The Elements

[ChelleOfShadows]

I have noticed that there are many Native Americans on this site. I personally am Cherokee - Irish. From both sides I was taught to seek your element through meditation and the thanksgiving ritual to the elements in order to discover your personal element and the God/Goddess attached to it. The element came first before any "Divinity" Kind of like starting with the basics and moving on from there.

By the time I was 4 I knew my element was Earth. I call on my element for help - strength - sight - etc..... before I call on any God or Goddess. REMEMBER this is how I was taught basically from birth. My Goddesses are Selu - Cherokee, Gaia - Greek and Cailleach - Celtic. I offer thanks to these Goddesses for allowing me to share Earth with them.

I call on the elements and nature before I call on a or the Gods or Goddesses. I was taught the Divine were for Divination and praise and they created the elements for those who are not Gods - Goddesses to use and call on.

I know this is a bizarre thread but I have to believe there are others out there who have been taught the same path of the craft!!! Let me know!

[DeleteOfPath]

Ah, ya found one!

[Mnemosyne]

I can see why someone would call on an element for help before asking a god or goddess. In my opinion, each diety has a connection with a particular element; thus, in a way, you can see it as indirectly asking a god or goddess for help. You said that you knew your element was earth by the age of four. By chance, are you an earth sign according to the zodiac calendar?

[ChelleOfShadows]

Yes I am in fact, I am a capricorn. January 8. I also offer special thanks to the various Goddesses atributed to Earth, Gaia, Selu, Cailleach. A multiple upbringing brings on multiple Dieties. However for strength, or vision or almost anything I call upon my element first. I've been told this is extremely NON-Traditional. Well, non-traditional, non-comformist, or just plain different THAT explains me.

[SimplyStrange]

Wow, I'm still trying to figure everything out for myself... I myself am Irish and have some native american in me... but I never really was taught anything about spirituality, so lately I've begun to take my baby steps onto my own path... I've always been one more for earth worship or at least calling on the earth and stuff, but I've no idea what my element is...

I'd like to know more about the way you were taught, it's really interesting...

Thanks :)

[phoenixsong]

I never even thought of the concept of a personal element until recently, when air started sending me messages. :) Even forced me to do a ritual, which I'd probably never have got round to doing otherwise (I always put things off).

[Mnemosyne]

Originally posted by phoenixsong
I never even thought of the concept of a personal element until recently, when air started sending me messages. :) Even forced me to do a ritual, which I'd probably never have got round to doing otherwise (I always put things off).

I think that I understand now. Each element is associated with certain attributes. So instead of communicating with the god or goddess associated with that attribute, you call on the element itself. What kind of ritual do you guys do when calling on an element?

[ChelleOfShadows]

The ritual I perform is actually really simple. I will only do it outdoors. I start by casting my circle, I do not however inscribe a pentagram for this ritual. I light a candle in honor of each other element, Air, Fire and Water and give thanks to them for their combined strength. Then I light the candle for Earth and call upon her for her strength, bounty, wisdom whatever I need. I inscibe her signs within my circle and hers with the others where all candles are placed. I burn sage, heliotrope, iris and orange within my center candle. This usually relaxes me and I will meditate for a few hours before I give thanks and close the circle.

[Naillosotarrain]

My own personal element is one that not too many people are of aware of, Spirit; even though I am of the Air sign Libra.

[ChelleOfShadows]

Naillosotarrain I was aware that spirit was an element, however I was taught it was for those destined to be leaders, teachers, or shamans, that unles it was given to you, one should not even call on it. It is a pleasure meeting someone chosen. It is a gift and sometimes a burden I am sure but oh what an experience huh?

[Naillosotarrain]

It is not an easy path to walk down, and is full of many challenges; but one must walk that which is layed before them. Yes, it can at times be a strong burden to lift; but for the most part it is a wonderful experience. And it is not an element or path for the weak at heart or mind.

[*~*Chary*~*]

I havent been taught this way but i can tell you without having to think that i am a FIRE elemt even though as a gemini/cancer i am supposed to be air

[Morgandria]

When you think of being an element astrologically, you really have to consider your whole birth chart, and not just your sunsign. I mean, I'm a Virgo, and you might say I'm supposed to be Earth. But when you look at the elements totalled up from all the signs in my chart, I have a balanced majority of Air and Water, then Earth, and even less Fire. It's worth having a chart done to know the whole picture.

-M.

[Mnemosyne]

Originally posted by Naillosotarrain
My own personal element is one that not too many people are of aware of, Spirit; even though I am of the Air sign Libra.

No, I wasn't aware of Spirit being an element. Perhaps this question is suited better for a different forum, but I will ask anyway. How many elements are there to use as guidance? I just ask, since I wasn't aware of Spirit. Also, I was just reading a book on feng shui the other day, and the book stated that wood was an element. (I thought that wood would be part of earth?) Furthermore, how do you find your personal element? I sense that it has more to do than your astrological sign.

[Morgandria]

To be honest, I didn't figure out my preferred element by my birth chart. It just served to confirm what I had long held to be a self-evident truth.

Most western traditions use Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and some include the fifth, Spirit. Not all of them do this.

Some Eastern traditions, including feng shui, use Water, Metal, Wood, Earth, and Fire.

The only other elemental system I am aware of that is different is the Duilé, a celtic system of elements that has nine: Earth, Stone, Plant Life, Sea, Wind, Sun, Moon, Cloud, and Heaven (stars).

I have been known to use either the traditional western elements, or the Duilé, but never both at the same time.

-M.

[ChelleOfShadows]

I was taught from as long as I can remember, how to meditate. I was taught how to meditate on the elements which really means meditate in general and whichever element continually comes to you is yours. Earth was the only element to speak to me after a year of meditation. My son's element is water (like his great great grandfather) which he discovered after a year of meditation. There are 5 elements 4 of which are available to the "human witch, pagan, ect" Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Spirit (the 5th element) ONLY speaks to those of God-Goddess blood, Shamans, and those whom are "special" and a gift to the Human race. If Spirit is your element, you are either a teacher, a shaman, a midwife (DR, Nurse, Etc....) or a (damn this sounds bad) mentally challenged person, (The Gods - Goddess looks after the weak). I am Earth, I have only met 2 people in my life whose element was Spirit, my grandmother (who was a Shaman) and my uncle (who was Shaman and Chief of the tribe). Spirit is a burden and never for the weak of heart.