Tattvas - the five elements that form the material world

Pentagram of the elements.
Elements, elements

- in magic: the four primary elements (Fire, Water, Air and Earth), understood as the four kingdoms, or divisions, of the natural world. The fifth element, Spirit, binds together and controls the four natural elements, which is graphically represented in the symbol of the pentagram. The elements are also considered as parts of nature or human nature, which are symbolically related to these elements in their properties - depth, lightness, fervor, hardness, and so on.

Elements or elements correspond to elemental or elemental weapons: Rod of Fire, Chalice of Water, Dagger of Air and Pentacle of Earth. In Golden Dawn ceremonies, symbols of the four elements are placed on the altar: a lamp (Fire), a cup of wine (Water), a rose or incense (Air), and a dish of bread and salt (Earth).

Elements in science and magic

The doctrine of the four primary elements, or elements: fire, water, air and earth, is one of the most ancient magical teachings. “Just as all words are composed of letters, so all matter is composed of four elements.”

, wrote the Jewish theologian Philo of Alexandria (c. 25 BC - c. 50 AD).
However, this teaching itself arose long before these words were uttered. Its founder is considered to be the Greek philosopher, magician and poet Empedocles (483-423 BC), according to whose theory, outlined in his poem “On Nature,” the four elements form the “roots” of things and the universe. They fill all space and are in constant motion, moving, mixing and separating. They are unchanging and eternal. All things seem to be made up of these elements, Empedocles believed, “just like a wall is made of bricks and stones
.

A hundred years later, another great Greek philosopher, Aristotle (384-321 BC), argued that nature consists of four elements: fire, water, air and earth, each of which is characterized by a combination of two qualities - active and passive.

The combination of these four elements, or elements, in various quantitative proportions forms complex bodies in which these elements interpenetrate and dissolve into each other. In addition to the listed elements, according to Aristotle, there is also a fifth element - ether, which fills all cosmic space and from which the celestial bodies are composed. Its nature is fundamentally different from the other four elements. Ether is unchangeable and perfect. In magic, the ether is usually identified with the spirit that animates and controls all four elements.

Each element has its own unique properties and characteristics, which in magic and alchemy, as well as in the ancient traditions of medicine, act on both the physical and spiritual levels. In addition, there are entities called elementals; they live in every element and embody its essence.

The element associations are:

Earth: physical body; health; what a person has, for example money, time, energy; thoroughness; abundance. Water: emotions; intuition; subconscious; revitalizing fluids and forces; rhythms of nature. Air: mental effort; thought; rationality; communication; intellectual actions; solutions. Fire: action; study; cleansing

According to Henry Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy, these four elements exist everywhere in the universe, even in spirits and angels, and can be divided into three types. On Earth they are mixed with each other and are not found in pure form; in stars, on the contrary, they exist in their pure form. The third type is complex elements; they are changeable and through them all transformations occur.

In Kabbalistic thought, these four elements are represented by the four rivers that flow from the Garden of Eden described in the Book of Genesis. These four elements are associated with the four fixed signs of the zodiac, the four apostles of the New Testament and the four cardinal directions:

Side: North Zodiac sign: Taurus Element: Earth Matthew

Side: West Zodiac sign: Scorpio Element: Water John

Side: East Zodiac sign: Aquarius Element: Air Mark

Side: South Zodiac sign: Leo Element: Fire

Paracelsus distinguished two substances: Adamic and non-Adamic. Adam's flesh, from which all humans are created, is composed of four elements, each of which governs different aspects of health and essence. The body has a physical or mineral component, a vegetable or moist component, a fiery (or warm) or moving component, and finally an airy or intellectual component.

A modern magician is undoubtedly familiar with the periodic table and the ideas of chemists about elements as “the building blocks of the universe.” He knows that water is the physical expression of the formula H2O, and fire is cold plasma or, according to a more detailed scientific definition, “a luminous hot zone of interaction of vapors, gases or products of thermal decomposition of a flammable substance with oxygen.” But in the theory of magic, the elements/elements are not chemical elements, but first principles, the original threads, the combination of which weaves the world. It is the fifth element, Ether or Spirit, that breathes life into them. Working with the four elements is one of the most important foundations of practical magic.

Water symbols

Qualities: feminine, passive, soft, flexible.

1. Shape: bowls and vessels

The symbol of water can be a bowl, a jug or a sea shell. The cup is also a symbol of the feminine principle, reproductive forces and abundance. Water is the principle of eternal life and motherhood.

