The Element of Water
I have always had a very strong connection to water. The ocean, the rivers, and the rain all speak to my heart and I feel at one with the universe when resting in water's embrace. Recently I had chosen (or you may say I was chosen
Water in the WaterWitch Tradition
The WaterWitch tradition views water as a component in a four-part elemental system, including Earth, Air and Fire. Water is the seat of the unconscious, intuition and deep-seeded emotions. Whereas the element of fire provides the spark of life and inspiration, water nurtures that life and prevents passion and action from consuming all. Water is a mediator, facilitator and a revealer of truths. The cauldron, chalice, disc, sword, staff and cresent are all symbols used in association with Water. The cycles of the moon and menstration are also associated with the element of Water.
Water in the Celtic/Druidic Tradition
Water, or more specifically, the sea is seen as one of the three realms (the others being land and sky). The sea surrounds us, just as the land is below us and the sky is above us. Dagda's cauldron of plenty and Cerridwyn's cauldron of inspiration are both symbols of the sea.
Water in the Western Tradition
In western wiccan and hermetic traditions the element of water is associated with the west quarter, with spirit and emotion. (The other quarters being north/earth, east/air, and south/fire.) The cup or grail is the symbol of water.
Water in the Asian Tradition
In the Asian traditions water is one of the five Wu Hsing, which is commonly translated as "five elements", but more correctly means "five courses".
The character wu is simple: it is the cardinal number five. The character hsing demands elaboration. In antiquity, this was a pictograph representing a cross-roads or confluence of courses. It is a radial character which at its root has come to mean motility: to do, to act, to walk, to travel. It can also be taken to mean process, conduct, behavior, or way, which definitions should be enough to sketch the sort of thoughts and images Chinese philosophers have grouped behind this radial.
- William Cassidy, Of the Five Courses
The symbol for water in the Chinese language is "shui", in the Tibetan language is "chu", and in the Vietnamese language is "th˜y" or "nuoc". Water is associated with the planet Mercury.
Each of the Wu Hsing interact with each other in a cyclic order system in which each course destroys then produces, controls then dissolves, etc, etc, another course. It is a very complex relationship... here's an excerpt: "Water destroys Fire. Wood Produces Fire. Fire destroys Metal. Fire produces Earth. Metal destroys Wood. Earth produces Metal. Wood destroys Earth. Metal produces Water. Earth destroys Water. Water produces Wood." There are various other principals for the association of the Wu Hsing, in summary: water is the originating course, it is in conflict with and reigns over fire, it is in conflict with and submits to earth, it nurtures wood and is nurtured by metal.