Elementals

Elementals are those mystical creatures that dwell within the spirit realm of the elements, watched over and controlled by the Lords of the Watchtowers (the Mighty Ones, Old Ones, or the Guardians). I will post more on the watchtowers so check back.

 

Elementals can be related to “nature spirits” and the old favorite, ever written about “witches’ familiar”. These are the spirits that govern all nature, the “forces of life” that may be summoned to assist in working magic. It’s important therefore that we understand “who they are” and “what they represent”. Earth spirits are known as Gnomes, Air spirits as Sylphs, Fire spirits as Salamanders, and Water spirits are called Undines.

After the circle is formed and consecrated with the elements, a witch may next call down the quarters by invoking the Lords of the Watchtowers (the Mighty Ones, Old Ones, the Guardians), to preside and watch over the proceedings. Specific elementals; those whose correspondences best suit the work or rite being carried out, may then be invited to participate. Their correspondences are closely related to those of the elements. Care needs to be taken when calling the aid of elementals, due to the duplicity of all things. Elementals are not always the helpful little creature’s we expect them to be, and can be mischievous, bad tempered little devils  (not literally...calm down) if allowed to get out of control.

In folklore elementals were thought to be fickle, malicious and unpredictable spirits sent by the “wicked-witch” in the form of familiars to trick people into accidents and traps and sometimes killing them. This is the sort of belief that led to the plight of witches during the Witch-hunt’s and purges of the 17^th–18^th centuries. 

 

Still today in contemporary Witchcraft, witches use pets and animals as familiars, but stress and emphasizes is given to working with good and friendly elementals in producing positive magic. A colorful character from contemporary times that used a familiar was Sybil Leek. Her trademark was a cape, loose gown, and a pet jackdaw named “Mr. Hotfoot Jackson”.

Elemental Correspondences

Air   SANSKRIT/IRISH/LATIN: Vayu/Aer/ DIRECTION: East ASSOCIATIONS: Thought, communication, travel, intellect, abstract thinking, teaching, divination, freedom, joy, laughter, beginnings, QUALITIES: hot, moist, light, active GENDER: masculine, projective MAGICAL POWER: To know COLORS: yellow, sky blue, pastels ARCHANGEL: Raphael ELEMENTAL BEING: Sylphs ELEMENTAL KING: Paralda ANIMALS: birds, flying insects PLANTS: Celtic trees - Aspen, Alder, Birch. Herbs - Anise, Lavender, Lemongrass. Natives ? Mistletoe, (Ball Moss), Cedar Elm, Acacia, Mimosa STONES: Mica, Pumice, (Fluorite) METALS: Aluminum, Tin MYTHOLOGICAL BEINGS: Gryphons, Gremlins, Pegasus KERUB: Human Being TAROT SUIT: Swords (Wands) TAROT TRUMPS: Fool RUNES: Ansuz , Raidho Eihwaz, Tiwaz ZODIAC SIGNS: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius PLANETS: Neptune, (Mercury) HOUR: Dawn DAY(S): (Wednesday) SEASON: Spring LIFE CYCLE: Infancy and childhood ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL: upward pointing triangle bisected by a horizontal line TATTWA SYMBOL: blue circle QABALISTIC SEPHIROT: Yesod/Foundation, Tipharet/Beauty MAGICAL TOOLS: Wand, Staff, Athame, Sword, Incense, Feather, Pen, Broom, Scourge CHAKRA(S): Heart, (Throat, 3rd Eye) TYPES OF MAGIC: Study, visualizaton, divination, finding lost objects, astral travel, telepathy, travel, communication POSITIVE CHARACTERISTICS: Joyful, humorous, communicative, intelligent, intuitive, diligent NEGATIVE CHARACTERISTICS: Gossipy, boastful, spendthrift, untruthful, selfish, fickle, inattentive OVERBALANCE: Chatterbox, shallow, or overintellectualization UNDERBALANCE: Muddy thinking, slow, inability to communicate Water   SANSKRIT/IRISH/LATIN: Apas/Uisce/ DIRECTION: West ASSOCIATIONS: Emotions, dreams, compassion, love, sadness, psychism, healing, rest, cleansing, dissolution, astral travel, death/rebirth, QUALITIES: moist, cold, heavy, passive GENDER: feminine, receptive MAGICAL POWER: To dare COLORS: blue, indigo, aqua, green, silver, purple ARCHANGEL: Gabriel ELEMENTAL BEING: Undines ELEMENTAL KING: Nixsa ANIMALS: fish, dolphins, all aquatic creatures PLANTS: Celtic trees - Alder, Hazel, Willow. Herbs - Aloe, Lemon, Yarrow. Natives - American Elm, Cat Brier, Mesquite, Violet, Wax Myrtle STONES: Aquamarine, Lapis, Limestone, Moonstone, Pearl, Rose Quartz, Shells, Sodalite METALS: Copper, Sliver MYTHOLOGICAL BEINGS: Merpeople, Sea Monsters KERUB: Eagle TAROT SUIT: Cups TAROT TRUMPS: Moon, Death, Lovers RUNES: Uruz, Gebo, Hagalaz, Isa, Pethro, Ehwaz, Laguz, Dagaz ZODIAC SIGNS: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces PLANETS: Moon, (Venus) HOUR: Dusk DAY(S): Monday, (Friday) SEASON: Fall LIFE CYCLE: Adulthood, Reproductive years ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL: downward pointing triangle TATTWA SYMBOL: Silver crescent with horns pointing up QABALISTIC SEPHIROT: Hod/Splendor, Chesod/Mercy, Binah/Understanding MAGICAL TOOLS: Chalice, Cup, Bowl, Cauldron, Ring, Sickle CHAKRA(S): Navel, (Heart) TYPES OF MAGIC: Divinations, Dreams, Psychic work, Astral Travel, Healing, Fertility PROFESSIONS: doctors, guardians, merchants, psychologists POSITIVE CHARACTERISTICS: Compassionate, loving, forgiving, sensitive, easygoing, modest, flowing NEGATIVE CHARACTERISTICS: Overly sensitive, weepy, dependent, indifferent, lazy, insecure, frigid OVERBALANCE: Depresion, hypersensitivity UNDERBALANCE: Cold, emotionless nature

