Chapter Zero
Introduction

The ancient statement that "Earth, Air, Fire and Water are the basic elements of our world" evokes some deep understanding, akin to the feelings we have for fairy tales and nursery rhymes. It may be a residue of primitive wisdom or an archetype deep in our modern societal subconscious, but it survives our scientific skepticism. These terms had profound significance as symbols to describe reality in early cultures ranging from Egypt, Persia, Greece and Rome to China. Although we in the 20th century think that we have greatly advanced in our knowledge of the physical world, we need to look beyond the literal meaning we now give these terms to the metaphysical teachings which they might have symbolized for our ancestors.

Today we "know" that matter is made of atoms, that events happen in a pattern of cause and effect over time, that physical space can be measured and that energy comes from utility companies. We smile at the idea that earlier peoples thought the world was composed of dirt, water, air and fire. We define reality by feel, sight, measurement. When we awoke from the middle ages and entered the age of reason we threw away the insight of a reality behind what is measurable. Mysteries became the stuff of religion, and subject to interpretation by authority. Living in the real world requires "keeping your feet on the ground", "keeping in touch with reality", "common sense".

Left behind were concepts passed down in whole or in part from the early cultures which culminated, for western society, in the craft of the alchemists. Many drawings survive today which alchemists drew to illustrate the alchemical process but they are kept as amusing examples of ignorance. Little has been taught about the abstract meanings behind the four elements or the process of transformation they depicted. There can be little doubt that many if not most of the alchemists in the dark ages were charlatans and some of their drawing and writings survived because of their sensational claims and sexual connotations. At the same time there are clues in a few of the drawings which point to a philosophical understanding of reality consistent with recent theories developing in modern physics.

In our quest for original meanings of the four elements we can first look for descriptions which were common to different areas and different times. The diagrams and drawings associated with the writings illustrated some common symbols even though they appear to be quite childlike and unworthy of consideration. For instance, fire is drawn as a triangle with its apex pointing upward, a simplified shape of fire. Other common drawings combined animals with human figures. Fire was represented by a man carrying a torch and riding a lion. Water was depicted as a rider pouring water over the earth while riding a griffin. Air was a flying eagle carrying a rider. Earth was a centaur suckling from a breast of its female rider.

Using hindsight, let us look at a modern version of the meanings of the elements and then examine the correspondence to these old drawings.

Earth has always represented the materialistic aspect of nature which is weighty, inert and massive. Earth symbolizes the gross, unevolved, as opposed to the spiritual. In Egypt, Earth was first perceived to be masculine and represented by a masculine god. In later times Earth became female symbolized by mother nature. The centaur represents the animalistic nature of man, more animal than man. The nursing female is the supportive aspect of the world furnishing materials for growth or existence. Matter is not isolated from the other three elements but is basic to their manifestation. We still use "earthy" to describe a quality which relates to this symbol. The nourishing aspect of earth can be extended to include life itself. Earth therefore symbolizes both matter and the life force.

Air is the spatial aspect of the world as well as the definitive aspect of objects. Air separates objects and makes them distinct as well as defining shape and form. Air depicted as a flying eagle represented height and carrying a rider symbolized the separation of earthly materialistic characteristics from the spiritual or ethereal realm. We still express a feeling of space as "airy". Air in a less physical sense defines objects because it is the medium of language which names and differentiates them.

We will assume that Fire was the equivalent of our modern term "energy" or the power or force behind changes. The modern world has little trouble with this concept, but does have trouble with the other aspect of fire, that of the equivalence to change itself. To our ancestors, the sun was the symbol or source of all energy and it was typically represented by Leo the lion which also appears in the Astrological signs. Leo was portrayed with a round face suggesting the circle of the sun with a wavy radiating mane corresponding to the rays of the sun. The symbol of an upward pointing triangle, denoting Fire later became a symbol of masculine energy symbolizing the erect phallus. The winter solstice has been celebrated from earliest times because of the recognition that energy from the sun was necessary for life. The solstice was a signal that the sun would increase its presence daily. Even today our emotional state is influenced by sunny versus stormy days.

Water is symbolic of time and change. The flow of water depicts the flow of time. Life was believed to have come forth from water or time. In many creation myths water covered the earth in the beginning and life began in the water. The old drawings depicting Water used the astrological figure of Aquarius pouring water out of two large vessels and riding on a griffin. Aquarius may have had its origin in the yearly flooding of the Nile river as a life giving force. The griffin is a combination of the eagle, lion and serpent which can be interpreted as combining Air, Fire and Earth. Our evolution theories today postulate that life began in water and evolved over time to land animals.

There is another side of water and that relates to still or unmoving water which symbolizes the creative aspect or consciousness itself.

In all the old depictions of the four elements, effort was made to show their interdependence. To speak of Air without Earth or matter would be as meaningless as a painting with only one color and hue. All four elements are necessary to a manifested world. Fire furnishes the power for action or change. Objects that can be changed arise from earth and air. The flow of water or time determines the rate of change.

We have examined abstractions behind the symbols of Earth, Air, Fire and Water, and we must now investigate the validity of assertions by alchemists about the process of transformation.

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