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Roots -

The roots of the concept can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, who proposed that four basic physical elements existed. These elements are fire, air, water, and earth.

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Shapes -

The triangular symbols normally used to represent these elements were then introduced by alchemists.

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The Fifth Element -

The fifth element was then introduced. It has different names in different traditions,. Examples include “Aether” and “Quintessence.” They all seem to refer to the same thing, what we today call “Spirit.”

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Hierarchy -

The hierarchy of the elements varies, depending on the belief system. In traditional Western occult theory, for instance, the elements follow the descending hierarchical order: spirit, fire, air, water, and earth.

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Western occult theory -

This is because there is the belief that the first elements (especially spirit and fire) are more spiritual than the last ones. Water and earth, in particular, are thought to be more material and physical.

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Wicca -

This hierarchy, however, is not followed by some modern systems. Wicca, for instance, considers all the elements to be equal.

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Qualities -

Now, let’s look at the elements’ characteristics, and how they relate to one another. Each element has two qualities that are shared with another element.

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Warm/Cold -

Elements have a temperature spectrum, and can be either warm or cold. This dichotomy corresponds with male and female characteristics, respectively.

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Male /Female -

Male qualities are described as light, warm, and active, while female qualities are dark, cold, passive, and receptive.

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Orientation -

The orientation of the triangle is then aligned with the temperature and its male or female characteristics. The warm (male) elements point upward, toward the spiritual realm, and the cold (female) elements point downward, into the earth.

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Moist/Dry -

In addition to temperature, elements are also classified by their moist and dry qualities. Though unlike with temperature, these qualities are not related to the male/female dichotomy.

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Opposing elements -

While all elements share qualities with other elements, they are also opposed to other elements that sit on the other end of the spectrum. For example, air is moist like water and warm like fire, but doesn’t share any qualities with earth.

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Opposing elements -

And then within these, there are those that have and those that lack the triangle crossbar. E.g. Air and earth are opposites and have the crossbar, but water and fire don’t; even though they are also opposites.

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Pentagram -

The elemental pentagram has been used to represent the Five Elements for centuries. Following the basic hierarchy, the spirit is found on top, and then it goes down to fire, then air, water, and it descends to earth.

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Orientation -

It was not until the 19th century that relevance was attributed to the orientation of the pentagram. It’s usually depicted with the point up or pointing down.

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Orientation -

The point-up version symbolizes the triumph of spirit over matter, while the point-down version has the physical elements subduing the spiritual realm.

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Good and evil? -

These have been associated with notions of 'good' and 'evil,' but this is not usually the position of those who choose to use one pentagram over the other.

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Elemental correspondences -

Each element corresponds to different things, including seasons, time of day, moon phases, directions, and colors.

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Colors -

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn came up with many of these correspondences in the 19th century. The color associated with fire is red, air is yellow, water is blue, earth is green, and the spirit can be violet, orange, or white.

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Directions -

The Golden Dawn also associated cardinal directions to the elements. Because the society was founded in England, these have a European perspective. This means the north is cold, the south is warm, the west is water, etc.

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Location -

Occultists practicing in other parts of the world don’t find these correspondences reflect their reality.

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Cycles -

The Five Elements are also connected to natural cycles. These correspond to certain seasons, as well as specific times of the day.

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Fire -

Fire is associated with the un and life. As such, it corresponds to noon and summer when it comes to time of the day and season. The full moon is also associated with fire.

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Earth -

Earth is in the opposite direction of fire and it’s associated with the new moon. The element’s corresponding time of the day is midnight, and winter is the season.

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Air -

Air is all about creativity, youth, and new beginnings. This element is associated with spring, sunrise, and the waxing moon.

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Water -

This element is linked to emotion and wisdom. It’s associated with the end of the cycle and the wisdom of old age.

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Spirit -

Spirit does not have the same correspondences because it’s not a physical element. The fifth element also doesn’t have a standard symbol, although circles and spirals have been used to represent it.

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Elemental beings -

The four physical elements correspond to specific elemental beings. Let’s take a look at the ones associated with them.

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Fire -

Fire’s elemental being is the salamander (the mythological lizard, not the amphibian).

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Air -

The elemental being associated with air is the sylph, an air spirit or being.

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Water -

Water corresponds to water-based nymphs called undines.

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Earth -

As for Earth, its elemental creatures are gnomes.

Sources: (Learn Religions)

See also: What your aura says about you

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