Everything about Fire Classical Element totally explained
Fire has been an important part of many cultures and religions, from pre-history to modern day, and was vital to the development of civilization. It has been regarded in many different fashions throughout history.
Greek and Roman Tradition
Fire is one of the four
classical elements in ancient
Greek philosophy and science. It was commonly associated with the qualities of energy, assertiveness, and passion. In one Greek myth,
Prometheus stole
fire from the gods to protect the otherwise helpless humans, but was punished for this kindness. The ancient Greeks distinguished the destructive (
aidelon) fire, associated with
Hades, from the creative fire, associated with
Hephaistos. Goddess
Hekate was called
Pyrphoros (Fire-bearing),
Pyripnon (Fire-breather),
Daidoukhos (Torch-bearer) and
Phosphoros (Light-bearer).
Plato’s student
Aristotle (384-322 BCE) developed a different explanation for the elements based on pairs of qualities. The four elements were arranged concentrically around the center of the universe to form the
sublunary sphere. According to Aristotle,
fire is both hot and dry, and occupies a place between earth and air among the elemental spheres.
In
ancient Greek medicine, each of the
four humours became associated with an element. Yellow
bile was the humor identified with
fire, since both were hot and dry. Other things associated with
fire and yellow bile in ancient and
medieval medicine included the season of
summer, since it increased the qualities of heat and aridity; the choleric temperament (of a person dominated by the yellow bile humour); the
masculine; and the eastern point of the compass.
In
alchemy, the
chemical element of
sulfur was often associated with
fire and its
alchemical symbol and its symbol was an upward-pointing triangle. In alchemic tradition, metals are incubated by fire in the womb of the Earth and alchemists only accelerate their development. The
elemental weapon of fire is the Wand. Each of the elements has several associated spiritual beings. The archangel of fire is
Michael, the angel is Aral, the ruler is Seraph, the king is Djin, and the fire
elementals (following
Paracelsus) are called
salamanders. Fire is considered to be active; it's represented by the symbol for
Leo, and it's referred to the lower right point of the pentagram in the Supreme Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram. Many of these associations have since spread throughout the occult community.
Wicca
In most
Wiccan traditions,
fire is associated with:
- The South,
- The Summer
- The color red on the physical plane.
- The athame or ceremonial dagger.
- In covens that use the sword, it's often associated with this element.
Other
correspondences include blood, candles, the guitar, rubies and incense.
Fire represents energy, inspiration, passion and masculinity. It is sometimes represented in writing by a red upwards triangle.
In rituals, fire is represented in the forms of burning objects, love spells, baking and lighting candles or fires.
The manifestations of the element are found in the sun, lightning,
fire, volcanoes and lava, and all forms of light. Cats of all types, especially the
lion and
tiger, are also thought to personify the element of
fire, as are all predatory creatures, such as the fox.
The
astral creatures of
fire, known as
elementals, are the
salamander,
phoenix,
drake/dragon and, occasionally, the
falcon (Although most associate this animal with air, instead).
Fire's place on the pentagram is the lower right point.
Fire belongs to the
Tarot suit of Wands, although some Wiccans associate it with the suit of Swords because the athame (ritual knife) is often associated with fire.
Fire is associated with warm colours, like red, orange and yellow, but also colours like black.
Astrological Personalities
People born under the astrological signs of
Aries,
Leo and
Sagittarius are thought to have dominant fire personalities. Fire personalities are believed to have good leading qualities, and also tend to be extroverted, rebellious, passionate and enthusiastic; however, they can also be moody, hot-tempered, snappy, uncontrollable and angry.
Other traditions
Fire represents the creativity and passion that all intellectual and emotional beings have. It is an active force that has the passion to create and animate things. The element is also very rational and quick to "flare up" as is the personality of many "fire-children."
Fire in many ancient cultures and myths has been known to purify the land with the flames of destruction; however, it's also capable of the renewal of life through the warmth and comfort of those very same flames.
The element of
fire shows up in mythological stories all across the world, often in stories related to the Sun.
In
East Asia fire is represented by the
Vermilion Bird, known as 朱雀 (
Zhū Què) in
Chinese,
Suzaku in
Japanese and Ju-jak (주작,
Hanja:朱雀) in
Korean.
Fire is represented in the
Aztec religion by a flint; to the
Native Americans, a mouse; to the
Hindu and
Islamic faiths, a lightning bolt; to the
Scythians, an axe, to the
Greeks, an apple-bough; and in
Christian iconography, a lion.
Further Information
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