Starting this week I want to do a series over the elements where we discuss their nature, their symbolism, and their importance. So to kick things off we’re going to start with the element of earth.
So what can we say about the earth element? It’s sturdy, and slow to action. It’s the element of support. The name of our planet. Earth is the foundation. This is why we’re starting this series off with it. In Western Ceremonial Magick we start off with the elemental grade of earth because the other elements build upon it.
Why is this? Because we need to be grounded when we start on our spiritual journey. We can’t have our thoughts running amuck. We can’t have our emotions tossing us around like waves in a hurricane. We can’t be taking action with no base or groundwork laid out. We need to be calm and centered, like a rock that’s unmoving in the chaos of life.
This is why many traditions have such emphasis on meditation. Meditation is meant to pull your energy back to you, so you’re not being pulled in multiple directions at once. You center yourself so you can see things from various perspectives and are more aware of what is instead of what you perceive what is. You become naturally mindful and aware and not ruled by your wild thoughts or emotions. You RESPOND to situations instead of REACTING to them.
The Tarot suit for the element of earth is the pentacles, which is representative of things here in the physical world. Money, luxury, hard work, discipline, strength and power. We invoke this element not for fast results, but for long lasting, consistent results.
The element of earth overall is a feminine energy. Think of the term “Mother Earth.” The earth provides us with sustenance. It provides us food and shelter. It gives us herbs for healing. The earth gives to us all the things we need for our physical body, like a mother taking care of her child.
The importance of the element of earth can even be seen in various astrologies. In Western and Vedic astrology the elements are represented by the signs Tarus, Virgo, and Capricorn. In these systems the earth element takes up one fourth of a single year. When we look into Chinese astrology we see that each element in this system takes up 12 years in a 60 year cycle!
Your body is your representation of earth. It is the physical foundation of your incarnation in this reality. If you don’t take care of the foundation, it begins to crumble and fall apart. This is why your physical health has such an impact on your mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
We need the element of earth as a foundation for our lives. Working with this element is slow and steady. It’s not an exciting element, but necessary to build a foundation for the things we wish to achieve in our lives. Even with this in mind, don’t forget that the earth can give life and support, but can also cause devastation when not used properly. Think of a landslide or an earthquake. This is why having a firm grasp and foundation in the element of earth is imperative. It is the first block we use to build ourselves up with.
Learn to work with the earth element. Learn to center and ground yourself so you can be immovable like a rock. When you can pull yourself and maintain your center you can better assess your situation and face the world head on.
I hope you enjoyed this brief overview of the element of earth today. Next week we’ll discuss the element of air. Thank you for reading and I hope you all have an enlightening day!
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