Elemental Placements… so much arguing

It seems everyone likes to force their way of doing things upon the entire coven, mine included. It always seems when we get a new person visit or join, the first thing they do is question everything and not in the good way rather; “why are you doing it like that? ‘Golden Monkey Claw Flying Heathen Rose Bud’ says…”  As though the one over priced book they read (or partially read) is the Holy Law passed down by the most high deities to the New Age book store from which they purchased it… sorry, its not.

In Wicca

Hemispheres

When opening the Circle in Wicca in the Northern Hemisphere most covens would agree upon:
East = Air, South = Fire, West = Water and North = Earth
In the Southern Hemisphere some covens use the Northern approach, while other invert North and South:
East = Air, South = Earth, West = Water and North = Fire
In the Southern Hemisphere most who use this Inverted south and north method move Widdershins (anti-clockwise) rather than Deosil (clockwise).

The Theory behind the Southern Method:

1. Why Widdershins:  You move in the direction the water goes down the drain (the Earths magnetic field)
2. Why invert North and South:  If you stop at the Equator for North and South at the pole.  The Northern most part of the Southern Hemisphere is Hottest and the Southern most part of the Hemisphere is Coldest.  While reversed in the North, south being the Equator and North being the pole.

All of these are based on symbolism.  I personally have found both methods work, regardless of Hemisphere.  Practical experience has shown me, you make energy move in one direction – it moves in that direction.  You move energy in the opposite direction – it stops its movement (dissipates).
Most rituals are rich in symbolism and I believe the Southern approach has a nice mix of modern (magnetic fields) and more earthly ideas (equators).

However, it does not mean it is the only way to do it in the South, nor does it mean the Northern approach can not be used.

Symbolism

I have used the Northern approach in Australia and was told quite bluntly; “its a negative movement to move deosil in the Southern Hemisphere”… Really? (Side note: a successful ritual).  It is all about symbolism, as I mention earlier, you move energy in one direction – it will move.

Three bits of symbolism (there is a lot more):

1. Moving Clockwise you are moving “Righteously” or to the “Right” or “Sinister” to the “Left”.
2. Moving “righteously” following the course of the Sun, from rising in the East and setting in the West.
3. The stabilising of “Force” with “Form”:  The masculine elements are considered Active (Force) and the feminine elements are considered Passive (Form).  By having the two masculine elements first, their active energies are stabilised and given foundation in the Feminine elements.

Other Ritual Uses

The Hexagram Ritual

In this ritual we have:
East = Fire, South = Earth, West = Air and North = Water
Rather than following the placements in the pentagram rituals, this ritual follows the elemental associations with the Zodiac (listed in an earlier blog past: Astrology Basics) starting with Fire (some associate with Aries being he most common “First” sign, others Leo… both fire, so it is of no real concern as the elemental associations are still the same.  Other than Leo becomes the Kerubic sign of the group, rather than Taurus) and ending with Water.
This, as anyone who have studied the systems of Crowley, the Golden Dawn, and so on will say that this ritual is “Higher” than the pentagram ritual.  The pentagram having the four lower points in Malkuth (the kingdom: “in our Elemental Kingdom”) and the upper point in Yesod (the foundation: The Astral), the base point of the Hexagram associated with the Moon (which is also associated with the Astral light and Yesod) sits in Yesod and the upper point in Daath (not considered by all a Sephiroth, the system I used saw it as the “shell” left when Tiphareth fell during the fall from the Garden of Eden.  11 Sephiroth of the Fallen tree and correcting by managed to place Tiphareth back in the place of Daath… but this is another topic).  Without going to deep, in that system there are four “worlds” Malkuth being “Assiah” and the Hexagram sits in “Higher” ones.

The Cross

The Simple “Cross” ritual is based upon “Equilibration” of forces, keeping “Air” in the East.
East = Air, South = Fire, West = Earth and North = Water
Fire is invoked First in the South, then Water is invoked in the North.  Fires masculine Force to its counter part in Waters Feminine Form.  Air is considered in some systems to be the “Child of Fire and Water”, it then follows.  Air is invoked third in the East, and then Earth is invoked fourth in the West, once again “Force to Form” for stability.

This is also the method employed in the Enochian system.  Invoking Fire first, then Water, then Air and then Earth (most likely where the Cross ritual was drawn from).  Examples of this can be found in Regardie’s “Opening by the Watchtower”.

