WATER (CLASSICAL ELEMENT)

'''Water''' has been important to all peoples of the earth, and it is rich in spiritual tradition.

Contents

Greek and Roman Tradition

Indian Tradition

Chinese Tradition

In Modern Magic

Ceremonial Magick

Wicca

Astrological Personalities

Other Traditions

See also

Notes

External links

Greek and Roman Tradition

''Water'' is one of the four classical elements in ancient Greek philosophy and science. It was commonly associated with the qualities of emotion and intuition.
''Water'' was one of many ''archai'' proposed by the Pre-socratics, most of whom tried to reduce all things to a single substance. However, Empedocles of Acragas (c. 495-c. 435 BCE) selected four ''archai'' for his four roots: air, fire, ''water'', and earth. Empedocles’ roots became the four classical elements of Greek philosophy. Plato (427-347 BCE) took over the four elements of Empedocles. In the ''Timaeus'', his major cosmological dialogue, the Platonic solid associated with ''water'' is the icosahedron which is formed from twenty equilateral triangles. This makes ''water'' the element with the greatest number of sides, which Plato regarded as appropriate because ''water'' flows out of one's hand when picked up, as if it is made of tiny little balls.^[1]
Plato’s student Aristotle (384-322 BCE) developed a different explanation for the elements based on pairs of qualities. The four elements were arranged concentrically around the center of the universe to form the sublunary sphere. According to Aristotle, ''water'' is both cold and wet, and occupies a place between air and earth among the elemental spheres.^[2]
In ancient Greek medicine, each of the four humours became associated with an element. Phlegm was the humor identified with ''water'', since both were cold and wet. Other things associated with ''water'' and phlegm in ancient and medieval medicine included the season of winter, since it increased the qualities of cold and moisture; the phlegmatic temperament (of a person dominated by the phlegm humour); the feminine; the brain; and the western point of the compass.

In alchemy, the chemical element of mercury was often associated with ''water'' and its alchemical symbol was a downward-pointing triangle.

Indian Tradition

Chinese Tradition

''Water'' is one of the five Chinese elements. It is associated with the planet Mercury, the north and winter, and the colour black. ''Water'' is considered "black" in China because in fact it represents flooding. It is also believed to govern the kidneys. In Chinese Taoist thought, ''water'' is representative of intelligence and wisdom; however, an over-abundance of the element is said to cause difficulty in choosing something and sticking to it. In the conquest cycle, ''water'' overcomes fire, and in turn is overcome by earth. In the birth and nurturing cycle, ''water'' spawns wood, and is spawned by metal. The element also plays an important role in Chinese Astrology.

In Modern Magic

Ceremonial Magick

''Water'' and the other Greek classical elements were incorporated into the Golden Dawn system despite being considered obsolete by modern science. Theoricus (3=8) is the elemental grade attributed to water; this grade is also attributed to the Qabalistic sphere Hod and the planet Mercury.^[3] The elemental weapon of water is the cup.^[4] Each of the elements has several associated spiritual beings. The archangel of water is Gabriel, the angel is Taliahad, the ruler is Tharsis, the king is Nichsa, and the earth elementals (following Paracelsus) are called Undines.^[5] Earth is considered to be passive; it is represented by the eagle, and it is referred to the upper right point of the pentagram in the Supreme Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram.^[6] Many of these associations have since spread throughout the occult community.

Wicca

In Wiccan tradition, ''water'' is associated with the West, autumn, and the color blue on the physical plane. It is sometimes represented by a white crescent, a downward pointing triangle, the chalice, the bell, shells, sapphires, lapis lazuli, tears, and the cauldron. ''Water'' represents emotions, wisdom, the soul, and femininity. In rituals, it is represented in the forms of pouring water over objects, brew making, healing spells, ritual bathing, and tossing objects into bodies of ''water''.
The manifestations of the element of ''water'' are rivers, oceans, lakes, wells, fog, all drinks, and the rain. Animals, especially the dolphin, seal, turtle, frog, and all types of fish, are also thought to personify the element of ''water''. The astral creatures of ''water'', known as elementals, are the Undine/Mermaid, Oreade/Naiad, and Sea Serpent/Dragon. ''Water’s'' place on the pentagram is the upper right point.

Astrological Personalities

People born under the astrological signs of Scorpio, Cancer and Pisces are thought to have dominant ''water'' personalities. ''Water'' personalities tend to be emotional, kind, nurturing, sympathetic, empathetic and intuitive; however, they can also be needy, sentimental, over-sensitive and irrational.

Other Traditions

In East Asia, ''water'' is represented by the Black Tortoise, known as 玄武 (''Xuán Wǔ'') in Chinese, ''Genbu'' in Japanese and ''Hyeon-mu'' (현무, Hanja:玄武) in Korean. ''Water'' is represented in the Aztec religion, by a cane; to the Hindus, a bowl of blood; to the Greeks, a cup; to the Scythians, a bowl; to the Celts, the cauldron of the Dagda, which was always full; and in Christian iconography, by an eagle.

See also

★ Water

★ Sea and river deity

Notes

1. Plato, ''Timaeus'', chap. 22-23; Gregory Vlastos, ''Plato’s Universe'', pp. 66-82.
2. G. E. R. Lloyd, ''Aristotle'', chapters 7-8.
3. Israel Regardie, ''The Golden Dawn'', pp. 154-65.
4. Regardie, ''Golden Dawn'', p.322; Kraig, ''Modern Magick'', pp. 149-53.
5. Regardie, ''Golden Dawn'', p. 80.
6. Regardie, ''Golden Dawn'', pp. 280-286; Kraig, ''Modern Magick'', pp. 206-209.

External links

★ Different versions of the classical elements

★ Overview the 5 elements