Magical Primordial Elements
In our discussion of quaternaries we already noted that the primary division of the universe drives further polarization and brings forth the quaternity of the Prima Materia.
The Egyptian school and the Currents that emerged from it recognized four such principles — “elements” —Air, Water, Fire and Earth. Empedocles of Acragas formulated the theory of the four “roots of all that is,” according to which “their separations and unions, brought about by Strife and Love, form the history of the universe”. There is no death; there are only particles of the “roots,” which the Romans would later call “elements,” and it is these that separate. “They are uncreated, and none of them is stronger than another”.
The Sumerian school and its heirs counted three primordial elements — Fire, Earth, and Water. They treated Air not as a separate element, but as the bond between these three.
The idea of three principles is connected with Near Eastern — lunar in essence — metaphysics, with the primacy of the ternary (Fire is regarded as the active element, Water as the passive, and Earth as the androgynous). Later, the Kabbalistic tradition considered Water, Air, and Fire to be the three elements, taking Fire as the active principle, Water as the passive, and Air as the androgynous. It was held that the heavens were created from Fire, and the earth from Water. Accordingly, Angels were considered to possess a primarily fiery nature. The notion of Celestial Fire (Shamaim) formed the basis of later concepts of this element’s creative activity.
The solar conception of Egyptian metaphysics proceeds from the fact that within the androgynous element, the activity and passivity that compose it are disclosed; outwardly, it manifests through these two components.
The Chaldean ternary is evolutive: it treats Synthesis (“Integral”) as something greater than the sum of its components and isolates precisely this principle of integrality within it. The Egyptian ternary, by contrast, is involutive: it holds that in the act of manifestation, the androgyne splits in two and reveals itself as a dual power.
Thus, in any case, we have the elements “purely active,” “purely passive,” “active within the androgyne,” and “passive within the androgyne.” And regardless of whether we consider the principle of neutrality in its synthetic unity or in its dual, summed essence, these elements remain accessible to our knowledge.
Therefore, from a purely practical point of view, the Sumerian system of three Elements is useful for banishing— that is, synthesizing, disincarnating, rarefying — processes, while the Egyptian system serves attracting, incarnating, and condensing processes.
In practice, the need to attract forces and phenomena arises more often; therefore practical Magic, having absorbed much from Mesopotamian practice, still most often employs the conception of four Elements.
Thus, the principle of Activity is governed by Fire; the principle of Passivity by Water; Air bears Fertilizing Activity, and Earth bears Fertilized Passivity.
Throughout the development of ideas about the Primordial Elements, the temptation repeatedly arose to force these metaphysical principles into the mold of physical notions. Not infrequently, such profanations were passed off as an “evolution of ideas.” In modern times, it became fashionable to correlate Air with Nitrogen, Fire with Oxygen, Water with Hydrogen, and Earth with Carbon. Such correlations have nothing in common with magical notions of first principles. The primordial principle of Air has many manifestations, and the chemical element Nitrogen can be regarded as one such manifestation. But there are no analogies — let alone identities — between these notions.
Magi consider Fire the Element of Activity inherent in any object; Water, the Element of the object’s applicability; Earth, the Element of its resistance, its inertia; and Air, the Element of its mobility.
For example, the Fire of this post is the desire, the idea of its creation. The Water is the process of writing — the shifting editor window under keystrokes and clicks. The Earth is the post itself as an object of reality. The Air is its way to the readers.
In the same way, one can distinguish all four Elements within the principle of Fire — for example, in a burning bonfire — as well as in a flowing river or the breath of the wind.
From this arises the distinction between the Element and the principle. The principle of Ascent, of activity, is the Element of Fire, whereas Flame is the principle of Fire, and so on.
Accordingly, there also arises the notion of differing personifications of principles and Elements, which will be discussed further.
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Village Magic and Witchcraft
Power or Energy?
