Shamanic cultures honor four elements – earth, water, fire, and air. Our long ago forebears revered the sun, land, rivers, and sky and respected their power and wisdom.
Each is unique.
Earth – grounding, mulching
Water – cleansing, purifying
Fire – combusting, transforming
Air – inspiring, cleansing
Because the four elements make up the natural world, they are considered to be the building blocks of life. Most living beings consist of all four. For humans, we eat food and live in shelter provided by Mother Earth. A large percent of our physical body is water. Our digestive system is an example of fire, as is the natural process of life contained within each cell. We breathe air to survive. In shamanic lore, it is said that our bodies come from Mother Earth and our consciousness from Father Sky.
Many other spiritual traditions honor the elements. Some include additional elements. Chinese medicine also works with wood and metal. Pagan forms of spirituality acknowledge space or ether. In my individual practice, I also honor light because I consider it another basic building block of life.
In the tarot, pentacles (or coins) correlate to earth and physicality. Cups represent water and emotion. Wands (or staffs) describe fire and action. Swords relate to air and thoughts.
We all have individual relationships with the elements. Most of us connect with one (or more) quite strongly based on our personality and astrology. I love hiking, being in nature, and connecting with trees, birds, and animals. I place great value on being grounded.
My sun sign is Capricorn (an earth sign) and my rising sign is Pisces (a water sign). These are the elements I have the closest connection with. I find it very soothing to take long hot showers, and I often chuckle that the only two house chores I really enjoy doing are dishes and laundry.
Earth – Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo
Water – Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Fire – Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Air – Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
We might also carry a special connection through our ancestral lineage. Our ancestors had strong relationships with the elements, often based on where they lived and how they survived. It’s not surprising that I come from people who had a strong love of the earth. My paternal lineage has made their way living off the land – my grandfather, father, and uncles were all farmers. Further back in these lineage, I have ancestral memories of the Celtic times when my ancestors lived in the forest, played in the trees, and worked with plant medicine.
Families who lived by the sea might connect with the element of water, families of blacksmiths and firefighters with fire, and lineages of singers and scholars with air.
The unique connection we have to the elements is part of our medicine and gifts.
Through these connections we can tap into the power of the elements and call on them when needed. Mother Earth will gladly mulch the heavy energy we’re ready to let go of through our grounding cord. Taking a salt bath or swimming in the ocean can wash away our pain. In a fire ceremony, we can release a vexing issue for rapid transformation. Deep, methodical breaths help us to exhale anxiety and pain in our body.
I have representations of the four elements on my altar, and I invoke them at the beginning of all my classes and private sessions. They are there for us to provide divine guidance, healing, and support.
This work is real, and it matters.
March 16, 2022