Working with the Parts | Charlotte Wilde

Regardless of being frowned upon by native legal guidelines and ordinances, a portion of my youth was spent having bonfires—and drinks—on our native shoreline. As a Florida native, it is a favored pastime amongst many who reside right here. 

After I dredge up this reminiscence, it’s so clear, it’s nearly as if I’m there though it’s been a strong twenty years. I can image the delinquent, teenage model of myself basking within the parts with a readability I’m not often granted. I can all however style the Zima accompanied by a disintegrating jolly rancher. 

These nights had all of the trimmings: the ocean water, the bonfire, the breeze from the waves, and the white quartz sand. 

Earth, air, fireplace, water.

By this age, motion pictures like Hocus Pocus, The Craft, and Sensible Magic, had lengthy since captivated my curiosity. A lot in order that I dutifully made a beeline to the “New Age” part of the native bookstore at each alternative. Something of the occult was of nice curiosity. Additional, worshipping the earth made essentially the most sense to me. So, naturally, on nights just like the above, I had my intentions in thoughts. I wished to eat, drink, and be merry whereas connecting with the weather.

To today, the weather stay in excessive regard in my observe. So, I wished to the touch on them right here. This text will likely be extra of an summary than a deep dive, however nonetheless a useful resource for these considering studying extra concerning the parts and methods to deliver them into our observe. To listen to me focus on these at size, you possibly can preorder a duplicate of my upcoming guide, “Eclectic Witchcraft: Outdated Methods for Fashionable Magick,” now. 

The 4 Parts

The 4 Parts, generally known as the Classical Parts, are earth, air, fireplace, and water. These parts had been thought to summarize all the intricacies of existence and that all the pieces was composed of some variation of them. Later, aether was added as a fifth factor by Aristotle. In some traditions, steel is taken into account the choice fifth factor. 

Regardless, the 4 fundamental parts on the coronary heart of most pagan practices are what I’ll focus on right here. Please observe that these correspondences can simply be personalized to your individual traditions and affiliation with these parts. It makes essentially the most sense that you just kind your individual connection to those parts based mostly in your location in addition to your beliefs.

Moreover, I’ve included the basic jar graphics from my Instagram web page and the textual content recipes. The recipes included for the jars are nice to include into an elemental altar however can be used to embody the actual factor. These jars could be made in any sized containers you may have available.

Earth

Earth is throughout us. It’s the grime beneath our ft, the bushes outdoors our home windows, the rainforest, the deserts, and even that white sand I spent my youth on. We exist on its fertile land. Our journey begins and ends right here. It’s a straightforward factor to deliver into our practices, and considered one of my favourite methods is thru tending to my herb backyard. 

In astrology, the earth indicators are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. These indicators replicate our materials and tangible world. The factor of earth bestows upon these indicators practicality and steadiness. Consider the time period “down-to-earth.” These indicators are the bodily embodiment of this. 

North is commonly related to the factor earth in pagan traditions. Nevertheless, there are different associations with this factor. A pentacle is the software that corresponds with this factor and can also be the swimsuit of Pentacles or Cash in Tarot. Winter is the season, and night time is the time of day related to the factor of earth. 

• Indicators: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
• Course: North
• Software: Pentacle
• Tarot: Pentacles/Cash
• Season: Winter
• Time of Day: Night time
• Sense: Contact
• Governs: Foundations, Intuition
• Kinds of Magic: Crystal Magick, Natural Magick, Utilizing Dirts/Soils

Supplies: 

• Dust
• Mugwort
• Patchouli
• Corn Kernels
• Primrose
• Unakite
• Tigers Eye

Air

Calm down. Unclench your jaws. Take a deep breath. Really feel that? 

That’s air. Fortunately, air surrounds us at any given second. If it didn’t, we might have a giant drawback. For about 4 minutes, anyway. This factor, although omnipresent, is usually straightforward to overlook, except for a wonderful windy day. Air could be a purifying factor, so one easy ritual I love to do is take a stroll on a windy day. This helps carry away my woes and gives a manufacturing unit reset of types.

In astrology, the earth indicators are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. These indicators replicate the psychological and mental world. The factor of air bestows upon these indicators a lightheartedness and a fast wit. These indicators have agile minds and are extremely adept at issues of the thoughts.

Air is related to the East in lots of pagan traditions. The corresponding season is spring, and daybreak is the time of day. Relying on the custom, an athame or a wand corresponds to this factor. Swords, nevertheless, are often related to the air factor in tarot decks. 

• Indicators: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
• Course: East
• Software: Athame or Wand
• Tarot: Swords
• Season: Spring
• Time of Day: Daybreak
• Sense: Listening to & Scent
• Governs: Mind
• Kinds of Magick: Smoke Cleaning, Wind Magick, Breath Work

Supplies: 

• Salt
• Star Anise
• Mint
• Lavender
• Lemongrass
• Fluorite
• Amethyst

Fireplace

Few issues are as charming as fireplace—the power of the flames, the warmth, and the crackling because it consumes its gasoline. Fireplace is a strong factor and a pressure to be reckoned with. Fireplace transforms wooden into ash and smoke, which makes this factor considered one of transformation. 

In astrology, the hearth indicators are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. These indicators embody motion and taking cost. The factor of fireside grants these indicators a way of ardour and drive. These indicators are recognized for his or her tenacity and their fiery way of living. 

Based on many pagan traditions, the route of fireside is south. This factor corresponds to summer season, and midday is its time of day. In accordance with custom, the software related to this factor might both be a wand or an athame. That stated, in most tarot decks, the swimsuit related to the hearth factor is wands. 

• Indicators: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
• Course: South
• Software: Wands or Athame
• Tarot: Wands
• Season: Summer season
• Time of Day: Midday
• Sense: Sight
• Governs: Willpower
• Kinds of Magick: Burning Gadgets, Candle Magic, Bonfires

Supplies: 

• Cloves
• Rosemary
• Pepper Flakes
• Calendula
• Hawaiian Purple Salt
• Garnet
• Carnelian

Water

Water is the factor of emotion and reminiscence. It will probably take the form of a delicate stream or highly effective waves and rapids. On this fluidity, there’s an adaptability and persistence. This factor is considered one of purification and is commonly used to cleanse each ourselves and our instruments.

In astrology, the water indicators are Most cancers, Scorpio, and Pisces. These indicators replicate our inner and unconscious world. The factor of water imparts instinct and depth to those indicators. 

Pagan traditions typically affiliate water with the west. The season related to water is autumn, and nightfall is the time of day that corresponds with the factor. The software related to this factor is cups and cauldrons, and it additionally represents the swimsuit of Cups in tarot.

• Indicators: Most cancers, Scorpio, Pisces
• Course: West
• Software: Cups and Cauldrons
• Tarot: Cups
• Season: Autumn
• Time of Day: Nightfall
• Sense: Style
• Governs: Feelings, Instinct
• Kinds of Magick: Religious Baths, Cleaning Gadgets, Floorwashes

 

Supplies: 

• Chamomile
• Eucalyptus 
• Roses
• Sea Salt
• Lapis Lazuli
• Aquamarine