Good Angels
Impulses of Power
The Atts of the Runes
Tribes of the Gods
Mother of Fate
Forgive me, esteemed Enmerkar… but these are just consequences… Elements that are far more than four, just the consequences of illogical First Causes (in our case, the Absolute and before it, the Primordial Matter). Primordial matter is matter that has always existed, it is that without which nothing can exist at all. 1. Magic, 2. Being, 3. Nothing… all three of these matters complement and support each other; they are one and separated. Everything consists of these three matters. Well… if you wish to discuss this topic, I invite you) grafduku@bk.ru
“…For example, the Fire of this post will be the desire, the idea of its creation. The Water – the process of writing, the change of the editor window while clicking on the keyboard, the Earth – the post itself as an object of reality, and the Air – its path to readers…”
——-Hmm. What if this way:
1) My desire to write a post, the very idea of it, having a guiding and pushing form by its very presence – this is Earth. At the same time, Earth is the text you see now, which also has a certain guiding and pushing force for you.
2) But whether I will write this post or not – primarily depends on Air. Precisely, whether it will be published.)) If my spirit accepts my Earth’s desire and begins to act – then the Air has set the movement in motion. Whether it achieves a result, whether it has some meaning – that is not of Air’s concern.
3) The very process of writing, as well as the process of reading – is Water, no debate. Or in another way – a dream. What will ultimately be written, as well as what you, reader, will see in this Water – is hidden under the Veil of Mystery.
4) The conclusion of all – Fire. The synthesis of Ascension. This means that the pushes of the Earth, the movement of Air, and the fuel of Water produce the divine child – Fire. Its flame synthesizes everything into unity and leads to a new stage of the Circle…
And there is a new Earth with new forms, new ideas, desires, and so on… This is the path of Life that I know.
Perhaps so: the energy of air is airy, light like the idea of the post; fire – action, the process of writing and designing; through water ideas flow from the author to us readers; earth – that by which these ideas will grow in us.
If everything that ‘passes from generation to generation’ were necessary and useful for people, humanity would have long since reached much higher levels of existence. The problem lies in the fact that very many of the mass actions (both children’s and adult’s) are imposed precisely to hinder the development of awareness.
Not convinced. Experiencing fear is an important part of both children’s and adult life. Playing out these processes accumulates experience, is part of growing up, and works towards the development of awareness. I rely on researchers of children’s subculture (see Osorina Maria, SPbGU), on the book ‘Women Who Run with the Wolves’ by Clarissa Pinkola Estés. Do you believe that telling myths, fairy tales with witches and other unclean spirits is also a harmful practice? Perhaps, not safe – yes, that is what it is.
I by no means consider myself entitled to determine what is ‘harmful’ and what is ‘beneficial’. This is not my task at all. My task is simply to attempt to identify the players in those games that consciousness becomes involved in so that it can clearly represent who it is dealing with.
Aha, it seems I understood the direction of thought. But I need to think, later, now I need to sleep. Otherwise, it remains unclear what to do with these children)) Thank you for the answer.
I am concerned about this matrix of elements. Especially this: ‘The Principle of Activity is governed by the element of Fire, Passivity by Water, Fruitful Activity belongs to Air, and Fruitful Passivity to Earth’. I look at the upper image – Earth and Water should swap places. It’s a pity I don’t have enough to explain why; otherwise, they will remain in their places.
If we were to ‘personify’ the elements with the seasons – it would go like this: Air (movement, fruitful activity) – Spring, Fire (change, activity) – Summer, Water (flowing, passivity) – Autumn, Earth (fruitful passivity, crystallization) – Winter. Thus, one after another, in a circle.
Absolutely correct, everywhere in the classics – air is associated with intention, fire with manifestation, water with sustenance, and earth with destruction. An example would be the suits in a deck of cards. The transition is not circular, but zigzagging. Although… there is much to ponder… but in Vedanta, after ether comes air, then fire…
Air + water = illusion and fantasies
Fire – activity, warmth, stimulation. I haven’t worked with earth yet. Water – a reservoir of life and death.
Dear Enmerkar! Thank you for the examples of applying the main Elements. It is now clearer; the basics have been accepted. As for practice, all disputes about how to apply, how Earth, how Air, History, in my opinion, is quite flexible and individual. How you write it will determine how it will work. Knowing the basics, we maneuver.