Four Elements, Four Directions & the Great Wheel of Life
Unknown Speaker addressing the National Congress of American Indians in the mid 1960's
"In early days we were close to nature. We judged time, weather conditions, and many things by the elements--the good earth, the blue sky, the flying of geese, and the changing winds. We looked to these for guidance and answers. Our prayers and thanksgiving were said to the four winds--to the East, from whence the new day was born; to the South, which sent the warm breeze which gave a feeling of comfort; to the West, which ended the day and brought rest; and to the North, the Mother of winter whose sharp air awakened a time of preparation for the long days ahead. We lived by God's hand through nature and evaluated the changing winds to tell us or warn us of what was ahead. Today we are again evaluating the changing winds. May we be strong in spirit and equal to our Fathers of another day in reading the signs accurately and interpreting them wisely. May Wah-Kon-Tah, the Great Spirit, look down upon us, guide us, inspire us, and give us courage and wisdom. Above all, may He look down upon us and be pleased."
Simply CLICK on any of video images shown below for a fuller sense of immersion in the essence of each of the Four Elements. The 5th Element is not truly an element per se, but is comprised of pure Spirit and/or life force energy, and is represented here as the cosmos itself. The 5th element is also sometimes referred to as "sky" and it is the last of the five "elements" to be presented on this page. You may use each of these elements as a meditation exercise if you wish, or simply as a means to tune into your own inner knowing of which element your body, mind and spirit may require most at this time for a greater sense of balance, harmony, health and well-being.
Be sure to click the PAUSE button on the current video selection before moving on to the next one. If the video stream is slow to start, simply refresh the page and that will free up your current selection.Don't forget to turn up your speakers, as all of the five elements below also have beautiful music that goes along with them as well. You are invited to kick back, relax, breathe and to simply enjoy the sights, sounds, and rhythms of nature, within and without.
About the AIR Element
Colors: YELLOWS, GOLDS & PASTELS
Direction: EAST
Season: SPRING
Time of Day: DAWN
Qualities: DRY
Sense: SMELL
Taste: SOUR
Chakra: 4th HEART (Agape' ~ Divine Love)
Sacred Plant: TOBACCO
Sacred Tree:ASPEN
Spirit: SYLPHS
Archangel: MICHAEL
Property: MASCULINE
Animal Totem: EAGLE ~ (BIRDS)
Life Sector: THE GOLDEN DOOR ~ BIRTH
Lesson Path: ILLUMINATION, NEW BEGINNINGS
Energies: FREEDOM, VISION, PERSPECTIVE
MBTI Personality Type: THINKER
Michael Teachings Axis: ASSIMILATION
The Four Pillars: TRUE STUDY
Support Circle Triad: SPIRITUAL PLANE LESSONS
Task Group (Quadrant) Position: KNOWLEDGE
Tarot Cards: SWORDS
Traditional Playing Cards: CLUBS
Planets: MERCURY, URANUS
Astrological Signs: GEMINI, LIBRA & AQUARIUS
About the FIRE Element
Colors: FIERY REDS, ORANGES & MAGENTAS
Direction: SOUTH
Season: SUMMER
Time of Day: NOON
Quality: HOT
Sense: SIGHT
Taste: BITTER
Chakra: 3rd SOLAR PLEXUS
Sacred Plant: CEDAR
Sacred Tree: FLOWERING ALMOND
Spirit: SALAMANDERS
Archangel: ARIEL
Property: PHYSICAL
Animal: COYOTE / RABBIT
Life Sector: EARLY LIFE & CHILDHOOD
Lesson Path: INNOCENCE & PURIFICATION
Energies: PASSIONATE, POSITIVE, AFFIRMING
MBTI Personality Type: FEELER
Michael Teachings Axis: INSPIRATION
The Four Pillars: TRUE PLAY
Support Circle Triad: INSPIRATIONALS
Task Group (Quadrant) Position: SUPPORT
Tarot Cards: WANDS
Traditional Playing Cards: SPADES
Planets: SUN, MARS, JUPITER
Astrological Signs: ARIES, LEO & SAGITTARIUS
About the WATER Element
Colors: BLACK, BLUES, SEA-GREENS, TURQUOISE
Direction: WEST
Season: AUTUMN
Time of Day: DUSK
Qualities: WET
Sense: TASTE
Taste: SALTY
Chakras: 2nd SACRAL (navel)
Sacred Plant: SAGE
Sacred Tree: WILLOW
Spirit: UNDINES
Archangel: RAPHAEL
Property: FEMININE
Animal Totem: BEAR
Life Sector: MID-LIFE, MATURITY & ADULTHOOD
Lesson Path: INTROSPECTION, GOALS, THE VOID
Energies: COURAGEOUS, REFLECTIVE
