Course Three: Practice 135
philosopher Pythagoras
called three the perfect
number, because it in-
cludes “beginning, mid-
dle, and end.” A triangle is
the most stable structure in ge-
ometry, and a three-legged stool
doesn’t wobble. The symbol of
Odin, Norse god of wisdom, is the
triangular Valknot, shown here.
Many religious theologies (“word (or study) of
god”) claim that the Divine Unity manifests in a three-
part Trinity. The three principle gods of Hinduism
(Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva
the Destroyer) are collectively referred to as the
Trimurti (“three-formed”), because they represent the
three aspects of Atman, the universal Spirit. Cylinder
seals from ancient Crete depicted a Trinity of Mother,
Daughter (Koré), and Son (Kouros). In Egypt, the
divine Triad consisted of Isis (Mother), Osiris (Fa-
ther), and Horus (Son). Buddhists embrace a doctrine
of Trikaya—the three bodies of the Buddha (Law,
Enjoyment, and Magickal Creation). Celtic and
Wiccan tradition associates the Great Goddess with
the three phases of the Moon, as Maiden (waxing),
Mother (full), and Crone (waning). And the Christian
Trinity affirms the three aspects of God as Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit.
The Welsh Triads (Trioedd Ynys Prydein) are a
collection of more than130 listings of legendary per-
sonages, events, or places as groups of three. They
were probably designed to be easily memorized by
the Bards. There are numerous versions with differ-
ences in names, meanings, and the order in which they
are listed. Portions are included in all of the early
manuscripts, such as the White Book of Rhyderrch
from the early 1300s. Here’s an example of one of
these Triads: “Three Men Who Received The Might
Of Adam: Hercules the Strong, and Hector the Strong,
and Samson the Strong. They were, all three, as strong
as Adam himself.”Lesson 4: Elements and Directions
There is probably no system of correspondences more
widely used than that of the four Elements: Earth,
Water, Air, and Fire (see 2.III). This concept can be
mainly attributed to Pythagoras (580–500 BCE) and
Aristotle (384–322 BCE), but the ideas behind it can
be traced back through Greek, Hebrew, Egyptian,
Persian, and Assyrian traditions. The four Elements
model is so universal that it underlies virtually all other
magickal systems. It is fundamental to alchemy, which
grouped all substances into this model. These asso-
ciations are also the foundation of the Enochian
magickal system. The twelve signs of the Zodiac are
assigned three each to these categories: Earth (Capri-corn, Taurus, Virgo), Water (Pisces, Cancer, Scor-
pio), Air (Aquarius, Gemini, Libra), and Fire (Aries,
Leo, Sagittarius). The 72 cards of the tarot are ar-
ranged in four Elemental suits: Discs, Cups, Swords,
and Rods; and these are also
reflected in standard
playing cards as dia-
monds, hearts,
spades, and clubs.
The universal sym-
bol for the Four Di-
rections and Ele-
ments is the Celtic
Cross, also known as
the Native American
Medicine Shield, and the
astrological sigil of planet Earth.
Rituals of modern Wicca and Ceremonial Magick
construct their Magick Circles by assigning the Ele-
ments to the four directions and seasons of the year.
These associations are deeply imbedded in Nature
Herself, and in our own personal experience of the
natural cycles. The accompanying table of Elemental
correspondences may be one of your most important
magickal tools. Study it well, and learn these associa-
tions; they will serve you greatly throughout your
magickal life.NOTE: The diagrams and tables presented here
are based on correspondences for the Northern
Hemisphere. South of the equator the seasons and
directions are reversed. Imagine the whole
Magick Circle inside the Zodiac viewed in a mir-
ror! So Fire is North and Earth is South; Air is
West and Water, East. Spring Equinox is Sept 21,
and Winter Solstice is June 21. Moreover, the
hands on the clock face—and all ritual direc-
tions—move counter-clockwise in Australia!The Fifth Element
The Fifth Element, Spirit,
acts to both unify and tran-
scend the other
four Elements
in traditional
Western magickal
systems. Some consider
Spirit as the quintes-
sence of all manifested
things. The other four
Elements constitute
the basis of the physi-
cal universe, and Spirit is the additional quality that
imparts Life and Consciousness. On the Magick Circle
mandala, Spirit is represented as the Center of the
Circle, or the top point of the pentagram.- Practice.p65 135 1/14/2004, 4:21 PM