2. Sphere of existence: astral world

The water element on the Tree of Life represents the astral world of the Yesod sphere, which means “form.” Here we are talking about astral forms formed in the interaction of feelings and logic.

Water is a symbol of the depths of the subconscious, insight and clairvoyance. This element connects us with the world of dreams and visions, with the sphere of astral forms.

Contemplation of the water surface was often used in the practice of foresight. Peering into the depths of the water, the soothsayer saw sacred symbols and mystical images that emerged from his subconscious mind and which were the answers to the question posed.

Symbols of water: fish, sea shell, bowl.

3. Time and place: west, autumn, evening

The rainiest time of the year, autumn, is associated with water. This season corresponds to the period of the day - evening, cardinal direction - west. Autumn is also the time of harvesting and summing up the results of the year. And fertility and harvest are also one of the symbols of water, as mentioned above.

4. Planets: Moon and Neptune

The water element corresponds to the planet Moon. The Moon is the patroness of femininity, motherhood, emotions, feelings and intuition.

The water element also protects the planet Neptune. This planet is associated with the psyche, fantasies and dreams. Qualities of Neptune: a tendency towards mysticism, illusions, deceptive visions, mystery and nebula, but also spirituality, connection with the Higher Self, meditative mind.

Water planets: Neptune and Moon

5. Chakras: Ajna and Svadhisthana

Water qualities are inherent in two energy centers: Svadhisthana and Ajna. The first is responsible for emotions, receiving pleasure, and the desire to procreate. The second chakra - Ajna - is water, as a symbol of clairvoyance and insight.

Elemental Correspondences

Modern Western magicians David Rankine and Sorita d'Este provide in their book “Practical Magic of the Elements” [1] the following table of correspondences of magical intentions and elements, which may be useful to you in practical work.
Table of Magical Intentions

Of course, this table of correspondences is quite arbitrary and some correspondences may vary from tradition to tradition, from school to school.

Fire type person

A “fiery” person is usually the leader and soul of the company. He loves to laugh and make people laugh, hates routine and boredom and loves adventure, ideas flow out of him.

Appearance: Tall, heart-shaped face, slightly smaller hands and feet than a normal build.

Strengths: Thanks to his energy and passion, the fire person is capable of being a true leader. He is able to “ignite” others with an idea, gather a team and inspire it to move towards a common goal.

Problems: when the element is imbalanced, it needs constant emotional stimulation, becomes talkative and intrusive. Cannot concentrate, calm down and make an informed decision.

The excitability inherent in a person of the “fire” type often leads to insomnia and nervous disorders.

Vulnerable Organ: The weak point of this type of person is the heart. To keep it healthy, you need to protect yourself from nervous overload and find time for peace.

Main emotion: joy. It is important to remember that joy should be moderate. Excessive fun and constant pleasure deprive a person of energy and devastate him.

Products: such people benefit from grains, vegetables, dark greens, beans, and moderately bitter foods. It is better to reduce your intake of chocolate, salt, red meat (especially liver), stimulants and hot spices.

What is useful for maintaining balance:

✓ It is useful for you, more than anyone else, to practice restraint and moderate silence. “The word is silver, but silence is golden” - follow this proverb, and your inner fire will be kept within limits.

✓ Avoid very hot weather. In extreme heat, try to stay in the shade and eat cooling fruits (such as watermelon). Overheating is bad for everyone, but especially for you.

✓ Drink more water - this will somewhat reduce the strength of fire in your body. However, avoid very cold water as this can lead to imbalance.

✓ Love privacy. Be sure to find time to be alone, take a walk, sit on the river bank, and think. Rest from society and self-absorption are vital for you.

✓ It's important to avoid distraction, so try to plan ahead and prioritize.

✓ If your heart is healthy, then you will feel good. I wrote a separate article about how to strengthen the heart.

Basic qualities of the elements

Qualities of the elements
Each element is a combination of two basic qualities. In total, there are four qualities: heat, cold, dryness and humidity. They make up two pairs of opposites: heat-cold and dry-humidity.

Heat is considered akin to dryness, and cold to moisture.

• The qualities of Fire
  are
  warmth and dryness
  .
• Qualities of Water
  -
  cold and wet
  .
• Air
  qualities -
  heat and humidity
  .
• The qualities of the Earth
  are
  cold and dry
  .

