Earth

In this article an in-depth look is taken at the element Earth. This article is part of a four part series, the other articles in the series are Air, Fire and Water. The articles can be read in any order.

Associations

Traditionally Earth is associated with the north, with the winter solstice and with midnight. Of the four magical tools, the pentacle is associated with earth and with the north. Colours that are associated with Earth and the north are black (winter solstice, midnight, the light at it's lowest ebb), earth-tones like brown and grey, and green. Traditionally a distinction is made between male and female elements, and between constant and inconstant elements. Earth is considered female and constant.

Interpretations

There's something dualistic about the role of the element Earth in our lives.

On the one hand Earth stands for everything that's close to home: the ground under our feet, our bodies, the food that we eat, the physical plane as a whole. On the other hand earth is associated with the north, the direction where the light dies and is re-born, and with the winter solstice and midnight. From this angle Earth stands for re-birth and transformation.

This is an important lesson that Earth has to teach us: to be aware that there's more than just this physical plane, but also to keep our feet firmly on the ground and never let this awareness stop us from caring about the world around us.

Experiences

Here are some practical exercises you could do to further explore the role of the element Earth in your life.

think about sleep. Do you sleep well? Enough? Do you find it easy to fall asleep? To wake up in the morning? Is there anything you might do to improve things?
take a day off to take care for your body. Go to the hairdresser or to a beautician, get a massage, take a sauna, or do all of the above
think about your home. Are you happy where you live? Do you feel safe there? Is there anything you might do to improve things?
think about the role of money in your life. Do you have enough money? How important is money to you?
take a day off to get in touch with mother earth. Work in your garden, take a nature walk, or do all of the above
think about conservation and the environment. How environment-friendly is your household? Are there things you can do to improve this?
think about the experiences that changed and transformed your life. What brought them about? In what way did they change you? Maybe you can get together with friends, and take turns to talk about the transformations in your lives

Further exploration

Take some time to explore earth in connection with other elements.
Earth and air
Earth and fire
Water and earth

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