“We are composed of the 5 elements; earth, water, fire, air and spirit.”
This post is a follow-up on this post.
This topic is a rather extensive one. I’d say it’s just as deep as when discussing the Goddess and God. It can also be an intangible concept. For the purposes of this essay, let’s assign the elements a tangible symbolism from which to conceptualize the elements: earth=body, water=mind, fire=heart, air=soul and spirit is a Great Mystery. More posts will be forthcoming on this topic, but for now, that will get us started on this concept.
The “elements” is not a term that refers to scientific elemental table of that which describes and composes life, but here the term does reflect that very thing in an esoteric sense. The elements refers and describes a qualities for us and helps us understand something of how our reality works We can name those qualities and compare them. For example, we can say our body is like a roc. It has solidity and our bodies have solidity. Since our bodies are the most solid part of who we are we refer to our bodies as the “earth” element.
So now you have the general idea of how what I’m trying to impart when I use the term “elements”, I want to talk to you about some methods of developing a relationship with these symbols and more specifically to relate the element to how we conduct our lives.
Most Wiccan authors make it obvious that the traditional method of approaching the elements is both magickal and ritualistic. You can find many examples of this in any publication on the Wiccan religion. I have two very favorite texts to recommend for newcomers to Wicca when it comes to learning about the Elements. One is called Circle Round: Raising Children In Goddess Traditions by Starhawk, Diane Baker and Anne Hill. The other is called The Pagan Book of Living and Dying: Practical Rituals, Prayers, Blessings and Meditations on Crossing Over by Starhawk, M. Macha Nightmare and the Reclaiming Collective. Come to think of it another book called The Twelve Wild Swans: A Journey to the Realm of Magic, Healing and Action by Starhawk and Hilary Valentine is also an excellent reference for elemental ritual, meditation, songs and other liturgical resources. Starhawk has co-authored some of the very best texts describing how to approach elemental studies and under the duress and celebration of many life experiences. You’ll find these indispensable references for your Wiccan training. I consider them required reading.
Since such texts already exist, I really don’t need to head in that direction. It is reinventing the wheel so to speak. Instead I’ll offer some additional ideas and viewpoints…some additional concepts and meditations to consider adding to your liturgical studies.
So let’s talk about needs and begin the conversation by adding another new concept; Windhorse, or Lungta, a concept of Asia. It is a very useful shamanic concept to understand. I can only touch upon this deep concept here. As it is, this post is 4 pages long. I will speak more about it as time passes…but indirectly. I will not further describe the concepts, only show you methods for cultivating Windhorse. You can learn far more about the concept if you read a little from one of the traditions the concept comes from. I recommend the writings of the late Sarangerel, a Buryat shaman. As well you can do a search on her name and find websites devoted to her memory and teachings. You can explore this concept also by using the search term “Riding the Energy of Basic Goodness.” This is an essay by Shambhala/Tibetan Buddhist Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, who describes what Lungta or Windhorse is from a Buddhist perspective.
In any case, these terms refer to a basic viewpoint of personal power . It is a commonly articulated concept throughout many cultures. It is just described uniquely depending on the culture. Here’s a few terms you might better recognize: kundalini, chi, prana and other terms.
Lungta or Windhorse refers, as other terms do, to the idea of life force or soulfulness. But Windhorse is unique in that it also refers to a kind of sovereign dignity or royalty of being. It may expressed as a durable loyalty to personal welfare, (but this doesn’t mean being self-absorbed, in fact generosity and giving of one self a required activity to build Windhorse). Windhorse manifests as personal charisma, resilience and stamina and yes, nobility of being. As Sakyong and his father Chogyam Trungpa taught, this is an energy that rides basic goodness. This is what the term refers to when we talk about Riding Windhorses…and when we speak of this concept in relationship to the elements, we are referring to developing a synergy that’s in harmony with all creation. This is what Wiccan teaching urges us to cultivate…but I think that some other cultures have a more expansive ways of speaking about it than Wiccans do…which is why I urge you to study these teachings.
Developing Windhorse naturally reduces karmic tensions. In Kashimir Shivaism, they refer to this idea of developing Windhorse, as “saving Shakti.” and so I also again, refer you to the text which Shambhavi Sarasvati wrote called Pilgrims to Openness as this topic is also discussed. I consider that the activities of building Windhorse and cultivating a relationship with the elements to be crucial to a happy life and to being a mature Wiccan priestess.
So let’s get started by talking about needs. It is fairly obvious that our needs, if not met, will leave us vulnerable to illness and worry, hopelessness and boredom. Having our needs met, makes us feel whole and available to those we love and we stay centered and healthy. If you’ll pardon the obvious statements of fact, the point is, that this is what we’re doing the practice for…it is not to be exciting or eccentric compared to the rest of Western society…this is the reason to bother with studying the elements to begin with. They are a vehicle for learning…but it should be said that the concepts out to drop away after some years and mastery. Abiding in the balance that the study brought should be the goal and resulting daily practice.
With that in mind, I offer the initial practice I think would really enhance your Wiccan practice….I firmly believe in the Ayrvedic and Yogic practice referred to as Dinacharya. This is a method of daily self care. It is a regimen and it is the most basic way to approach the magickal work of building Windhorse. You can easily find information about that by typing the term “Dinacharya” into a search engine. My favorite explanation and instruction comes in a pdf form. It was written by Shambhavi Sarasvati and may be found on a website called Jaya Kula dot org under the heading of daily practice.
In my opinion is you do no other activity to discover the elements in your being, this would be the activity! It is not Wiccan, but it is a healthful tool and making use of it reflects traditional Wiccan flexibility in making use of what works. To continue with the discussion, click the number 2 below:
starspidersjourney 