Thus, Fire and Water consist of qualities related to each other (and on this basis are considered “pure” elements), and Air and Earth are composed of qualities that do not have direct affinity (and on this basis they are considered “mixed”).

Properties of the five elements of feng shui

Let's take a closer look at the properties of each element to better understand its nature.

The tree symbolizes the beginning of a new life. Just as spring is the beginning of everything in nature, so is the Tree

is the beginning of the cycle of the five elements. But in fact, there is something amazing in the fact that trees grow! A seed thrown into the ground sprouts, takes root, breaks through the soil from darkness to light, the sun and turns into a bush, flower or huge tree. Stone walls are not able to withstand the force and pressure of the roots of a growing tree. Its sprouts can break through the road surface and are capable of turning over stones. The tree is a representative of everything that bears the imprint of slowness and confidence, that carefully, but at the same time confidently moves towards victory. And the Tree is a symbol of intuition and inner knowledge. Tree people are strong but flexible, they always listen carefully to their inner voice. The best symbols of the Tree are living plants; for example, bamboo sticks are believed to bring good luck and favorable energy. By the way, the energy of the Wood in your home is activated by any green objects.

Five eastern elements. Fire Release

Of all the elements, it is most saturated with Yang energy. Before the advent of Feng Shui masters, there were “fire creators”, whom once upon a time, people took for wizards who were able to burn forests if they were in a bad mood, or cook a delicious dinner if they were satisfied and happy. Fire energy is strong, assertive and dominant. To regulate Fire in Feng Shui, a candle or red color is usually used. Red evening light or a table lamp with a red shade perfectly compensates for the lack of Fire. The element of Fire is contained in the fireplace, interior items made of feathers, wool or leather, in images of dawn and sunset, in pyramids, needles; carriers of fiery energy are animals, birds and such restless, fast, omnipresent children. It should be noted that an overabundance of this element can, on the one hand, bring a person to exhaustion: a huge number of various tasks, eternal haste, continuous whirlwind - and the condition can get out of control. On the other hand, too much Fire can make a person overly self-confident and selfish.

Earth

, as everyone knows, is our habitat. We stand firmly on it. The earth is vast and all-encompassing. This was the case long before we appeared and will remain so for centuries after us. In many cases, Earth is recommended to enhance harmony with the environment. I would recommend using large granite boulders or beautiful clay statues. Terracotta sealed tanks filled with earth help strengthen this element and eliminate the lack of the Earth element. Since the Earth is the basis of everything, the more of it in your life, the more stable and confident your position will be. Earth is generally all objects made of ceramics, stones, crystal, porcelain; globe, landscapes. But too much Earth will turn you into stupid, narrow-minded creatures, suffering from your own stubbornness. Make sure that your well-being does not slip away from you like a sudden mudflow.

And here is the element Metal

, perhaps, will be found in all forms of our planet. Copper, silver, gold and bronze are just a few variations of the Metal element. There are so many metal things around us that we have stopped appreciating them. But this element is as important for the modern world as fire was important for primitive man in its time. Metal develops mental activity and thought processes. To attract this “brooding” energy, place something metallic in your home, such as photo frames, candlesticks, figurines or a clock. But don’t get carried away too much: the more symbolic objects you choose, the less positive energy they attract.

Water

is considered another important element in China because many years ago it was only through water that one could see one's reflection. It is as ancient as the ocean that gave us life. The color of Water is black, sometimes dark blue. It is a symbol of spirituality, contemplation and meditation. There is always a mystery in water. Since water always flows, filling everything that needs it, the more symbols of this element in your life, the calmer, more sensual, more creative and flexible you will be. To attract the energy of Water into your home, place a glass vase or jug ​​with fresh water, a bowl with glass or transparent pebbles, or something black in your room. But an excess of Water can turn you into an easily wounded, indecisive person.

In nature there is always a balance of all Five Elements. But man isolated himself from nature with the walls of houses and apartments, arranged his home, often without even remembering the harmony reigning in the Universe. Ideally, the energy of all five elements should be present in every room. If any room is missing at least one of the elements, the entire energy of the house will be “skewed” - the balance necessary for a harmonious life will be disrupted.