MBTI Personality Type: INTUITIVE
Michael Teachings Axis: EXPRESSION
The Four Pillars: TRUE REST
Support Circle Triad: INTIMATES
Task Group (Quadrant) Position: LOVE
Tarot Cards: CUPS
Traditional Playing Cards: HEARTS
Planets: MOON, NEPTUNE, PLUTO
Astrological Signs: PISCES, CANCER & SCORPIO
About the EARTH Element
Colors: EARTHY BROWNS, GREENS & WHITE
Direction: NORTH
Season: WINTER
Time of Day: MIDNIGHT
Qualities: COLD
Sense: TOUCH
Taste: SWEET
Chakra: 1st ROOT (connection to the earth)
Sacred Plant: SWEET GRASS
Sacred Tree: OAK
Spirit: GNOMES
Archangel: GABRIEL
Property: SPIRITUAL
Animal Totem: BUFFALO
Life Sector: LATER LIFE, OLD AGE & DEATH
Lesson Path: ANCESTORS, TEACHERS, GUIDES
Energies: GATE-KEEPERS, MYSTERIOUS, WISE
MBTI Personality Type: SENSOR
Michael Teachings Axis: ACTION
The Four Pillars: TRUE WORK
Support Circle Triad: PHYSICAL PLANE LESSONS
Task Group (Quadrant) Position:POWER
Tarot Cards: PENTACLES
Traditional Playing Cards: DIAMONDS
Planets: VENUS, SATURN
Astrological Signs: TAURUS, VIRGO & CAPRICORN
About the 5th Element of PURE SPIRIT Colors: CLEAR, WHITE & BLACK (METAL) Direction: CENTER & CIRCUMFERENCE, THROUGHOUT & ABOUT, WITHIN & WITHOUT Time: BEYONG TIME, ALL TIME IS ONE, THE ETERNAL NOW, EVER-PRESENT MOMENT Season: THE TURNING WHEEL Animal: SPHINX Tools: THE CALDRON Tarot: MAJOR ARCANA ~ (THE WORLD) Chakras: 7th ~ CROWN (connection to All That Is) and 8th - THYMUS (awareness of Eternal Life) Sense: HEARING Sacred Plant: MISTLETOE Sacred Tree: FLOWERING ALMOND Support Circle Position: #13. WITHIN/POWER (CENTER)
(Sky, Cosmos, Tao, God, The Void, Spirit, Creator, Source, Infinite Soul, Great Mystery, Aether, Quintessence, Pure Life Force Energy, Chi, Manna, Prana, Kundalini Energy)
Four Elements Meditation created by Wintermood
This visual artist has brought all four of the primary elements together to create a beautifully composed and expressed visual meditation with peaceful, relaxing background music.A nourishing feast for the senses with a lovely balancing effect upon the body, mind and spirit.
The Universality of The Four Elements, The Four Directions, Defining Sacred Space and Affirming a Personal Connection with Nature, Spirit and with All-That-Is.
The universal recognition of the five elements has been part of ancient indigenous traditions around the globe from prehistoric times. Although specific orientations, applications and associations of the the four directions, the four elements and their respective properties, powers and attributes may indeed shift from one cultural tradition to another, there are, nevertheless, certain underlying spiritual and metaphysical concepts and principles that remain relatively consistent across the board.
The basic human need to identify the four primary directions -- north, east, south and west -- and to establish one's present location in relationship to space.
The need to establish and to create definitive boundaries, a safe place, a home territory and/or a sense of personal "sacred space."
The awareness and recognition of the essential connection and inter-relatedness between all living things, including plant, animal, vegetable & mineral kingdoms.
Recognition of the 5th or the primordial "elemental" force as an underlying spiritual energy source and that this spiritual energy source resides both within and without, and indeed, encompasses the entire circumference of the sacred space, circle or wheel of life.
A deep sense of respect for the primal forces and cycles of nature and the recognition of the ever-changing, shifting of the seasons, the passage of time and honoring of the greater design cycles of birth, growth, decline and death.
Recognition of the four primal elements essential to the existence of all life forms on the planet; fire, water, earth & air and that of the 5th "element", the underlying spiritual energy source from which all of Creation springs.
The vital importance of walking in right-relationship to all things physical and spiritual.
If you would like to learn more about the five elements and their place within various cultural contexts and indigenous traditions, simply click on the link below for more information.
