Class III: The Elements
word “elements” to refer to the 100+ dif-
ferent kinds of atoms, that was not the original mean-
ing or intention of this term. Rather, the Elements as
the ancients (and magickal folk throughout history)
have understood them are what Mundanes call the
states of matter. Everything in the Universe is com-
posed of matter, energy, or some combination of the
two. All material things—those that are made of mat-
ter—can exist in any of four states: solid, liquid, gas,
and plasma, and with the addition or subtraction of
energy by various means (such as adding or reduc-
ing heat or pressure) they can transition from one
state to another. We usually think of H 2 O water, for
instance, in its liquid state. But when energy (in the
form of heat) is removed from it, it can be frozen solid
into ice; or it can be boiled away into gaseous vapor
if energy is added. Its component atoms of hydrogen
and oxygen can be ionized (stripped of electrons) as
fiery plasma, such as we see in the Auroras. This is
why a simple burning candle is the most perfect of all
magickal tools—it contains all four Elements simulta-
neously. The solid waxen candle itself is Earth; the
liquid melted wax is Water; the gaseous smoke is Air;
and of course the glowing flame is Fire.
The importance of the concept of Elements in
magick is through the correspondences (analogies)
of each with many things. Plato (427-347 BCE), for
instance, divided all beings into four groups: Earth=
beasts, Water=fish, Air=birds, and Fire=stars. Medi-
eval alchemists and magicians assigned Elemental
associations to various gems and minerals, heavenly
bodies, directions and seasons, plant and animal spe-
cies, geometrical shapes, the internal and external parts
of the human body, and human personality traits. In
each of us, these represent physical existence (Earth),
compassion and emotion (Water), intellect and com-
munication (Air), and transformation and creativityEarth, Water, Fire and Air—
Put ‘em together in a garden fair;
Put ‘em in a basket bound with skin...
When you answer this riddle you’ll only begin!
—Incredible String BandIntroduction: Mama Julie’s Lessons
NE OF MY FAVORITE TEACHERS WAS
Mama Julie, matriarch of the
Tower Family. I studied Magick
with her over twenty years ago,
in the early ‘80s. She is long dead
now, but I remember her lessons
most fondly. The most important
thing I learned from her was to
approach all my magickal studies and experiences
through the four Elements. That is, she taught me to
sort the world and everything in it into those catego-
ries, and then to completely immerse myself into learn-
ing and experiencing everything I could in each of
those areas. Now I pass these lessons on to you...
The ancient Mithraic Mysteries held that a per-
son must master all of the four Elements before he can
attain spiritual enlightenment and wisdom. He must
successfully undergo Initiations of Earth, Water, Air,
and Fire—each of which challenges a different aspect
of one’s nature.Lesson 2. The Elements
Credited to the 5th century BCE Sicilian philosopher
Empedocles, the concept of four (or five) Elements as
the basis of all life and being in the Universe was an
essential teaching of Aristotle (384-322 BCE) and the
Pythagorean Mysteries of ancient Greece, and this
system has figured prominently in the magicks of all
Western systems, from the Middle East, Egypt,
Greece, Rome, Hermetics, and Alchemy to modern
occultism, Witchcraft, and Wizardry. It is the most
widely used conceptual model in the world, and is the
foundation of the Enochian magickal system, as well
as the tarot, astrology, the seasons, and the Magick
Circle. Simply stated, the four Elements are Earth,
Water, Fire, and Air. Furthermore, each Element is im-
bued, as is everything in the Universe, with the non-
physical Essence of the Divine, which we generally
call Spirit. Just as each person is a unique manifesta-
tion of the Divine, so is every rock, every tree, every
mountain, every river. So Spirit is often considered to
be the Fifth Element—distinguishing living beings
from inanimate objects.
Although modern chemists have adopted theCorrected pages 3rd printing.1.p65 27 6/10/2004, 2:59 PM