© Ogudin Valentin

Symbols and correspondences of elements

see more details

: Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Spirit

Fire

—

• The symbol
  is a triangle with its apex facing upward, graphically similar to a tongue of flame.
• Fire
  is a hot and dry, active, “masculine” element.
• Basic physical form
  : combustion of any substance, accompanied by the release of heat and light.
• Esoteric meaning
  : the force operating at the center of all things, and the driving force of alchemical transmutation. The great divine energy of the Father is the power of the “seed” of the universe.
• Key words
  : will, energy, inspiration.
• Properties
  : hot, bright, light, active, energetic, fast, determined, strong-willed, creative, independent, focused on new things, expansive, ardent, passionate, enthusiastic, uncontrollable, impulsive, aggressive, furious, hot-tempered.
• Temperament
  : choleric.
• Virtue
  : courage, daring.
• Side of the world
  : south.
• Time of year
  : summer.
• Time of day
  : noon.
• Magic weapon
  : wand.
• Color
  : red.

Water

—

• The symbol
  is a triangle with its apex facing downwards and is associated with water, which always flows downwards under the influence of gravity.
• Water
  is cold and wet, passive, “feminine” element.
• Basic physical form
  : in nature, water - a combination of oxygen and hydrogen molecules (H2O) - exists in three states: liquid (water itself), solid (ice) and gaseous (water vapor). However, in an esoteric sense, the element of Water in its pure form includes only H2O in the liquid state, as well as - by analogy with the basic physical properties of water - all other liquid substances.
• Esoteric meaning
  : the prototype of all matter, the womb of life, a symbol of motherhood, the Great Mother, as well as the great source of wisdom hidden in the unconscious.
• Key words
  : feelings, intuition, subconscious, imagination.
• Properties
  : passive, receptive, fluid, flexible, smooth, emotional, impressionable, secretive, dreamy, creative, maintaining internal constancy despite external variability and pliability, irrational, uncertain, indecisive, sentimental.
• Temperament
  : phlegmatic.
• Virtue
  : desire.
• Side of the world
  : west.
• Time of year
  : autumn.
• Time of day
  : evening.
• Magic weapon
  : bowl.
• Color
  : blue

Air

—

• The symbol
  is a triangle facing upward, crossed out by a line, indicating the lightness of the air and its position “above”, and the horizontal line symbolizes the clouds that separate the lower layers of air from the upper ones.
• Air
  is a hot and humid, active, “masculine” element.
• ' Basic physical form
  : a mixture of gases that make up the Earth's atmosphere. In an esoteric sense, the element of Air also includes gaseous states of any substances.
• Esoteric meaning
  : life-giving breath, speech, Logos.
• Key words
  : thought, mind, intelligence, information, communication (primarily speech).
• Properties
  : volatile, light, ethereal, mobile, pervasive, abstract, intellectual, sociable, analytical, erudite, versatile, inquisitive, mediator, flighty, fickle, absent-minded, frivolous, talkative, superficial, unreliable, overly rational.
• Temperament
  : sanguine.
• Virtue
  : knowledge.
• Side of the world
  : east.
• Time of year
  : spring.
• Time of day
  : morning.
• Magic weapon
  : dagger.
• color
  .

Earth

—

• The symbol
  is a triangle facing down, crossed out by a line, symbolizing the heaviness of the earth and its position “below”, and the horizontal line denotes the earth’s surface.
• Earth
  is a cold and dry, passive, “feminine” element.
• Basic physical form:
  earth's soils and rocks, as well as any solid substance.
• Esoteric meaning
  : physical, material universe, productivity, growth, regeneration, abundance.
• Key words
  : body, physical form.
• Properties
  : material, solid, dense, stable, concrete, clear, formed, structured, slow, solid, stable, unchanging, practical, purposeful, definite, reliable, cautious, sensible, overly materialistic and pragmatic, ponderous, inert, inert.
• Temperament
  : melancholic.
• Virtue
  : silence.
• Side of the world
  : north.
• Season
  : winter.
• Time of day
  : midnight.
• Magic weapon
  : pentacle (disk).
• Color
  : four sectors of a circle, painted in four colors - olive, lemon, reddish brown and black.

Spirit

—

Spirit (or Ether)

- the fifth element (quintessence), which controls the four natural elements, separating them from each other, and at the same time, connecting them all into a single harmonious and balanced system. The top of the pentagram of the elements.

Spirit

- the eternal and unchanging source of all energy, from which other elements are born and in which they dissolve, and most importantly, which controls them.

