Magick
1 - Why Magick?
Magick
2 - Subjective Experience
Magick
3 - The Four Worlds
Magick
4 - The Four Elements
Magick
5 - Chakras Meditation
Magick
6 - Thought Forms & Spirits
Magick
7 - Basic Ritual
Magick
8 - Healing & Banishing Rituals
Magick
9 - Astral Projection
Magick
10 - Cabala
Magick
11 - Psychic Energy
The Four Elements
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 tarrot 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 |
|
|
| lepricauns |
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),
find 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.
| Authors Details: The Four Elements
- Phil Hansford, 4/88 Mysteria (818) 353-8891 (modem)
P.O. Box 83 Tujunga, CA 91042 |
|