This article is about alchemic elementals. For other uses of the term, see elemental (disambiguation).

An elemental is a being first appearing in alchemical works. Paracelsus enumerates four: gnomes, earth elementals; undines, water elementals; sylphs, air elementals; and salamanders, fire elementals.^[1] All of these are found in folklore as well as alchemy; their names are often used interchangeably with similar beings from folklore. ^[2] The term elemental can mean: Elemental — a creature formed entirely of one of the classical elements in mysticism, alchemy, mythology and modern fantasy fiction. ... For other uses, see Alchemy (disambiguation). ... // Paracelsus (11 November or 17 December 1493 in Einsiedeln, Switzerland - 24 September 1541) was an alchemist, physician, astrologer, and general occultist. ... A gnome (or Nisse) hiding behind a toadstool. ... Ondine was a water nymph in German mythology. ... Sylph is a faux-mythological creature in the Western tradition. ... Suborders Cryptobranchoidea Salamandroidea Sirenoidea Salamander is the common name applied to approximately 500 amphibians with slender bodies, short legs, and long tails. ...

Such beings are often regarded as supernatural creatures found in Neo-Pagan religions.^{[citation needed]} It has several meanings, according to different definitions. One is that it is a creature that is heavily associated with an element like fire or air. Another is that all the nature spirit creatures like gnomes or elves are elementals, and others say that almost any spiritual entity is an elemental. Neopaganism (sometimes Neo-Paganism, meaning New Paganism) is a heterogeneous group of religions which attempt to revive ancient, mainly European pre-Christian religions. ... This article is about the mythical creatures. ... For alternate meanings, see Lightning (disambiguation). ...

Elementals of Air, Earth, Fire and Water

In mysticism, magick and alchemy, an elemental is a creature (usually a spirit) that is attuned with, or composed of, one of the classical elements: air, earth, fire and water. The elements balance each other out through opposites: water quenches fire, fire boils water, earth contains air, air erodes earth. The concept of elementals seems to have been conceived by Paracelsus in the 16th century.^{[citation needed]} Paracelsus' elementals were: Mysticism from the Greek μυστικός (mystikos) an initiate (of the Eleusinian Mysteries, μυστήρια (mysteria) meaning initiation[1]) is the pursuit of achieving communion or identity with, or conscious awareness of, ultimate reality, the divine, spiritual truth, or God through direct experience, intuition, or insight; and the belief that such experience is an... This article refers to the magical system of Aleister Crowley and Thelema. ... For other uses, see Alchemy (disambiguation). ... A creature is a created being, as opposed to a creator. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Chinese Wood (木) | Fire (火) Earth (土) | Metal (金) | Water (水) Hinduism and Buddhism Vayu / Pavan — Air / Wind Agni / Tejas — Fire Akasha — Aether Prithvi / Bhumi — Earth Ap / Jala — Water Many ancient philosophies used a set of archetypal classical elements to explain patterns in nature. ... Chinese Wood (木) | Fire (火) Earth (土) | Metal (金) | Water (水) Hinduism and Buddhism Vayu / Pavan — Air / Wind Agni / Tejas — Fire Akasha — Aether Prithvi / Bhumi — Earth Ap / Jala — Water Air is one of the classical elements. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Chinese Wood (木) | Fire (火) Earth (土) | Metal (金) | Water (水) Japanese Earth (地) | Water (水) | Fire (火) | Air / Wind (風) | Void / Sky / Heaven (空) Hinduism and Buddhism Vayu / Pavan — Air / Wind Agni / Tejas — Fire Akasha — Aether Prithvi / Bhumi — Earth Ap / Jala — Water Water has been important to all peoples of the earth, and it is rich in spiritual tradition. ... // Paracelsus (11 November or 17 December 1493 in Einsiedeln, Switzerland - 24 September 1541) was an alchemist, physician, astrologer, and general occultist. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ...

Elementals are commonly mentioned in grimoires dealing with alchemy and sorcery and are usually "called" by summoning. Sylph is a faux-mythological creature in the Western tradition. ... A gnome (or Nisse) hiding behind a toadstool. ... Suborders Cryptobranchoidea Salamandroidea Sirenoidea Salamander is the common name applied to approximately 500 amphibians with slender bodies, short legs, and long tails. ... Ondine was a water nymph in German mythology. ... This design for an amulet comes from the Black Pullet grimoire. ... For other uses, see Alchemy (disambiguation). ... The Sorceress by John William Waterhouse Magic and sorcery are the influencing of events, objects, people and physical phenomena by mystical, paranormal or supernatural means. ... Magic (also called magick to distinguish it from stage magic) is a supposed way of influencing the world through supernatural, mystical, or paranormal means. ...

