Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Myths of the Elements

Babylonian mythology: Earth, Sea, Sky, Wind
Buddhist mythology: Catudhatu, "four elements": Air, Earth, Fire, Water
Greek mythology: Aether, Air, Earth, Fire, Water
Hindu mythology: Pancha Mahabhuta, “five great elements”: Aether/Void, Air/Wind, Earth, Fire, Water
Japanese mythology: 五大 (go dai, "five great"): Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Atmos
Tibetan mythology: Air, Earth, Fire, Space, Water

Aether/Akasha/Space
In the West, sometimes perceived as the mysterious "fifth element" that relates to the soul.
The substance that fills the heavens (Greek).
The source of everything in the universe, including the other elements; related to sound (Hindu).

Air/Sky
Associated with spring and the northern compass direction (Greek) or the northwestern compass direction (Hindu).
Representative of things that move.
According to Aristotle, primarily hot and secondarily wet.

Earth
Associated with communication, business, practical matters, fall, and the southern compass direction (Greek) or the southwestern compass direction (Hindu).
Representative of things that are solid or things that grow.
According to Aristotle, primarily dry and secondarily cold.

Fire
Associated with energy, passion, summer, the eastern compass point (Greek), or the southeastern compass direction (Hindu).
Representative of things that are hot or things that destroy.
According to Aristotle, primarily hot and secondarily dry.

Metal
Associated with inward motion, persistence, determination, ambition, the west, autumn, and Venus.

Void
Representative of things that are not normally encountered in everyday life.

Water/Sea
Associated with emotion, intuition, imagination, wisdom, winter, the planet Mercury, the western compass direction (Greek) or the northeastern compass direction (Hindu).
Representative of liquid things or cold things.
According to Aristotle, primarily cold and secondarily wet.

Wood
Associated with anger, patience, spring, the east, Jupiter, green, and wind.

Check out The Pagan Corner with Cu & Sin
https://www.facebook.com/cuspagancorner

No comments:

Post a Comment