Every element can be found in nature. They complete each other. Earth can be found in the soil and the ground we walk upon. Plants, flowers, trees, grass, herbs, all represent the element of earth. Water is the rivers, creeks, and ocean. The water from above (rain), as below, as within (blood). The air element represents the air we breathe, our lungs, the sky. Finally, fire represents heat, spice, spirit, as our own spirit.
Honoring the four elements are a way to bring in the divinity of the Earth. Just like, others like to adorn their sacred altar with symbols of the Goddesses and Gods. There are others who feel this deep connection to our Mother Earth, and rather would work with the elements that she provides.
Our ancient ancestors lived in a harmonious relationship with the earth. Everything they took, something was given as an offering in return. It wasn’t a one-way streak. It was seen that we were merely co-inhabitants of this Earth. That we did not own it, as little as it owned us. That we are but just passing by and for some time, we will be a part of “it’s” life, of Mama Earth’s life, and not the other way around.
Typically, the first harvest was always offered to the ancestors of the land, to Mother Earth and our spirit guides, as a token of gratitude for everything we have received. It was a beautiful relationship of give and take.
It was believed that every being in nature, even a stone, had a spirit, memory, intelligence within its DNA, contributing to the grand collective in it’s very unique way. When we work with the 4 elements, we are honoring the spirit of all living things and the Earth, Sun, Moon and planetary systems.
In astrology, the four elements are very much alive in this system. Every element represents and symbolizes so many different characteristics, emotions, low and high vibrations.
Invoke the Four Elements to:
✦ Balance your energy
✦ Enhance more of a certain characteristic that the element embodies
✦ Create an earth-based ritual and ceremony
✦ Connect with and honor nature and the spirits of the Earth
✦ Honor our ancestors that lived in tune with nature and its elements.
🜃🜄🜁🜂
The Four Elements
tierra - earth 🜃
Element: earth
Zodiac signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Season: winter
Characteristics: dependable, sturdy, resilient, slow-paced, organized, structured
Low expression: inflexible to change, overwhelmed easily, nervous, heavy, pessimistic
Mantra: I am
agua - water 🜄
Element: water
Zodiac signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Season: fall
Characteristics: emotional, intuitive, sensitive, flexible, adaptable, psychic, nurturing, empathetic
Low expression: needy, jealous, oversensitive, illusive, moody
Mantra: I feel
aire - air 🜁
Zodiac signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Season: Spring
Characteristics: inspired, innovative, visionary, out of the box, unique, aesthetic, artistic
Low vibrations: over-analytic, worried, burdened, indecisive, disembodied
Mantra: I speak
fuego - fire 🜂
Zodiac signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Season: Summer
Characteristics: creative, transformative, passionate, enthusiastic, outgoing, spontaneous, motivated
Low vibrations: self-absorbed, self-righteous, hot tempered, impatient
Mantra: I transmute
Ritual
One simple way to incorpate all of the four elements which then sum up to a fifth element the one of ether, is to smudge or burn incense.
how you use all four elements through smudging or burning incense:
🜂 you use fire to burn it
🜃 you take herbs or plants from the earth
🜄 you use either a shell (symbolic for water) to catch the ashes or sand to burn out the smudge stick
🜁 you use a feather (air symbolic for air) to distribute the smoke and breathe intentionally while smudging.
About the writer
Inés Kelly is a trauma-informed space holder and integral guide in Human Design, Gene Keys and astrology. Her multi-cultural background has gifted her with the insight of various rituals and traditions. Bringing the ancestral and the honoring of the natural cycles to the community is a deep value she holds.