Fire   SANSKRIT/IRISH/LATIN: Tejas/Tine/ DIRECTION: South ASSOCIATIONS: Action, the will, passion, sex, anger, desire, energy, work, purification, destruction, strength, protection, QUALITIES: hot, dry, light, active GENDER: masculine, projective MAGICAL POWER: To will COLORS: red, orange, gold, yellow ARCHANGEL: Michael ELEMENTAL BEING: Salamanders ELEMENTAL KING: Djinn ANIMALS: lizards, snakes, lions PLANTS: Celtic trees - Thorn, Holly, Oak. Herbs - Basil, Cinnamon, Garlic. Natives ? Spanish Dagger, Oaks, Juniper, Sunflower, Chiletepin STONES: Amber, Bloodstone, Carnelian, Citrine, Diamond, Garnet, Ruby, Tiger's Eye METALS: Brass, Gold, Steel MYTHOLOGICAL BEINGS: Dragons, Phoenix KERUB: Lion TAROT SUIT: Wands, (Swords) TAROT TRUMPS: Sun, Strength, Emperor RUNES: Thurisaz, Kenaz, Naudhiz, Sowilo, Ingwaz ZODIAC SIGNS: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius PLANETS: Sun, Mars HOUR: Noon DAY(S): Sunday, Tuesday SEASON: Summer LIFE CYCLE: Youth and adolescence ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL: upward pointing triangle TATTWA SYMBOL: upward pointing red triangle QABALISTIC SEPHIROT: Netzach/Victory, Geburah/Judgement, Chokmah/Wisdom MAGICAL TOOLS: Athame, Sword, Wand, Staff, Candle, Flame, Scourge CHAKRA(S): Solar Plexus TYPES OF MAGIC: Banishing, exorcism, purification, tantra, sex, empowering, protection, success POSITIVE CHARACTERISTICS: Energetic, enthusiastic, courageous, daring, faithful NEGATIVE CHARACTERISTICS: Stubborn, greedy, jealous, angry, resentful OVERBALANCE: Dominating, egotistical, violent UNDERBALANCE: Apathy, boredom, feelings of inferiority, laziness, lack of energy Earth SANSKRIT/IRISH/LATIN: Prithivi/Talamh/ DIRECTION: North ASSOCIATIONS: Stability, food, wealth, crops, animals, home, mountains, strength, grounding, protecting, nature, death/rebirth, QUALITIES: dry, cold, heavy, passive GENDER: feminine, receptive MAGICAL POWER: To be silent COLORS: brown, black, green ARCHANGEL: Uriel/Auriel ELEMENTAL BEING: Gnomes ELEMENTAL KING: Ghobe ANIMALS: most four-legged, animals that go by night PLANTS: Celtic trees - Ash, Dwarf Elm, Hawthorn. Herbs - Patchouli, Vetiver, Wheat Natives - Bald Cypress, Inland Sea-Oats, Texas Persimmon, Elbow-bush, Indiangrass STONES: Amazonite, Emerald, Hematite/Hematine, Jade, Jet, Lodestone, Malachite, Peridot, Serpentine, Turquoise METALS: (Iron), Lead, Mercury MYTHOLOGICAL BEINGS: Giants, Leprechauns, Trolls KERUB: Bull TAROT SUIT: Pentacles/Coins/Discs TAROT TRUMPS: Devil, Empress, Emperor, World RUNES: Fehu, Wunjo, Jera, Berkano, Mannaz, Othala ZODIAC SIGNS: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn PLANETS: (Jupiter, Saturn) HOUR: Midnight DAY(S): (Thursday, Saturday) SEASON: Winter LIFE CYCLE: Old Age ALCHEMICAL SYMBOL: downward pointing triangle bisected by horizontal line TATTWA SYMBOL: Yellow Square QABALISTIC SEPHIROT: Malkuth/Kingdom MAGICAL TOOLS: Pentacle, Rock, Hammer, Salt, Shield, Drum CHAKRA(S): Root TYPES OF MAGIC: Household, Prosperity, Ancestors, Fertility, Grounding, Protection, Eco-Magic PROFESSIONS: architects, artists, beauticians, chiropractors, dancers, designers, engineers, entertainers POSITIVE CHARACTERISTICS: Reliable, punctual, stable, perservering, wise NEGATIVE CHARACTERISTICS: Greedy, sensualist, materialistic, stodgy, narrow-minded OVERBALANCE: Boring, tunnel-vision, materialistic UNDERBALANCE: Unreliable, careless, tasteless