• The symbol
  is the wheel of the spirit, uniting four triangles of elements.
• Cardinal direction
  : center.
• Magic weapon
  : Lamp.
• Colour
  : brilliant white.

Earth symbols

Qualities: feminine, passive, firm, indestructible.

1. Archetype: Great Mother, feminine

The element of earth is the material basis and foundation of existence. Her image is nature, a fertile mother.

Archetypal symbols of the earth: Mother of God, patron goddesses of the harvest, Great Cosmic Mother.

Archetypal correspondences of the earth element: 1) Third Arcana of the Tarot “Empress”; 2) Goddess of fertility Demeter; 3) Holy Mother of God.

2. Shape: cube, diamond

A common symbol of the earth is the cube - the most stable figure in three-dimensional space. The cubic shape is inherent in the crystal lattice of diamond, a stone consisting of the densest concentration of carbon atoms. The earth symbol can also be any ordered structure or symmetrical shape.

3. Numbers: 6 and 4

The number 6 is a sign of perfect form and is one of the symbols of the earth element. The following figures also correspond to this element: a hexagon and a six-pointed star. Six is ​​also related to the cube - a geometric figure with 6 sides.

The square and its corresponding number 4 are also associated with the element of earth. A square is one of the projections of a cube on a plane. It symbolizes: connection with matter, the physical world, the physical body, stability, endurance and constancy.

Symbols of the earth: 1) Six-pointed star. 2) Diamond crystal lattice. 3) A vortex at the north pole of Saturn in the form of a regular hexagon.

4. Side of the world and time: north, winter, night

The element of earth corresponds to the solid state of matter. Naturally, the cardinal direction of this element is North, where everything is covered with ice; Season – winter; The time of day is night.

5. Planets: Saturn and Venus

Due to its hardness and stability, the element of earth is associated with Saturn, the god of restrictions and order. Saturn is the indestructible rock of the Supreme Law, which no one can escape.

Qualities of Saturn: severity, order, state, power, conscience, law, wisdom, old age, restrictions, karma, thoroughness, asceticism.

The splendor of forms is one of the aspects of material reality. Therefore, the element of earth is also associated with Venus, the ancient Roman goddess of love and beauty.

Planets of the earth element: Saturn and Venus and their symbolic designations

6. Sphere of existence: material world, nature

In the Tree of Life system, the principles of the earth reflect two spheres of existence: Binah - the Great Mother and Malkuth - Mother Nature.

7. Chakra: muladhara

The earth is a symbol of the material nature of our world. Therefore, this element corresponds to the energy center Muladhara , responsible for survival instincts.

Formulas of elements in magic

In the Western magical tradition, various magical formulas are considered to be an expression of the totality of the elements. The most famous of them is the Tetragrammaton, the letters of which - Yod - - Vav - He (final) are attributed to the four elements. When adding to them the fifth letter - Shin, which symbolizes the Spirit, the Pentagrammaton is obtained, which in Hermetic Kabbalah correlates with the name Yeshua, that is, Jesus.

In the commentary to the Book of Spiritual Capricorn C.S. Johnson points out that the four elements also correspond to the FIAT formula as an anogram of the Latin words “air” - flatus, “fire” - ignis, “water” - aqua, “earth” - terra.

Also in Sefer Sephiroth, Aleister Crowley correlates the formula AMTeSh (that is, Aleph-Mem-Tav-Shin) with the elements. Aleph - air, Mem - Water, Shin - Fire (or Spirit), Tav - Earth. In traditional Jewish Kabbalah, three primordial elements are considered - Fire, corresponding to the letter Shin, Vazduh - Aleph and Water - Mem. Earth is considered a mixture of these elements and is not assigned a separate letter. However, in the Hermetic Kabbalah the letter Tav is attributed to the Earth, which thus has a double correspondence - Earth and Saturn, as well as the letters Shin, corresponding to Fire and Spirit.

Air

The element air corresponds to the anahata chakra. Therefore, the study of the elements begins with the air. Air is the element that our physical body needs most of all. A person can live for several days without water and fire, but without air he cannot live even 5 minutes. Therefore, air is very strongly tied to life processes. In addition, it is air that is responsible for human creativity. Air is associated with chaos, but even chaos is based on some simple laws. And it is the element air that is the bearer of these simple laws.

