The Four Elements

[Nau7ik]

I want to talk about the four elements of Malkuth, the material plane.



The symbol for earth is a quartered circle, each quarter to represent an element: fire, air, water, and earth. These manifest as physical elements which the material plane is composed of. The elements also indicate four types of activity in the physical plane, known as fire of the wise, air of the wise, water of the wise, and earth of the wise. The types of activity or modes of manifestation are what’s meant when we talk about elements in esoteric philosophy and metaphysical theory.

The material plane is where the forms build up in Yesod, Foundation, are bodies forth. “It will draw to itself the conditions of material expression.”



We can classify the four elements under two headings: anabolism and katabolism; building-up (Water/earth) and breaking-down (air/fire).

Elemental Fire - “is that subtle electromagnetic aspect of matter which is the link with the processes of consciousness and life.” Elemental fire is said to be a kind of “over-state” of matter; a state of relationships rather than a thing in itself, Dion Fortune states.

Elemental Air - is the capacity to achieve these relationships; it is the vital principle of physical life; “for it is only in so far as matter has a capacity for organization that organic substance is possible.”

Elemental Water - is plain protoplasm

Elemental Earth - is inorganic matter.

Fire/air are force; and water/earth are form. On the Tree of Life, Yesod precedes MALKUTH and is the watery sphere of the moon. Yesod is the Foundation. Material manifestation happens in Malkuth, the sphere of earth, the four elements.

The four elements also correspond to four types of temperaments in man, as described by Hippocrates, the four Tarot suits, the 12 signs of the Zodiac, and the seven planets.

To Earth corresponds the Phlegmatic Temperament; the suit of Pentacles, the signs of Taurus ♉️, Virgo ♍️, and Capricorn ♑️; and the planets Venus and Luna.

To Water corresponds the Bilious Temperament; the suit of Cups; the signs of Cancer ♋️, Scorpio ♏️, and Pisces ♓️; and the planet Mars.

To Air corresponds the Choleric Temperament; the suit of Swords; the signs of Libra ♎️, Gemini ♊️, and Aquarius ♒️; and the planets Saturn and Mercury.

To Fire corresponds the Sanguine Temperament; the suit of Wanda; the signs of Aries ♈️, Sagittarius ♐️, and Leo ♌️; and the planets Sol and Jupiter.

When we consider the microcosmic Tree, the physical body is in Malkuth; the etheric double is Yesod; the astromental body is Hod and Netzach; and the higher mind is Tiphareth. Whatever the higher mind can conceive can be readily brought through into manifestation in the subjective Malkuth.
[...]
The best magical weapon is the Magus himself, and all other contrivances are but a means to an end, the end being that exaltation and concentration of consciousness which makes a magus out of an ordinary man. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of the living God?” said a Great One. If we know how to use the symbolic furniture of this living temple, we have the keys to heaven in our hands.”
—Dion Fortune, The Mystical Qabalah

So, let’s talk about the elements. What do you know about the four elements? I’ve by no means covered it all. Id like to get a deeper understanding of these principles.