Elemental Magick?

[Citizen]

Greetings,

I am new to much of this but since I have been searching for who knows what I have come across elemental magick quite a few times and I was wondering if there was someone on here that was more experienced with it that would be willing to teach me or sore me some site that could help me along with my endeavors.

Citizen

[MadZealot]

Greetings,

I am new to much of this but since I have been searching for who knows what I have come across elemental magick quite a few times and I was wondering if there was someone on here that was more experienced with it that would be willing to teach me or sore me some site that could help me along with my endeavors.

Citizen

Depends on what you mean by the term.  Different systems do incorporate the elements.  As far as "magick" is concerned you can do ritual/ceremonial, folk-y or hedge-y or witch-y, or a blend thereof.  And that's just for starters.  What attracts you?

[Citizen]

ritual/ceremonial, folk-y or hedge-y or witch-y.

Would you mind explaining what each of these terms mean? But if I can explain what sort of system I enjoy it would have to be a system in which I am able to do what works for me, kinda along the lines of the principles of chaos magick, where you use whatever works for you. Not necessarily using a religion as a tool for magick, I feel as if that would be wrong but more along the lines of "whatever works for you." If that makes sense. Thank you.

Citizen

[MadZealot]

Would you mind explaining what each of these terms mean?

I'd be happy to explain what I can, based on what I know.  Others will certainly weigh in.

Generally speaking, ritual/ceremonial or "high" magick refers to what Wiki calls long, elaborate, and complex rituals.  It draws often from Hermetic or Qabalistic philosophy, tarot, astrology, and other disciplines.  Practitioners often wear and make use of dedicated ritual garb and working tools (ritual wands, candles, incense, daggers, other foci as needed) although this practice is not unique to ceremonialists.  The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was the group that probably most popularized ceremonial magic.

Witchcraft is as varied as the locales where it is practiced and the cultures who practice it.  Generally it's more nature or earth based than its 'high' magick counterpart, earning it the (often inaccurate) moniker "low" magick.  
Lots of what you'll find in bookstores today deals with 'neopagan' or 'contemporary' witchcraft, and sometimes (not always) you'll find it treated within a Wiccan context.  
As a practice it involves circle casting, creating sacred space, invoking the elements, and then the work can include 'energy raising' or 'creating a cone of power.'  Can be ritualistic and complex at times, and depending on the discpline you'll find hints of Golden Dawn ritual.

'Hedge' and 'hearth' witchery are related to witchcraft in the general sense, but in many ways are more practical.  Hedgewitches (hedge riders) might also be shamans.  
'Folk' magic draws upon superstitions as well as magical traditions.  
In any of these a simple 'spell' might involve no more than a pebble, a sewing needle, a thread, and a short incantation.  

There's a whole lot more... but for now I think it's best if I back away from the keyboard let others add their tuppence.

[monsnoleedra]

.. 'Hedge' and 'hearth' witchery are related to witchcraft in the general sense, but in many ways are more practical.  Hedgewitches (hedge riders) might also be shamans.  
'Folk' magic draws upon superstitions as well as magical traditions.  
In any of these a simple 'spell' might involve no more than a pebble, a sewing needle, a thread, and a short incantation.  

There's a whole lot more... but for now I think it's best if I back away from the keyboard let others add their tuppence.

Just like to add that many times Hedgewitches or hedgeriders get lumped in with Green witchcraft and its associations with herbs, plants, etc.  While they do cross over or have similarities I think Hedgeriders are closer to shamanic practitioners than Greenwitches are.  Another term coming into play is that of Wildwitch but the practitioners focus more on un-tamed parts of nature, hunting, fishing and trapping type things, mainly used by males it seems.  I do not normally promote sites but Walking the Hedge has some info pertaining to Hedge witchary.  http://walkingthehedge.net/wildgeekhang/  (If this is not allowed please remove the link)

Hearth Witchary also gets lumped in many times with Kitchen Witches and thier ways of doing magics.  But again there is some similarities yet also differences to them as well.  Yet both make do with home instruments for the most part and have many folkish magical practices.  In my family tradition it involved needle magics, knot magics, symbology magics which border on sigils, divination via wedding rings type things.

In the olden days the Hearth or fire place was the heart and soul of the home so most family type practices were tied there.  It was also very much tied to the women of the families in my line though I can't speak for others.  Today I think it has moved to the kitchen in many ways as the gathering place and general talks.

[spoOk]

Just like to add that many times Hedgewitches or hedgeriders get lumped in with Green witchcraft and its associations with herbs, plants, etc.  While they do cross over or have similarities I think Hedgeriders are closer to shamanic practitioners than Greenwitches are.  Another term coming into play is that of Wildwitch but the practitioners focus more on un-tamed parts of nature, hunting, fishing and trapping type things, mainly used by males it seems.  I do not normally promote sites but Walking the Hedge has some info pertaining to Hedge witchary.  http://walkingthehedge.net/wildgeekhang/  (If this is not allowed please remove the link)

Hearth Witchary also gets lumped in many times with Kitchen Witches and thier ways of doing magics.  But again there is some similarities yet also differences to them as well.  Yet both make do with home instruments for the most part and have many folkish magical practices.  In my family tradition it involved needle magics, knot magics, symbology magics which border on sigils, divination via wedding rings type things.

In the olden days the Hearth or fire place was the heart and soul of the home so most family type practices were tied there.  It was also very much tied to the women of the families in my line though I can't speak for others.  Today I think it has moved to the kitchen in many ways as the gathering place and general talks.

 
I've also heard some olks relate hedge witch stuff to liminal related magicks,being on the boarders,edges,between places...etc.