Air is in harmony with the elements of Fire and Water, but it is much more difficult for it to interact with the elements of Earth. Air corresponds to the season of spring; at this time the element of air is most manifested in our world. Air is our breath, air is the sounds we make. Given the apparent lightness and accessibility of air, learning air magic is not a simple matter.

People in whom the element of air is most manifested:

Air is a yang element and promotes analysis, learning and reflection. Such people easily bypass obstacles, are calculating to the point of commercialism, are emotionally stingy, and at the same time they can easily communicate with any interlocutor. Air people cannot put pressure on anyone on their own, so they often use other people for these purposes, entangling them with their intrigues. As a rule, these are intellectuals who have an interest in everything, which often develops into a constant information need. These are pleasant people who always have something to tell you. They will also listen with interest to something new. These are people who need very clean air, and at the slightest stagnation or air pollution, they begin to experience severe discomfort.

The magical instrument of Air is the Wand.

Air symbols

Qualities: masculine, active, agile

1. Shape: sword

Air is associated with quickness of thought and sharpness of mind. In accordance with this, symbols of air are swords, pikes and other piercing and cutting objects.

The sword pointing downwards denotes the descent of the creative divine will onto the earth. A sword raised with its tip up is a sign of war and destruction.

2. Essence: freedom and spirit

The white bird is a symbolic image of the spirit. In the esoteric sense, this is a conscious creative act or action aimed at creation. In the Christian tradition, the Holy Spirit is depicted as a white dove. And in Ancient Egypt, the hawk was a symbol of the human soul. In many traditions, the bird acts as a symbol of air - a link between heaven and earth, between the spiritual and the physical.

3. Phenomenon: wind

Air has the qualities of lightness, mobility and speed. At the same time, it can be changeable and sudden, destructive and unpredictable. The symbol of air contains phenomena from a light breeze to a giant tornado. Air is movement in all its manifestations.

Air symbols: 1) Whirlwind; 2) Sword topped with a crown; 3) The white bird is a sign of the Holy Spirit.

4. Place and time: east, spring, morning

Air is the element of youth and new birth. Therefore, it is often associated with the east - the place where the Sun is born every morning. In accordance with this, the time of year of the air element is spring, the time of day is morning.

5. Planet: Mercury

One of the symbols of the air element is the planet closest to the Sun - Mercury. Mercury in ancient Roman mythology was the patron of trade and travel, a mediator between gods and people. His attribute is the Caduceus: a club with two snakes entwined around it and crowned with wings.

Qualities of Mercury: speed, cunning, resourcefulness, dexterity, wisdom, intelligence, eloquence, perfect mind, changeability.

The god of the air element is Mercury and his attributes: the caduceus and flying sandals with wings.

6. Chakras: Anahata and Vishuddha

Symbols of air are also the respiratory organs and their corresponding energy centers: anahata and vishuddha. Anahata is the heart chakra, located in the center of the chest and is responsible for breathing, the manifestation of unconditional love and compassion. Vishuddha is the throat chakra, located in the thyroid gland and has the function of creative self-expression and connected speech.

Working with the Elements

One of the most important components of magical practices is working with the elements.
Since, according to esoteric views, a person himself consists of four elements and the element of Spirit that crowns them, then, having studied their qualities and abilities, he gets the opportunity to recognize the presence of the elements in different parts of his own essence - from the physical to the spiritual, from the mental to the emotional. In Liber Librae. The Book of Libra” Aleister Crowley writes: “Be nimble and active like the Sylphs, but beware of frivolity and inconstancy;
be energetic and strong, like the Salamanders, but beware of irritability and cruelty; be flexible and receptive to images, like Ondine, but beware of idleness and fickleness; be hardworking and patient like the Dwarves, but avoid rudeness and stinginess. Thus, you will gradually develop the powers of your soul and become worthy of commanding the Spirits of the Elements” [2].

Learning to work with the forces of the elements is extremely important.
Only by completing this task can the magician break free from the Malkuth sephira and begin moving up the Tree of Life. As the modern Thelemic author Geoffrey Cornelius writes: “on the one hand, they can help the Neophyte climb to the top of the Sacred Mountain;
on the other hand, they can plunge him into the abyss. At the same time, it is impossible to strengthen the good component of the elements without strengthening the harmful one: the more spiritual the applicant becomes, the more fiercely the elements of his own nature rebel against him, trying to drag him back into the darkness and sorrow of the Earth, clothed, as a rule, in his desires and fears or religious beliefs" [3].

