Earth
La Terre
"I say the whole earth and all the stars in the sky are for religion's sake."
*~Walt Whitman~*
Direction: North
Color Symbolism: Green, brown, gold
Gender Symbolism: Female
Magical Uses: Grounding, cycles, physical matters, finances
Zodiac Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
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"Earth magick is a feminine energy ... its power can be assessed through herbs, plants, flowers, and crystals."
*~Ellen Dugan~*
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Earth is our mother, providing shelter, sustenance, nurture, and grounding to all her inhabitants. As Scott Cunningham wrote in Earth Power "Earth is our only home ... until recently, no living thing - save birds - left its surface" (29). Cunningham continues, saying that "Earth is the foundation of the elements, the base ... [it] is the realm of abundance, prosperity, and wealth ... without Earth, life as we know it could not exist" (22).
Kerri Connor's The Pocket Spell Creator lists that earth governs the "body, growth, nature, sustenance, material gain, prosperity, money, death, caverns, fields, meadows, plants, trees, animals, rocks, crystals, manifestations, and materialization" (10).
As our mother, the Earth (or La Terra) is the ruler of our bodies above all things. We perceive that her purpose is to nourish and nurture us, and to provide us with the elements that she supports: air, water, fire. The Earth is a great caregiver. She is, as Scott Cunningham wrote, the only reason life can exist.
The Earth is our mother, but she does one thing our own mothers do not: she takes us back when we are gone. We are born from the Earth, and we will return there. In these modern times, where stress and emotional burdens are overwhelming, it is crucial to turn to the Earth to find peace and relief. We must learn to borrow Earth's energies, and to pour our own energies into the Earth, as the two following meditations will instruct.
~LILY
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~*A Meditation from the Earth*~
Lie on the soil (or sit with your hands pressed against the ground) and absorb the energies you feel emitting from it. Let them fill you, envisioning the billions of years of Earth's existence enveloping you and entering your body. Let the energy radiate into your skin, through your body, and into your spirit. Allow the Earth to nourish every part of your body and soul that feels damaged, allowing her energies to heal you as a mother heals. Always ask the Earth's permission for borrowing its energies, and thank the Earth for allowing you to do so.
~*A Meditation For the Earth*~
On a day when your energy levels feel high and strong, lie or sit on the soil once again, attuning yourself to its energies. This time, however, instead of drawing from the Earth's resevoir of energy, allow your abundant energy to fill the earth. Speak to the Earth (this can be vocally or silently) telling it you are sending it your energies to heal the scars that Man puts upon it every day. Focus your intent on healing the damage that the Earth has suffered, allowing your own verve to nurture and protect your true home. Bless the Earth with your intent, and close the meditation.
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"Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect."
*~Chief Seattle, 1855~*
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All Things Connect
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Nice entry. I'm glad I started following you here. On a completely fannish note, I have always thought it rather appropriate that Severus Snape of the Harry Potter series is a Capricorn, which is an earth sign, and that his profession is that of Potions Master.
ReplyDeleteAs you quoted from Ellen Dugan above:
"Earth magick is a feminine energy ... its power can be assessed through herbs, plants, flowers, and crystals."
Herbs, plants and flowers are used in Potion ingredients. Also interesting is that Earth magick is Feminine energy, as is Water magick, and Snape was a Slytherin, which is the Hogwarts house that symbolizes the water element.
I've always been fascinated by this symbolism in the series.
Thank you, dear! <3 I really want to make this a nice blog that people will be able to gather inspiration and/or knowledge from. :)
ReplyDeleteI thought it VERY appropriate that Severus was a Capricorn. Besides the Earth element, Capricorns are known for clinging to their ideal lover forever, and for being moody and unusual in interesting ways.
I love Ellen Dugan - I think she's my witchy hero. :P I never thought of it like that before - VERY interesting! As a water sign, that makes me happy, too. hehe
The series is filled with such symbology and depth, it's amazing.
Thanks for your beautiful comment!