The Triquetra Ritual of the Pentagram

This is a ritual I wrote as an Elder to create your own ritual and explained the symbolism.  To sum it up simply:
North East = Spirit
North East is where the top point of the pentagram is placed and the other points then represent their respective elements.  This throws off all the quarters in tradition.  Quick summary why North East is chosen for “Spirit” is: 1. In the Golden Dawn system you stand in the North East and announce “Hekas Hekas Este Bebeloi!” and spirit in this ritual is the start point in both Banishing and Invoking. 2. In the Tattwa system, North East is associated with Spirit/Akasha. 3. North in the Pentagram is the most dense of the Elements and Air the least (minus fire the catalyst).  Between the binding these two extremes (and all the other elements of cause) is “Spirit”.
Rather than the concept of “Force and Form” which is most commonly employed, the movements around the pentagram are based on “Science” in a sense.  Following Density rather than the principle of Gender.
Summerised:
Earth = Solid, Water = Liquid, Air = Gas and Fire = Heat (the catalyst).
To Invoke – Bring spirit down into the circle:
Spirit, Fire, Air, Water, Earth and finish at Spirit.  (Moving Clockwise)
To Banish – Returning spirit:
Spirit, Earth, Water, Air, Fire and finish at Spirit.  (Moving Anti-clockwise)
As you will see however, the Masculine is “Invoked” first again and stablised in the Feminine (I neglected to mention that to the new comer, who was enthralled in the idea of not genderising the elements. I’m sure if she is still practising, she would relise what I did there).

The Triquetras are used as the symbol for the Invoking.  Top point associated with the All, the lower left with the “Goddess” and the lower right with the “God” (an issue was raised again, why is the Goddess on the left and not the right. So I will explain the same thing I said to her, “I face you and draw the Goddess on the left, what side do you see it on?  Your right.  Good.  Now you understand within each gender principle are more principles which balance: left and right, light and dark, life and death.  You understand?  The Goddess is on both the Right and the Left, the God is on both the right and the left.  It is just a matter of perspective”).  When, for example on the point of Fire for invoking, you would drive the triquetra from the top point of the all, down the edge of the right most circle (the three intersecting circles which create the triquetra) to the lower right point, then complete the diagram returning to the top point.  Finally drawing the elemental symbol of fire (the triangle).  Moving down the line of the pentagram to the next element air, then moving down the next line to Water.  At Water you would draw the Triquetra starting at the top point of “the All” and moving down the edge of the left most circle to the lower left point, then complete the diagram returning to the top point.  Finally drawing the elemental symbol of water (the triangle).
You will also notice with the drawing of the triquetras that the forces join, as with any continuous shape.  Invoking a masculine principle is followed by the feminine (lower right to lower left) and invoking the feminine principle is followed by the masculine (lower left to lower right).  Coming from the originating source and returning to it “I am divided for love’s sake, for the chance of union”.

Conclusion

As I said earlier… “Practical experience trumps any theory work”.  Read up, study, understand the principles behind the ideas.  Practice them and find what works.  You will be amazed.  You can quickly discern which authors are actually practicing magicians/witches/occultists from those who are just trying to make a quick buck.
The other thing you will notice, is that results follow.  Positive or Negative – Results.  As long as you know how to correct errors, you will be fine with experimentation.  I was a bit concerned when first making so many modifications in the construction of the above ritual: Using triquetras and completely repositioning the quarters.  There was only one way to find out what would happen, and it was to put my theory to practice.

The Circlet of the High Priestess

Specifications:

• Silver (or silver colour)
• Worn around head
• Has Triquetra in the centre front (single point up).

Design:

To make this is simple.  Any silver bendable wire and a Triquetra charm/pendant will suffice.  The Wire or thin piece of silver coloured metal is bent into the circlet shape and the Triquetra affixed or hung from it.  Hung like in the 1^st image below, or affixed as in the second.  Binding, Soldering or Welding and in some cases Gluing will affix the triquetra.

Other Acceptable Examples:

fig. 1

fig. 2

fig. 3 *acceptable if in silver.

The circlet can be as simple or as complex as you like.  The rules are the Triquetra needs to be silver, needs to be upright and present.  A forth central circle can be present as in the simple design or as in the 1^st and 3^rd designs above.  The entire circlet does not have to be silver, just the Triquetra.  This means a wreath can be used with a silver triquetra (or silver coloured) hanging or affixed to the front.  The item is to only be worn by the High Priestess.

