or why not to confuse the finger
pointing at the moon with the moon
Recently I had read some posts
discussing that age old topic of elemental associations and
directions. For perhaps some unfamiliar readers, the elements that I
am talking about are the classic elements of Earth, Water, Air and
Fire (and occasionally Aether). The directions I am referring to are
the basic directions we are all familiar with IE: North, South, East
and West.
A good many readers are probably
familiar with some practice that makes a correspondence between the
two, with a great number of variations based upon traditions that one
practices within the sphere of Western Esoterica. A common one, used
by many Wiccans is the following:
East – Air, South – Fire, West – Water, North – Earth
East – Air, South – Fire, West – Water, North – Earth
It is a handy way to work and to have
the symbols drawn up so that when you face a certain direction, and
you can invoke that element. The thing that I see people getting
stuck on is the pushing of the rightness and absoluteness of one set
of correspondences over another. What my own practice has lead me to
is this. East isn't Air. South isn't Fire. West Isn't Water. North
Isn't Earth. East is just East. It is the direction the sun rises.
Depending upon where you live, it might be towards the ocean. If you
are very euro-centric you might consider it the exotic East, where
cultures and values very different from the Europe are to be found.
But it isn't Air. It's only a symbol. A useful symbol perhaps, but
still just a symbol. You can just as easily call up Earth from the
East as you could any other element. You could turn west and evoke
fire. You could in fact not have to face and specific direction and
call up the elements, either as an energy, or an intelligence, or as
primal and archetypal force that symbolizes something specific to
you. The exacting debate over directions, elements and other
correspondences of place and time, well, they are all just symbols.
And while symbols can be useful building blocks help construct a
practice, they can also become the bricks of the wall that hold you
back and keep you from moving forward.
Rather then turning South and
experiencing Fire, why not turn South and experience South. Whatever
experience the spirits and powers of the South want to give, what
message, guidance, or awakening they can bestow, without being locked
into a specific element or other value.
While the needs of tradition continues,
and if you are within the tradition, you should continue with the
symbol set given, especially if you are conveying that tradition to
others, for your own practice, you might try moving outside of the
limitations of tradition.
