Starweaver's Online Book Of Shadows: Wicca Lesson 4
Wicca Lesson 4
Living Wicca Foundation
THE ELEMENTS
Wiccans work with the four classical elements: Earth, Air, Fire and
Water. While science has shown us that there are more than 200
elements that are the building blocks of our universe, we work with
these four because we can "get our brains around them." In addition,
Wiccans work with a fifth element: Spirit (or Akasha or Ether).
Air
Direction: East
Rules: The mind, intellect, communication, movement, learning, travel
Best time for ritual work: Dawn
Season: Spring
Colors: White, bright yellow, pastels
Zodiac: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Tools: Athame, Sword, Censer
Energy: Projective
Angel: Michael
Tree: Aspen
Sense: Smell
Instruments: All woodwinds, pan pipes
Gemstones: Aventurine, Mottled Jasper, Mice, Pumice
Fire
Direction: South
Rules: Energy, spirit, purification, protection
Best time for ritual work: Noon
Season: Summer
Colors: Red, gold, crimson, orange
Zodiac: Aries, Leo, Saggitarius
Tools: Wand, candle
Energy: Projective
Angel: Ariel
Tree: Almond (in flower)
Sense: Sight
Instruments: Guitar and other stringed instruments, brass instruments
Gemstones: Amber, obsidian, onyx, ruby, hematite, bloodstone
Water
Direction: West
Rules: Emotions, dreams, peace, intuition, emotional healing,
purification, spirituality
Best time for ritual work: Twilight
Season: Autumn
Colors: blue, green, grey, indigo
Zodiac: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Tools: Cup, bowl, chalice, cauldron
Energy: Receptive
Angel: Raphael
Tree: Willow
Sense: Taste
Instruments: Cymbals and bells
Gemstones: Geodes, amethyst, aquamarine, pearl, moonstone
Earth
Direction: North
Rules: The body, growth, material gain, grounding, stability,
fertility, birth and death
Best time for ritual work: Midnight
Season: Winter
Colors: Brown, black, green
Zodiac: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Tools: Salt, pentacle
Energy: Receptive
Angel: Gabriel
Tree: Oak
Sense: Touch
Instruments: Drums
Gemstones: Emerald, Malachite, Jet, Turquoise
Akasha
This is the 'fifth' element. It is found at the Circumference and the
Center. This rules Spirit. It is the source of all energy and the
place where all the elements meet in the circle. It is inner and outer
space; within and without; projective and receptive. It is the place
of balance.
SMUDGING AND PURIFYING
Smudging is adapted from Native American traditions of passing items
and people through the smoke of burning herbs to purify them before
partaking of sacred activities. Sage and cedar are traditional. Native
Americans also often used tobacco and sweetgrass. You can use a smudge
bundle, loose incense in a censer, or even an incense stick.
Purifying is analogous to sprinkling with holy water in other
religions. Basic purification water is spring water with salt
dissolved in it. (Sea salt is best.) Seawater itself is very good. You
can also add herbs, florida water, scented oils or tinctures.
People, things, and areas can be smudged and purified. By
smudging/purifying, you are cleaning the aura of negativity.
Part of
the consecration of your tools involves smudging/purifying them. It's
always a good idea to smudge/purify the area where you're going to
have your Circle in order to cleanse it. The same goes for yourself.
Smudging and purifying uses the four classical elements to cleanse the
person/area/object. Incense/smudge bundle = fire and air, purifying
water = water and earth (the salt and herbs).
CASTING CIRCLE
Wiccans create spherical "temples" for ritual to keep out negative
influences and to keep in the energy raised until it is ready to be
released. This is done by using your personal energy to create the
sphere of energy. (It's called a Circle, but it's really a sphere.
Walls, floor and ground are not barriers. The intersection of the
sphere is a circle, of course.)
The method is simple: Using your Athame (or wand, or even just your
finger) with your projective hand, visualize energy coming up from the
Earth, through your body, and out the tool to form the sphere. Moving
deosil (sunwise), complete the Circle. It's a good idea to draw an
invoking pentagram as you start and finish. You can also draw invoking
pentagrams at the four cardinal directions.
Taking down the Circle is the same procedure, but in the opposite
direction (Widdershins). You use banishing pentagrams and visualized
the energy being drawn back into the tool, through your body, and back
down into the Earth.
The following is a basic procedure for Circle Ritual. It is, for the
most part, the procedure we follow at the LWF. Different traditions
and even your own personal Circles may not follow this procedure
precisely, but it is fairly universal.
1. Cleanse area
2. Smudge/purify participants
3. Cast Circle
4. Seal Circle with Elements (if desired)
5. Call Quarters (the Elements)
6. Invoke Lord and Lady
7. Other optional bits such as Drawing Down the Moon, the Charge of
the Goddess, the Great Rite, et cetera
8. Particular activities for the Esbat or Sabbat. May include
chanting, raising a cone of power, and so on. If the Circle is for a
magickal working, that would go here
9. Cakes and Ale
10.Thank Lord and Lady
11.Dismiss the Quarters
12.Take down the Circle
"Calling the Quarters" or evoking the elements is done to add the
energy of the elements to your ritual in addition to asking them for
further protection. Depending on your need and preferences, you may
summon them as Watchtowers, Spirits or particular elementals.
(We'll have more on Circle Ritual later on.)
Do you have a favorite Quarter Calling? If so, please share it.
It is recommended that you read "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary
Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham chapters 5-7, and "Buckland's
Complete Guide to Witchcraft" by Raymond Buckland pages 155-162 and
169.
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