The Function of Elements

[Anonymous]

A lot of people use elements and I've seen countless correspondence charts that tie the elements to all kinds of different things. My question is, in your view, what are the elements, and what are their function.

[Rowan CedarWolf]

Christopher Penczak has written a book called "The Outer Temple of Witchcraft" it has an entire section devoted just to this and is excellent, in my opinion.

[NachtSorcier]

I think perhaps that the elements are sort of the building blocks of the universe.  Everything is comprised of at least one of the elements, and all living beings  would die if one were missing.  For example, as humans, we die without food, which comes from Earth; we die without oxygen, Air; we can't survive for very long without Water; and without warmth, Fire, we freeze.  On a more spiritual level, as a well-known song/chant goes, Earth is the body, Water is the blood, Air is the breath, and Fire is the spirit.

Another example, plant life need soil, water, carbon dioxide, and the sun to grow and survive.

So, I suppose you could say that the elements are not only a source of magical energy, they are also spiritual and physical nourishment.

I like to think of it as proof that the Higher Power allows us to exist; the Earth is the Goddess, which provides food, Water is, metaphorically, the Goddess' womb, and so is in a sense the amniotic fluid that keeps unborn children alive until birth; Fire keeps us from freezing, and so could be said to be the Lord's loving embrace, while Air could be considered his Breath of Life.

Farfetched, perhaps, but it makes some sense if you think of it with a child's mind.

[Zenon]

to me the elements rule the essences that build up the universe, in the mental and material divisions.

there is fire, earth, water, air, and spirit in everything - their characteristics permeate all beings.  the elements rule aspects of the mind, emotions, and the material universe.