The Five Magickal Elements
The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was a secret society founded in London in 1888. It was a major influence on modern Western esotericism, and its teachings have been adapted by many other magical groups. One of the most important aspects of Golden Dawn magic is its use of the five elements: earth, air, fire, water, and spirit.
- Earth is associated with the physical world, the body, and the material plane. It is represented by the pentacle (or hexagram), the element’s glyph, and the color black.
- Air is associated with the mind, intellect, and communication. It is represented by the sword, the element’s glyph, and the color yellow.
- Fire is associated with passion, creativity, and transformation. It is represented by the wand, the element’s glyph, and the color red.
- Water is associated with emotions, intuition, and dreams. It is represented by the cup, the element’s glyph, and the color blue.
- Spirit is associated with the soul, the divine, and the higher self. It is represented by the lamp, the element’s glyph, and the color white.
The five elements are seen as fundamental aspects of the universe, and they are used in Golden Dawn magic to create balance, harmony, and power. Each element has its own unique properties, and they can be used to influence different aspects of the material and spiritual worlds.
For example, earth can be used to ground and protect, air can be used to communicate and travel, fire can be used to create and transform, water can be used to heal and cleanse, and spirit can be used to connect with the divine.
The five elements are also used in the Golden Dawn’s system of correspondences, which is a way of understanding how different things in the universe are related to each other. For example, the element of earth is associated with the planet Saturn, the zodiac sign Capricorn, the tarot card The World, and the Hebrew letter Aleph.
The Golden Dawn’s system of correspondences is a complex and sophisticated system, and it can be used to gain a deeper understanding of the universe and the magickal arts.
