dea, Ceres, Cybele, Magna Mater, Danu, Demeter (Queen of the Fruitful Earth), Durga, Ertha, Eve, Fauna, Flora, GAia (Mother of Life), the Great Goddess, the Great Mother, Hamadryads, Inanna, Isis, Kore, Mah, Maia, Mother Earth, Mother Nature, Nephthys, Nokomis, Parvati (the Lady of the Mountain), Persephone, Pomona, Prithivi, Prosperine, Rhea, Rhiannon, Sheela Na Gig, Tellus, Terra, Themis

   *Gods: Achilles, Adonis, Arawn, Ariel, Atlas, Athos, Attis,  Baal (Lord of Earth), Bacchus, Cernunnos, Chango Dagon, the Dagda, Dionysus, Enki (Lord of the Goddess Earth), Enlil, the Green Man, Green Zeus, Hades, Marduk, Osiris, Pan, Robin Hood, Tammuz, Uriel, vegetation gods, Vertumnus, Yahweh, Zeus Chronius

 Lemon Salt Scrub:
Since one of the correspondences for Earth is salt I thought this would be a fun and easy recipe to do.

Items you will need:

5 tablespoons sea salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lemon

First mix the olive oil and sea salt together. Once the salt gets coated by the oil, the lemon won’t dissolve it! Next cut the lemon in half and squeeze over the salt + oil. Mix and mash. (Feel free to adjust the recipe to your liking.) Now scrub away :-)

Working a spell

Basic Working Spell Outline

We all have different ways and routines when it comes to casting. So what I have done here is put together a basic guideline that you all may find helpful. These are in no way set in stone and can be changed to suit your needs. This is just a suggestion.

Ritual Preparation:
Choose a time and a place. What tools you need, make sure to set them up in the space you will be using. How are you going to raise energy (ie: dance, chanting, drumming, etc.) Choose how you want to cast and close a circle.

Cleanse yourself and your magickal space:
You can do this with a ritual bath for yourself, which might I add is so relaxing. Through meditation to help calm and focus your mind. You can cleanse your space with a ritual broom, incense, burning herbs or with a cleansing potion (used in a spray bottle). How ever feels right to you.

Cast the Circle:
Please see blog post “Casting”

Invocation of the Divine:
This part is to call upon the elements and/or a deity into your circle.

Statement of purpose:
This is simply to tell the Divine why you have called him/her to the circle.

Magickal Working:
 This would be casting the spell or ritual you came to cast. Remember to ground your energy when you have completed the working.

Offering: (optional)
This practice is normally done during a ritual but is not unheard of for more powerful spell work. Normally an offering is food like cakes or bread and wine/mead or milk. Eat a small piece of offering and then place the rest in a offering bowl for the God/dess. When the spell is over do not throw the offering away. That is disrespectful and can upset the deity you offered it to. It should be placed or poured outside given back to the earth.


Thanking the Divine:
Thank the deity for helping you in your work and listening to your request.

Close the Circle:
This is the time you dismiss and thank the elements and open the circle. 



As I said before this is just to give you a guideline as to what can be done for a spell. Not every step must be followed when casting. I simply find when I am writing something out it is nice to see an example layout of what is could look like.

Spell writing

 Even though I will provide many helpful spells you can cast it is always good to know how to write your own spells. It makes the spell more personal and I feel is an essential aspect to add to your practice. Here are some questions you will find helpful to ask yourself while writing a spell. 

Writing your own spells and rituals

Know the Basics:
Know what magick is to you. Know different ways use the energy within and around you. How to go about raising, directing and grounding the energy. Know how to cast a magick circle, open the circle and close the circle. Know the basic outline of a spell.

Know the Intent or Purpose:
What is it you are trying to do? Are you looking to heal a illness, sell a house, or to celebrate a sabbat? Before you begin any magickal working, you should have a firm grasp on what outcome you are seeking. Be as specific as possible.

Know the Best Time to Work a Spell:
Do you know what type moon phase is best for money or healing spells? What days of the week are best for certain types of magick? What about the time of day, how will that affect your workings? Learn how these things affect magickal workings so you will know when to work your spell.

Know your Correspondences:
Learning which colors will bring luck, what herbs help in protection, what deity to appeal to is very useful if you wish to add those things in your spell. Learning about how different things can help your workings can only help in your goal.

Casting

Holy wow! 25,000 page views! Thank you to everyone who has been such an amazing support in my writing and for reading what I post :-) It does mean a lot to me that you all enjoy the work I put on here. I will strive to continue to provide you with fun and exciting information. Blessed be )O(

Cast/ing:
Is to 'put forth' energy or focus your will for a specific purpose like a spell or ritual.

  Yes spells are fun and a big part of what pagans do, it might even be why some started looking into paganism, but there are rules as well. Please don’t ever just jump into spell casting without knowing what can happen in return. Read every spell carefully and make sure you feel comfortable with it before casting. Feel free to add or take away to a spell, but again keep the laws/rules/guidelines in mind when writing a spell.

  These spells I post here are either written myself, or have collected from studies or fellow witches over the years. A few you may find on the internet because many pagans share the spells that have helped them in hopes it may help another in their path in this faith. That is why I am passing these on in this blog. In hopes that they will help you and those you love as much as they have helped me.

Casting a Circle

  This is a very important step to casting. A circle should be cast before you perform any spell or ritual. A circle protects you from any outside forces while you are conducting your spell. One should never step out of the circle once cast. It is a good idea to have all your tools on your alter before casting a circle. If you do need to step out of the circle use your athame or wand to cut a door.

To cast a Circle

Envision a circle surrounding yourself and the space you are working in. If you need a tool to help you project your energy you can use something like a wand, staff, athame, crystal or what ever you use to help you direct your energy.

You then cast your circle. There is no set way for you to cast a circle. Again these are a few I like to use. Feel free to rewrite them so they fit your needs or even write your own.

A simple Circle

"I call the light of the starry heavens

I ask the lady to weave for me

A boundary encircling me in love and trust

A circle woven of stars and moonlight and morning dew

I seek power

I seek protection

I seek empowerment

I seek magick

Thus I do conjure thee, O circle of power

So mote it be" (my BOS)

Sacred Space

"Here we create this sacred space

Here in love adore this place

Together work, together play

And love the only rule we say

The Circle's wide enough for more

Inside the Sun illumes the door

Wider still and then we see

Another Circle merged with me

Shed the flesh that veils the light

Strip away the mirror's blight

Open wide and shine within

Look around, we all are kin."

(By Mischa from Creating Circles & Ceremonies)

Circle of Power

"O Circle of Power, I conjure thee,

That thou may be a boundary,

'Tween realms of flesh and Ancient Ones.

This shield 'gainst bane and harm becomes

A meeting place of Truth, Love, Joy,

Containing the power that we employ.

By God and Goddess, we conjure thee

This is our will, So Mote it Be!"

(By Crow Dragontree from Creating Circles & Ceremonies)