Working with the Elements
First of all, let me start be saying that this is not a required practice. I learned this during my time practicing as a Wiccan. It ultimately came from traditions labeled as “High Magick” or “Ritual Magic” and can be a very formal practice. I am no longer Wiccan, and haven’t been for many years, however, I still occasionally call a formal circle, or even just welcome the elements into my space, as building blocks of nature, of the universe.
One of the simplest ways to begin working with the elements, is to practice invoking and banishing them. You can do this one at a time, if you want to meditate on the qualities and feel of a specific element. Or, you can call all of the elements as a part of a circle casting. I use these simple invocations as a basis for the invocations that I use in ritual, because they are easy to learn, and easy to adapt for future workings and purposes.
My calls begin with Air in the North; if your traditions are different, you can easily move them around to suit your practices. You can also easily change the qualities of each element that you wish to call upon. These calls are meant to get you in the practice of calling and releasing the elements. You can next practice on adapting these basic calls to more complicated ones.
The repetition and formal wording is to get you into the mindset, like a mini-meditation, focusing on the element you are summoning. If you are not doing formal ritual, and just want to dance with an elemental energy, that can be as simple as breathing with purpose, listening to waves or thunderstorms, watching a fire crackle and dance.
I recommend that everyone learn how to recognize and invoke the energies around them, whether they practice ritual magic or not. Here are some simple invocations, feel free to edit them to your purposes.
Invoking the Elements
Air
Guardians and Elementals of the North, Element of Air.
Winds of Intellect and Inspiration
I call you to witness this rite, and Guard this Circle!
Hail and Welcome!
Earth
Guardians and Elementals of the East, Element of Earth.
Foundation of Fertility and Growth
I call you to witness this rite, and Guard this Circle!
Hail and Welcome!
Fire
Guardians and Elementals of the South, Element of Fire.
Flames of Creativity and Passion
I call you to witness this rite, and Guard this Circle!
Hail and Welcome!
Water
Guardians and Elementals of the West, Element of Water.
Flowing source of creativity and emotion
I call you to witness this rite, and Guard this Circle!
Hail and Welcome!
Dismissing the Elements
Each time you invoke or call an element, you then dismiss it, at the end of your interaction. If you call all of the elements, you would then dismiss them in the reverse order.
Water
Elementals and Guardians of the West, Element of Water. Thank you for your presence and protection this night. Hail and farewell!
Fire
Elementals and Guardians of the South, Element of Fire. Thank you for your presence and protection this night. Hail and farewell!
Earth
Elementals and Guardians of the east, Element of Earth. Thank you for your presence and protection this night. Hail and farewell!
Air
Elementals and Guardians of the North, Element of Air. Thank you for your presence and protection this night. Hail and farewell!
Let me know how your practice goes.