As the founder of the Hasidic Chabad movement Shneur-Zalman (1745-1813) notes in his book Tanya, anger and pride come from the element of fire, striving upward; the desire for pleasure comes from the element of water, for from water grow all kinds of things that give pleasure; senseless fun, mockery, boasting and empty activities - from the element of air; laziness and sadness come from the earth element.

The main tool for controlling the forces of the elements is will (in the pentagram it is symbolized by the fifth corner - Spirit). Controlling the elements by the power of one's will develops as experience accumulates, and the more actively the magician applies it in practice, the deeper his understanding of the elements becomes.

To work with the four elements, you can use the Greater Ritual of the Pentagram, the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram and other practices.

Aleister Crowley offers the following poem in his Book of Thoth to address the elements as the basis of the numerical arcana of the Tarot:
Invocation (oath written during morning meditation)
In the name of our kinship, Aiwaz, breathe into me the Holy Seed - the high heat of the creative Fire! Transform yourself to match Yourself and again cover my Living flesh with the magic of the divine Earth! Dissolve my sacred ecstasy in Your ecstasy, So that with the net of death I may catch and save the Soul of the Waters! And illuminate my mind with the thought that it will reach the heights: The air current will carry it to Unity and into Nothingness! And my Essence, freed from the “I,” will find the “I” in a marriage embrace between Itself and the Spirit of Existence [4].

Tree

Those born under the auspices of the tree (the last digit of the year of birth is 4 and 5) are generous people. They strictly adhere to their principles in terms of ethical behavior, love to explore the world and analyze information, and they are also distinguished by a rare power of persuasion. Tree people are very artistic and creative, which often manifests itself in everything they put their hand to. They are hardworking and are always looking for something to do, striving to constantly be busy and believing that work is the best use of their strength. Self-confidence is one of their best traits. “Wooden people” are always grateful for everything they have and do not try to chase excesses or jump over their own heads, although their sphere of interests is very broad and varied. They are loyal friends and never behave selfishly, are ideal team workers and are very compassionate towards other people.

The disadvantages of tree people include their wastefulness. They sin in that they can take on more tasks than they can handle, and therefore often overload themselves with work, which does not benefit anyone. In other words, tree people should learn to set limits for themselves and correctly calculate their strength. Under certain conditions, they can become overly dependent on others and even get lost in the crowd, in many ways this is only possible because of their passivity and some slowness.

The tree corresponds to the east, and its season is spring, respectively, the color is green. The tree is interconnected with the gallbladder and liver. Representatives of this element should avoid areas where strong winds prevail.

Astronomy/logy

Natural phenomena became the basis of the occult sciences, especially astrology, which divides the signs of the zodiac into four elements: Fire, a symbol of instinctive and subconscious biological dynamism: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius. Air, the tendency of the conscious to impressions: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius. Earth, activities aimed at implementation, the wealth of the human subconscious: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn. Water, passivity and receptivity: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces.

Hinduism

Hindu cosmology recognizes five elements corresponding to the five states of manifestation: air, fire, earth, water, ether. in India, only elements of nature are contrasted (outside of any moral context): solar energy - the fluid energy of the earth's oceans

And here we again see a echo with the Indian teaching about the four “lokapalas”, the rulers of the four main cardinal directions (for now - the world, the light): Indra - the beautiful god of thunderstorms and airy palaces, inhabited by lovely fairies and elves playing musical instruments, rules the east; Agni, the god of fire, rules the south; Kubera, the keeper of earthly treasures and the ruler of the kobolds (they are very similar to our gnomes), rules the north, and finally, Varuna, the king of the sea, rules the west, where the sun plunges into the depths of the sea in the evening.

The fivefold Indian symbol system, preserved in Buddhist symbolism, was supposed to be a “cosmic state of vibration” of the five elements - tattva. Name Figure Images of tattva therapy

Water Tapas Apas circle ball resting silver crescent moon

Fire Tejas Tejas Tegas triangle pyramid red triangle with the tip pointing upward

Earth Prithivi Prithivi square cube yellow square

Air Vayu crescent light blue circle

Akashic ether crescent surmounted by flame or gem violet ellipse

“Meditation techniques arising from this “spontaneous confusion of the Cosmos” received their expression in yoga and tantrism and, together with theoretical constructs and figurative reflections, found their application in modern esoteric teachings that form the system of tattva therapy.” Tegtmeier, 1986