[Citizen]

I've also heard some olks relate hedge witch stuff to liminal related magicks,being on the boarders,edges,between places...etc.

So what would be closest to what I was describing?

Citizen

[monsnoleedra]

So what would be closest to what I was describing?

Citizen

Actually any of them could work.  Thier all low magics in operation and use a lot of individual notions and concepts of how things work in the practitioners world view.  They can work within a religious binding yet also stand apart from it and have no religious dogma or connections in how it is done or seen.

All of them call upon elemential forces in their own way.  A kitchen witch might use a wooden spoon and spin thier spell as they cook.  A hedgewitch might use a liminal aspect of a thing or items gathered from the landscape about them just prior to casting thier spell.  A green witch might do the same but use a gardening tool to cast it as they till the soil and plant their garden.

As such its really difficult to say where the lines are drawn or what is the most important tool in an individuals practice.

[Citizen]

Actually any of them could work.  Thier all low magics in operation and use a lot of individual notions and concepts of how things work in the practitioners world view.  They can work within a religious binding yet also stand apart from it and have no religious dogma or connections in how it is done or seen.

All of them call upon elemential forces in their own way.  A kitchen witch might use a wooden spoon and spin thier spell as they cook.  A hedgewitch might use a liminal aspect of a thing or items gathered from the landscape about them just prior to casting thier spell.  A green witch might do the same but use a gardening tool to cast it as they till the soil and plant their garden.

As such its really difficult to say where the lines are drawn or what is the most important tool in an individuals practice.

Well I've been doing reading on magick in general and have learned about the flow of energies through the body. I learned that energy comes in through the left hand and out the right. Just wondering about the validity of that. Also would it be, for lack of better term, "practical" to come up with my own system per se based off of another?

Citizen

[monsnoleedra]

Well I've been doing reading on magick in general and have learned about the flow of energies through the body. I learned that energy comes in through the left hand and out the right. Just wondering about the validity of that. Also would it be, for lack of better term, "practical" to come up with my own system per se based off of another?

Citizen

That one is harder to answer.  It's like in Chakra energy its assumed that it comes in equally through the hands and feet.  That it pools as every juncture and then is feed along the body grid with the ultimate release being the rising of Kundalini energy.  Even taken in through the way one breathes either through the nose and out the mouth or reverse of that.  When the Chakra's are cleaned and aligned the body uses the energy more efficently, when out of what the body is out of whack ths so to is its abiity to use energy properly.  Those who use Reiki (sp) hands on energy have a different perspective of how it moves and flows.  Acupuncture I understand to be even different in some ways.

Just my own opinion but I also think people use social customs for saying how it flows.  We extend our right hand normally in meeting a person so push it outwards.  By that design keeping our left close to the body and taking it in.  Yet if a person is naturally left handed they use the left vice the right many times for meeting and greeting.  

Other places the left hand is unclean and would never be used in such a way.  It's the hand one wipes themselves with has no other use.  Would be pretty hard to convence themselves that their dirty hand is the one that brings energy in.
 
With regards to developing a system, I tend to think why re-invent the wheel?  It many times seems to be better since you developed it but in the end I find most people go back to what has already been around and proven to work.  They may doctor it a bit, think of higly ritualized ceremonial practices that get trimmed down to fit the time, place, etc.  Yet the basis is still the known system they have modified for their usage without trying to recreate the wheel.

Of course for Chaos type magicians that wouldn't necessarily be true.  However, I am not well versed in Chaos type practices so would have to defer to someone who is to answer that perspective.

[Citizen]

Of course for Chaos type magicians that wouldn't necessarily be true.  However, I am not well versed in Chaos type practices so would have to defer to someone who is to answer that perspective.

I have done a lot of reading on Chaos magick and if I had tio pick any for of magick I would have to, say that out falls into my realm of interest however, I like working with the elements as well.

Citizen

[spoOk]

I have done a lot of reading on Chaos magick and if I had tio pick any for of magick I would have to, say that out falls into my realm of interest however, I like working with the elements as well.

Citizen

 
easiest way to do elemental magic for me is just be sure to include some of each in every spell you do.
like a candle or burning the ingredients is the fire,the herby bits are earth,incense smoke or your own breath is air and including a libation or spitting into the mix before you burn it is water.....

when I cleansed the boundrys of my house after I first moved in I first went over it with sage smoke,then carried a white candle around,then sprinkled moon water all the way around and lastly left a line of cornmeal or salt all the way around.

[Jabberwocky]

Well I've been doing reading on magick in general and have learned about the flow of energies through the body. I learned that energy comes in through the left hand and out the right. Just wondering about the validity of that.

If that's a concept that appeals, it's certainly a paradigm that's valid for you.

Also would it be, for lack of better term, "practical" to come up with my own system per se based off of another?

That's a good basis for working, I think.  Obviously, you'll personalise it for your own needs, but by adapting another system as opposed to building one from scratch, you at least have the basic building blocks in place.

Really, what I'd suggest you do is try and work out what results you want to come from this.  Then just go ahead and do it without worrying whether things are 'right' or not.  There comes a point with magic where the best way to move forward is through praxis.

[Owl]

Well I've been doing reading on magick in general and have learned about the flow of energies through the body. I learned that energy comes in through the left hand and out the right. Just wondering about the validity of that.

Citizen

That is one school of thought.  I pull it in through my crown and feet and floww it out either through my hands (both) or just in general with a thought.

[Owl]

I've also heard some olks relate hedge witch stuff to liminal related magicks,being on the boarders,edges,between places...etc.

Yep.