PART 1
Have you ever wondered why one of your friends is always “grounded,” while another seems to be “floating with their head in the clouds”? Or why some people “burst into flames” at the slightest provocation, while others “flow” through life like a calm river? If the doctrine of elements were a religion, its followers could easily recognize one another through these expressions. On the other hand, everyone else would probably think they were slightly odd. But so what? Which of us does not have at least a few strange tools in our kit for making sense of reality?
Earth: When You Want to Stay Firmly Rooted in Reality (or at Least Somewhat)
The earth element: stable, practical, and reliable like a craggy mountain. Or like my neighbor Carl, who never forgets the tax deadline and whose flowerbeds are so precisely aligned you’d think the plants were too intimidated by his perfectionism to grow in the wrong direction.
Earth-type people are often the ones who remind you about unpaid bills and ask, “Have you thought about retirement savings?” just as you’re about to buy concert tickets on a whim. Just yesterday, my earth-element friend asked if I was sure I wanted to finish my workday at four o’clock, because “productivity is maximized with a consistent work rhythm.” Thank you for that insight, Maria! Next time, I’m expecting a color-coded Excel chart tracking my efficiency down to the minute.
On the other hand, when life throws you off track, earth energy offers a sturdy shoulder and practical solutions. Once, while I was complaining about vague anxiety, my earth friend handed me a bag of soil and said, “Plant basil. It’ll grow even if the world collapses.” And she was right! Now I have so much basil that I’m pretty sure my neighbors suspect I’ve started an illegal pesto factory.
Earth is associated with the north, autumn, the colors green and yellow, and the shape of a square. Fittingly, earth-people prefer square, practical furniture. Earth smells like a forest after rain, freshly baked bread, and, naturally, a freshly submitted tax return (which, to be clear, smells like paper and desperation).
In witchcraft, the earth element is used in spells for stability, protection, and prosperity. However, earth-folk are so practical, they’re more likely to “manifest abundance” by investing in low-risk mutual funds than by burning candles. “Why waste candles? They cost €5.99 a pack!” What a heist! they’ll mutter while stashing the money into a piggy bank one that is, of course, made of clay.
In feng shui, earth energy brings security and balance. To boost it, bring crystals, stones, and, surprise, surprise, square furniture into your home. Or, as my earth friend puts it: “A round sofa? Does that even exist? Sounds impractical at best, suspicious at worst!!!”
Water: Feelings Deeper than the Mariana Trench (and Just as Mysterious)
The water element flows, weeps, laughs, and sometimes floods over its boundaries. Water energy is what moves you to cry over an emotional movie and keeps you crying for a week. It’s also what happens when your friend tells you about their problems and you end up sobbing so hard on their behalf that they have to console you instead.
Water people read between the lines better than a literature professor. They’ll sense your sadness even before you do. “I can see something’s bothering you,” my water friend told me once, even though I was just a bit tired and thinking about lunch. Thirty minutes later, we were crying together over childhood memories I hadn’t realized were traumatic.
Water is linked with intuitive gifts, like my aunt Pearl who once said, “I knew you’d call, I already put the coffee on.” (I didn’t ask how many cups she drinks each day waiting on these intuitive calls, but I’m pretty sure the answer is “enough to swim in,” which is very on-brand for a water type.)
But when you need empathy and non-judgmental understanding, water energy is like a warm bath in the cold. Water people help you navigate the deep sea of emotions. So deep, in fact, you may need scuba gear, a map, and possibly a team of marine biologists.
Water rules the west, winter, the color blue and all its hues, and shapes that are wavy or curved. It smells like ocean salt, spring rain, and the tears you shed when you see an adorable puppy. (Yes, water-types cry just as much for cuteness as they do for sorrow.)
In witchcraft, the water element is used in spells for love, healing, dreams, and the subconscious. Someone less magically inclined might say a candlelit bath accomplishes the same thing, but don’t tell that to a water-witch who just spent her entire paycheck on crystal-infused water bottles.
In feng shui, water symbolizes wealth and wisdom, often represented by aquariums, fountains, and (sparingly used) mirrors. “Place a mirror in your home’s wealth sector!” advises the feng shui consultant who specializes in water energy. “But never face it toward your bed, or your money will flow out along with your energy!” I often wonder how exactly the money flows out of the bedroom. Does it roll under the door? Slip into dreams from our wallets? These esoteric teachings always involve some logical leaps, which we politely ignore if we want to stay invited to spiritual brunches.
