Earth (classical element)
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Chinese Japanese Hinduism and Buddhism |
Earth, home and origin of humanity, has often been worshiped in its own right with its own unique spiritual tradition.
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[edit] Greek and Roman Tradition
Earth is one of the four classical elements in ancient Greek philosophy and science. Earth is considered to be primarily dry and secondarily cool, and according to Aristotle is associated with the cube. It is associated with qualities of practicality, restraint, and materialism, and with the physical, sensuous aspects of life.
[edit] Indian Tradition
[edit] Chinese Tradition
Earth is one of the five elements of the Chinese tradition. It is associated with the planet Saturn and the colour yellow, and lies at the centre of the compass in the Chinese cosmos. It is believed to govern the spleen and stomach. It is associated with the qualities of patience, thoughtfulness, hard work and stability. Other attributes of the earth element are ambition, stubbornness, responsibility and long-term planning. In pathology, the earth can represent selfishness and self-centeredness. The element earth plays an important role in Chinese Astrology and in feng shui , the Chinese form of geomancy.
[edit] Earth in Modern Magic
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[edit] Wicca
In Wicca, Earth is associated with the North (or East in some variations), Winter, and the color yellow (or green in some variations) on the physical plane. It is sometimes represented by its Hindu tattva (a yellow square), or by a downward pointing triangle with a horizontal line through it, and may be symbolised in a percussion instrument, animal fur, coins, a pentacle, milk, a heartbeat, jewelry, bones, or a staff. Earth represents strength, abundance, stability, and femininity. In rituals, Earth is represented by burying objects in the earth, herbalism, and making images out of wood or stone.
The manifestations of the Earth element are all plants and trees, mountains, forests, caves, and gardens. The stag, boar, bull, sow, bear, and snake are also thought to personify the element of Earth, as are all burrowing animals, such as moles and rabbits. Astral creatures of Earth (elementals) are the Satyr/Faun, Gnome/Goblin, and Sylvestre/Dryad. Earth’s place on the pentagram is the lower left point.
[edit] Other Traditions
In China and Japan Earth was represented by a turtle; in the Aztec religion, by a house; to the Hindus, a lotus; to the Scythians, a plough; to the Greeks, a wheel; and in Christian iconography by a bull. In Alchemy, salt was sometimes associated with Earth.
[edit] See also
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