The Elements

“Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, ye Lords of Air; I do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites and to guard the Circle."

It is a common practice, mainly in Wicca but appears in mainstream witchcraft as well, to accept what you are told without much thought. 

As someone who was raised without religion, I was surprised by my own inability to look outside the standards of the community. It was reminiscent of what I had seen in my peers who were raised in Christian households, where asking questions was frowned upon and asking too many led to repercussions. 

I had always felt like the directions associated with the elements was  "wrong" (for me) but I had accepted their orientation as fact. 

Which is why I felt liberated one day when I heard a voice inside myself say: "I am the East, the spinner of the red thread. The element of fire."

Of course, this revelation led to curiosity and I decided to actually look into where the system I had been following came from.

In the simplest of explanations, it appears to have originated from the Golden Dawn. The watchtowers (or rulers) of an element contain an energy known as ether that is tied to Archangels and fixed stars. 

Now, as a Tarot reader,  I have obviously been influenced the Hermetic Order, but at the same time, those are the parts of the cards that I try to purposefully leave out. No wonder none of the elemental associations felt like they fit. 

**As I am writing this it also makes sense to me as to why Memento Mori Oracle feels like a homecoming.**

So in terms of the elements what does fit for me?

East - Fire, South - Earth, West - Water, North - Air

Moreover, what really fits, is the practice of breaking down beliefs held for 20+ years, the embracing of folk magic, and my quest to understand what works for me. 

All that being said, I’d love to know what traditions/beliefs you have given up (or adopted).

- Claire