Those are the associations that we use in Spira. And tehy work for our general geographic location, although I can see people changing it for what makes sense to them.
Where we do differ from what others do is the seasonal associations. Generally people to:
Earth = Winter Air = Spring Fire = Summer Water = Fall
Ours has it a bit different in air and water being reversed.
Earth = Winter Water = Spring Fire = Summer Air = Fall
This just makes mroe logical sense to us as the spring is filled with water: rains, rivers near over flowing frmo spring run-off, melting snow and ice, etc. And fall is filled with air, swirling leaves, etc.
Of course we differ from otehr traditions in that we start our element calls with teh element of that season. Many start with east first always. In winter, we start with earth, then water, fire, air, spirit. In spring we would start with water, then fire, air, earth, spirit. And so on.
I think that you have hit the nail on the head when you said, "it doesn't matter where they go, so long as it makes sense to you and your paradigm."
Something that I would like to add is that, if you are working within a tradition, and you are trying to connect to the egregore of that trad, it would be helpful to make sure that you are using the directional/elemental correspondences of that egregore.
When working by myself, without "tapping in" to my tradition's group mind, I could use what every symbols, gods, etc. that make sense to me at the time.
I look at it in a "3D" way, instead of the directions of a flat circle on the ground. To the east the sun rises, that is fire to me. If I look down to the south where my feet are, there is the earth. When I look to the west I see the setting of the sun and consider it water. When I look up above me to the north, I experience the sky which is air/wind. That's just how it makes sense to me. Wassail, Tiffany
i don't use directional associations for those "elements" (which i think of as "states", being the first four states of undifferentiated matter as it devolves from the original fiery water, whereas elements, or dúile in Irish, are "created things", referring mostly to those things which are points of correspondence between the microcosm and macrocosm). in any case, i see no need to "invoke" them, which seems to be an idea from Golden Dawn practices (as the term "Watchtowers" should make plain), and ultimately refers to angels standing watch around the Garden of Eden.
sacred space is delineated in an entirely different manner in my faith.
I use a seven element system. I use the 'traditional four' (earth, air, fire, water)in their neo-pagan placement but with my own personal rationalizations and meanings why.
To this I add Order and place it above, Chaos and place it below and Self which is within.
I would agree that it is the persons understanding and 'power' derived from/ability to work with that system it that is important (as opposed to following a set of corespondances simply b/c it is the norm).
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Where we do differ from what others do is the seasonal associations. Generally people to:
Earth = Winter
Air = Spring
Fire = Summer
Water = Fall
Ours has it a bit different in air and water being reversed.
Earth = Winter
Water = Spring
Fire = Summer
Air = Fall
This just makes mroe logical sense to us as the spring is filled with water: rains, rivers near over flowing frmo spring run-off, melting snow and ice, etc. And fall is filled with air, swirling leaves, etc.
Of course we differ from otehr traditions in that we start our element calls with teh element of that season. Many start with east first always. In winter, we start with earth, then water, fire, air, spirit. In spring we would start with water, then fire, air, earth, spirit. And so on.
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Something that I would like to add is that, if you are working within a tradition, and you are trying to connect to the egregore of that trad, it would be helpful to make sure that you are using the directional/elemental correspondences of that egregore.
When working by myself, without "tapping in" to my tradition's group mind, I could use what every symbols, gods, etc. that make sense to me at the time.
YMMV
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Wassail,
Tiffany
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sacred space is delineated in an entirely different manner in my faith.
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To this I add Order and place it above, Chaos and place it below and Self which is within.
I would agree that it is the persons understanding and 'power' derived from/ability to work with that system it that is important (as opposed to following a set of corespondances simply b/c it is the norm).
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