Other kinds of elemental

In modern occultism the word "elemental" can also be used to mean any simple or only partly sentient spiritual entity. These entities can be entirely natural (for instance, the spirit of a group of trees) or can be created by magicians or sorcerers to perform a task for them. The latter type are called servitors. This kind of "subservient" or "man-made" elemental can be found mentioned in the works of Austin Osman Spare or Aleister Crowley. They are a vital concept in modern Chaos Magic. The word occult comes from the Latin occultus (clandestine, hidden, secret), referring to knowledge of the hidden. In the medical sense it is used commonly to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e. ... Sentience is the capacity for basic consciousness -- the ability to feel or perceive, not necessarily including the faculty of self-awareness. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... Austin Osman Spare Austin Osman Spare (December 30, 1886 - May 15, 1956) was an English artist and magician. ... Aleister Crowley, born Edward Alexander Crowley, (12 October 1875 – 1 December 1947; the surname is pronounced // i. ... The chaos star (called a chaosphere, or black hole sun,[citations needed] by some practitioners) is the most popular symbol of chaos magic. ...

Theosophy and Anthroposophy are also known to have knowledge of elementals. In Theosophy, a "Seventh Ray" occultist works with elementals. (See Seven Rays). It is believed that elementals can be observed when the third eye (etheric sight) is activated. Emblem of the Theosophical Society (Adyar) described at [1] Theosophy, literally wisdom of the divine (in the Greek language), designates several bodies of ideas. ... Anthroposophy, also called spiritual science, is a spiritual/religious philosophy based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner,[1][2] which states that anyone who conscientiously cultivates sense-free thinking can attain experience of and insights into the spiritual world. ... Emblem of the Theosophical Society (Adyar) described at [1] Theosophy, literally wisdom of the divine (in the Greek language), designates several bodies of ideas. ... For other uses of this term, see occult (disambiguation). ... The Seven Rays is an occult theory that is used within Theosophy and the occult organizations and religions based on Theosophy, such as the Alice Bailey material, the I Am movement and its many daughter organizations, the Church Universal and Triumphant, and the group founded by Benjamin Creme known as... 17th century representation of the third eye connection to the higher worlds by alchemist Robert Fludd. ...

John Brunner's stories about the Traveler in Black involve a number of elementals, each named, some associated with classical elements and some not.These elementals had been created during the first era (the reign of eternity and chaos). Enchanters sought to manipulate elementals, using chaos for their own ends. In the later era (the reign of time, memory, and reason), these elementals lost much of their power, much to the detriment of would-be wizards. (The decline in the power of magic is a common theme in fantasy literature. It is seen in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings epic, and in Jack Vance's Dying Earth novels. Notable people named John Brunner include: John Brunner (industrialist) John Brunner (novelist) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... While in the popular mind, eternity often simply means existing for an infinite, i. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Look up time in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In psychology, memory is an organisms ability to store, retain, and subsequently recall information. ... It has been suggested that reasoning be merged into this article or section. ... Fantasy is a genre of art that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. ... J. R. R. Tolkien in 1916. ... Dust jacket of the 1968 UK edition The Lord of the Rings is an epic fantasy story by J. R. R. Tolkien, a sequel to his earlier work, The Hobbit. ... John Holbrook Vance (born August 28, 1916 in San Francisco, California) is generally described as an American fantasy and science fiction author, though Vance himself has reportedly objected to such labels. ... Dying Earth is a series of fantasy books by Jack Vance. ...

List Of Elementals

Here is a list of creatures considered by some to be elementals:

• Fairy
• Elf
• Gnome
• Pixie
• Sprite
• Leprechaun
• Goblin
• Brownie (elf)
• Troll
• Battra

by Sophie Anderson For other uses, see Fairy (disambiguation). ... A small forest elf (älva) rescuing an egg, from Solägget (1932), by Elsa Beskow An elf is a mythical creature of Germanic mythology and Germanic paganism which still survives in northern European folklore. ... A gnome (or Nisse) hiding behind a toadstool. ... Pixies or Piskies as they are known in Cornwall are mythical creatures of English folklore, considered to be particularly concentrated in the areas around Devon and Cornwall, suggesting some Celtic origin for the belief and name. ... The term sprite is a broad term referring to a number of preternatural legendary creatures. ... A modern stereotypical depiction of a Leprechaun of the type popularised in the 20th Century. ... A goblin is an evil or merely mischievous creature of folklore, often described as a grotesquely disfigured or elf-like phantom. ... A signature Cox Brownie A brownie, brounie/Urisk (Lowland Scots) or ùruisg/brùnaidh (Scottish Gaelic) is a legendary kind of elf popular in folklore around Scotland and England (especially the north). ... Trolls with an abducted princess (John Bauer, 1915). ... Battras Imago form. ...

References

1. ^ Carole B. Silver, Strange and Secret Peoples: Fairies and Victorian Consciousness, p 38 ISBN 0-19-512100-6
2. ^ C.S. Lewis, The Discarded Image, p135 ISBN 0-512-47735-2

• "undine." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2006. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 16 Nov. 2006 <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9125706>.

See also

• Angel Focus' Elementals Page
• List of Elementals
• Elementals in fiction