Air: When Your Thoughts Soar Higher Than Birds (or the Neighbor’s Drone)
The air element is intelligent, communicative, and as elusive as that brilliant thought you forgot the moment you woke up. It’s intellectual, social, and so restless that next to it, ADD feels like a meditative trance.
Air people start a conversation about brain surgery, jump to quantum physics, and end with a philosophical reflection on whether consciousness is just an illusion. All while you’re making coffee. They read three books at once but forget where their keys are (answer: in the fridge, of course, because “at the time, I was thinking about milk molecules’ vibrational frequencies and their effect on climate change”).
Air energy also manifests in legendary leaps of logic: “I saw a dog yesterday that reminded me of the president, which made me think of democracy, which led me to ancient Greece, where they ate olives, speaking of food, have you heard about that new vegan restaurant?” All of this in one breathless sentence, followed by an expectant look like you’ve followed every mental hop with your own internal GPS.
But when you need fresh perspectives or out-of-the-box solutions, air energy blows away the limitations of rigid thinking. Air types see opportunities where others see only walls. “Have you considered this angle?” is their signature phrase, and that angle often involves three mental backflips, two logic somersaults, and a triple metaphysical lutz.
Air rules the east, springtime, all light colors (especially white), and shapes that are circular or spiral. It smells like freshly laundered linen, hot chamomile tea, and that moment right before a breakthrough. If insights had a scent, it would be like a new book combined with espresso and a hint of lemon.
In witchcraft, air is used for spells involving communication, intelligence, travel, and freedom. The air-witch might forget what they were casting mid-spell and end up writing a poem about the metaphysical nature of wind in Western postmodern esotericism.
In feng shui, air brings freshness, clarity, and movement. You can increase it with open windows, light, air plants, and mobile objects. An air feng shui consultant might assess your home’s airflow and declare: “This corner room is energetically stagnant. You need at least seven wind chimes and maybe a small wind harp to complete the resonance.” When you point out that this could disturb both sleep and the neighbors, they’ll look at you like you just said you don’t believe in oxygen: “But what about chi flow!?”
Fire: When Passion Catches Fire (Both Literally and Figuratively)
The fire element burns, sparkles, gets excited, and sometimes sets things ablaze. Metaphorically, in hobbies, and sometimes quite literally. If fire were a person, they would be the one who shows up at a party, dances on the table, shouts “AFTERPARTY AT MY PLACE!” and then passes out on the couch by 10:30 PM.
Fire people do not just attend the party they are the party. They have more energy at six in the morning than you have had in your entire life. When my fire friend Lena calls and says, “I have an idea!” I know it means either the best night ever or a trip to the emergency room, often both. Most stories that begin with “It was Lena’s idea...” end either in uncontrollable laughter or horrified silence, never anything in between.
Fire energy also shows up in how quickly these people get excited: “I read one article about calligraphy yesterday, and now I have bought 27 specialty pens, three books on the subject, and enrolled in an intensive course in Japan!” When you ask them about calligraphy a month later, they look confused and reply, “Oh right, that... But have you heard of clay wheel therapy? I sold my sofa to buy my own pottery wheel!!”
But when you need motivation, inspiration, or just a spark during a dark time, fire energy lights the path forward. Fire people make you believe you can conquer the world, and you might even try to, with them at your side. And when you run out of energy and end up lying on the grass staring at the clouds together, you wonder why on Earth you thought running a marathon without training was a good idea.
Fire governs the south, summer, the colors red and orange, and sharp, triangular shapes. Fire smells like cinnamon, chili, freshly struck matches, and that surge of adrenaline when you decide to do something completely spontaneous and probably a bit reckless.
In witchcraft, fire is used in spells for passion, power, energy, and transformation. You can usually spot a fire-witch by their flaming red or orange hair and the fifty candles they keep burning at all times, prompting the neighbors to call the fire department at least twice.
In feng shui, fire brings fame, recognition, and passion. It can be strengthened with red tones, triangular shapes, candles, and of course, a fireplace though in the home of a fire person, that fireplace is always at risk of turning into an uncontrolled blaze. The fire feng shui consultant will examine your home and exclaim, “You need more FIRE here!” (At which point, you may want to double-check whether they mean metaphorically... or if they’re actually suggesting you light the place on fire. With these people, you never really know.)
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This post is the first part of a four-part Elemental Series, where we dive deep (and occasionally laugh our way) through the forces that shape us.
Next up: chakras and their elemental dance partners are coming next Monday. Bring tea, an open mind, and possibly a grounding crystal. You will need them.
See you then.