As we get ready to review the 1-Magician card, we find a placement of all of the elements within the card. Even the most basic card seems to incorporate these elemental symbols. This brings us to a question, “What does each of these elements symbolize, or mean?” There are as many resources and onions as there are people who have them.
I have been studying this for a long time and have come to some conclusions that work for me. The main key here is that you have to figure out what works best for you. So, having stated that let us now take a look at the elements and their meanings as I stand in the Northern Hemisphere:
EARTH: Earth is the element that is most stable and dependable. It represents abundance, prosperity, and wealth, and is creative - but in a practical and physical manner. Symbolized by the Season of Winter, where the earth rests and prepares for the coming year, its time indication is Midnight or Night; and the direction is North.
Earth is usually symbolized by coins, pentacles, disks, stones, and diamonds. Earth is known as a feminine card and usually is shown in colors of green, brown, gold & white. When I find the element Earth in my cards, I look at the body, growth, money, creativity, birth, death, material gain, fertility, birth, healing, rocks, trees, animals, manifestation, materialization, crystals, silence, metal, empathy, grounding, employment, stability, success, runes, strength, practical wisdom, mystery. Magical references: Gardening, grounding, magnet, image, stone, tree, knot, and binding.
AIR: The element of air is associated with metal process and the mind. It is creative and is that which causes magical intentions to become manifest. It is also associated with higher consciousness, wisdom, divination, and purification. Symbolized by the Season of Spring, as the new seeds of life are carried on the winds, the time indication is Dawn; and the direction is East.
One of the controversial Elements, Air can be symbolized by either Wand or Sword. Personally I symbolize Air with Wands, Staffs, and Clubs. Air is a Masculine card and usually shown in colors of yellow, light blue, grey and white. When I find the Element of Air I look to mind, mental and psychic work, intuition, knowledge, abstract thought, wind, breath, clouds, inspiration, hearing, herbal knowledge, plant growth, purification, freedom, revealing truth, finding lost things, instruction, telepathy, memory, learning the secrets of the dead, Zen, intensify, new beginnings, illuminations. Magical References: Divination, concentration, prophecy, visualization, wind magick, and karma.
FIRE: The Element of Fire is associated with change and passion. It is both physical and spiritual, being related to sexuality and to divinity. Fire magick is quickly manifested and filled with primal energy. The Season for Fire is Summer, as the heat of the year warms us all, the time indication is Noon; and the direction is South.
The other controversial Element, Fire is symbolized by either Wand or Sword. Personally I use the Sword, Dagger, Arrows and Spades. Fire is a Masculine Element and is symbolized by the colors Red, Gold, Crimson, Orange and White. When I find the Element of Fire, I look at energy, sexuality, passions, love, authority, transformation, purification, candle flames, sun, blood, healing, destruction, will, creativity, flame, heat, bonfires, hearth fires, protection, courage, strength, physical exercise, self-knowledge, loyalty, vision, illumination, power. Magical References: Candle, storm, and time.
WATER: The element of water is associated with the subconscious mind, intuition, and emotions. As the primal substance of life, it is symbolized by the womb and is related to fertility. The season of Water is Autumn, as the year nears the end, while the time indicator is Twilight/Dusk; the direction of Water is West.
Feminine energies rule this element and are symbolized as a Cup/Chalice, Cauldron, Bowls, Hearts. When I find the element Water in my cards, I look at emotions, feelings, love, courage, the unconscious mind, intuition, the womb, marriage, friendship, happiness, dreams, sleep, healing, menstruation, fertility, cleansing, purification, vision quests, self-healing, sorrow, reflection, psychic ability, oceans, rivers, lakes, rain, springs and wells. Magical References: Magic involving the sea, snow or ice, mirror, magnet, rain, cleansing and purification.