Symbolism of the Triquetra upon the Circlet

The number three is a sacred number to the Goddess and holds a large amount of symbolism.

• The Triquetra has three points, these are similar to the three points of the triangle.  The triangle is the polygon that all other polygons can be reduced to, and is the strongest architectural figure known.  Being the strongest architectural figure represents Foundation and stability.  Being able to reduce all other polygons means all other polygons can be created by triangles, thus representing creation.  This strength is further illustrated in the symbols of the element of Earth.  The triangle of Earth contains a “bar” and this bar further represents it as a Foundation and also its stability.  Earth is the foundation, our fertile land from where all life comes and returns too.  Its sister (feminine) element Water is the essential element of life, it is the water we drink and which composes 72% of our bodies.  This is represented by the downward pointing triangle without a bar.  This downward pointing triangle is visibly present in the centre of the Triquetra at the point where all three circles intersect.
• The Triquetra is formed from three circles.  Two circles when overlapped form a pointed oval shape.  This shape in the intersecting circles is called a vesica and is a sacred symbol, used by medieval artists to enclose holy figures.  The two shapes conjoining also represent the union between the God and Goddess and the creative sacred space between them is this vesica.  The vesica is also often used to symbolize a state of transition, transference or transcendence.  The vesical also represents the female genitals (more on vesical symbolism in another text).  When a third circle is placed below the other two joined circles to equally overlap both, the Triquetra is formed.  In the Triquetra with circles we see the three aspects of the Goddess; Maiden, Mother and Crone.  We see the three phases of the Moon; Waxing, Full and Waning.  The left circle represents the Waning moon, as the part of the triquetra formed by this circle shows the crescent of the waning moon.  The right circle represents the Waxing moon as this is the symbol of the waxing crescent.  The lower circle represents the Full moon, between the phases of waxing and waning (going from waxing on the right, to full, then to waning on the left).  The fourth circle was a latter addition to this symbol in our tradition.  If present it represents the hidden (new) moon and the additional circle not being present also represents the new moon but as not being visible; the fourth hidden phase of the moon.  Present it represents the “New Moon”, not present;  the new moon is hidden as is the additional fourth circle.  (another way of interpretation has the lower circle the hidden new moon, as though they read it from waning to waxing having new between, and the full central circle being Full.  Though this interpretation is not the standard of this tradition, it is acceptable as the general symbolism and meanings are still the same).
• The Circlet also represents water.  The three points on the triquetra also represent the 3^rd Element the initiate is exposed to; Water.  The three points represent the three states of Water; ice, water, steam (solid, liquid, gas).  The moon controls the tides and the triquetra represents the moon.  The triquetra is to be silver, and this is also a colour and metal associated with water; the Silver chalice and the Silver crescent of the Apas Tattwa.
• The Circlet also represents Earth.  The round shape represents our physical world.  It is either made of metal or a wreath which come both from the Earth.  And the Triquetra itself can also be made to represent the three elements at its points; Water, Fire and Air.  All three which are existent within our physical world, which make up our Earth and find foundation upon, within or around the earth.  From being embraced within, or held by gravity.  “Water, Fire and Air” being the points of the triquetra, which is affixed to the circlet which symbolises Earth.

The Colour silver is used as this is the Metal of the moon.  And is the sacred metal of the Goddess, just as Gold is the sacred metal of the God (Sun).  As mentioned previously, silver is applicable to both Water and Earth as is the Triquetra.

Concluded…

The symbolism associated to the Triquetra Circlet of the High Priestess all simply represents the High Priestess as the physical representation of the Goddess.  When the High Priestess assumes the God-form of the/a Goddess, she becomes the Goddess and acts on behalf of the Goddess and by wearing the Triquetra Circlet the High Priestess illustrates this, symbolising her role.

Sources:
fig. 1: Triquetra Head Chain - Gothic – Wiccan - Pagan - Handfasting UK
- http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/iQYAAOxyrx5Tj2nW/$_57.JPG
fig. 2: Priestess Circlet 
- http://www.afmetalsmith.com/contents/details/circlet.html
fig. 3: Triquetra Bronze Tiara
- http://gryphonsmoon.com/BRZ-122.item